FEATURED MEMBERS 

WE ARE PROUD TO FEATURE PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR MEMBERS 

SPREADING HER WINGS AND MIGRATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION

My name is Maddie Jackson, and I am 27 years old. I was born in Oklahoma but have lived in Joplin since 2012. I am married to my best friend, and we have the most wonderful son! In 2020, I joined the Chert Glades MMN Chapter because I wanted to volunteer my time, and I knew I wanted to be outside. My favorite naturalist is the new naturalist. Someone whose world has just opened, as they realized that they have not been living alone but in a community of life all around them. If careful, we can fan the flame and make that excitement and wonder last a lifetime. Not so long ago, I was a new naturalist, and some wonderful human beings recognized and encouraged that spark in me!

Of course, everyone knows what happened in 2020, and the pandemic forced us to stop the class early. However, I continued building relationships within the chapter and had the opportunity to join Amera Wild in her efforts to monitor bluebird boxes at Cardinal Valley. She and Amy Watts were so thrilled about all the birds they were seeing out there, and I was surprised to learn that there was such a bird called a killdeer (I wondered if they were messing with me!).

            From there, my love for birds grew. I picked up on bird identification quickly and felt the spark of a career build as I realized I wanted to spend my life learning everything I could about birds. I found inspiration from my fellow naturalists who loved birds, especially Amera and Jeff, and genuinely cherish the knowledge that many of them took the time to share with me since becoming a member.  Because I joined Chert Glades MMN, and because of Cardinal Valley and its abundance of birds, I am now on the path to studying birds as a career.  This fall, I will begin a master’s program focusing on the neural mechanisms of bird migration at the University of South Alabama. I certainly could not have found my calling without the chapter and will be forever grateful for it.

            Maddie will be greatly missed by the members of the chapter. Her eagerness to help in so many projects, her quick wit and humor, and her contributions to the everyday running of the chapter like being secretary to the board for two years have made her invaluable. We all wish the best for Maddie, her husband Daniel, and her adorable son, Quill, on their new adventure!

Val Frankoski lived for many years in the Northeast before moving here and becoming a founding member of Chert Glades Chapter in 2005. She has served as an officer, organized training for new members, and is currently liaison to the City of Joplin for The Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. Val volunteers in Wildcat Nature Group education programs, tends the Chapter’s Monarch Waystation at Cunningham Park, and speaks to local groups about monarchs and other pollinators.  She skillfully coordinates the Wildcat Glades Stream Team and manages Facebook social media for Chert Glades Chapter. Originally, she doubted her ability to come up with 40 hours of volunteer service each year, but as the chapter has matured, she feels guilty for setting limits on the opportunities provided. She owns a vest with all her Missouri Master Naturalist pins in place, but hardly ever has an opportunity to wear it.

Val has a BS from Cornell University and an MS in Biological Sciences from Purdue University.  In her past lives, she has been employed as a middle school science teacher, a horticulturist at a garden center, and a hazardous materials coordinator for a chemical company. Until moving to Missouri, she was unaware of the absolute necessity of air conditioning, and the unavoidable intimacy with ticks. She is certain she would never have been one to venture west through prairies and malarial swamps, but has come to love the native plants here, and is slowly coming to terms with the concrete-like former inland sea material that passes for soil in her yard.

With still so much left to learn, Val is an obsessive gardener and has almost never met a native plant she doesn’t like. She is a valuable and necessary member of our Master Naturalist Group.

Please join us in recognizing her enormous achievement of 5,000 volunteer hours.

Water Conservationist of the Year – Amera Wild

  Amera hones in on the sound of a song sparrow.  She is leading a group of birders around the ponds located in the Cardinal Valley Wetland and Restoration area.  She excitedly points out the location to the group, and they agree with her identification.  This scene with Amera has been repeated many times since she began contributing to rehabilitation efforts in the area following removal of chat piles and contaminated earth.  She is a tireless promoter of the project, and not at all shy about sharing the amazing progress so far to provide a welcoming and healthy environment for native plants and animals.

Amera began this journey in 2016 when she became a Missouri Master Naturalist and a member of the Chert Glades Chapter.  She was introduced to this restoration project during a presentation at a chapter meeting.  She was immediately drawn to the project.  Mining is a part of Amera’s family’s history. She was excited to be able to undo some of the environmental damage done locally by extensive past mining activities. She credits Mike Haas with giving her encouragement to move forward and embrace what has now become a real passion for wetland restoration.

Amera’s enthusiasm for Cardinal Valley is endless, and her willingness to share treasures to be found there is exciting.  Her passion for the work being done is contagious and allows her to recruit other volunteers to continue this crucial work. 

Amera is a treasure.  She is an amazing woman with a heart for service and giving. Chert Glades Chapter and Cardinal Valley are fortunate to be parts of her world and proud to celebrate her recognition as Water Conservationist of the Year.

Over the past 9 years, Amera has contributed greatly to the Cardinal Valley Wetland and Restoration project, an effort to mitigate the impact of nearly a century’s worth of lead and zinc mining in Southwest Missouri. This has been a continuing project for over thirty groups including Missouri Southern State University staff, master naturalists, and conservation volunteers all with common goals of assisting with water quality and aquatic-related wildlife monitoring, riparian rehab with native plantings and watershed improvements. Amera has been a solid, consistent volunteer, not only with hands-on work but also in recruiting others into the project.

-      Conservation Achievement Awards 2022

-      Confederation Federation of Missouri

MEMBER JOYCE HAYNES, BECOMING A WELL KNOWN ARTIST IN THE AREA

Why Tin?

I just started using tin as a medium this year.  I had some repairs done on my 100 year old barn and the old rusted tin was “talking” to me to reuse somehow!  I loved the way the rust made nice designs, and I loved all of the imperfections, indentations and holes in the tin. My first piece was simply a painting on a rusted square, so I tried making the piece more dimensional by cutting the tin and working it into shapes.  I titled this piece “Stands With Horses,” and from that point on the beauty of the Native Americans of the plains became my muse.

Why Art?

I knew from an early age that I liked being creative more than anything. My first sculpture was done at the age of five.  It was our family Volkswagen made out of adobe clay.  I think being creative is what makes us human, and without art there is no expression, no expansion of the mind.

Who am I?

I have worked as a commercial artist most of my adult life.  I have illustrated books, designed tee shirts, signs, and even newspapers.  Presently I have the liberty to produce fine art and enjoy having my own studio on my farm in Pineville, Mo. I am proud to be a Missouri Master Naturalist of the Chert Glades Chapter, and love being around like-minded conservationists.  I teach yoga and love being physically active.  The most Zen experience in my life is when I take my Shetland pony out for a carriage drive around the farm.  For me, the simple life is great!

Member Bonnie Hinman

Bonnie has been writing for many years and has forty ­four books in print. She first wrote articles and stories for both adults and children. In 1997 her first children’s book was published. 

Most of her books have been nonfiction titles written for the educational market.  Bonnie most recently has written a series about Keystone Species. The opportunity to write this series was the direct result of her training as a Missouri Master Naturalist. 

During training in 2014, Jeff Cantrell mentioned keystone species. This was an unfamiliar topic for Hinman but sounded like a good idea for a children’s book. Barbara Mitchell of Mitchell Lane Publishers agreed and assigned a six book series to Bonnie.  The series took about eight months to research and write and was published in October 2015. After much research the titles were grouped according to habitat. They include Keystone Species That Live in Deserts; Forests; Grasslands; Ponds, Streams, and  Wetlands; Mountains; and the Sea and Along the Coastline. 

Hinman signed up for the 2014 class in the fall of 2013 after reading about Missouri Master Naturalists. Bonnie grew up on a farm and had always loved being outside and learning about nature. However, science had not been her focus in college. The Missouri Master Naturalist program seemed like the perfect new interest for Hinman.  She says it turned out to be just the right decision as she has learned so much and met so many nice people. She looks forward to being an active member for many years to come. 

GET OUT THERE AND GET LUCKY WITH

BECKY WYLIE!

Over the last six years Becky and her husband have been lucky enough to visit Yellowstone National Park eight times.  They have experienced some special encounters while at their favorite national park.  Becky documents her amazing photographs of the area in her presentation, “Adventures in Yellowstone.” She has shared her presentation at Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center and the Ozark Gateway Audubon in Joplin, and recently at Greater Ozarks Audubon in Springfield.  

Becky's family and friends often remark on how "lucky" she is to get the special photos she captures.  Becky insists that to get good photos, one must "get out there."  Her favorite saying became a logo on a T-shirt, "Get Out There and Get Lucky."  

Becky has also put together and presented "Nature Photography Tips,” for people who want to learn how to take nature photos. Becky says, “I have always loved nature. When I got my first digital camera in December of 2002 it opened up a world of possibilities in capturing the natural world I loved. I especially love sharing our natural world with others.”

REDINGS MILL GLADE RESTORATION PROJECT

Members are restoring a section of the chert glade near the north entrance parking lot by planting native glade plants, removing invasive plants, and redistributing natural rock.  Two benches were donated by the chapter and built and installed by member Barry Charter.