News from Pinellas Chapter FMNP

--- On Fri, 7/25/08, Murphy, Jeanne L <jmurphy@co.pinellas.fl.us> wrote Hello, Our Pinellas Chapter FMNP has been diligently working this spring and summer to restructure itself due to budget changes throughout the county, and specifically at Pinellas County Extension. With my position being eliminated as of October 1, our Pinellas FMNP Chapter has been in a period of change. It has also been determined to continue environmental education outreach and awareness.   The changes from an Extension FMNP Chapter/Wildlife Advisory Board to an independent 501c3 will allow us to raise monies supporting our continued mission of personal growth, environmental education-related community outreach, and socialization. We will continue supporting environmentally-sound county projects, governmental organizations, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations that have a common educational tie, like ours with the UF/IFAS FMNP.   This spring, I stopped sending our monthly chapter meeting agendas and minutes, because they were functioning more as 'work group' organizational notes than as true meeting minutes. However, our July minutes show the tremendous progress that we have made--where we were and where we are heading.   This is an exciting time for our Pinellas Chapter FMNP. We have a new name, Friends of Pinellas Master Naturalists, Inc., and we have new opportunities. We will continue organizing field trips, quarterly programs and regional workshops. As we stretch from our previous happy home at Extension into our new carapace overflowing with opportunities, be assured that this new 501c3 chapter board is working hard for you the FMNP graduates, our community and for Florida 's natural environment. Jeanne      Jeanne Murphy Pinellas County Extension Wildlife Biologist/Extension Education Coordinator Florida Master Naturalist Instructor www.masternaturalist.org 12520 Ulmerton Road Largo, FL 33774  727-582-2461