FIELD NOTES

FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA BIOLOGICAL STATION

Report on Recent Executive Committee Retreat

Ten (10) hardy spirits from the executive board met at the Station on November 3, 2012. We talked and thought about where we have been, and worked with our Station Director, Dr. Gary Wellborn, to identify what  initiatives we should pursue.   We have had decreasing attendance at  our biennial events at the station and decreased student enrollment at summer classes. These served as starting points for discussion.

In the morning, with the assistance of a professional facilitator, we spoke of why we VALUE the Station. We recalled how we experienced the joys of field study and the rigors of learning field techniques; and how professors grew to know their students better after working with them at the Station.  We spoke about ways to make the Station experience more attractive to students by lowering the costs to take courses there, and by making some improvements to buildings and spaces so it can be a more pleasant place to study and exchange ideas. We talked about the benefits of introducing multi-generations of students, alumni, faculty, and neighbors to the work of the Station,  and of finding more donors to help address the needs of the Station.   We also spoke about increasing communications and cooperation with other universities and colleges.  We spoke of interdisciplinary courses in nature photography, art, and literature at the Station.

After lunch, Gary Wellborn spoke about his extensive plans for improving the Station.  Donna Cobb and Richard Page attended this session as well.  Gary has selected courses and professors for the summer, and intends to use every opportunity to advertise the summer programs to students. He spoke of the needs for physical improvements, and identified the indoor area outside the cafeteria as an area needing immediate improvement (estimated at $10,000). The executive committee decided to make this project the beneficiary of our fundraising in 2013.  Naming rights for donors of future improvements to rooms and buildings was discussed.  Gary and Donna will serve as our webmasters.

During our subsequent deliberations, we decided to meet with the Development and Recruitment Officers at OU.  We also decided that a new brochure illustrating the mission and learning opportunities at the Station would be an asset in approaching potential donors and other academic institutions.  We will need a defined fund-raising target when approaching potential donors.

Gary invited everyone to send him stories (and photographs) about their experiences at the Station,  however brief.  He intends to collect these vignettes and create a collective "History of the Station".  With this in mind, we asked Geoff Carpenter to interview his father about his recollections of his life at the Station.  A  transcript of an interview of Dr. Carl Riggs by Dr.Horace Bliss is  
currently on the Station web page, and it is full of interesting data about the early years of the Station.

We applauded our own Ken Gage, who is one of the Distinguished OU Alumni of 2013.  We hope to host another joint reception with the Department of Biology the night of Ken's talk in February.

We entertained a new concept for our celebration in October 2013.   With the intent of boosting attendance, we thought of broadening our audience by ACTIVELY inviting local ranchers, hunters, health care givers as well as students, professors, and alumni.  We would have several talks (2-4, perhaps with the option to choose one talk over another) which might interest a diverse group:  diseases in nature (in the immediate area) which are communicable to humans,  forensic entomology, local geology and identification of water patterns, and aspects of the ecology of the American indian were potential topics presented.  We would ask local speakers who are affiliated with OU to present the talks in a manner and terminology comprehensible to the layman.  This is still under active discussion, and we invite input.   The "events committee" for the October 2013 celebration includes:  Ken Gage, Helen Kodesh, Geoff Carpenter, Ellen Rowe Phillips, and Julia Yoshida.  Since the auction and raffle baskets were effective fund-raisers, the group wished to continue these, but the general sales will be scaled back, allowing attendees more time to socialize.  Student embassadors who have worked to promote the Station during the year will be asked to attend and assist us in the sales and set up, but will not be charged for attending the celebration.  We  spoke of physical changes at the Station which can improve security.   And we entertained the possibility of a special celebrity designed T- shirt.

We welcome ideas and comments from all.

Dr. Julia Yoshida

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