On Thursday, May 17th, CAMN celebrated our year with a Sumptuous Summer Salad and Sandwich Pot Luck at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.  As usual, members brought a wonderful variety of delicious foods, thanks to the organizational skills of our Enhancinator,  Eileen Oldag and her crew.  Attended by CAMN members, family members as well as visiting dignitaries such as Neal Curry and Hollie Lisk from the Witt Stephens Nature Center and Ron Salley from PMSP, everyone had a great time celebrating each other's accomplishments.  The program opened with the graduation of 28 Naturalists in Training:  Dick and Lori Babeu, Jim Baggenstoss, Diane Brownlee, Jim DeVries, Carolyn and Alan Eastham, Carletta Edmondson, Cecil Garner, Kristen and Lew Huddle, Jeff and Sherry Lee, Monica Mabry, Margaret Malek, Amanda McKay, Barbara and Phil Nierstheimer, Dave Oulette, Linda Parsons, Linda Pizer, Tina Pryor, Grace Ellen Rice, Deb Sanderson, Patrick Solomon, Andrea Victor, Sharon Otwell (2011 class) and Mary Smith (2011 class).  Congratulations, Graduates!!  And special thanks to Darcia Routh and the Curriculum team for the wonderful job that you did this year!

 First Year certification was then recognized. 18 folks were recognized and received their certification pins!  2nd year certification pins (the white tail deer) were awarded to four members and six 3rd year pins were awarded (pine tree).  Then the "elite" awards for 4th and 5th year were awarded.  Receiving the box turtle pin for their 4th certification were Katherine Becker, Martha Bowden, Jay Justice, Art Lovett, and Darcia Routh.  Dave Danner and Bruce Walls also earned their box turtle pin but were unable to attend the festivities.  The coveted Diana Fritillary pin was awarded to Phoebe Haddad, Ann Owen and Bill Toland.  Absent recipients were Don Higgins and Bert Turner.  Bert actually should have received his pin last year, because he had been a "fast-tracker" who certified as a NiT!     Those who were recognized with the 5 year pin also received letters of recognition from Governor Beebe.  Our meeting was also graced by those who now have 6 certification years:  Tom Neale and Vera Bowie.                                                                                                                    

Those who had achieved more than 100 volunteers hours this year were then recognized.  Nine CAMNer's contributed more than 100 but less than 250 hours,  five CAMNer's contributed more than 250 but less than 500 hours, and of course, the over 500 hour crowd was small:  Bill Toland and Bert Turner!

Each year a member is selected to be recognized as Naturalist of the Year.  The selection committee is made up of the previous winners of this award:  Tom Neale, Bert Turner, Bill Toland, Martha Bowden, Vera Bowie, and Katherine Becker.  This year the beautiful plaque was awarded to Darcia Routh for the phenomenal work she has done as the VP of Curriculum.  Darcia has truly made her mark on our chapter through her work and that is in evidence as you see the enthusiastic involvement of "her" NiTs.  Congratulations, Darcia!!!

The outgoing board members were recognized and thanked, and the outgoing president (yours truly) was completely blown away by the thank you's I received.   Jerry Meeks presented me with the most beautiful award I think I have ever seen - what a gracious and warm thank you from our membership!  The 2012-2013 Board was presented and elected and we wish them well!  Thanks to everyone who made the evening a success and thanks to all the volunteers who make our chapter's work so fulfilling and rewarding.  For additional pictures of this event:  http://home.arkansasmasternaturalists.org/index.php?option=com_joomgallery&func=viewcategory&catid=95&Itemid=50