DRBA Founding Member Retires from Board

Long time board of directors member and one of the DRBA's founding fathers retired from his position on the board this week. Dr. Lindley Butler, Historical Consultant and Professor Emeritus of History, Rockingham Community College, announced his retirement from his seat on the Board of Directors of the Dan River Basin Association. Dr. Butler was born in "the land between the rivers" and grew up on the Smith and the Dan. He has devoted his life to the study, history, and preservation of the unique resources of the Dan River Basin and along with his wife T, was instrumental in bringing together a group of like-minded individuals dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural and natural resources of the 3,300 square mile basin which includes the Dan, Smith, Mayo, Sandy, Bannister and Hyco rivers.

Dr. Butler was recently honored at the July Board of directors meeting with a service award and several framed photographs showcasing his love for the rivers he grew up on.
DRBA President Wayne Kirkpatrick described Dr. Butler as one of the most inspiring and devoted spokesperson for our area rivers and his accomplishments as author and historian have been a key asset to the formation of the Basin Association and in the preservation of its resources for all. Dr. Butler said he grew up on the river and it has always been and always will be huge part of his life.

DRBA staff and board members will miss Dr. Butler's presence on the board but know that he will still be a key member of the organization and hold the highest respect for his accomplishments and dedication. Even though he is retiring from the board to complete work on his recent book, he will still be an intrical resource for all things related to the organization and the future of the Dan River Basin. We thank Dr. Butler and T for their outstanding, and continued service to the Dan River Basin Association

"Trails, and Trusses, and Travelers! Oh my!"

Trusses from the historic Fieldale Iron Bridge are shown above on a truck provided by project sponsor Craddock Logging Supply & Repair. The incorporation of these trusses into a local trail as educational art is just one of the exciting programs that participants will learn about while attending “Trails, and Trusses, and Travelers! Oh My!”

The Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) would like to invite the public to attend a special presentation entitled “Trails, and Trusses, and Travelers! Oh my!” It will be held on Tuesday, July 14th from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Fieldale Community Center.

The presentation, led by Jennifer Doss of DRBA, will showcase places where residents and visitors can enjoy walking, biking, fishing, nature watching, and paddling in Martinsville and Henry County. Participants will also learn about special projects centered on area trails such as the preservation of trusses from the historic Fieldale Iron Bridge and the Adopt-a-Trail program.

If you would like to learn more about the future of our area trails, how they are benefiting our community, and how you can get involved; please attend this informative presentation.

DRBA’s Rivers & Trails project and the Adopt-a-Trail program are funded by a two-year grant from the Harvest Foundation which is dedicated to making Martinsville / Henry County the community of choice by enhancing opportunities and quality of life for all of its citizens.

For more information on these programs or the public presentation, please contact Jennifer Doss at 276-634-2545 or jdoss@danriver.org.

Posted by: Jennifer Doss

Master Naturalist Program to Offer New Class

Come find out about fun and interesting classes to become a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist. A brief overview of Southwestern Piedmont Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program will precede a free public lecture on reptiles.

Jason Gibson, a Danville biology teacher and nature photographer who has served as president of the Virginia Herpetological Society, will be the guest lecturer.

Jason helps to organize events, called bioblitzes in which teams of scientists, volunteers, and community members join forces to find, identify, and learn about as many different species as possible.

These events give adults, kids, and teens the opportunity to join biologists in the field, participate in bona fide research expeditions, and learn from the experts about biodiversity—both around the planet and in our own backyards.

This is a fun and interesting way for communities to learn about the biological diversity of local parks and to better understand how to protect them. Jason often volunteers to identify, document and report reptiles and amphibians on site.

He will share some of the interesting work he is doing with local turtle populations.

Would you like to learn more about Virginia’s natural environment? Would you like to experience the natural beauty of our region on field trips led by specialists in their field of study? The local chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program is offering a great opportunity to gain a broad overview of the biodiversity, local ecosystems, and geographical treasures found in Southwestern Virginia.

Community members are invited to attend a public informational meeting on July 16th at 6:00 pm at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, in the Mr. And Mrs. L. Dudley Walker Lecture Hall. This is an opportunity to meet with current members of the program and to learn more about the program and the upcoming course of study.

During this brief informational meeting, community members can sign up for a course of study that starts on August 18, 2009. Registration can also be made online by filling out the application provided at the chapter website.

Weekly classes will be taught by a variety of guest speakers, who focus in areas of their specific expertise. Training includes forty hours of classroom sessions and field trips to learn more about our natural environment. Other opportunities for advanced training and volunteer service are easily coordinated once basic training is finished to receive certification. After completing these requirements, chapter members may become Certified Virginia Master Naturalists.

The Virginia Master Naturalists Program is part of a statewide plan designed to train and involve volunteers in natural resource education, management, and conservation activities. The Virginia Museum of Natural History is the sponsoring agency for the Southwestern Piedmont Chapter and helps with certifying Virginia Master Naturalists locally.

Additional information can be found by contacting Denny Casey at 276-634-4184.

Contributed by: Lynn Pritchett