As a Natural Resources/Zoology Educator for the University of Illinois Extension, I have worked with many local agencies, organizations, and residents over the past 6 years. Very early in my career, I realized that the majority of the organizations I worked with had similar values about environmental stewardship and need for community service volunteers. I knew there had to be an existing program that could meet everyone's needs while NOT reinventing the wheel...
I just didn't realize it would take me three years to find the right program!
After national research of a wide variety of volunteer programs, I found myself fully immersed in the Texas Master Naturalist Program. I was soon taking the National Master Naturalist Training Program and knew I had found the program "wheel" I was seeking. In Fall 2004, I was back in the Quad Cities seeking out the assistance of various local agency staff, organization members, and educators for the development of a Master Naturalist Advisory Committee.
The Master Naturalist Advisory Committee adopted the program very quickly and ran with it - rewriting curricula, planning a training schedule, identifying guest presenters, and marketing the program in a few short months. During the planning whirlwind, I was crossing my fingers that at least 15 people would sign up for the local program...little did I know that we would have nearly 80 people on a list, waiting to become Master Naturalists, by March 2005.
Today, I am very happy to announce the successful graduation of our first 30 Master Naturalist volunteers in the Greater Quad Cities Area. I am very proud of the new graduates and give thanks to all of the presenters, staff and Advisory Committee members that made this program successful. I can't wait to see all of the wonderful programs and projects that will be developed by Illinois Master Naturalists. The dedication, enthusiasm and creativity of the very first Illinois Master Naturalist class will leave a lasting impression on the future of this program for many years to come! CONGRATULATIONS!
For folks just learning about the Master Naturalist Program or enrolled in the Fall 2005 training, please take advantage of the volunteer opportunities and trainings open to the community. You don't have to be a Master Naturalist to make a difference in your local community or inspire environmental stewardship in someone special...start today!

Sincerely,
Liz Haynes
Natural Resources Management/Zoology Educator
University of Illinois Extension
Rock Island County

Several years ago I read an article about peoples greatest fears. I thought I knew what to expect . . . heights, accidents, bridges, even water. The surprise for me was that in our culture, the number one fear is speaking to a group. I guess that should not have been a surprise. It is, however a fear you will probably be asked to face.
Many of your friends and acquaintances know you are a trained Master Naturalist. It is only a matter of time till one of them comes to you and asks, "Will you speak to my club?" You can only turn a friend down so many times till you finally say, "yes." When you do, how are you going to follow through? There would just be too much embarrassment if you did not show up. Let me make some suggestions.
First, decide on a topic with which you are comfortable. It might be something that you have talked about in informal situations. Your topic will probably be a personal specialty. If your favorite thing to study were native blooming plants, you would not choose to do a program on stargazing.
Second, write a goal or purpose statement. It should be a fairly simple and concise statement, something that sums up what you want to say. Keep it in front of you. It will keep you focused on the topic at hand.
Third, start writing. If you think best with a pencil in your hand, write it long hand. I have been thinking through my fingertips for so long the keyboard works best. I would suggest you first write a general outline. It does not need to be detailed; it just needs to parallel your goal. Write your presentation out word for word. Plan a couple activities or some "show and tell" items as part of your presentation. Those things will keep people interested. Write them into your text.
Fourth, get someone to listen to your presentation and do the activities with you. Make it a friend that you trust to give quality feedback. You might want to read it aloud in front of a mirror till you are comfortable with the flow of your presentation.
You might want to experiment using only your outline. In fact, over time you will want learn to use an outline, the briefer it is the better. It will keep you from sounding like you are reading someone else's paper. If you are more comfortable reading your program, then do it!
Finally, enjoy yourself! You enjoy the topic that is why you choose it. Let your audience know how much you love nature! The audience is there to learn from you, and they will. Do not worry about being polished. If they wanted that, they would watch TV.
Do not expect your first presentation to be perfect, maybe none of them will ever be "perfect." Learn from each presentation, build on them, and become a better interpreter! Do not let your greatest fear be sharing your greatest passion.

- Donald Bardole

"I have noticed in my life that all men have a liking for some special animal, tree, plant, or spot of earth. If men would pay more attention to these preferences and seek what is best to do in order to make themselves worthy of that toward which they are so attracted, they might have dreams which would purify their lives. Let a man decide upon his favorite animal and make a study of it, learning its innocent ways. Let him learn to understand its sounds and motions. The animals want to communicate with man, but Wakantanka does not intend they shall do so directly – man must do the greater part in securing an understanding."
Brave Buffalo (late 19th century), Teton Sioux medicine man

Norm Anselmi

Sharon Fleming

Amy Newell
Don Bardole

Nancy Frascone

Edwin Rathjen
Linda Boardsen

Susan Heinz

Jessica Reimer
Curtis Butterfield

Gretel Hengst

Amy Sandgren
Sharon Colman

Margy Hickerson

Alec Schorg
A. Shirley Cook

Sherrie Hood

Dan Sharp
Steve Cripe

Marsha Johnson

Penny Timmons
Darrell DeMont

Kathleen Lee

Julie Werthmann
Sally Doran

Cindy McDermott

Pamela Wilcoxson
Rachel Easley

Dean McDermott

Stephen E. Witte

Congratulations to everyone for their exceptional efforts!

• 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 2 tablespoons mild dish soap
Mix the ingredients in a large bowl in an open area. Beware, the liquid will foam. Wash the affected area with the solution while it's still foaming, because the oxygen reacts with the chemical in the skunk musk to neutralize the odor. Mr. Krebaum says he has received some feedback about bleached pets, so be aware, but most owners are OK with the trade-off. For more information go to Mr. Krebaum's website at: http://home.earthlink.net/~skunkremedy/home/.

- Ann Sullivan

Conservation Expo 2005 is coming to western Illinois on August 9, 10, & 11, 2005. This statewide event is a showcase for the construction and exhibition of conservation and land improvement practices and equipment. This year's Conservation Expo will take place on the Jerry & Leslie Lewis Farm, Good Hope, IL.
The show site is located southeast of Good Hope, IL, in McDonough County, in western Illinois. From the intersection of IL Rt. 9 and US 67 on the south edge of Good Hope, go one-half mile south on US 67 and then 2 miles east on County Rd 1800 N. (follow the signs). Good Hope, IL is located 26 miles south of Monmouth, 33 miles north of Rushville, 6 miles north of Macomb, and 9 miles west of Bushnell.
Throughout the 3-day event, tours will be conducted to showcase the following conservation structures and practices: Tile Drainage/Drainage Water Management, Wildlife Food Plots, Filter Strips, Streambank Stabilization Control - Rock Riffles & Stone Toe Protection, Landscape and Habitat Management, Block Chute Construction, Grassed Waterways, Sealing Abandoned Wells, Wetland Development, Pond Management, Agro-Forestry Planting & Management, Dry Hydrant Installation, Water and Sediment Control Basins (Dry Dams), a Soils Demonstration and New Septic System Installations.
The hours of the Conservation Expo are Tuesday & Thursday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Wednesday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. There is no admission charge, and everyone is welcome to attend. Food and drink concessions will be available at the show site.
For more information, contact Melanie Harney, Ex. Director of ILICA,
ph. (217) 787-7260; McDonough County SWCD/NRCS, ph. (309) 833-1711,
Ext. 3; or Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Extension, ph. (309) 694-7501, Ext. 226.