10 December 2019 – Clint Perkins, County Extension Agent, presented a of-interest-only check to the Smith County commissioners for Volunteer Service Hours. The check represents a total in excess of 20,000 service hours given by volunteers of the Master Gardeners and the Master Naturalists. Should the county pay for these services, it would amount to over $515,000 this fiscal year. Representing the East Texas Chapter Master Naturalists were Vickie Betts, Kathy Riffe, Dale Wade, Phil Guthrie, Paul Wick, and Beverly Guthrie. Congratulations to Texas Agrilife and continued success of their Masters programs.
Longview Arboretum and Nature Center
We have a brand new activity approved for service at the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center, 706 West Cotton Street, Longview, 75604. Trainings for volunteers are taking place now with the schedule listed below. If you want to volunteer at this wonderful new venue, please contact Jan Barth at [email protected]. Jan will be making a volunteer list for those who want to work in various opportunities at LANC as it develops. Docents and those who enjoy teaching children about Nature are particularly needed, but there are trail building, plant ID and other jobs to be done. The training will be approved for AT and all work for the venue will be approved for VSH. If you would like to know more about this opportunity, please check out the website at longviewarboretum.org or call Stephen Shamblee at 903/212-2181. Be sure you contact Jan so you will get on her list for receiving future notices that do not need to go out to the whole Chapter.
For now these are the dates of trainings:
“We are holding Volunteer Training Classes at our Nature Center, 706 West Cotton Street, Longview, Texas.
Friday, November 29; 10am-Noon
AND 2pm-4pm
Saturday, November 30; 2pm-4pm
Wednesday , December 4; 10-Noon
Thursday, December 5: 2pm-4pm “