Re: NANFA-- alabama gettaway and such

B.G. Granier (bgkajun_at_worldnet.att.net)
Wed, 25 Sep 2002 12:32:52 -0500

AMEN!

Well said Rob............

BG
----- Original Message -----
From: "Denkhaus, Robert" <DenkhaR_at_ci.fort-worth.tx.us>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 12:17 PM
Subject: RE: NANFA-- alabama gettaway and such

> Traci,
>
> A few comments from someone who you would probably lump into the
middle-aged
> category:
>
> The phenomenon that you are observing is really two-fold but fairly
> representative of this kind of group and can probably be blamed on society
as
> a whole. In my opinion, NANFA is primarily composed of middle-aged folks
> because by middle-age a person probably has a fairly stable job and some
> resources to cover the financial end of a field trip and participating in
the
> hobby. Also, by middle-age there seems to be a bit more leisure time
> available and so participation is easier because the kids are at least
> somewhat grown. This can also be seen in groups such as Audubon where the
> active members tend to be older with sufficient time and money to
participate.
> I see it all the time here at the FWNC&R where our active volunteers
probably
> average 50 years or so. The male part of the equation is, in my opinion,
> related to the object of our interest, i.e. fish. For some reason, fish,
and
> particularly native fish, seem to be more attractive to males. Our local
> Audubon Society and Butterfly Society are dominated by women. I think
that's
> just the way things are.
>
> I think that everyone would agree that NANFA would love to have more young
> whipper-snappers, male or female, participating in the organization and
maybe
> you could help. Could you post some NANFA membership brochures or flyers
> around your campus? If you could get a few extra copies of American
Currents
> to pass out to prospective members, would you do it? (Chris Scharpf, if
you
> are reading this, I would be willing to give Traci my extra BOD copies of
the
> next AC.) NANFA is a membership driven organization and it is up to all
of us
> to diversify the group.
>
> The good news is that the make-up of the group will change and proof of
that
> is all around you in your wildlife classes. Twenty years ago, I was a
> wildlife major. The classes were almost all male. Female wildlifers were
> relatively uncommon. Today, I occasionally get to be a guest lecturer in
> various wildife, biology, and environmental science classes and I see a
much
> higher percentage of women than I ever did as a student.
>
> On another note regarding being a wildlife major...learn about the trees,
the
> soils, the parasites, the history of land use, the environmental laws, and
> everything else that you can. You will someday find that a wildlife
> professional has to sometimes be a forester, a soil scientist, a land use
> planner, a law interpreter, etc. What seems irrelevant today may be the
thing
> that sets you apart from your competition and lands you a job.
>
> Rob Denkhaus
> Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Traci Mount
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 12:43 AM
> > To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> > Subject: NANFA-- alabama gettaway and such
> >
> >
> > Guys,
> >
> > I wish I could go to this kind of thing! Sounds like fun, I
> > however have been spending most of my evenings and weekends
> > doing homework. I realize that it is important that I learn
> > everything there is to know about 130 species of trees, and
> > that I may someday need to find out how much merchantable
> > wood is in a 75' 15" pine tree. I am a wildlife major,
> > however, I am realizing this semester is about TREES.
> > Actually, we did spend 20 min measuring long dead fish in one
> > class, but we are back to trees now. Before I complain about
> > school any more, I do love it. I am outside almost every day
> > for lab. (getting bitten by bugs and measuring trees)
> >
> > I lost my point. I think we should enlist more females and
> > college age people. The idea of me spending a weekend w/
> > middle age men, not many women and no one my age, however fun
> > the fish, is just not acceptable. (I also think that my
> > significant other has something to do with this idea- party pooper!)
> >
> > Yes, we need a younger, more diverse group of fish lovers so
> > that the minority may come forward! AKA me!
> >
> > Am I the only female on the NANFA list? only female under 25?
> > I know there is Travis, but are there any others here that
> > are 20ish?? Speak up, don't be shy!
> >
> > I want to share the moon pies!
> >
> > Traci - on her soapbox. again.
> >
> > ps. its late, what can I say.

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/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
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/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
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/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org