NEWS

BIG BEND BIRD CLUB

The Big Bend Bird Club's 19th Annual Exotic Bird Fair and Festival will be held at the North Florida Fair Grounds on August 23-24, 2008. All volunteers "step up" and tell us when you can help out!

We need all hands on deck between 1-6P for set-up on Friday, August 22. During this time, we help the 70 vendors with getting their items to their booths. All those who work are invited to the complimentary dinner that evening.

Volunteers are also needed on Saturday August 23 from 9AM-5PM and on Sunday, August 24 from 10AM-6PM to assist at the Admissions booth, front entrance table, and club table, welcoming the 3000+ visitors that are expected to attend.

For more information, contact us at paco@bigbendbirdclub.com or visit us at www.BigBendBirdClub.com. If you do not have e-mail, call Carol Spring at 850-350-7638.

The Big Bend Bird Club is a non-profit organization that supports aviary research, educational projects, and bird adoption programs for the Big Bend Area.

ESP is part of Seminole Sensation Week!

We will be hosting the campus bike tour again for incoming freshmen and students new to Tallahassee. Come on out behind the Union on August 22nd, at 11am ready to rock.

New Internships Available:

Invasive Plants GIS Internship Opportunity (OPS)

The Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI), a non-profit dedicated to gathering, interpreting, and disseminating information critical to the conservation of Florida's biological diversity, is seeking one full or two part-time employees to work as GIS interns

DESCRIPTION: The primary duty of the position(s) will be assisting the Invasives Data Manager with acquisition, processing and management of GIS data for a state-wide invasive plant mapping project. The successful

applicant(s) may also have the opportunity to assist with other FNAI projects for which their skills are suited.
HOURS: Applicants must be available to work a minimum of 15 hours per week during FNAI’s normal hours of 8am to 5pm.
QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants should be students or recent graduates with experience working with ArcGIS and a basic understanding of spatial data and databases. They should be currently enrolled in or have completed an Introductory GIS course. Excellent organization skills, meticulous attention to detail and good interpersonal communication skills are required. Any familiarity with the plants, animals, and ecology of Florida, particularly invasive plants is also desirable. Preference will be given to applicants displaying personal interest or educational background in environmental or biological science.

APPLICATION: Please submit your resume and brief letter of interest to Frank Price: fprice@fnai.org Position will be open until filled.

Americorps at Wakulla Springs State Park

Wakulla Spirngs State Park is looking for an Americorps member for next year. Last year's Americorps member said "I have had an invaluable experience learning about and having a direct impact on the environment at Wakulla Springs. Another bonus is an educational stipend for education which can also be used to payback student loans. Let me know if you have any members that may be interested and I will send you more information".

Being an Americorps is an 11 month commitment that begins in January. 1700 is required to fulfill commitment. Some projects were cleaning roadsides and areas around sink holes, planting trees, identifying and labeling invasive plants, clearing foot trails and giving boat tours down the lovely Wakulla.

Please see the websites below for more information.
http://www.floridastateparks.org/americorps/default.cfm
http://www.americorps.org/
You can also email Linda Hall at: Linda.Hall@dep.state.fl.us
The application process should start in mid September.