There was also a large article in the sports section of the Minneapolis paper on either Sunday or Monday.
Dennis and Barbara Martin [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharon Stiteler" <[email protected]> To: "mou-net" <[email protected]>; "Mnbird" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 1:08 PM Subject: [mou] Non Game Change Source > I've gotten some emails about where I got my information. Here is > the news blurb that I got from news.google.com. It looks like it > originated from the Pioneer Press and made it into the Grand Forks > Herald: > > Sharon Stiteler > Minneapolis, MN > www.birdchick.com > Bird/Wildlife Observation Specialist for www.eagleoptics.com > > > > > DNR plans changes in Nongame Program > > The Nongame Program at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources > is slated for reorganization, but the changes won't diminish one of > the agency's most popular programs, DNR officials say. > > "There will be changes,"' said Lee Pfannmuller, director of the > agency's Division of Ecological Services, which oversees the programs > that address the needs of popular animals such as loons, trumpeter > swans, peregrine falcons and songbirds. "But I strongly believe in > the (Nongame) program and its mission." > > Started in 1977, the Nongame Program relies on a special checkoff on > state income tax forms for funding. It has grown from one staff > biologist to six field biologists and a $1 million budget. Its > supervisor, Carrol Henderson, is a popular speaker and author of > books on wildlife landscaping and woodworking and birding. > > Henderson was in Costa Rica last week on a birding trip and > unavailable for comment. But Pfannmuller said she was aware staff and > some citizens are concerned about the Nongame Program's future, as > well as Henderson's future with the agency. She said changes in the > Nongame Program are part of an overhaul of the Ecological Services > Division, and the overhaul is still in the proposal stage. > > But one of the ideas is for more Ecological Services staff to report > directly to field regional supervisors, instead of managers in St. > Paul. That includes the six Nongame field biologists who report to > Henderson. She said having Nongame biologists report directly to > field managers will help them coordinate projects with other DNR > field employees. > > "We want to have a voice with what other regional manager teams are > doing," she said. "We would benefit from bringing in their expertise." > > The Nongame Program had been under the umbrella of fish and wildlife > managers. Recently, it was transferred to Ecological Services, a > division that deals with environmental monitoring, research and > management of scientific and natural areas. > > The DNR has decided to keep the Nongame Program with Ecological > Services so the Fish and Wildlife Division can concentrate on its > traditional hunting and fishing programs, Pfannmuller said. > > While it's unlikely Henderson will continue supervising the Nongame > Program, which he founded, "there are no plans for demoting Carrol in > pay or status," Pfannmuller said. She didn't know what Henderson's > future role will be. > > "Carrol will always be here as long as he wants to be doing good > wildlife education and recreation," she said. "That's what I want to > encourage him to do." > > St. Paul Pioneer Press > > _______________________________________________ > mou-net mailing list > [email protected] > http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net >
