AMI Message Board

Association of Missouri Geologists October 16-17, 2009

EugeneVale — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:42:08 GMT

For further information see: http://www.missourigeologists.org/

Position at Boone Home

EugeneVale — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:38:50 GMT

Manus, Grady wrote:

Please pass the word around to any interested parties:

We are looking for a part-time seasonal (about 32 hrs week), Interpreter. The position will start immediately and run through mid December with possibility of renewal in early spring. There is a chance for some intermittent hours between December and the end of February on an on-call basis.

    *Must be able to work a flexible schedule including weekends
    *Be neat in appearance
    *Speak well
    *Like working with people
    *Physically able and willing to walk through out the day, climb stairs and work outside briefly in inclement weather
    *Be willing and able to read and learn history of the Daniel Boone Family, home, and era

Please contact Grady Manus if interested.

Grady Manus, Chief of Interpretation
Lindenwood University
Boone Home and Boonesfield Village
636.798.2005
GManus@lindenwood.edu

Forum: Jobs

Fall on the Farm

prairieprincess21 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:04:02 GMT

Please join us for Fall on the Farm on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. as we celebrate the harvest season of the year!!! Our event involves lots of living history demonstrations, and can be fun for all ages! For more information, please feel free to call 816-580-3387.

Forum: Events

Themes are overrated

JamieHubert — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:20:21 GMT

Now that I have your attention...

Quote:

Posted by Doug Knapp in Communication Techniques on July 14th, 2009

In the interpretive profession this statement is as close to heresy as one can get. To be sure, several resource sites studied by the author were able to offer programs that communicated themes that were retained in the long term. However, the techniques / experiences that brought the theme to life were more important than an offering of key words and/or phrases. Several examples can be noted to prove the point:

One of the finest attempts at offering a theme came from an interpreter at Denali National Park Visitor Center. The ranger offered a parallel of animals at play and children games using slides of her childhood which was simply superb. Unfortunately, virtually none of the visitors interviewed 18 months after the program recalled the theme and if there was any retention regarding the topic it was Denali animals in general. In fact, most recall was of TOUCHING antlers and furs!

On the other hand, one of the most successful programs to carry over their theme was in the same Park (Denali) using a much more dramatic program tool sled dogs. The results clearly indicate that the impact of seeing, hearing, and in some cases touching the dogs was the hook to carry the theme of the importance of dogs in Denalis history.

A third example of the technique overriding the theme occurred with a study at the Hoosier National Forest. Since the USFS interpreter was also a graduate student with the university, program themes and techniques were closely developed with the author. Despite thorough front loading of the primary themes of the program with the students, the results of interviews four months after the program were consistent with other studies that saw the loss of theme retention. Below is a summary of the findings from this research that reflects the technique over content observation.

An emerging theme that came from the analysis of the categories was that student actions formed the basis for recollection of the interpretive program and those actions were important in influencing knowledge and attitude. An experience that has students catching, looking, searching, chasing, acting, etc will be more successful in its retention than a program that is didactic and passive.

Passive experiences associated with the interpretive program had an opposite impact. Cognitive information such as ecological concepts, wilderness information, and environmental issue information was vaguely recalled at best and in many cases misunderstood or misinterpreted. (Knapp & Poff, 2001)

These examples are not offered to suggest themes should not be developed of course they should! However, the research shows that if a theme is to carry with the visitor beyond the boundaries of the resource site, the techniques to convey this information should be viewed as important as the message. Unfortunately, most interpreters rely on mini lectures and verbal diatribes to convey the theme in the hopes that words alone will resonate in the visitor long after they participate in a program. UNFORTUNATELY, IN A MAJORITY OF STUDIES CONDUCTED BY THE AUTHOR, VERBAL SHARING OF THEMES RESULTED IN LITTLE TO NO LONG TERM RETAINMENT. Hence, program themes must be integrated with dynamic, interactive, and relevant approaches.

I think Doug is spot-on. The more that we can have an exciting, hands-on program, the more retention they will have. I think some people lose sight of that and get a little "tunnel vision" when they spend all their energy developing that "perfect" theme. I would even argue that the technique is MORE important than the theme.

Forum: General Discussion

Hoping to revive the forum!

JamieHubert — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:12:34 GMT

So this board has gone quiet-what a shame, this could be a great resource for interpreters! I'm going to post a few things, see if we can get somethin going folks!

Forum: General Discussion

Eugene

Eugene_Vale — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:58:39 GMT

Yesterday the catheter came out, and we got the pathology report.

There were no surprises. The cancer appeared limited to where we already knew from the biopsy. It was entirely contained within the prostate. Therefore, it looks like we got it all. Time and future PSA test will tell. However, that should mean no radiation treatments.

I still have weeks more convalescence, but things are heading in the right direction.

Forum: General Discussion

Caretaker/Interpreter Positions at Bonniebrook

dakotarussell — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:58:02 GMT

Full time live-in positions available for caretaker and tour guide couple at a historic home near Branson. Candidates must be physically fit, able to use the stairs several times a day and do repairs and maintenance to the home. Lawn and landscaping duties are also included in your list of responsibilities.

You will need to be comfortable in front of 1-50+ people while sharing the history of the property with tour visitors. You will need excellent references and must pass a drug, credit, and background check. A small apartment and utilities are provided, plus a small stipend. Contact Board of Directors, POB 263, Branson, MO 65616 or oneillmuseum@aol.com.

*There's more info on the house and museum at: http://www.roseoneill.org (DWR)

Forum: Jobs

3 removed from MO Endangered Species list

JamieHubert — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:05:57 GMT

Good news! The barn owl, bald eagle and western fox snake have been removed from the Missouri Endangered Species list.

I guess the one that surprises me the most is the barn owl. At one point, we only had 11 nesting pairs left in the state. Ironically, they are doing better because deforestation along the Mississippi River is improving its habitat.

Forum: General Discussion

Mammals in decline

JamieHubert — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:18:26 GMT

This sounds eerily similar to the story we've heard about amphibian decline over this past year or so...

Quote:

Half the world's mammals are declining in population and more than a third probably face extinction, said an update Monday of the "Red List," the most respected inventory of biodiversity.

A comprehensive survey of mammals included in the annual report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which covers more than 44,000 animal and plant species, shows that a quarter of the planet's 5,487 known mammals are clearly at risk of disappearing forever.

But the actual situation may be even grimmer because researchers have been unable to classify the threat level for another 836 mammals due to lack of data.

"In reality, the number of threatened mammals could be as high as 36 percent," said IUCN scientist Jan Schipper, lead author of the mammal survey, in remarks published separately in the US-based journal Science.

The most vulnerable groups are primates, our nearest relatives on the evolutionary ladder, and marine mammals, including several species of whales, dolphins and porpoises.

"Our results paint a bleak picture of the global status of mammals worldwide," said Schipper.

The revised Red List, unveiled at the IUCN's World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, is further evidence that Earth is undergoing the first wave of mass extinction since dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago, many experts say.

Over the last half-billion years, there have only been five other periods of mass extinction.

The Red List classifies plants and animals in one of half-a-dozen categories depending on their survival status.

Nearly 40 percent of 44,838 species catalogued are listed as "threatened" with extinction, with 3,000 of them classified as "critically endangered," meaning they face a very high probability of dying out.

There were a few slivers of good news showing that conservation efforts can prevent a species from slipping into the category from which there is no return: "extinct."

The black-footed Ferret, native to the United States, was moved from "Extinct in the Wild" to "Endangered" after it was successfully introduced into seven U.S. states and Mexico.

The European bison and the wild horse of Mongolia made similar comebacks from the brink starting in the early 1990s.

But these remain exceptions that highlight the need to act before other species populations dwindle beyond the threshold of viability, experts say.

"The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be to prevent future extinctions," said Jane Smart, the head of the IUCN's Species Programme. "We now know what species are threatened, what the threats are and where."

The window of opportunity for great apes and monkey appears to be closing far more quickly that scientists realised, the new study shows.

"I was blown away when I saw the results, even though I was deeply involved in the work," said Michael Hoffman, a mammal expert at Conservation International who helped compile the Red List.

"Nearly 80 percent of primates in Asia are threatened with extinction, overwhelmingly because of hunting and habitat loss."

A voracious appetite in China for traditional medicines and prestige foods is the main driver of primate loss in Southeast Asia, he said.

Sea mammals are also highly vulnerable. "The situation is particularly serious ... for marine species, victims of our increasingly intensive use of the oceans," said Schipper.

Mile-wide fishing nets, vessel strikes, toxic waste and sound pollution from military sonar kill up to 1,000 air-breathing, ocean-dwelling mammals every day, previous research has shown.

There are many drivers of species extinction and all of them stem either directly or indirectly from human activity, scientists say.

Overwhelmingly, the main threat is habitat loss, with hunting and pollution major factors as well.

But climate change is also emerging as a menace.

Species dependant on sea ice such as polar bears and harp seals, for example, are especially vulnerable to shrinking ice cover in the Arctic Circle.

Scientists are also alarmed by "catastrophic declines" in fresh-water amphibians and some mammals caused by poorly understood infections, said Schipper.

More than 60 percent of Tasmanian devils, for example, have been wiped out in the last decade by a disfiguring facial cancer that spreads through physical contact.

"Disease has always had a role to play in affecting populations, but now we are seeing diseases that are highly pathogenic," said Hoffman.

With 11,000 volunteer scientists and more than 1,000 paid staff, the IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the globe to monitor and help manage natural environments.

More than 8,000 ministers, UN officials, NGOs, scientists and business chiefs began brainstorming Sunday for 10 days in the Spanish city of Barcelona on how to brake this loss and steer the world onto a path of sustainable development.

Forum: General Discussion

AMI Awards History

Eugene_Vale — Thur, 25 Sep 2008 18:57:27 GMT

I promised to post this at the AMI Workshop, and so here it is!

Forum: General Discussion

Part Time Seasonal Resource Interpreter Position at Mastodon SHS

maharbm — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:39:52 GMT

If interested please contact the site.

Forum: Jobs

Richard Louv Speaking in Springfield, Oct. 7

dakotarussell — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:03:07 GMT

See attached for details.

Dakota

Forum: Events

Temporary stewardship position

JamieHubert — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:46:22 GMT

While not specifically interpretation related, I do have a position open that would be great experience for anyone wanting to work outdoors.

I have a full time temporary position available on the stewardship crew based out of St. Francois State Park. Duties will include: building and maintaining firelines, assisting with prescribed burns, glade restoration and exotic species control.

Position would start immediately and run through at least the end of April. Can be extended as long as they don't go over 1000 hrs.

If you know anyone who may be interested, please have them contact the park at (573) 358-2173.

Forum: Jobs

Sam H. Ham, Interpreters Workshop

Eugene_Vale — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:23:47 GMT

If you plan to attend the Sam H. Ham, Interpreters Workshop on Tuesday, December 16, 2008, please complete this registration form and send it to George Kastler by Monday, September 29, 2008.

George Kastler

(573) 751-5384

DNR-DSP-RMIP

P.O. Box 176

Jefferson City, MO. 65101

Forum: Events

AMI Scholarship Auction

JamieHubert — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:04:10 GMT

Don't forget to donate an item (or items!) for the AMI scholarship auction this year! We want to keep raising money for young professionals.

Clean out your closets and storage sheds. Clean out your friend's sheds. Just find those interesting and potentially valuable items with you to the conference!

See you there!

Forum: Events