The Manitoba Chapter Wildlife Society 
Newsletter

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PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Bruce Pollard is making progress on revisions to the Chapter’s bylaws.  The revised bylaws will be sent to members with the January newsletter for your comments.  If everything goes according to schedule, members will vote on the revised bylaws at the AGM.  We had hoped to have recommendations from the Chapter’s ad-hoc advocacy committee in this issue of the newsletter.  Instead, a discussion of the Chapter’s position on advocacy will be scheduled as a special session at the Delta Getaway Weekend.

I was disappointed that our Telemetry Workshop scheduled for September was cancelled, primarily due to time conflicts.  The executive is still committed to holding a workshop and we are working to make this happen sometime next Fall. The workshop should provide valuable theoretical and hands-on telemetry experience for Manitoba’s wildlife professionals and students. If you are looking for telemetry information check out the inaugural online newsletter of The Wildlife Society’s Geographic Information System, Remote Sensing and Telemetry Working Group at: http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/tws-gis.

On Page 4-5 you’ll find results from the membership survey conducted one year ago.  Responses highlight the need for the Chapter to better meet members needs and to better promote itself.  It is frustrating to see a majority on non-members indicate that they are ‘too
busy’ as a reason for not belonging.  As the article points out, being a member doesn’t involve lots of time.  In fact, I often feel that we should be offering members more activities than we currently do.  Please help us encourage non-members to join by sharing this newsletter with them.  While we encourage all members to get involved, the newsletter is just one of the many tangible benefits of Chapter membership that doesn’t involve participation.

On behalf of all Chapter members I wish Bob Jones and Herb Goulden all the best in retirement.  Bob has been especially active in the Chapter, most recently serving as the Student Bursary Award and Conservationist of the Year Committees! After 3 years as newsletter editor this is Amy Kearns last issue. Thanks Amy for a job well done.  We wish you well on completion of your MNRM and search for a permanent job.

On a sad note, the Chapter extends its condolences to the family of Karen Palidwor.  Karen served as Chapter newsletter editor in 1994 and 1995.  She died tragically in a car accident in early November.  A memorial scholarship has been established in her name.  The January newsletter will include a biography for Karen.

I hope that everyone will find time to join fellow members at Chapter events planned over the next several months. Chapter executive meetings are open to all members.  Please come and join us at our next meeting in the Natural Resources Institute conference room, University of Manitoba on Tuesday, January 12th at 5:00pm.  If you have an article or announcement to contribute to the next newsletter (late January 1999) please contact any executive member. Thanks, Merry Christmas and have a good winter. - Bob Emery

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Joint Federal/Provincial Information Session on the National Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk

The session began with a brief overview of the progress of the proposed Endangered Species Act.  Since the Act was drafted a number of amendments to the Accord have been proposed. These amendments include greater emphasis and recognition on stewardship, an agreement to implement a national process for regular monitoring of the status of all wild species, and a commitment to issue a national wildlife status report by the year 2000.

To meet the national framework goal of preventing any species from becoming extinct as a consequence of human activities the framework has been divided into six components:

· Cooperation and Management at the Appropriate Scale
· Prevention
· Monitoring the General Status of Wild Species
· Assessment and Designation of Species at Risk Nationally
· Recovery of Species at Risk Nationally
· Assessment, Designation, and Recovery of Species at Risk Provincially/Regionally

Each component has individual terms of reference and represents an essential facet of the overall effort of conserving wildlife diversity and Canada’s bio-diversity strategy.

In addition, new terms of reference have been devised for the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).  COSEWIC will review scientific data on wildlife suspected of being in jeopardy, assess species at risk, and will report their findings directly to a newly created entity called the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC).  The CESCC will include wildlife ministers and represent those in position to react immediately when a species is listed.   COSEWIC will continue in their independent scientific process, but will now have the opportunity to report directly to Wildlife Ministers.

Other highlights of the National Accord include a proposed safety net where federal/provincial/ territorial governments would agree to provide within their jurisdiction similar legal prohibitions for the killing or harming of an individual of any listed COSEWIC threatened or endangered species or the destruction or harm of its residence. - Rhian Christie

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CHAPTER NEWS

Annual General Meeting 1999
The 1999 Manitoba Chapter Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday evening, March 12, 1999.  The location will be announced in the January newsletter.  There will be a keynote speaker, a presentation by last year’s student bursary winner and several award presentations.  We will vote on the updated Chapter by-laws, vote in a new executive and have a fun-filled evening. So plan on attending!

Central Mountains and Plains Section of the Wildlife Society Annual Summer Meeting – August 2000
The Manitoba Chapter of the Wildlife Society will host the Annual General Meeting of the Central Mountains and Plains Section of the Wildlife Society in early August 2000. This is a 2-3 day meeting and will feature several paper sessions, field trips and evening get-togethers.  An information/organizational meeting is planned as part of the Delta Getaway Weekend in February.  CMPS 2000, as we’re calling it, will require many volunteers to be successful. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact any executive member.

New Newsletter Editor Needed
 The Manitoba Chapter of the Wildlife Society is looking for a new newsletter editor.  Our current editor, Amy Kearns, is leaving the province. The job entails writing, soliciting and editing articles, overseeing the layout of the newsletter and attending executive meetings.  The newsletter is published a maximum of four times per year. If you are interested in the job please contact any executive member.

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Membership Survey Results -

During the Fall of 1997 a survey was sent to a subset of current Manitoba Chapter members, past-members and potential members wanting to know "Why are you not a member?"  Roughly 210 surveys were distributed. The intent of the questionnaire was to better understand what it is that wildlife professionals in the province are seeking in their professional organization so that we can better serve current members, and attract back past and new members. Responses to questions 8 and 9 are summarized on page 5. Responses to question 8 are divided into current and non-members.  Question 9 was applicable to non-members only.

Question 8 asked respondents to rank the benefits of belonging to the Chapter. Both members and non-members ranked ‘communication and exchange of ideas with peers and other members’, and ‘establishing professional contacts’ as the greatest benefits to belonging to the Manitoba Chapter. Non-members differed from current members by giving higher rankings to ‘enhancement of knowledge and technical capabilities’, ‘professional development’ and ‘scientific publications’, while members ranked ‘advocating the use of sound biological information for wildlife policy decisions’ and the ‘social aspects’ of belonging to the chapter higher than non-members.

Question 9 asked non-members ‘what are your reasons for not becoming a Chapter member’.  Respondents could circle more than one response.  Forty-one non-members indicated that they were either ‘too busy’ or ‘cannot attend events’ as reasons for not belonging to the
Chapter.  ‘Did not know about Chapter/ Don’t know how to join/ Let membership slide/ Not contacted for renewal’ were reasons cited by 28 respondents.  Thirteen respondents did not see the need to join the Chapter.

From responses to Question 9 it is clear that the Chapter must do a better job promoting itself.  All the benefits identified in Question 8 are good reasons to belong to the Chapter.  The Chapter must ensure that current members are adequately served. Our membership list has been improved and we hope that such problems as failure to receive newsletters or failure to receive renewal notices are things of the past. A misconception expressed by many non-members is that Chapter membership demands lots of time. We are all busy.  But the reality is that the Chapter sponsors relatively few events each year.  In fact, we think that we should be doing much more. Even serving on the Chapter executive doesn’t require lots of time. For those members unable to attend events membership includes, among other things, this newsletter.

The survey was useful, and will form the basis for improving the Chapter over the next several years.  If you have any comments regarding the survey results we’d value your input.  Please contact any executive member.  We encourage everyone to become involved in your Chapter.

Question 8: Rank the following benefits or program areas in order of your preference.

Score
Benefits of belonging tothe Manitoba Chapter Non-Members(61 responses) Members(19 responses)
Communication with peers 322 (1)a 188 (1)
Professional contacts 305 (2) 150 (2)
Enhancement of knowledge 298 (3) 106 (7)
Stewardship of resources 259 (4) 125 (4)
Development of professional standards 222 (5) 120 (5)
Advocating biologically based decisions 220 (6) 150 (2)
Professional development 209 (7) 101 (8)
Scientific publications 207 (8) 86 (10)
Access to conferences and workshops 194 (9) 92 (9)
Social 134 (10) 111 (6)
Certification 112 (11) 32 (11)
Other: not specified 28 (12) 27 (12)
a number in brackets beside score is the ranking with highest priority as 1 and lowest priority as 12

Question 9: If you are not currently a member of the Manitoba Chapter, what are the reasons for not becoming a member?

Reason Number of circled responses
Too Busy 33
Did not know about Chapter / Don’t know how to join 15
Let membership slide / Not contacted for renewal 13
Do not see the need to join 13
Cannot attend events 8
Have lost interest in TWS 7
Other: interest or job shifted away from wildlife field 3
Other: Too much emphasis on students and not enough on professionals 2
Other: Unclear of organization and policies 2
Too expensive 1
Concerned about negative consequences if join 1
Have personal conflicts with TWS’s philosophy or policies 1
Other: Live too far away 1
Alienated with society as a result of it’s actions, policies or affiliations 0

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Partners in Flight – Manitoba: New Home Page

Karen Palidwor Memorial Scholarship

Contributions can be sent to:
Ms. Ewa Morphy
Awards Establishment Co-ordinator
Room 421
University Centre
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2

Please make your cheque payable to:
"The University of Manitoba".  Indicate on the cheque that your contribution is for the Karen Palidwor Memorial Award. The University will ensure that you are sent a tax receipt.  Thank you for your consideration.  If you have any questions please call Trent Hreno at (204) 945-7080 or Rick Baydack (204) 474-6776.

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Announcements

Featuring technical paper and poster sessions, workshops, working group meetings, student activities, exhibits, photo contests and field trips. For more information call (301) 897-9770 or e-mail tws@wildlife.org.  Or visit the conference website at http://www.wildlife.org

FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS

23rd International Prairie Grouse Technical Council Meeting

September 20-23, 1999

The 23rd International Prairie Grouse Technical Council Meeting is now accepting abstracts.
Abstracts will be accepted until June 30, 1999.

Please forward materials to:
Dr. Rick Baydack, Chair
Prairie Grouse Technical Council
Natural Resources Institute
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
Phone: 204-474-6776
Fax: 204-261-0038
E-mail: baydack@ms.umanitoba.ca

Persons submitting abstracts will be notified of their receipt. Please provide an e-mail address to facilitate processing.  If there are multiple authors, please underline the presenters name.
All contributed papers will be scheduled at 20- minute intervals. Speakers will be notified of the day, time and location of your presentations. Please indicate audio-visual needs in your submission.

Abstracts should follow the format provided in the Journal of Wildlife Management and should include a statement of objectives, a brief description of the methods used, presentation results and a summary/conclusion. Abstracts should be sent electronically, either as an e-mail attachment or via a 3.5" floppy disc.  Please indicate file name and file type in all communications.
 

Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve
Metadata Research Project

The Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve (RMBR) is a United Nations-designated area in western Manitoba consisting of Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) and the rural municipalities whose boundaries are contiguous with it.  There are currently over 300 Biosphere Reserves worldwide, and 6 in Canada.  Each consists of a core area where ecological processes continue with minimum human intervention, and a surrounding area of cooperation where solutions to environmental concerns are sought.  The core area, RMNP in this case, provides a natural baseline against which human-caused environmental change may be measured.  The RMBR is managed by a volunteer committee appointed by the municipalities.  Representatives from RMNP and the Provincial Government provide advice and logistical support.

The RMBR is conducting a survey to compile information on current and past research within the Biosphere Reserve.   Survey results will be available as part of a metadata system which will be useful for future research.  If you are aware of any research that has been conducted within RMBR please contact Geraldine David for a survey questionnaire at (204) 848-7244 or e-mail: geraldine_david@pch.gc.ca
- Geraldine David

Dr. Bob (Jones) Retires

Yes he decided to call it quits after over 25 years with the Department of Natural Resources. A large crowd got together in Portage la Prairie on October 23rd to acknowledge Bob's many accomplishments in the wildlife arena. Guest speakers highlighted Bob's work with countless research and management efforts focusing on birds and habitat. Bob's special efforts with the general public and students have had a tremendous influence on people's understanding and appreciation of nature.

The executive would like to thank Bob for his efforts with the Manitoba Chapter since its inception over 25 years ago. Bob has been one of the most active players within our Chapter and has graciously agreed to continue to evaluate student proposals for the Rich Goulden Student Bursary for 1999.
- Jim Fisher

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1998/99 Chapter Executive

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