Location: Vancouver, BC
Website: www.naturevancouver.ca
Vancouver Natural History Society (Nature Vancouver) was founded in 1918 by Professor John Davidson with the following objectives:
- To promote the enjoyment of nature,
- To foster public interest and education in the appreciation and study of nature,
- To encourage the wise use and conservation of natural resources,
- To work for the complete protection of endangered species and ecosystems, and
- To promote access to, and maintenance of, natural areas in the vicinity of Vancouver.
Nature Vancouver is a not-for-profit charitable society registered under the BC Societies Act. Membership in the Society is open to all. The Society is a Federated Club of BC Nature.
The Society is organized into a number of sections; Birding, Botany, Conservation, Geology, Marine Biology and Photography.
The Society holds regular evening meetings and invites guest speakers to make presentations on natural history topics. These meetings are open to the general public, with no admission fee, and are held from January to April; and from September to November.
In addition, the Birding, Botany and Marine Biology sections sponsor monthly meetings from January to April and September to December. The Conservation section also meets monthly.
The Society publishes Discovery, a journal of natural history. It is published twice a year and is distributed to all members of the Society. Discovery is also available to non-members by subscription. The Society also publishes a quarterly newsletter, Vancouver Naturalist, which contains the details of the Society's programs and events.
Field trips for members of the Society are offered most weekends. The Society holds a yearly summer camp and also offers nature tours to its members.
Members of Nature Vancouver participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count and numerous other monthly surveys.
A compilation and discussion of the changes contemplated, inspired and completed by the citizens of neighborhoods and/or cities around the world.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has"
Margaret Mead, Anthropologist
(used with permission)
"If you don't like the news .... go out and make some of your own !!"
Wes "Scoop" Nisker, Newscaster
INTRODUCTION
Government is a slow and tedious process. While it often includes citizen and neighborhood involvement, non-governmental, private organizations have created movements and interesting groups which can create positive change in our cities and towns.
I am fascinated by the way groups are created and how they influence public decision making. This blog merely recognizes them and forwards the description of these groups from their own websites.
Showing posts with label Archeology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Archeology. Show all posts
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Society for Commercial Archeology
Location: Nationwide
Website: www.sca-roadside.org
Drew University defines Commercial Archeology as: "The study of structures and artifacts created in connection with popular commercial activity, such as diners, motels, gasoline stations, and signs." Kris Hirst at About.com offers this definition: "Commercial archaeology focuses on the material culture aspects of commerce and transportation; studies the affects of market economy and the use of space, and the development of roadside businesses."
The term roadside architecture applies to buildings and other structures directly and indirectly associated with roads. Obvious examples include restaurants, motels and gas stations. Other examples include signs, vernacular buildings, shopping and retail centers, programmatic (or mimetic) structures as well as theme and amusement parks.
The SCA was organized by a group of scholars and experts who had an interest in commercial archeology. The group met in Vermont and in 1979, they formally organized.
At present, the operations of the SCA are managed throughout the country by the members of the board of directors.
The SCA maintains an archive of its own materials in Austin, Texas.
Any person or organization with an interest in commercial archeology is eligible for membership in the SCA. Each member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote on matter submitted to to the general membership. Joining the SCA is very easy.
Perhaps the most important first step is to contact your state preservation office. Tell them about the resource(s) and work with them to develop a plan for saving or protecting it. In addition to working with state preservation offices, contact organizations that are directly interested in the type of resource about which you are concerned. For example, if you are interested in protecting a drive-in movie theatre, track down organizations that work to protect drive-ins - such as the United Drive-In Theatre Owner's Association or DriveInMovie.com. Lastly, don't give up. Preservation efforts often take years. Persistence often pays off.
The SCA's interests are as varied as its members. The diverse interests of the groups range from the commonplace to the eclectic. Below is a listing of some of the more common interests:
Historic preservation
Architecture of all types including Art Deco, Modern, Googie, Programmatic/Mimetic, Vernacular
Highways of all types
Restaurants including diners, drive-ins and coffee houses
Gas stations and petroliana
Motels, hotels, tourist cabins, motor courts, etc.
Retail centers such a Main Streets, strip malls, indoor malls
Theatres - both enclosed and drive-in
To get a better sense of the variety of interests, check out the SCA's online membership form.
The mission of the Society is to recognize the unique historical significance of the 20th-century commercial built environment and cultural landscapes of North America, emphasizing the impact of the automobile and the commercial process. To this end, the Society will carry out projects of documentation, education, advocacy and conservation to encourage public awareness and understanding of these significant elements of our heritage.
Website: www.sca-roadside.org
Drew University defines Commercial Archeology as: "The study of structures and artifacts created in connection with popular commercial activity, such as diners, motels, gasoline stations, and signs." Kris Hirst at About.com offers this definition: "Commercial archaeology focuses on the material culture aspects of commerce and transportation; studies the affects of market economy and the use of space, and the development of roadside businesses."
The term roadside architecture applies to buildings and other structures directly and indirectly associated with roads. Obvious examples include restaurants, motels and gas stations. Other examples include signs, vernacular buildings, shopping and retail centers, programmatic (or mimetic) structures as well as theme and amusement parks.
The SCA was organized by a group of scholars and experts who had an interest in commercial archeology. The group met in Vermont and in 1979, they formally organized.
At present, the operations of the SCA are managed throughout the country by the members of the board of directors.
The SCA maintains an archive of its own materials in Austin, Texas.
Any person or organization with an interest in commercial archeology is eligible for membership in the SCA. Each member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote on matter submitted to to the general membership. Joining the SCA is very easy.
Perhaps the most important first step is to contact your state preservation office. Tell them about the resource(s) and work with them to develop a plan for saving or protecting it. In addition to working with state preservation offices, contact organizations that are directly interested in the type of resource about which you are concerned. For example, if you are interested in protecting a drive-in movie theatre, track down organizations that work to protect drive-ins - such as the United Drive-In Theatre Owner's Association or DriveInMovie.com. Lastly, don't give up. Preservation efforts often take years. Persistence often pays off.
The SCA's interests are as varied as its members. The diverse interests of the groups range from the commonplace to the eclectic. Below is a listing of some of the more common interests:
Historic preservation
Architecture of all types including Art Deco, Modern, Googie, Programmatic/Mimetic, Vernacular
Highways of all types
Restaurants including diners, drive-ins and coffee houses
Gas stations and petroliana
Motels, hotels, tourist cabins, motor courts, etc.
Retail centers such a Main Streets, strip malls, indoor malls
Theatres - both enclosed and drive-in
To get a better sense of the variety of interests, check out the SCA's online membership form.
The mission of the Society is to recognize the unique historical significance of the 20th-century commercial built environment and cultural landscapes of North America, emphasizing the impact of the automobile and the commercial process. To this end, the Society will carry out projects of documentation, education, advocacy and conservation to encourage public awareness and understanding of these significant elements of our heritage.
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