Annual Dinner and event Updates

[Dave Small]

2009 Annual Dinner Meeting
Reserve your seat for dinner by contacting Cindy Hartwell (978) 544-5783 or cindyha...@gmail.com by Sunday November 8th

 

v  Wednesday, November 11, 6 p.m. Annual Lasagna Dinner

 

Join us at 6 p.m. for dinner A buffet supper of lasagna with all the fixings Members $10 per person; non-members, $12 per person will be served at 6 p.m., and the free meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Both are open to the public. Reservations are required for the dinner; (even if you told us already please let Cindy know so we can get a good count) please respond to Cindy Hartwell (978) 544-5783 or cindyha...@gmail.com by Sunday November 8th to reserve your spot. The event will also feature an always popular Chinese auction*; participants are encouraged to bring and donate an item for the auction. Location: Liberty Hall, Athol Town Hall, 584 Main Street Athol Ma

*From Wikipedia, A Chinese auction is a type of raffle (actually a combination of raffle and auction) that is typically featured at charity, church festival and numerous other events. Other groups have named it penny social, tricky tray or pick-a-prize to avoid any possible racial overtones. The difference between a raffle and a Chinese auction is that in a raffle with multiple prizes, there is one "hat" from which names are drawn, but in a Chinese auction each prize has its own "hat". This allows ticket buyers to choose which prize to focus on, as opposed to having a first, second, third, etc. prize. In a Chinese auction, bidders are not prospective buyers (as in the conventional English auction). Instead, they buy tickets, which are chances to win items. Bidders may buy as many tickets as they like, and bid them on any item(s) they want by placing them in a basket or other container in front of the item(s) they are trying to win. At the conclusion of bidding, the winning ticket is drawn from the tickets bid on each item, and the item is given to the owner of that ticket. A bidder may increase the chance of winning by buying and bidding more tickets on a specific item. Although there is generally no limit to the number of tickets a given individual may bid on a specific item, the chance of winning depends on the total number of tickets bid by all individuals.

Members wishing to donate a pan of Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Cider, salad or Dessert for the dinner please contact Larry Duprey 978-249-4964 larry_...@hotmail.com

 

 v  Wednesday, November 11, 7 p.m Tom Wessels, "Reading the Forested Landscape" (speaker following dinner free and open to all)

It might be called forest forensics-using clues like the shape of trees, scars on their trunks, the pattern of decay in stumps, or the snags in a pond to interpret the history of the forest. That's what Tom Wessels, author of the best-selling book Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England, will be demonstrating at the annual meeting of the Athol Bird & Nature Club on Wednesday, November 11

Wessels is an ecologist and the founding director of the master's degree program in conservation biology at Antioch University New England. He serves as an ecological consultant to the Rain Forest Alliance's SmartWood Green Certification Program and helped draft green certification assessment guidelines for forest operations here in New England. Wessels' other books include The Granite Landscape, Untamed Vermont, and The Myth of Progress: Toward a Sustainable Future. Wessels will have his books for sale and autographing after the meeting. For the many people who walk or hike in the forests of the North Quabbin, this program will be a literal eye-opener. As one reviewer put it, Wessels helps "New Englanders answer the questions that come to mind as they wander this landscape of stone walls, stunted apple trees, and towering hemlocks." The program is made possible by grants from the Athol and Orange Cultural Councils, local agencies supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. No reservations are necessary for the program.in Liberty Hall, downstairs at the Athol Town Hall.

 

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Event Updates

 

v Wed., Nov. 4; 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Moose: Life History, Ecology and Current Research (at Northfield Mountain)
Join us for a fascinating evening exploring moose in Massachusetts.  Dr. Stephen DeStefano, one of the foremost experts on moose in the Northeast, will share highlights from his current research focusing on their habitat use, distribution and movements.  Steve will discuss how he and his graduate students tag area moose and use high tech equipment to monitor their movements throughout central and western Massachusetts.  The current population estimate is over 1,000 moose in Massachusetts!  This is a great opportunity to learn more about the largest mammal of our Massachusetts' forests and how it uses the landscape.  This free program is co-sponsored with the Athol Bird and Nature Club. 
Stephen DeStefano is Leader of the Massachusetts Cooperative Research Unit and a research professor at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  He directs a program of research, education and service focused on fish and wildlife ecology, as well as human-wildlife interactions and the impact of human activities on wildlife populations.  His work has numerous implications for wildlife management, conservation biology, and recovery of endangered species. For ages 12 and older Fee: FREE   No Pre-registration required. Location:  FirstLight Power's Northfield Mountain Recreation & Environmental, Center 99 Millers Falls Road Northfield, MA 01360

Tuesday, November 10, 8-10 a.m.    Accessible Birding with Joe
Join Joe Superchi on the 2nd Tuesday of the month visiting local sites. Open to birders of all abilities. Meet at the Center. Call ahead for wheelchair van access, 978-248-9491.

Thursday, November 19, 2009, 7 p.m. North Quabbin Garden Club - Flower and Herb Swags

There's something lyrical about a home decorated in natural plant materials for the holidays. Local herbalist Rachel Gonzalez will be showing us how to grow and dry materials and then help us create our own dried flower and herb swags. There is a materials fee of $5. for members, and $10 for non-members. Pre-registration by November 1st is required; sign up at any fall meeting or send in your fee. Meet with us at the Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street in Athol, MA at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 19, 2009.

An affiliate of the Millers River Environmental Center in Athol, the North Quabbin Garden Club formed in 2006 to encourage interest in all phases of home gardening. With efforts to promote better horticultural practices and foster civic beauty, emphasis is placed on use of native plants, organic gardening, and the conservation of natural resources. Monthly meetings are usually held on the third Thursday evening of each month featuring informative speakers or workshop sessions. Members are currently working on a wildlife habitat garden at the Millers River Environmental Center and planning their annual spring sale of perennial plants and specialty items. Guests and new members are always welcome, so join us this month and learn something new about gardening. Meetings are free to members and guests are asked for a $5 donation.

Sat., November 28, 7:30 a.m. Birding Plum Island and Vicinity
Search for late fall and early winter migrants, then enjoy a warm-up meal and camaraderie at the end of the day. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Center for carpooling or call ahead to meet the group at 9 a.m. at Burger King on Rt.110, Salisbury. Joan or Larry Duprey, 978-249-4964.

v  Wednesday, December 10, 7 p.m.     Members' Night at the Center
Come to the Center to share your experiences, trips and photographs with other members.  Plan for about 10-15 minutes, so we'll have time for everyone!

December 19, all day      Christmas Bird Count.
Join this "Citizen Science" project, the longest continuously running bird data in the area. Contact Dave Small for additional information and to participate in this nationwide annual event: 978-413-1772 or da...@dhsmall.net .

 

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Dave Small

Athol, Massachusetts

da...@dhsmall.net

www.dhsmall.net

978-413-1772

 
http://dhsmall.blogspot.com/