Matthew’s Musings, March/April, 2012
By Matthew Schautt, MRVAC President
Gary Eichten’s distinctive voice is one of the first things I became accustomed to when I moved to Minnesota some 6 years ago. After nearly 45 years with Minnesota Public Radio, the host of MPR’s Mid-Morning Show retired. Surely, his choice of subject matter in his final two days was not trivial. In his last two days on air, Gary chose to air an archival interview with the venerable Governor Arne Carlson, and his final interview was with Vice-President Walter Mondale.
According to Governor Carlson, the purpose of business is to employ human beings, and any company that hires an employee has an obligation to that employee’s well-being. The Governor explicitly said the profit motive and focus on short-term profits is not the raison d’etre for business, nor the mark of success. Rather, there is stewardship of persons and resources and relationships. Quality of life, anyone?
Notable in the final interview with Vice-President Mondale, was Mondale’s choice to end by making an appeal to preserve Minnesota’s natural resources. He noted how easy it is destroy natural resources for projects that may seem necessary, or because it seems convenient. He mentioned a bridge. My sense is he was making a gentle plea to reconsider the proposed Behemoth we are told “must” be erected over the St. Croix River Wild and Scenic Waterway in Stillwater.
Why, we ask? To serve commerce and urban sprawl and ridiculously long commutes? Are we really still in thrall to this appalling, greenhouse gas spewing mode? This is a battle we thought we’d won, an area we thought was preserved. It must break his heart; in his extremely kind and utterly civil way, the Vice President is reminding us we actually do have the choice not to destroy.
Sometimes, something destroyed can be restored. At the last refuge talk, on January 27, 2012, Dr. Scott Sharkey shared his experience of restoring the Refuges Opus Marsh by plugging an absurdly placed drain tile that drained the marsh into the Minnesota River. He did this with a group of volunteers in 1995. Since then, this honorary Warden of the Marsh, has made a study of this place. He shared his stunning photographs with an appreciative audience. Methinks there may be no person alive who has seen as many Least Bitterns in the nest…
It’s probably pretty clear that I experience my share of depressive realism. I read too much. Yet even I know that Spring is coming. Here is a paraphrase from the Prologue to Geoffrey Chaucer’s Legend of Good Women, to put us in mind of Spring. I’d like to include the original verse – it’s delightful!
“As for me, though my wit may be little, I delight to read in books and revere them in my heart. In them I have such joy and faith, that there is scarcely any activity to draw me from my books, unless it would be some festival or else the lovely time of May. But when I hear the little birds singing, and when the flowers begin to spring, then farewell to my studies for that season!”
Merry Wanderings, all you honorary Wardens of the Marshes!
Now taking nominations for the 2012 Trumpeter Award
The Trumpeter Award is given to one of MRVAC’s members for outstanding long-term contributions to the organization. Please send in a nomination by Mar. 26. Read more.
Join Birdathon 2012!
Birdathon is a fundraiser and we hope you will participate. It’s easy and fun! You ask friends and neighbors to sponsor you – an amount per bird seen or just a flat amount – then you go birding for a day in May. The money goes to MRVAC for educational projects to get kids outside and interested in exploring wild places. Read more.
MRVAC receives bequest
The MRVAC board of directors gratefully acknowledges a generous $1000 bequest from the estate of Marilyn Lancaster, an Audubon member who passed away December 24, 2011. She was a retired nurse and Red Cross volunteer who loved the outdoors.
Minnetonka Chimney Swift Tower to be Constructed This Summer
Ka Her of Boy Scout Troop 100 will be helping provide much needed habitat for the declining Chimney Swift by building a 14 foot high Chimney Swift tower on the grounds of St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church at 3121 Groveland Rd Minnetonka. Read more about this great project.
2011 Christmas Bird Count (CBC) results
Thanks to all the MRVAC members participated in the CBC in 2011. Read more about the results in Bloomington and at the Cedar Creek Bog.
Fire Codes Affect Seating in Refuge Visitor Center Auditorium
At upcoming MRVAC meetings (the 4th Thursday of the month, during the school year) you may be asked to fill up empty seats or move in towards the center to allow others to sit down in the auditorium. We cannot bring in extra chairs and sit in the back when the room starts to get crowded, due to fire regulations.
Please help us comply with the rules and allow us to continue meeting at the Visitor Center by switching seats if necessary and by not carrying chairs into the auditorium. Thanks.
