From the January 09 Bay Leaf, p. 2
Dear Member,
Your CNPS chapter needs volunteers, as Charli Danielsen noted in the December 2008 Bay Leaf, page 1.
Environmental work involves a broad spectrum of skills, and requires varying amounts of volunteer time, to address the issues which provide opportunities for CNPS to have a beneficial impact.
Below, I identify some of the skills that CNPS can put to excellent use on behalf of native habitat conservation.
If you have any one or more of these skills, the chapter can find a suitable volunteer niche for you. Just email to volunteer@ebcnps.org or leave a message at 510-549-0211, with your name and how best to reach you.
Clerical skills such as note-taking and transcription. There is always something going on that needs to be recorded in order to share valued information more widely. If you have an ability to capture this value on paper (or its electronic equivalent), CNPS can use your time well.
Physical stamina. There are varied opportunities to put your love of physical activity to work in the field. Invasive plant species are a major detriment to conservation of native habitats, and require ongoing monitoring to discover new colonizations, to track the results of past “weeding” efforts, and/or to participate in removal of invasive plants from our preserved habitats.
Artistic Flair. Beauty is in the eye of every CNPS member, but the ability to render the beauty of our native habitats and plants on paper (or T-shirts, or bumper stickers, or sew-on patches, or . . .) is the realm of a few gifted souls. Help us attract more members and resources through art (and its sale).
Photographic skills. Photo documentation of habitat conditions, for ongoing management and monitoring objectives, provides a visual record of habitat changes through time.
Prolific reading capacity. Environmental documents needing public review and comment (e.g., from CNPS) are both abundant and voluminous. People who can tackle such documents handily will find a ready outlet for their reading skills.
Public Speaking Experience. Public agencies involved in formulating environmental policy and management planning are generally required to hold public hearings to receive comments about their plans. CNPS is often involved in such public commentary, but requires more volunteers.
Measurement and observational skills. Data is the cornerstone of CNPS’s ability to assess environmental conditions, and to evaluate proposed land management plans. A lack of data is the usual shortcoming that can be significantly improved through volunteer contributions. The devil is in the details.
Technical or scientific knowledge. Environmental issues generally involve a broad range of matters that require perceptive technical review and public comment. If you have any such skill(s), ask us how they may be applied to CNPS’s conservation efforts.
Any policy, political, or legal skills. Environmental issues also are impacted by public policy, politics and legal constraints and perceptions. If you are a “people person” who likes to participate in these particular areas of activity, then CNPS has volunteer opportunities for you.
Green thumb. Our CNPS chapter raises funds through its plant sales—the plants are raised by our volunteers. If you already have a green thumb, or want to tint your thumb a vivid green, let us know.
Writing Skills. Useful for drafting documents, comments on development proposals, letters to the editor of your local newspaper, newsletter articles, etc.
Fund Raising. If you have fund-raising experience, or a background in development, then your volunteer efforts will be well spent in CNPS.
Peter Rauch