(Above) SOUTH FORK NATURE CENTER VOLUNTEERS: Some of the Gates Rogers Foundation Board Members and Volunteers met in Clinton May 16 for an appreciation dinner to celebrate progress on South Fork Nature Center. They are (standing from left): Joyce Hartmann, Bob Verboon, Kay Verboon, GRF Board Member Fred Knight, Steve Messenger, GRF Executive Director Carol Corning, Ed Pennebaker, Roberta Katz-Messenger, GRF Secretary Janet Miron, GRF Board Member Bob Hartmann, Donna Peterson, GRF Treasurer Steve Caver, David Peterson; (seated): Brent Baker, Shirley Pratt, Carol Bintliff, GRF Vice President Martha Treece, Glenda Stagg, Eric Stagg, Debbie Culwell, Ron Maxwell; (on floor): Larry Bintliff and GRF Board Member Don Culwell.
Choctaw, AR. – The Gates Rogers Foundation hosted an Appreciation Night for volunteers who have helped present programs, work on trails, and preserve natural resources at South Fork Nature Center in Choctaw.
The Board honored volunteers with a catered dinner held at Gates Rogers Foundation headquarters in Clinton.
“This has been an important year,” said Martha Treece, GRF Vice President. “Volunteers have provided 1,161 hours of time, and we had many successes including the mile plus of trail being finished and new grants to build additional trails. The docent programs have become very structured with different guest experts like Larry Lohman from the Native Plant Society presenting good botanical information.”
Program Director Dr. Don Culwell, retired UCA professor, has scheduled many other interesting programs, using local and out-of-town experts. “We are lucky to have a wealth of knowledgeable people in our community,” he said. “We have botanists, entomologists, biologists, rangers, herbalists, icythyologists, and more. Stay tuned for some interesting upcoming programs.”
The next scheduled program is a night hike, led by Kay and Bob Verboon, on Saturday, May 29th. Call Executive Director Carol Corning at 745-6444 to register for this program or to receive the monthly e-newsletter that announces all upcoming programs. Also, see www.southforknaturecenter.org for more information.
