program2/16/17
Posted by Guy Van der Werf
Estes Park Environmental Center Executive Director Melinda Merrill to speak on Feb. 16
Melinda Merrill, Executive Director of the Estes Park Environmental Center, will speak at the Rotary Club of Estes Park on Thursday, Feb. 16, at their regular noon meeting. EPMC is a nonprofit organization devoted to impacting conservation efforts by facilitating collaboration opportunities and citizen science outreach.
Merrill will review the regional and international conferences that Estes Park Environmental Center has sponsored, in partnership with conservation groups, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the National Park Service. In addition, she will explain the Center’s educational monitoring programs, which include school districts, pre-service teachers, and national travel groups. She will emphasize the stewardship work in which we can all participate. Merrill developed a citizen science program that uses environmental monitoring to help agencies manage and gain insight into difficult environmental issues.
Melinda Merrill
The Man and the Biosphere Program of United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has become a programming emphasis, with UNESCO acknowledging their work in assisting with collaborations and information communications on this program. In particular, Merrill will explain the Know Your Biosphere Lecture Series and the the associated video being developed.
Furthermore, she will highlight two art shows, one for the Rocky Mountain National Park centennial and the other for the National Park Service Centennial.
Merrill earned a Master of Science in Teaching and Leadership with an emphasis in Gifted Education from the University of Kansas with undergraduate degrees from St. Mary’s University and Colorado State University. She taught science to gifted and highly gifted students from Grades 6 - 10, as well as high school environmental science.
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 1.2 million Rotary members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary clubs have been serving communities worldwide for more than a century. Rotary clubs, around the world, initiate projects that address critical issues such as conflict resolution, hunger, poverty, disease and illiteracy.
The Rotary Club of Estes Park meets Thursdays at the Rodeway Inn in Estes Park, located at 1701 North Lake Avenue on Highway 34 just west of Dry Gulch Road. Visitors interested in learning more about Rotary and its programs are welcome to attend. Buffet is served at 11:30 a.m., the Rotary business meeting opens at noon, and the program begins at 12:30 p.m.