About MEEA
- Vision, Mission, Value
- Membership Benefits
- Missouri Environmental Educator Awards
- Missouri Certified Environmental Educators
- Annual Environmental Education Conference
- Newsletters
- How to Join
- Governance
Vision, MIssion, Value
Vision
Our Vision is an environmentally responsible citizenry in Missouri
Mission
Our Mission is to connect Missouri's Environmental Educators, both for teachers in the classroom and for educators in agencies and organizations, with innovative professional development and networking opportunities to help them help Missourians become more environmentally responsible.
Value to Members
Learning about and using recognized EE standards helps educators
...avoid these pitfalls,
- introducing developmentally inappropriate environmental topics or issues;
- instilling an abstract and unrealistic understanding of natural phenomena;
- fostering "Ecophobia", a paralyzing fear of the damage humans are doing to the earth;
- unintentionally manipulating students' perceptions and actions to serve their own concerns;
- neglecting to educate about appropriate and effective ways citizens can address environmental problems;
...and gain these benefits!**
- improvement in student knowledge, attitudes and behavior towards the environment;
- improved student scores on standardized tests in science, math and language arts in elementary schools, and in science, language arts and social studies in middle through high schools;
- improved student attendance and behavior in schools.
Membership Benefits
The monthly Members' e-newsletter includes
- News about State and National Initiatives
- Professional Development Workshops (by region)
- Events (by region)
- Grants and Awards Deadlines
- EE Jobs in the Midwest
In addition to the above, the website includes
- Information on the Latest EE Materials
- Lesson plans organized by subject and grade band
- EE Certification Materials
- Links to Outdoor, Nature, Environmental and Sustainability Organizations (by region)
- Environmental Concepts and Resources (Background, Explanations, Links)
- EE Rationale, Research, Standards, State and National Initiatives
Missouri Environmental Educator Awards
The Missouri Environmental Education Association annually recognizes those individuals and organizations, agencies, businesses or community groups that contribute to their vision of an environmentally literate citizenry.
Outstanding Service Award to an Individual
This award is presented to an individual to recognize his or her efforts to promote and provide EE leadership. Criteria: This MEEA member must have a minimum of 3 years experience in the field of EE and have made a significant contribution to EE. He or she should be known for one or more of the following: Dedicated service in the field of EE; Contributions in EE (e.g. developed curriculum, research, innovations, publications, legislation); Outstanding environmental action, contribution, or stance in supporting EE.
Recipients of the Outstanding Service Award to an Individual
- 1999 - Mary Ann Carr
- 2000 - Steve Schneider (Lifetime Servive Award), DNR, retired
- 2001 - Toni Piccini
- 2002 - Nancy McClintock, Center for Creative Learning, Ballwin
- 2003 - Jean Ponzi, St. Louis
- 2004 - Joan Leavens, Blue River Rescue, now with YouthFriends UpLink, Kansas City
- 2005 - Barbara Lucks, City of Springfield
- 2006 - Jack Bowels, Ferguson Florissant School District, Clayton
- 2007 - Russ Barton,
- 2008 - No Award
- 2009 - No Award
- 2010 - No Award
- 2011 - Keith Hannaman, Blue Springs South H.S.
- 2012 - No Award
Environmental Education Service Award to an Organization, Agency (Public or Private) or Business.
This award is presented to an organization, agency, or business that promotes EE and supports the purpose and mission of MEEA. Criteria: This organization, agency, or business must have made a significant contribution to EE. It does not have to be a MEEA member, but should be known for one or more of the following: Contributions in EE (e.g. developed curriculum, research, innovations, publications, legislation); Creating a standard practice of EE within the organization (e.g. educating staff on important issues, putting into practice the use of environmentally-friendly products); Supporting other educational entities through collaboration or grant funding.
Recipients of the Environmental Education Service Award to an Organization
- 1999 - Mid America Energy and Resource Partners (now Earthways, a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden)
- 2000 - St. Louis County Department of Health Recycling Program
- 2001 - The James Foundation
- 2002 - Bridging the Gap
- 2003 - Missouri Department of Conservation
- 2004 - Missouri River Relief
- 2005 - Grow Native
- 2006 - Department of Natural Resources Field Services: Environmental Education
- 2007 - AbitibiBowater Recycling Division: Paper Retriever Program - St. Louis, Kansas City
- 2008 - EarthShare of Missouri
- 2009 - Missouri Master Naturalist Program
- 2010 - No Award
- 2011 - No Award
- 2012 - St. Charles Soil and Water District
Environmental Education Service Award to a Community-based or Local Grass-roots Organization
This award is presented to a grass-roots group (comprised of two or more individuals) to recognize the group's commitment to and success at improving the quality of community education and/or the local environment. Criteria: The group has successfully developed and implemented an outstanding community-based project that has positively enhanced the health of the environment/community and involves some kind of community education and/or mobilization; The group is not a for-profit enterprise; Individuals in the organization need not be members of MEEA.
Recipients of the Environmental Education Service Award to a Community or Grass-roots Organization
- 2004 - PedNet - Pedestrian and Pedaling Network, Columbia
- 2005 - St. Louis Earth Day
- 2006 - No Award
- 2007 - KC Wildlands
- 2008 - Sustain Mizzou, University of Missouri, Columbia
- 2009 - Blue River Watershed Association
- 2010 - No Award
- 2011 - Greenway Network St. Peters
- 2012 - Kit Bond Incubator and St. Joseph School District GATE Program
Environmental Education Service Award to a Student Group (initiated in 2009)
This award is presented to a High School or College or University Student Organization to recognize the group's commitment to and success at improving the quality of their school or campus and/or the local environment. Criteria: The group has successfully developed and implemented an outstanding school or campus based project that has positively enhanced the health of the school or community's environment and involves some kind of community education and/or mobilization of students; Individuals iin the organization need not be members of MEEA.
- 2009 - Missouri State Students for a Sustainable Future
- 2010 - No Award
- 2011 - North East Nodaway (NEN) Hope Foundation
- 2012 - No Award
Outstanding Lifetime Environmental Education Service Award
This award is presented to an individual to recognize his or her long-standing efforts to promote and provide EE leadership as a lifelong pursuit. Criteria: This MEEA member must have a minimum of 20 years of experience in the field of EE, and have demonstrated lifelong contributions to EE; He or she should be known for a combination of the above listed criteria for Outstanding Service; A non-MEEA member may be nominated if he or she demonstrates the listed criteria and his or her work supports MEEA's mission.
Recipients of the Lifetime Service Award
- 2004 - Jim Lubbers, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Jefferson City
- 2005 - No Award
- 2007 - Joe Pitts, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Jefferson City
- 2006 - No Award
- 2008 - Loring Bullard, Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, Springfield
- 2009 - Janice Greene, Missouri State University and Bull Shoals Field Station
- 2010 - No Award
- 2011 - No Award
- 2012 - Charles Marshall, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Retired), Squaw Creek NWR, Mound City
Nominations Process
To nominate an individual, organization, agency, or business for any of the previously described award categories, please provide the following:
- Name of person, organization, agency, or business nominated;
- Title and address of nominee;
- Award Category (indicate one)
- Outstanding Service
- Certificate of EE Service for an:__ Organization __Agency __Business
- Community
- Outstanding Lifetime Service Award
- What contributions has the nominee made to the field of EE? (You may attach supporting documents. We may contact you for additional information.)
- Your name, address, phone number, fax number, e-mail address, and a description of your relationship with the nominee.
Submit nominations for MEEA Awards to: Jan Weaver, weaverjc@missouri.edu
Missouri Certified Environmental Educators
MEEA Certified Educators have completed 70 hours of Instructional Workshops, 30 hours of Outdoor Experiences, 30 hours of Resources Training, 30 hours of Instruction and 30 hours of an Action Project. To find out more about certification, visit www.meea.org/certification.shtml. If you have any questions about certification, email Jan Weaver at weaverjc@missouri.edu.
2002
- Betsy Blake - Missouri Department of Conservation, Clark (NE & CEN)
2003
- Judy Andrews - retired
- Nancy McClintock - Center for Creative Learning, Ballwin (STL)
2005
- Dianne Benjamin - St. Louis (STL)
- Theresa Casey - Ralls County R11, New London (NE)
- Jennifer Gilbert - moved
- Mona McCormack - Sedalia (KC)
- Eileen McManus - retired
- Judy Mitchell - Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, Crystal City (STL)
- Carey Scherder - Bowling Green (NE)
- Jennifer Wellman - Eldon H.S., Jamestown (CEN)
- Nicole Wulff - moved
2006
- Frances Fry - Fair Grove Elementary, Strafford (SW)
- Kathleen Bockhorst - Hillsboro Primary, Hillsboro (STL)
- Jamie Paige - Wentzville Stormwater Management, Wentzville (STL)
2007
- Barbara Lucks - City of Springfield, Springfield (SW)
Annual Environmental Education Conference
- 2005 - Columbia
- 2006 - Columbia
- 2007 - Kansas City
- 2008 - St. Louis
- 2009 - Springfield
- 2010 - Columbia
- 2011 - Columbia - joint conference with Science Teachers of Missouri
How to Join MEEA
Membership Levels
- A Professional ($15), Retiree ($7.50) or Student Membership ($7.50) includes the monthly e-newsletter and voting privileges.
- A preK-12 School Membership includes the monthly e-newsletter (for up to 4 people) and we will add your school to our new Green(ish) Schools page. $50
- An Institution, Agency, Organization or Business Membership includes the monthly e-newsletter (for up to 4 people) and hi-lighting your organization on our Links page and your events on the Events page. $100.
You can join on-line at http://www.meea.org/membershippaypal.html
Or you can send a check made out to MEEA care of Jan Weaver, 208 Tucker Hall - MU, Columbia MO 65211. Please include this information with the check:
Name _____________________________________
Affiliation __________________________________
Your Job ___________________________________
Address (h/w) _______________________________
City _______________________________________
County _____________St. _____ Zip ______________
Phone (h/w/c) _______________________________
Email (h/w) _________________________________
___Professional $15
___Retiree $7.50
___Student $7.50
___School $50 (we will email the person above for additional names and contact information)
___Business $100 (we will email the person above for additional names and contact information)
MEEA Governance
2012 Board, Liaisons, Contractor
- President - Deb Ballin, St. Joseph
- President Elect - Kim Garbs, O'Fallon
- Past President - Mike Kromrey, Springfield
- Secretary - John Sode, Lebanon
- Treasurer - Frances Fry, Strafford
- 2011-2012 Board Members at Large - Karen Armstrong, Kirksvill; Heather MacCleoud, Jefferson City; Sharon Ruhnke, Troy (KS)
- 2012-2013 Board Members at Large - SueAnn Wright, KC; Kelley White, St. Louis
- Conservation Department Liaison - Kevin Lohraff
- Natural Resources Liaison - Debbie Brunner
- Executive Manager(Membership, Website, Newsletter) - Jan Weaver