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FMNP
Staff
- Dr. Martin Main,
Program Leader
Dr. Main began developing the Florida Master Naturalist Program in 1999.
Following a 1998 south Florida eco-heritage workshop he realized the great
need for a professional development educational program on Florida's Natural
History. We asked Dr. Main, "When the FMNP was still on the drawing
board, did you think that it was going to be as successful as it is today?"
he replied,
"I believe that most people are genuinely interested and concerned
about nature and, that as they learn more, they're level of interest
and concern increases. I was surprised, however, at the tremendous
response to the FMNP, which I think is a very good indication that
Floridians will work hard to ensure healthy environments, clean
water, and diverse wildlife will be available for future generations
to enjoy."
Dr. Main received the 2005 National Wetlands education
and outreach
award
for his exemplary work on the FMNP.
- Ginger M. Allen, Program Coordinator
Ginger was working with the natural resource and economics department for UF/IFAS,
but wanted to work more directly with wildlife research and education.
Luckily Dr. Main needed a new assistant with both kinds of skills and Ginger
began working with him in 1999 as he began the FMNP.
- After 5 years of
assisting with curriculum development, instructor training, and program orchestration we
asked Ginger to reflect back.
- " Dr. Main had a brilliant vision and the
drive, tough skin, and tactical skills to pull this massive program
together. I feel very fortunate to be his right hand, we have worked very
hard and fortunately have a great group of instructors, and graduates who
feel just as passionate about the FMNP. This support network along
with the quality curriculum which Dr. Main envisioned has lead to the great
success of the FMNP".
We would like to acknowledge the following University of Florida
personnel for their contributions to the FMNP:
- Shelby Tatlock
Sowder, FMNP conference coordinator, Office of Conferences and Institutes (OCI)
UF/IFAS. Shelby and the OCI office have worked with the FMNP since the first
class went online in 2001. Shelby makes sure the finances, class logistics
and materials are all in order. Her professionalism and enthusiasm make her
an important asset to the FMNP.
- Julie Carson, UF/IFAS, SWFREC media coordinator. Julie has helped
us draft press releases, develop booth displays, promote the program, and
edits our FMNP newsletters, flyers and brochures. Julie also helped us
publish several dozen documents which we developed for the FMNP curriculum.
- Buddy Walker, UF/IFAS, SWFREC webpage coordinator. Buddy
developed the template for this FMNP website. He also assists us with our
online surveys, online graduate database, online image gallery, web tracking
information, and formats our quarterly newsletter for online publication.
FMNP
Contact Info Potential Instructors and Students Please Read the
following information sheets for answers to common questions:
For specific program questions (class topics, class
structure, student workbooks/certification, final projects, etc.),
newsletter/final project submissions, send an e-mail to
gmallen@ufl.edu or call the FMNP program coordinator Ginger Allen at 239-658-3400.
FMNP
Physical
Mailing Address: SWFREC 2686 SR 29 N Immokalee, FL 34142
For registration or financial questions
(confirmations, cancellations, medical refunds, purchase order procedures,
etc.) please contact the FMNP conference coordinator: Shelby Tatlock
Sowder, Office of Conferences and Institutes (OCI) University of
Florida/IFAS, PO Box 110750 Building 639, Mowry Road Gainesville, FL
32611-0750
PHONE: 352-392-5930 / FAX 352-392-9734 EMAIL:
msowder@ufl.edu
For specific class questions (when, where, what) please
contact the Instructor
who is teaching your chosen class.
To find an instructor click on "Training Locations".
To update your graduate contact information
or to send us a Graduate story
for our FMNP newsletter send an e-mail to the program coordinator
gmallen@ufl.edu
Ginger Allen.
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