With Arkansas Master Naturalists State President Laurie Hartshorn in attendance and a packed agenda on the table, the NWAMN Board of Directors at its August meeting addressed issues and opportunities related to prairie restoration, strategic planning, the Lake Wedington Recreation Area, and a proposed native plant nursery in Benton County.
Especially encouraging was the presence of about 40 master naturalists and friends at the historic Shiloh Meeting Hall in Springdale, creating an inspiring atmosphere of special significance to Chapter President Dave Leisure, who opened the meeting on August 13 with his trademark Fun Fact about Nature – this time about the wild prairie petunia and its unusual way of spreading its seeds.
“I’m so pleased to see the interest from our members,” Dave told the gathered naturalists. “You being here today is a great testament to the quality of our organization and the positive things we’re doing for northwest Arkansas.”
President Hartshorn of the Diamond Lakes Chapter sat in the audience as part of her pledge to visit each of the seven regional chapters.
“My goal is to meet people and see what they’re doing for the Natural State,” Laurie said. “Our chapters are very autonomous and do little on the statewide level other than BioBlast. I’m very impressed with the turnout here today. We can learn from the Northwest Arkansas Chapter about how to be more attractive to our people.”
Chapter Treasurer JB Portillo presented a detailed financial report, showing a very healthy fiscal picture for NWAMN.
Kathy Trotter gave an update on developments with the Strategic Planning Committee, discussing the scope and timeline of the project. She highlighted three areas of action: first, to prepare and execute a digital survey of the chapter’s total membership; second, to hold listening forums with recent Naturalists in Training (NITs); and third, to maintain an ongoing conversation with the board and committees as the Strategic Plan continues to develop.
Board Member Kathy Mason briefed the group on plans to design a new “wild garden” at the Lake Wedington Recreation Area. She said she and chapter member Steve Alarid would be meeting with representatives of the U.S. Forest Service on August 20 at Lake Wedington to discuss a future partnership with the Forest Service.
Mary Ellen Griffith told the board about progress at the Eureka Springs Native Plant Garden.
The board discussed a grant proposal submitted by the Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP) for a project at the Woolsey Wet Prairie Farm in Fayetteville to help restore two acres as a demonstration tallgrass prairie to educate the public about urban agriculture and natural areas. After some discussion it was agreed to postpone a vote to “allow time for IRWP to rewrite their grant application to exclude herbicide application.” The grant as rewritten would fund signage, mechanical removal of invasives, and education initiatives at the farm.
Dave gave a quick update on progress at the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Ozark Highlands Nature Center in Springdale, now under construction by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and scheduled to open in the autumn of 2020. NWA Master Naturalists are poised to play an important volunteer role at the Center. “We are excited about our relationship with them,” Dave said. “That relationship is developing.”
The last hour of the meeting was led by environmental scientist and Arkansas Master Naturalist Eric Fuselier, who presented a detailed slide show about a proposed native plant nursery on an eight-acre site in northern Benton County – Phase One of an ambitious project designed, ultimately, to create a “world class native plant education center.”
A group of innovators, ecologists, and environmentalists have come together to champion the concept and see if all the elements of the proposed “Ozark Gateway Native Plant Center” can coalesce to make the project happen. Eric’s thoughtful presentation outlined in detail the elements of a three-phase project. NWAMN could be asked to participate, but for now the project remains in its exploratory stage.
“The key question: Is there an interest for further conversation?” President Leisure said about NWAMN’s possible participation. “There are more questions to be asked, more information to be shared.” The board agreed to continue studying the proposed Native Plant Center in coming months.
With that, the meeting came to a close, but dozens of those in attendance lingered in friendly, proactive conversation, talking about all the good things that can be accomplished by volunteers. And that’s what it’s all about, wouldn’t you say?