Fellow Birders
THE MOU NEEDS YOUR HELP!!!
The place we have to meet the greatest number of people to promote
birding and the MOU is the Minnesota State Fair. For many years we have
had a booth just outside the DNR building where for 12 days we have
talked with birders and non-birders. The program depends upon volunteers
to staff the booth for 12 hours each day. The Fair starts in 3 weeks and
we are short of volunteers. We need you to step up.
I have been an MOU member for 50 years and a birder for longer than
that. Other than looking at birds and reading about birds, what I enjoy
doing is talking with people about birds. For many years I have spent
several days at the MOU booth at the State Fair, talking with
experienced birders, those with a casual interest and those who are just
curious. It is an opportunity for me to share my knowledge, interest
and enthusiasm for birds with more folks than I do in the rest of the
year combined. It is especially rewarding to talk with kids and help
build on their curiosity and wonder.
I will be doing my shifts again this year as will others. But we need
more of you to join us. Kate Kelnberger and Jen Veith and their helpers
do a great job of setting up our booth and assembling materials. But
volunteers are needed to give us coverage for the 12 days of the fair.
Please volunteer to cover at least one shift. You can be reimbursed for
your admission ticket.
Do not assume you need to be an "expert". Most of the questions are not
difficult. We have field guides to help them identify their "mystery
bird". Always popular questions are about hummingbirds, owls, hawks
and wild turkeys. Given the widespread invasion of Snowy Owls this
past winter, I would expect people wanting to tell us about the one they
saw. With the recent news coverage about the glass walls of the new
Vikings stadium and the threat to birds, I am sure there will be
questions about that.
It is always fun to talk with birding friends who stop by and to
non-birding friends who are surprised to see you. But it is the kids
who make my day. Watching their excitement as they spin the
identification wheel or compare their reach to the wingspan of an
eagle. These may well be the future leaders of MOU.
The MOU reaches more people at the State Fair than it does in any other
activity. Please join us in telling our story.
The sign up contact [email protected]
There are always things for kids to do at the booth so bring them along.
See you at the Fair!
Thank you
Manley Olson
MOU Past President
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