Author Archives: Joey Phillips

AMI Webmaster

AMI Membership

A Message from the Membership Chair:

I hope this message finds all of you healthy and safe. I know this has been an interesting year for everyone and I am looking forward to a better 2021. I hope that in the past you have found your membership within this organization useful and enjoyable.

This letter is a reminder that your membership within AMI is up for renewal. Each year’s membership begins the first day of that year’s conference and expires the day before the start of the following year’s conference. The sooner you renew the sooner you will start getting the AMIgo newsletter. Please also remember if you are serving in ANY capacity for the organization (board member, member at large, committee member, etc) you are required to be an active member of the organization.

If you would like to renew your membership, please complete the form on the following page, along with your minimal dues which can be sent to AMI Treasurer Phillip Brinkley (see address following form).

Thank you for your continued interest in the Association of Missouri Interpreters. I look forward to seeing you at the next AMI conference in 2021 in Central Region. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Kemp Membership Chair

AMI Membership FormDownload

AMI 2019 Conference Awards

Congratulations to all of the 2019 AMI award winners!

Outstanding Interpretive Volunteer

Barney Combs, Historic Daniel Boone Home Award accepted by Amber Edwards (left). Lee Wilbeck (right)

Interpretive Giant

Janet Price, Moon Shadow Moments

Best Workshop Presentation

Jo Schaper, Geo Communications Services Jo Schaper(left), Lee Wilbeck (right)

George Kastler/Aubree Schmid Student Scholarships

Marissa Ginger, University of Central Missouri
& Anna Skalicky , Macalester College, MN Marissa Ginger. Anna Skalicky, not pictured.

Outstanding Interpretive Media

David Spear, Susie Wachowski, Lisa May
Missouri Department of Conservation- Outreach and Education

Outstanding Service

Steve Jacobsen, Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center Lee Wilbeck (L), Steve Jacobsen (center), Adam Brandsgaard (R)

AMI Interpreter Quiz

Adam Brandsgaard, Shelly Colastkie, Connie Weber, Cyndi Cogbill, Mike Duane

AMI Interpreter Quiz Champion

Jordi Raos, Springfield Conservation Nature Center John Miller (left), Jordi Raos (right)

Click Here to Learn More About Awards and Scholarships

2019 AMI Conference Program

This PDF will function as a paperless Conference Program that allows attendees to bounce between schedules, session descriptions, maps, and keynote.

2019-AMI-Conference-Program-Electronic2-1

2019 AMI Conference ProgramDownload

“Let your Resources Roar!” Keynote Speaker: John Cunning

John says his work in parks started when he was four years old when his family visited the Grand Canyon.  He picked up litter in the picnic area and could trade a bag of litter for ice-cream. Throughout his 34-year career with Missouri State Parks, he worked as a historic site manager, a museum director, and as director for the Resource Management and Interpretation Program.  In 2013, John was awarded AMI’s Outstanding Professional Interpreter in and NAI Region 6’s Distinguished Professional Interpreter. John has helped plan and has been a trainer at the annual Spring Interpreter School for many years.  He has presented living history programs as a snake oil salesman in a 1870s medicine show, guided countless historic building tours, interpreted Tom Benton’s capitol mural to Chinese diplomats, and interpreted interpretation to elected and appointed officials.  And he loved just about every minute of it.

Now retired, John started a consulting business (Heritage Interpretation Services LLC), works part-time with an estate sale management company, and is planning a few motorcycle trips.

2019 AMI Conference Registration

September 15-17, 2019
AMI Conference Registration has been extended to August 31st!

See the updated registration packet for conference details.

Full Registration:

Pre-registration deadline is August 22, 2019–after that, you must register at the Workshop ($10 higher fee))

(includes membership renewal for the upcoming year, banquet & some meals)

A 2019 Registration Packet, with a paper registration form, is available for download below. To register online, please fill out the linked form on SurveyMonkey.

The SurveyMonkey registration form will give the workshop committee a means of tracking registrations electronically, but you will NOT be able to pay for your registration form here.  Your confirmation email will include instructions on how to send payment to AMI treasurer Phillip Brinkley via mail, email, or fax.  We realize many of you will use your agency’s purchasing cards for payment, so AMI obtained the ability to accept credit card payments.  To save service charges, you will be asked to fill out a form and mail or fax the information to Phillip, or call him and give him your credit card number.  We hope to have online payment capability in the future without the use of third-party processors, but we are still looking for a safe and affordable option.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE!

2019 AMI Workshop Registration PacketDownload

CLICK HERE for more information on the 2019 AMI Conference.

AMI ELECTIONS 2019

It takes many hands willing to work together to continue to build a strong foundation. This is YOUR opportunity to grow your leadership skills and make a difference in this organization that we all care so deeply about. As interpreters, our role is critical for connecting Missouri citizens and each other to our natural and cultural, and historical resources.

The AMI offices for President, Secretary and Membership Chair are up for election for 2019.  This is your opportunity to serve, whether you are new to AMI or have been a long-standing member, a student, volunteer, or full-time interpreter.  AMI needs your leadership right now!  

Interested candidates, please send a “head shot” photograph and a paragraph campaign write-up by July 31st. 

AMI President: 2-year term

President shall be the presiding officer at all meetings of the Association and at all meetings of the Executive Committee.

AMI Secretary: 2-year term

The Secretary shall keep the corporate records of the Association, including records of all meetings of the members and the Board of Directors. The Secretary also shall chair the Audit Committee.

Membership Chair: 2-year term

The Membership Chair shall be responsible for the oversight of membership solicitations, getting news out to membership in a timely manner, and the members-at-large.

AMI also seeks the following positions:

Newsletter Editor: This position is responsible for putting out the call for newsletter information (photos, articles, site updates, anniversaries, etc) and developing the quarterly newsletter.  The position must stick to deadlines to receive the information, work on laying out the newsletter and getting the newsletter into member’s hands.  The type of format that is used for the newsletter is flexible and creativity is welcome.  Below are the deadlines.  Please keep in mind that the dates can be adjusted a day or two depending on how it falls during the week. 

Fall: Information in hand by Oct. 1st 
Newsletter to members by Oct. 31st

Winter: Information in hand by Jan. 1st
Newsletter to members by Jan. 31st

Spring: Information in hand by March 15th
Newsletter to members by April 15th

Summer: Information in hand by June 5th
Newsletter to members by July 5th

Auction Chair: This position shall coordinate with the conference planning committee each year to form an auction committee. The position shall work with the conference committee to advertise and recruit auction items, maintain and organize auction materials coordinate and set up the auction and work with the Treasurer to process payment on purchased items at the event.  

If you have questions or are interested in running for or being considered for any of these offices please contact Elections Chair, Lisa LaCombe, at lisa.lacombe@mdc.mo.gov or by calling Burr Oak Woods Nature Center at (816) 228-3766.

HELP WANTED! At the First Annual Birds and Bees Festival

Arrow Rock, Missouri – May 11th 2019 – 10 am – 4 p.m.

The Missouri River Bird Observatory (MRBO) is launching a new festival aimed at increasing public awareness and enjoyment of Missouri’s native birds, pollinators, and nature in general! In 2019 the Birds and Bees Festival will be held in conjunction with the Village of Arrow Rock’s Garden Show and Vintage Bazaar, which typically brings in 300-500 people interested in plants, gardening, and aesthetics. Our goal is to provide a great new experience for Garden Show attendees, as well as bring in hundreds of other people of all ages to experience and learn about nature! We want to show that wildlife, habitat, and natural resources conservation is not only important but enjoyable.

MRBO’s small staff will be operating a bird-banding station, bird hikes, and a kids’ activity as well as performing general festival coordination. The festival will take place all along Main Street in Arrow Rock and throughout the Arrow Rock State Historic Site and Visitors’ Center. The Garden Show is held at the Schoolhouse, a public building on the west end of Main Street – the entire remainder of the street will be Birds & Bees!

We are looking for volunteers to operate their own booths and activities to provide visitors with a diverse, educational and super-fun experience. Here is a list of possible activities and topics that we would love to have at the festival – but we welcome your ideas and the activities or presentations with which you already have experience!

  • Any bird and/or pollinator activities, particularly hands-on learning experiences
  • Educational stations for kids on bird or insect biology, adaptations, ecology, etc.
  • Guided insect or plant walks
  • Native plant ID workshops or lectures
  • Basic ecology and conservation experiences for any age level

If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please see the attached file for contact information.

Birds and Bees Volunteer FlyerDownload

2019 AMI Conference: Call for Papers

If you are interested in presenting at the 2019 AMI Conference, please complete the attached form and send it to Janice Schnake Greene at Missouri State University. The 2019 AMI Conference will be held at Roaring River State Park, near Cassville MO, September 15-18, 2019. Roaring River State Park is one of Missouri’s crown jewels and one of the most attended state parks.

AMI Presentation Proposal FormDownload

Website Updates

I am sure that you have noticed that our website has a new look. I have changed the design not only for desktop users, but it is now mobile friendly as well. For all of the current AMI members, I’ve also cleaned up and updated the members-only section of the website.

In addition to the new look, I’ve added an events calendar so that we can post events and workshops that are offered throughout the state. If you have an event that you would like to see added, please send me an email or fill out the form below.

If you notice any errors or if you would like to see me add something, please fill out the form posted below. While I have made some major changes, I will also be making some adjusments over the coming weeks to make sure everything is working correctly.

Save the Date for the 2019 AMI Conference!

Save the date for the next AMI conference “Let your Resources Roar!” at Roaring River State Park, near Cassville MO, September 15-18, 2019. Roaring River State Park is one of Missouri’s crown jewels and one of the most attended state parks. Key features include the Roaring River Spring and trout hatchery, Emory Melton Inn and Conference Center, hiking, camping, Roaring River Hills Wild Area, and Hardwood Cove Natural Area. Please make plans to join us for a wonderful conference where we will find techniques and ideas to help you “Let Your Resources Roar!”