LWI wishes to welcome the following new members to the club. We sincerely hope you find it worthwhile and enjoy all the club offers. There are the monthly meetings, regular outings plus the opportunity to serve on various committees, or to assist in a variety of other ways.

Nov. 2002. Kenneth Gilmour and Cindy Phillips; Sandy MacKintosh; Mary Marg McGrail; Richard and Janice Maxfield; Bob, Mary and Pat Carson; Jim and Carolyn Bragg; Lori, David, Allanah and Shannon Vokes; Mary Martin; Kennon Johnson; Tara and Frank Jessop.

Jan. 2003. Steve Arnold; Imperial Oil Ltd.; Nova Chemicals

From: Sabrina Bowman
To: dianhase@csource.net

Dear Ms. Haselmayer

My name is Sabrina Bowman, and I am the public relations assistant at Earth Day Canada. Earth Day Canada is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping citizens take action on a local scale in order to help protect and respect the environment

One of the main ways that we do this is through our volunteer Earth Day Coordinators. These coordinators network with community partners, promote and track Earth Day projects and events, report back to our office on what is happening in their community, and can stage set up a community event for Earth Day. Earth Day Canada assists the coordinators by providing resources, networking assistance, support, and fundraising opportunities. Unfortunately, Krista Mroz of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, the ED Coordinator in your area, is no longer able to hold that position. However, she suggested that we contact your organization to see if anyone is interested in getting involved with Earth Day as an Earth Day Coordinator.

ED: Coordinators are valuable to us and to their community. They become environmental leaders, and are an important environmental resource in their community. If anyone in your organization, or anyone you know of in your community would like to get involved, please have them email me as soon as possible. If you would like more information, feel free to check out our website at www.earthday.ca

Sincerely,
Sabrina Bowman
Public Relations Assistant
Earth Day Canada .

From: ROBERT TREMAIN
btremain@sympatico.ca

Come out and enjoy the Return of the Swans at the Lambton Heritage Museum. March 8-30. There will be displays, videos, a tearoom, and children's craft activities, daily 10 -5. Everyone

Thanks.

Bob Tremain

LWI members may recall that this is a program carried out by the Federation of Ontario Naturalists (F.O.N.) and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (N.C.C.) and is funded by the Trillium Foundation. It involves individuals working in a hands-on manner on conservation projects. At the January indoor meeting Tom Chatterton announced a project to plan and organize a deer count at Pinery Provincial Park March 19-22. This is not the actual count but is to arrange and set up the count which will be held later. Anyone interested in participating should contact Tom at 627-2986 or at

Also keep in mind an upcoming VFN project at the Van Valkenburg property under the auspices of LWI in June, about which more later.

FON Conservation Awards:

March 15, 2003 is the deadline for FON Conservation Awards nominations. With its member groups and individual members, FON has made a significant impact on conservation issues in communities across Ontario and continues to build a natural legacy for future generations. FON's conservation awards are an opportunity to recognize individuals and organizations who have made a significant contribution to conservation. In some instances, it is in recognition of years of hard work, in other cases it is for a specific act that helped improve our natural heritage. Members are encouraged to nominate those individuals, groups, government agencies, and corporations who have worked to protect Ontario's nature. Recipients of the awards will be honoured at FON's Annual General Meeting & Conference, Port Elgin, May 23-25, 2003 (a list of the awards can be found below)

Nomination Procedure: Nominations must be submitted on an official form, which is available by writing or calling FON or downloaded from our web site Download the 2002 Awards Nomination form PDF Get Acrobat Reader. Non-FON members or groups are eligible for nomination, but must be nominated by a member group or two current FON members. A person may be nominated for more than one award; however, each nomination must be submitted on a separate form. Nominators must provide four (4) copies of any supporting material with their submission.

Nominations must be received by March 15, 2003. Awards are given at the discretion of the Awards Committee. Not all awards will be presented each year.

Please forward nominations, including supporting material, by mail or courier to Chair, FON Awards Committee Federation of Ontario Naturalists, 355 Lesmill Road, Don Mills, ON M3B 2W8

Awards

FON Achievement Award

For an individual member of the FON who has made an outstanding contribution to the activities of the organization. It may have been a significant effort over a long period or intensive work over a shorter period.

W.E. Saunders Natural History Award

For an individual or group, such as a citizens' group, natural history club, or coalition that has achieved a significant goal related to some aspect of natural history or natural science research.

Lee Symmes Municipal Award

For outstanding leadership and achievement in planning or programs that protect or regenerate the natural environment within a community. This award is customarily made to a local or regional government, municipal agency or partnership that demonstrates exceptional leadership in conservation within the community.

J.R. Dymond Public Service Award

For an individual, group or government agency in recognition of distinguished public service that has resulted in an exceptional environmental achievement. The accomplishment may have been a change in legislation or policy, the preservation of a species or areas of conservation concern or leadership in a particular environmental issue>

Carl Nunn Media and Conservation Award

For an individual, team or media outlet that engages in particularly effective communication on one or more conservation issues. Nominees can be from print, radio, television or web site organizations.

FON Corporate Award

For a corporation active in Ontario that has shown outstanding leadership or sound action in the environmental field. The award is given to a corporation for protecting the natural environment either directly through corporate policies or through a major initiative(s), such as the creation of parks or the protection of wetlands or forested areas, or indirectly through other undertakings that have stimulated significant environmental actions.

W.W.H. Gunn Conservation Award

For an individual who has given outstanding personal service to nature conservation over a number of years and has not only demonstrated unusual commitment but has achieved exceptional results. This individual might have acted alone or as the leader of a group>

Richards Education Award

For an individual who has made a special contribution to natural history education and communication. This person has succeeded in helping us understand the natural world and become enthusiastic supporters of conservation and environmental protection as a result. The nominee might have acted as a volunteer or, in exceptional circumstances, been employed to do so.

Mark your calendars for May 23 - 25, 2002 as the 2003 FON Conference will be an exciting event! The Federation of Ontario Naturalists and the local hosts the Owen Sound Field Naturalists are pleased to announce FON's 2003 Annual General Meeting and Conference, May 23 - 25, 2003. The theme is From Georgian Cliffs to Huron Shores. Join us in Port Elgin, and explore the ecological diversity of one of Ontario's top destinations, the Bruce Peninsula.

Provincial Issues Day will encourage delegates to participate in discussions about the Walkerton enquiry and protecting water quality through smarter land use planning. You will also be given the opportunity to comment on some of FON's programs that address current provincial issues. Saturday will look at the Global Importance and Local Significance of the Bruce Peninsula. On Sunday, the field trips will provide an opportunity to visit a number of the natural areas along the Bruce Peninsula where you can go canoeing, looking for ferns and orchids or birding.

From planning a smarter future for Ontario to adding birds to a life list; from stargazing to exploring the wilds of the Bruce; from discussions on FON's project priorities to slide shows, there is something for everybody at the conference. The brochure, illustrating the program for the conference will be available in March.

Contact Jennifer Baker at 1-800-440-2366 ext. 224.

Join the International Joint Commission on September 19-20, 2003 in Ann Arbor, Michigan for the 2003 IJC Biennial Meeting on Great Lakes Water Quality.

Mark your calendars now!

The IJC's Biennial Meeting has long been a forum for the Great Lakes and the people who care about their future. Our goal is to educate the Great Lakes basin community and energize its citizens to work together, along with governments at all levels, to carry out the purpose of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. At the meeting, basin residents will come together to celebrate progress, assess and comment on current action, share strategies for restoring the Areas of Concern and discuss new and emerging issues regarding the cleanup and restoration of the greatest body of fresh water on Earth.

For more information contact: DayJ@windsor.ijc.org