3.2.28 ONTARIO NATURE REPRESENTATIVE
Position Background
In 1931, with W.E. Saunders at the forefront, the McIlwraith Ornithological Club became one of the seven founding organizations of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists (FON), which was “formed with the object of uniting the naturalists of Ontario in a common effort to promote a knowledge of and interest in all phases of natural history, and to encourage the preservation under natural conditions of all forms of wildlife” (R.J Rutter in W.E. Saunders Naturalist, edited by R.J. Rutter and published by the FON in 1949). W.E. Saunders was elected as the first president of the Federation. The Federation of Ontario Naturalists changed its legal name to Ontario Nature in June, 2015. It is a charitable organization with more than 30,000 members and 155 member groups (in 2015) across Ontario. As an umbrella group, it acts on behalf of its member groups as the voice for nature at the provincial level. Ontario Nature’s Objects, very similar to those of Nature London, are the following: 1) Connect people with nature, 2) Protect and restore nature in Ontario, 3) Advocate on behalf of nature, and 4) Educate the public on the importance of nature in all of our lives.
Primary responsibility
Represent Nature London at the spring and fall meetings of the Carolinian West Region of Ontario Nature.
Guidelines
In addition to the general responsibilities of all appointees stated in Section 3.1:
- Reflect the four objects of the corporation of MFN when voting on its behalf at Ontario Nature’s Carolinian West Region meetings.
- Since clubs within the Carolinian West region take turns hosting the regional meetings, be responsible for making the necessary arrangements when it is MFN’s turn to host.
- Be knowledgeable of the many benefits NL enjoys as a member of Ontario Nature (ON).
- Refer to Manual No. 3, Section 2.4 for a list of those benefits as of 2015.
- Serve as liaison to:
- establish a working relationship between MFN and ON that encourages cooperation on matters of mutual interest and concern, and
- provide updates to the board.