Greetings fellow master naturalists.

The next monthly meeting of the Trans Pecos chapter will be Thursday February 4 at 6:00 P.M. at the State building 401 E Franklin St.
Please try to make the meeting as we have many projects to discuss. Thanks and have a great week end.

We will have a special presentation by the Save the Rio Committee complete with visuals/Powerpoint - about the project

Greetings.



We have just updated our website with two stories of interest about the Zoo’s Golden Eagle “Takota” and new efforts to help Burrowing Owls in El Paso. Be sure to send us your news and events for 2010 and Happy New Year!



Rick



http://www.chihuahuandesert.org/

Dear Friends of Archaeology,

Come to this Zip Tour and find out more about the Tarahumara than you can experience on a trip to Copper Canyon from photographer Diana Molina who has lived with Tarahumara families on many trips for over a decade. If you can't make it to the Zip Tour, please visit the exhibit which is on view through February 14th.



You’re Invited to a Zip Tour

of the exhibit Rarámuri: The Foot Runners of the Sierra Madre



Saturday, January 30, 2010, 2:00 pm, Free Admission



Location: El Paso Museum of Archaeology

4301 Transmountain Road, El Paso 79924



In this brief tour (about 45 minutes), photographer and guest curator Diana Molina provides a personal tour of her exhibit, speaks of her experiences with the Rarámuri (also known as Tarahumara), and discusses the interrelationship between the Rarámuri and the challenging environment in which they live. Beginning with her first visit in 1993 she has lived among the Rarámuri and Mestizo communities and gained many friendships which have led her to create the stunning photographs shown on this Zip Tour.



This is the last program scheduled in conjunction with this exhibit of twenty-seven photographs and twenty-five hand-crafted Rarámuri artifacts which is on view through Sunday, February 14, 2010.



Background

Three hundred and fifty miles south of the U.S/Mexico border, the Rarámuri, approximately 60,000 people, live in seven major canyon systems. They are famous for their abilities as long distance runners as they spend their lives traversing the canyon walls and plateaus of the Sierra Tarahumara. In the late 1600s, due to European intrusion into their homeland, the ancestors of today’s Rarámuri fled to the region for its inaccessibility. Until recent times their territory was limited to entry by foot or hoof.



Biography

Diana Molina, a native El Pasoan, has produced exhibits at The World Museum of Art in Rotterdam, the Art Museum of the Americas in Washington D.C., and The Houston Museum of Natural Science among other locations. She has published feature articles in international and regional magazines. A series of her photo collections are held at the Special Collections Library at University of Texas, El Paso and at the Benson Latin American Collection at the University of Texas, Austin.



Information: 915-755-4332; guidamr@elpasotexas.gov.

Let’s get WILD!!!

FREE Project WILD training has come available (sponsored by Region 19) to informal educators! Take advantage of this great curriculum and training scheduled for Tuesday, January 12th from 8:30am – 3:30pm. Please see attached flyer for full description of workshop or on website: http://www.projectwild.org/

Please forward to any educators you feel may benefit and use this training. Please RSVP as soon as possible.

Virginia Galarza

Water Conservation Technician

El Paso Water Utilities -

TECH2O Water Resources Learning Center

915-621-2001 p

915-621-2011 f

vgalarza@epwu.org

Save the Dates for January Programs



Sunday, January 17, 2010, 3:00 pm

Free Admission



A. C. (Art) MacWilliams Illustrated Presentation:

Cerros de Trincheras: Living on Hills in the Desert

January Program of the El Paso Archaeological Society Speaker Series



z



Sunday, January 24, 2010, 2:00 to 3:30 pm



Fun Learning Aztec and Maya Math

A Workshop for Children by Carlos Aceves

Admission: free to the public, materials fee $2.00

Please call 915-755-4332 to reserve a seat



z



Saturday, January 30, 2010, 2:00 pm

Free Admission



Zip Tour

of the exhibit Rarámuri: The Foot Runners of the Sierra Madre

Your tour guide will be photographer and guest curator Diana Molina

The exhibit is on view through Sunday, February 14, 2010.

I am looking for some volunteers for our campus Science Fair in January. Would you be available for about an hour to visit with some young budding scientists and let them share their latest discoveries? Our fair will start at about 2pm on Thursday, January 28th in the Putnam Elementary School's cafetorium. I am especially in need of bilingual persons to interview our students. A brief training will precede the event. Refreshments will be served. Putnam Elementary is located on the west side at 6508 Fiesta Dr. on the corner of Camille just off Mesa. Please contact Blanche Herrera at blancheherr@yahoo.com for more info or contact the school at 832-6700.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Blanche Herrera, Science Coach
Putnam Elementary School

The next TMN class will start Feb 10, 2010 and run thru the middle of May.
The classes will be on Wednesday from 6p to 9p with four or five field trips on various Saturdays which will be announced. They will be held at the Garden Center 3105 Grant.
The price will be either $140.00 or $150.00 with a refund of around $50.00 when all the requirements are met.

Contact: Matt Santillan at the Texas Agrilife Extension office 915-860-2515. His e-mail address is msantill@ag.tamu.edu.
 If I can be of any more service, please let me know

Thanks and have a great new year,

Bill Hoover.

Dear Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition Member,



The Army is currently conducting a project on Castner Range to determine where unexploded ordnance is and is not. They are keeping us informed of their progress. More information is below.


The US Army is currently performing various activities at the Fort Bliss Castner Range (west of US 54, north and south of Transmountain Road) as part of the Wide Area Assessment Field Demonstration Project. The project team has suspended site preparation activities until 5 January 2010. Upon our return, the team will finalize site preparation activities for the geophysical surveys. We plan to fly low altitude helicopter-borne magnetometry the week of 11 January 2010 and deploy ground-based geophysical teams later in the month. Local residents should not be surprised with the flurry of people and activities. As a reminder, we have scheduled the second Technical Project Planning Meeting for 14 January 2010 beginning at 9:00 am at the Radisson Hotel, El Paso Airport. If you have questions about this project or the MMRP, please contact Mr. Ron Baca, Program Manager, Environmental Division, Directorate of Public Works, Fort Bliss, at (915) 568-7979; or Ms. Kimberly Watts, U.S. Army Environmental Command, at (410) 436-6843. V/R, Victoria Kantsios ___________________________ Victoria Kantsios URS Corporation 2450 Crystal Drive, Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22202 (703) 418-3030 (Office) (404) 702-1141 (Cell) (703) 418-3040 (Fax) victoria_kantsios@urscorp.com

Texas Master Naturalist Chapters:

Attached, you will find the TMN News & Notes from the State office for the last quarter of the year. Its has been a busy one so there is a lot of news & notes.

Please distribute appropriate information to your chapter members through your email networks, websites, and upcoming meetings and newsletters.

Thank you for your service and dedication throughout 2009 and we look forward to a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year for the Texas Master Naturalist Program in 2010!

Michelle & Sonny

Master Naturalists, 


TMN- Trans-Pecos Chapter

Texas AgriLife Extension Service
9521 Socorro Rd.
Suite A-2 Box #2
El Paso, TX. 79927

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks,
Matthew Santillan
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
(915) 860-2515
FAX (915) 860-2536
msantill@ag.tamu.edu

Please send all Volunteer Hours and correspondance to the following address:

Texas AgriLife Extension Service
9521 Socorro Rd Suite A2 Box #2
El Paso, TX. 79927

Our new phone number is (915) 860-2515
Our new FAX number is (915) 860-2536

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at the number listed.

Thanks,

Matthew Santillan
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
El Paso County

We have just updated our calendar and home page at www.chihuahuandesert.org with a bird report from the Lower Valley of El Paso, a new list of CDEC Recommended Events for 2009-2010 and more.



I hope to see you at the Zoo when we launch our first after hours education program at the new El Paso Water Utilities Education Discovery Center. Don’t forget the “Don’t Know Much about the Desert” at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park on October 17, Boo at the Zoo on October 24-25 and the Tech H2O Water Festival October 29-31. Check out our Get Your Desert Dose Calendar page to learn more on these and other upcoming programs and events.



Rick LoBello

YOU have an opportunity to help protect Castner Range.



On 5 Oct 09, Mayor Cook will visit Congressman Reyes in DC. Encourage the Mayor to ask Congressman Reyes, “What is the status of your efforts to preserve Castner Range with a Conservation Conveyance?” More information on a Conservation Conveyance is in the attached white paper.



You can contact Mayor John Cook at:

10th floor of City Hall
2 Civic Center Plaza
El Paso, TX 79901

Phone: (915)541-4145
Fax: (915)541-4501

mayor@elpasotexas.gov



Better yet, contact your City Representative and ask him or her to ask the mayor.



District 1 Representative - Ann Morgan Lilly
2 Civic Center Plaza
El Paso, Texas 79901

541-4151

district#1@elpasotexas.gov



District 2 Representative - Susie Byrd
#2 Civic Center Plaza, El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone: 915-541-4416
district#2@elpasotexas.gov

Franklin Mts State Park Cautions Visitors After Recent Dehydration Incidents

EL PASO, Texas – In the last 30 days, 13 people were stranded and suffered dehydration during four different incidents within Franklin Mountains State Park. All received prompt assistance from authorities and park staff and none suffered serious injury, but the rash of cases involving visitors who went out in mid-day heat without sufficient water is prompting park staff to call for common sense precautions.

Hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing are among the popular outdoors activities among state park visitors in El Paso area. The number of persons enjoying the outdoors is increasing. However, as temperatures rise in the area, heat related incidents are also increasing.

In all four recent incidents at the park, visitors were able to use mobile phones to call for help. But park authorities caution visitors NOT to rely on mobile phones for emergency assistance, as service is unreliable in some areas of the park.

People planning outdoor activities should consider these recommendations:
• Take plenty of drinking water (more than you may think you will need).
• Take light snacks.
• Protect yourself from the sun. Use sunblock lotion, wear a long sleeve shirt and long pants, and use a cap or hat.
• Do activities with someone else. If you do activities alone, let somebody else know about your plans.
• Stay on the trail always. Walking off-trail increases your chance of suffering an injury, getting lost, or encountering rattlesnakes. In addition, desert soils are fragile. Cutting across switchbacks tramples vegetation, erodes the soil, and eventually destroys the trail.
• Have a cell or mobile phone for emergencies, but do not rely on them only. Carry with you a whistle, mirror, flag, flashlight or other means to signal your location.
• Check weather conditions and avoid doing activities during extreme temperatures. Seek shelter in the event of strong winds and thunderstorms.

For more information contact Franklin Mountains State Park at (915) 566-6441

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Master Naturalist program has reached 1 million volunteer service hours. This major milestone marks the 10th anniversary of the program, which began in Texas but has since given rise to a growing national movement.
The Texas Master Naturalist program began in 1998 as a joint effort between Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service (formerly Texas Cooperative Extension) to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and areas within communities throughout the state. The program provides an opportunity for concerned adult citizens of all ages to learn about the natural environment and seek ways to better their communities.
To gain the title of “Texas Master Naturalist,” participants must complete a minimum of 40 hours of natural resource training, 40 hours of service and eight hours of advanced training offered through the program within their first year and complete a minimum of 40 hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training to keep their certification current each year thereafter.
The 1 million hours of service were achieved by more than 5,306 volunteers in 39 recognized local chapters throughout Texas. In the past 10 years during which these service hours were achieved, Texas Master Naturalists were on hand to help with resource recovery after natural catastrophes such as hurricanes and droughts. Volunteers were also ready to serve when the economy took a turn for the worse, making the value of their donated time even more precious.
The monetary worth of the 1 million hours of service is valued at approximately $19.58 million. In addition, the impact of the Texas Master Naturalist volunteers has been seen in more than 90,000 acres of land across Texas.
Information about the Texas Master Naturalist program, including the schedule of training courses and contact information for various local chapters across the state, is on the program Web site.
---
On the Net:
http://masternaturalist.tamu.edu

TMN Curriculum Distribution

The Texas AgriLIfe Bookstore distributes the Texas Master Naturalist Curriculum. Chapter orders should be placed through the local County Extension Office. Extension Agents and county secretaries can assist with placing the order. Payment is expected when you order. Checks should be made payable to AgriLife Bookstore.

The Bookstore will also accept payment by Visa or Master Card for on-line orders. On-line orders must be approved by the County Extension Agent or the state TMN coordinators. This validates the chapter order to allow the wholesale price offered only to chapters.

The Bookstore can be contacted by visiting http://agrilifebookstore.org and selecting the “Environment” link after “Browsing the Shelves”. The phone number is 979-845-6573 and fax is 979-458-0172.

When ordering request MKT-3568-C, TMN Curriculum. Your order will include the binder insert (MKT-3337) and binder spine. Binders are not included. Indicate your chapter name when ordering and be sure to include shipping instructions.

The curriculum price will remain at $30.00 per copy when sold to Texas Master Naturalist Chapters. Shipping charges will be added to your order. A minimum order of 5 copies is required to receive the wholesale price. Again, be sure to include your chapter name when making the order.

You will note that the Bookstore web site shows TMN curriculum item MKT-3568 and its retail price of $75.00 per copy. MKT-3568 should not be requested by chapters.

We continue to get requests to purchase copies from individuals who are not in the Texas Master Naturalist program. Our commitment is to our members first and we believe the retail price increase will reduce the requests from others thus reducing the chances of a shortage for Texas chapters.

The state park is open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Sunday;
and from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and holidays. The last gondola up to
the peak leaves one hour before closing.

The Tramway, located at 1700 McKinley in El Paso, is operated by Texas
Parks & Wildlife Department.

The Wyler Aerial Tramway is the only tramway in Texas open to the
public.
The passenger gondolas rise 946 feet vertically to the observation deck
on Ranger Peak summit at an elevation of 5,632 feet.

Dedicated Volunteer Effort Receives Recognition!
 
See Trans Mountain link under Events on left menu for details.

The Texas Master Naturalist program develops local teams of "master volunteers" to provide educational and outreach services aimed at the better management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. The Texas Master Naturalist program is a partnership between the Texas Cooperative Extension Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife.

Our mission: is to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers who provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural area within our community ."