This webinar is part of the 2023 Virginia Master. Naturalist Leadership Month series for chapter board members.
Description: Last year, we held a session on how VMN chapters can best engage with two of our sponsoring agencies (Virginia State Parks and DOF.) This year, we continue with a focus on Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). VCE is the lead sponsor of our program, has a presence all over Virginia, and advances the wellbeing of all Virginians by putting research-based knowledge into action. Agency representatives will join us to talk about the breadth of Extension’s work, Extension programming related to natural resources, the roles for volunteers in the organizations, and suggestions for developing relationships between VMN chapters and local Extension offices.

Presenters: Dave Close is the Specialist for Volunteer Engagement for Virginia Cooperative Extension. Previously, he served as the State Extension Specialist for Consumer Horticulture and the State Program Director for the Extension Master Gardener Program. Before moving to Virginia Tech, Dave was the Community Forestry Coordinator for the southern 36 counties in Illinois working jointly with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Southern Illinois University assisting small municipalities to manage their community forest resources. He received an M.S. degree in Forest Ecology from Southern Illinois University and has post-masters course work in Botany, Environmental Resources and Policy, and Leadership.

Dan Goerlich is Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Associate Director for Economy, Community, and Food. Prior to that role, he was the District Program Leader and the Forestry and Natural Resources agent for VCE’s Central District. He has a doctoral degree in Forestry from Virginia Tech.

Michelle Prysby and Tiffany Brown serve as hosts/moderators.