This page recognizes our Class Graduates.
We have had three classes so far, 24 in the inaugural class of 2008, 22 in the class of 2009, and 13 in the class of 2010. The next class is tentatively scheduled for 2012.
2008 Class Graduation at Apache Pass
24 Graduates:
Seated Front Row, left to right: Lynda Lewis, Lucile Estell, Bonnie George, Sandra O’Donnell, Connie Roddy, Ed Burleson, Phyllis Shuffield, Jack Tumlinson, Tense Tumlinson, and Katherine Bedrich.
Standing Back Row, left to right: Joy Graham, Vivian Dixon, Cindy Bolch, Nancy Soechting, Paula Englehardt, Jim O’Donnell, Kerri Cunningham, Anne Barr, Sandra Dworaczyk, Ed Dworaczyk, Tx Parks and Wildlife Game Warden and Chapter Advisor Mike Mitchell, Paul Unger and Debbie Harris. Not pictured: Ed Voss, Don Travis.
2009 Class Graduation at Peace Lutheran Church, Rockdale
Unfortunately, we did not get a complete class picture of the 22 graduates in the Class of 2009. This group photo was taken at the June campout at Ed Burleson’s ranch, and does include a few other chapter members. Also, a number of individual photos taken during graduation can be seen on our chapter’s PicasaWeb photo site – https://picasaweb.google.com/ElCaminoRealMasterNaturalist/Graduation09.
Graduating members included: Stella Booker, Carolyn Burford, Robert Burnett, Lucy Coward, Joyce Dalley, Lisa Davenport, Pat Holley, Janice Johnson, Toni Lafferty, Lolly Lewis, Dorothy Mayer, Cindy McDaniels, Gary McDaniels, Pamela Neeley, Janice Pelzel, Deborah Stephens, Kim Summers, Rusty Thomas, Cindy Travis, Shawn Walton, Derrellen Zbikowski, and Kenneth Zbikowski.
2010 Class Graduation at Jackie Thornton’s “party barn”
Front: Lisa Davenport (coord.), Michelle Fletcher, Sonny Arnold (State), Eunice Stigall, Traci Scarpinato
Back: Donna Lewis, Kathy Lester, Sue Taylor, Katherine Bedrich (Pres.), Melanie Reed, Jackie Thornton, Vickie Braswell, Rich Cromwell, Lane Stigall, Sandy Braswell
Absent: Barbara Cromwell
Additional graduation photos may be seen on our chapter’s Picasaweb photo album at: https://picasaweb.google.com/ElCaminoRealMasterNaturalist/Graduation2010
Special performances – this class was truly honored with two special events by chapter members – Traci Scarpinato singing “Colors of the Wind”, and Dorothy Mayer reciting her original poem “ECRMN”. Enjoy!
Here’s Traci singing “Colors of the Wind”.
And here are the lyrics to this beautiful song.
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name
You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You’ll learn things you never knew you never knew
Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sunsweet berries of the Earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they’re worth
The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends
Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or let the eagle tell you where he’s been?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
How high will the sycamore grow?
If you cut it down, then you’ll never know
And you’ll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
For whether we are white or copper skinned
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountains
We need to paint with all the colors of the wind
You can own the Earth and still
All you’ll own is Earth until
You can paint with all the colors of the wind
—————–
Here’s the live video of Dorothy’s original poem “ECRMN”.
And here is her poem:
ECRMN
by: Dorothy Mayer
We ponder the stars
We are interested in Mars.
We study all about plants
Invasive species, bryophytes, mosses, lichens,and ants.
We research the bees
And study about trees
We’re not all that into money
We’re more interested in honey.
We collect lots of seeds
For plants some think of as weeds.
We like watching mammals, insects and birds,
While keeping records with pictures and words.
We’ve been known to put our heads together
while we contemplate the weather.
We learn as we go
how we affect the way that things grow.
We attempt to come up with a clue
About what else we might do
To make others aware
About Mother earth they should care.
We don’t really like haste
As it adds to the waste
And, we want a solution
To all the pollution.
We always stay on alert
about the composition of dirt.
And, there’s really no mystery
That we’re into Earth’s history
Even a bone
We cannot leave alone
Until we are able to give a name
to the species from which it came.
We’re anxious to share all that we’ve learned
For knowledge is the prize we’ve earned.
And, did somebody say, there’s a new pin?
That’s awesome, you can count me in.
This by no means covers it all.
My goodness, we do have a ball.
And, since everyone already knows-
I’m ready to go home & shed these clothes.
———————-
And some comments by our invited guest, Sonny Arnold, from the Texas State Master Naturalist Program.
———————-
And Katherine’s introduction of the just graduated new members.
