Category Archives: Uncategorized

Cast Your Vote + Tree Planting

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Red Bison Newsletter

Happy Monday … and HAPPY EARTH MONTH! Thanks to everyone who helped us take care of things at the shed yesterday. Here are some updates for April (already)!

COVID precautions for all RB events: Be sure to get tested within 72 hours prior to the event! Bring a couple spare masks for any indoor events. Sign into MyMcKinley / take a screenshot to show your negative test, including the date.

RB Happenings

RB ELECTIONS – Open until Tuesday, April 5, 11:59 PM
BALLOT

Voting is open! Learn about each candidate’s platform(s) and cast your vote by Tuesday night!

RB Workday – Saturday, April 9, 9-11 AM
Stewardship Saturday: Tree Planting at Warbler Ridge Conservation Area

We will gather Saturday morning at 7:45 AM at the RB workshed for announcements and COVID safety checks. If you need help getting to the workshed, a group will gather at the FAR (South Side) bus stop at 7:20 AM. For drivers, the address is 17161 Daileyville Rd, Charleston, IL 61920.

IMPORTANT: Registration for the event is required. Please (1) RSVP on the Grand Prairie Friends website AND (2) add yourself to the carpool site (carpool site directions linked here).

RB Talk Series – Sunday, April 10, 1 PM
RB Workshed (good weather) or Mumford 313 (bad weather)

Dr. Joy O’Keefe, assistant professor and Wildlife Extension Specialist at UIUC, will join us to give a talk on her work on diversifying the Illinois Master Naturalist Program. This is a great opportunity to learn about and discuss issues of diversity in ecology, a field dominated by white men.

RBRB Book Club – Sunday, April 10, 3 PM
RB Workshed (good weather) or ACES Library 301 (bad weather)

Red Bison Reads Books will continue discussing Braiding Sweetgrass (purchase or check out from UIUC Libraries). If this time does not work for you, please email me (Vijay) at vijayms2@illinois.edu! Take a look at the Meeting 3 document below for this week’s readings and questions to consider as you read.

Meeting 1 // Meeting 2 // >> Meeting 3 <<

External Events and Opportunities

SSLC Elections
Apply by April 15

The Student Sustainability Leadership Council is looking for a new co-president (preferably a rising sophomore or junior) to replace outgoing co-president Maria Maring. The SSLC holds monthly meetings with the leaders of campus environmental organizations to coordinate events and bring these organizations up to speed on the activities of their peers. Estimated time commitment is ~2 hours a week. This is a great way to get involved in high-level conversations on campus and coordinate big projects.

Sustainability Grammys – Thursday, April 21, 6-7:30 PM
Location TBA

The event will feature light refreshments and award scholarships to aid multiple RSOs in furthering their sustainability initiatives. Cocktail / semi-formal attire is highly encouraged!

Green Quad Day – Friday, April 22, 11 AM-3 PM
Main Quad

Come visit the Red Bison stand and volunteer to table! Email us at redbison.rso@gmail.com if you’re interested in tabling with us or if you have any questions!

Please reach out to us at redbison.rso@gmail.com with questions, concerns, or ideas!
Join the RB GroupMe!

So Many ELECTIONS!!

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Happy Tuesday! Thanks to everyone who joined us Saturday at Dixon Waterfowl Refuge – and a SPECIAL thanks to everyone who drove! Don’t forget to thank and tip them!

Photos from the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge

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RB HAPPENINGS…

1. This Saturday, April 2, we’ll be voting for new members of the executive board and working in the South Arboretum Woods. Candidates will be able to give speeches and answer questions at the beginning of the meeting. The ballot will open after this and remain open until 11:59 PM on Tuesday, April 5. To vote, you must have attended at least 3 Red Bison meetings since August. Afterwards, we’ll take care of some odds and ends in the SAW: removing honeysuckle, consolidating fallen branches, and cleaning and sharpening tools. We will meet at the RB shed (scroll down for the map) at 10 AM. If you need help getting there, a group will gather at the FAR (South Side) bus stop at 9:45 AM. COVID precautions: Be sure to get tested within 72 hours of the event! Bring a couple spare masks! Sign into MyMcKinley / take a screenshot to show your negative test, including the date.

2. Red Bison Reads Books (RBRB) will meet again on Sunday, April 3 at 3 PM (new time) at ACES Library Room 309! If you’d like to join OR if this time does not work for you, please reach out to me at <vijayms2@illinois.edu>! We are reading selections from Braiding Sweetgrass (purchase or check out through UIUC libraries) — take a look in the documents below for each week’s readings.

Meeting 1

>> Meeting 2 <<

3. Dr. Joy O’Keefe, assistant professor and Wildlife Extension Specialist at UIUC, will be joining us on Sunday, April 10 at 1 PM at the RB shed to give a talk on her work on diversifying the Illinois Master Naturalist Program. This is a great opportunity to learn about and discuss issues of diversity in ecology, a field dominated by white men. In the event of poor weather, we will be meeting in Mumford 313. COVID precautions: A negative COVID test within 72 hours will be required to attend this event, and masks will be required if we meet indoors.

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EXTERNAL EVENTS and OPPORTUNITIES…

1. Following the previous student elections, the position of Student Trustee and various seats in the Urbana-Champaign (Academic) Senate are still open. To fill these positions, a special election will take place April 12 and 13. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 1 at 5 PM; you may find out more here. This is a great way to be involved in high-level campus meetings. If you are passionate about the environment (or other issues) and want to make some big changes, we strongly encourage you to apply.

2. The Student Sustainability Leadership Council (SSLC) is looking for a new co-president (preferably a rising sophomore or junior) to replace outgoing co-president Maria Maring. The SSLC holds monthly meetings with the leaders of campus environmental organizations to coordinate events and bring these organizations up to speed on the activities of their peers. Estimated time commitment is about 2 hours a week. If you’re interested, please fill out this form. Again, this is a great way to get involved in high-level conversations on campus and coordinate big projects.

3. From March 24th to April 28th, the Metropolitan Food & Environment Systems Student Association is hosting “Reimagining our Food Systems.” This series of four talks features lectures from food innovators and entrepreneurs of color working to make our food system more socially and environmentally responsible. You can register here; check out the attached flyer for more information! Thanks to RB member Noah Bell for sharing this with us!

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Feel free to email us with any questions!

Vijay Shah

RB Secretary

redbison.rso@gmail.com

Join the RB GroupMe! Email us to unsubscribe.

TWI Event **Open to All**

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Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a wonderful spring break — and that you’re ready to get back into the swing of things!

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RB HAPPENINGS…

1. This Saturday, March 26, we’re heading out to the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge in Putnam County to help The Wetlands Initiative remove invasives! Sign-up for this workday has reopened! Please fill out the carpool form below to ensure you’ll have a ride!

>>>> Carpooling Website <<<<

>>>> Website Tutorial <<<<

We will be meeting at 7:45 AM and driving about 2 hours to get to the Refuge. We’ll cut, drag, and possibly burn honeysuckle for about 3 hours with breaks, from 10 AM to 1 PM. After that, we’ll have lunch, and folks who want to stay will have the opportunity to get a tour of the Refuge. Snacks will be provided, but please bring your own lunch and water bottle! Also, we may be working in wet or muddy areas, so boots are recommended. Finally, remember to bring your binoculars if you want to birdwatch! Drivers, the address is 9231 State Route 26, Hennepin, IL 61327.

Fire safety: Since there may be fire at this week’s meeting, we will require you all to be especially conscious of what you’re wearing. Long pants will be required and jeans are preferable. Long sleeves are recommended. Do not wear any synthetic or plastic materials (polyester, nylon, etc.)! They can melt and stick to your skin! Wearing closed-toed shoes will also be necessary, and please be sure to bring plenty of water for yourself.

COVID precautions: Be sure to get tested within 72 hours of the event to keep everyone safe! Bring a couple spare masks! You should sign into MyMcKinley to show your recent negative test result / take a screenshot that includes the date of the test result. Please roll down your windows (at least partially) and keep masks on while in the car!

2. Elections are just around the corner! If you are interested in running for the Executive Board, please complete this interest form by 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 27. If you are on the fence, fill out the form anyway and feel free to reach out to us with your questions or concerns! On Saturday, April 2, candidates will have a chance to give speeches and answer questions prior to our workday. Voting will begin after this meeting and will remain open until 11:59 PM on Tuesday, April 5.

3. Red Bison Reads Books (RBRB) will meet for the first time on Sunday, March 27 at 12 PM in the ACES Library (room TBA)! If you’re interested in joining, please fill out this when2meet and reach out to us with any questions!

First up will be selections from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer — take a look at this document for what to read and potential discussion points. You may order a copy (physical/e-book) here or through UIUC Libraries. If you’re concerned about having a copy of the book in time to read for our first meeting, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

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EXTERNAL EVENTS and OPPORTUNITIES…

1. From March 24th to April 28th, the Metropolitan Food & Environment Systems Student Association will be hosting “Reimagining our Food Systems.” This series of four talks will feature lectures from food innovators and entrepreneurs of color working to make our food system more socially and environmentally responsible. You can register here; check out the attached flyer for more information! Thanks to RB member Noah Bell for sharing this with us!

2. Illinois Student Government’s (ISG) Committee on Environmental Sustainability (ESC) and Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS) have been working super hard to write this letter to Chancellor Jones, President Killeen, and a whole bunch of other people to make 5 demands concerning fossil fuel divestment. You can add your name to this letter in support of transparent, accountable, and just climate action on campus!

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Feel free to email us with any questions!

Vijay Shah

RB Secretary

redbison.rso@gmail.com

 

Join the RB GroupMe! Email us to unsubscribe.

Workday this Saturday!

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Happy Monday! Hope everyone got to enjoy some of the warm weather! Read on to find out about upcoming events (including a planned workday this week) and complete some forms. Keep an eye out for more information!

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RB HAPPENINGS…

  1. Join us this Saturday, February 26to volunteer with the Champaign County Forest Preserves District removing invasive species from Kickapoo Rail Trail. We’ll meet at the Red Bison work shedat 9:15 AM and depart by 9:30 AM after a COVID check. Parking is available at the Meijer baseball field. The ball field is a new development (not on the maps), but it can be found very close to this location. If you are able to drive, please sign up at the link below! 

    COVID precautions: Be sure to get tested within 72 hours of the event to keep everyone safe! Bring a couple spare masks! You should sign into your MyMcKinley portal to show your recent negative test result / take a screenshot that includes the date of the test result. Please roll down your windows (at least partially) and keep masks on while in the car! 

    Please watch the video tutorial on how to use the carpooling website below!
    >>>> Website Tutorial <<<<
    >>>> Carpooling Website <<<<

  1. Additional meetings schedule: Please fill out this poll(please add yourself as “Anonymous#” where # is the next number that’s not yet on the form) with your availability this semester so that we can schedule guest lectures, socials, and potential weekday workdays. Especially fill out this form if you want to come to Red Bison workdays but can’t make our Saturday meetings. Thanks!
  1. 3/26 Workday in Putnam: On March 26th, we will be heading to the Dixon Waterfowl Refugein Putnam County for a big workday with the Wetlands Initiative! We will be meeting at 7:45 am, then driving about 2 hours to get to the Refuge. We’ll cut honeysuckle for about 3 hours with breaks, from 10 am to 1 pm. After that, we’ll have lunch, and folks who want to stay will have the opportunity to get a tour of the Refuge. The Refuge is home to a rare seep wetland ecosystem, as well as hundreds of species of native plants, and is a vital stopover site for migrating birds. If you’re interested, please fill out this form and follow the instructions after you submit as soon as possible — we may be limited by the amount of equipment we have, so preference will be given to those who signed up first. Check your email for the attached flyer for more information!

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EXTERNAL EVENTS and OPPORTUNITIES…

  1. The Student Sustainability Committee(SSC) is trying to increase student sustainability fees to support sustainable development on our campus. They propose increases in the Cleaner Energy Technologies Fee of $1 and the Sustainable Campus Environment Fee of $2.94. They need at least 2,000 signatures by tomorrow, February 22for these proposals to be placed on the ballot at the next referendum. Please sign and share this petition (you’ll need to sign in to complete it) to support sustainability at the University of Illinois!
  1. The Campus Landscape Master Plan (CLMP)is undergoing revision! An input session specifically for students will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, February 22 from 6–8 PM. The virtual session will provide an overview of past and current initiatives like the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP). Following this overview, a series of live polling questions will gauge preferences on a wide range of topics such as landscape aesthetics, rainwater management, sustainable landscape design, and more. Register here! Reach out to Sarthak Prasad with questions.
  1. Here’s a summer opportunity to work in Dr. Joy O’Keefe’s labwith Reed Crawford! Three technicians are needed for a study on bat roosting ecology in south-central Indiana. Research involves lots of hands-on field work as well as data entry and analysis. Research will be conducted within the study areas of the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (heeforeststudy.org) near Bloomington, Indiana. Check your email for the attached flyer for more info!
  1. Former RB President Frank Hassler has reached out to us to advertise openings for summer internshipsat his company in Madison, WI. The company, Good Oak Ecological Services, does ecological restoration work similar to what we do at RB and would be a great opportunity for someone looking to learn more and get further involved in restoration. Check for your email for the attached flyer for more!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feel free to email us with any questions!

Vijay Shah
RB Secretary
redbison.rso@gmail.com

Join the RB GroupMe! Email redbison.rso@gmail.com to unsubscribe.

Important Info for Future Meetings

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Happy Wednesday everyone! Unfortunately, due to anticipated snowfall tomorrow, we will not be having a workday this weekend. However, there’s plenty in the works, including guest lectures and socials, as the weather warms up. Read on for a sneak peek, fill out some important forms, and keep an eye on your inbox for future opportunities!

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RB HAPPENINGS…

  1. Are you looking to get more involved with Red Bison? We are looking for committed members who want to be involved in new projects! We have lots of ideas, such as making a map of the SAW, creating a history of the club, website maintenance, and writing blog posts; we are also open to your ideas! If you’re interested, please email us and we will work with you to get your idea off the ground!

  1. Important form:Please fill out this poll (anonymously; please add your name as “Anonymous#” where # is the next number that’s not yet on the form) with your availability this semester so that we can schedule additional meetings, including guest lectures, socials. and possibly additional weekday workdays in the coming months. Especially fill out this form if you want to come to Red Bison workdays but can’t make our regular Saturday morning meetings. Thanks!

  1. 3/26 Workday in Putnam:On March 26th, we will be heading to the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge in Putnam County for a big workday with the Wetlands Initiative! We will be meeting at 7:45 am, then driving about 2 hours to get to the Refuge. We’ll cut honeysuckle for about 3 hours with breaks, from 10 am to 1 pm. After that, we’ll have lunch, and folks who want to stay will have the opportunity to get a tour of the Refuge. The Refuge is home to a rare seep wetland ecosystem, as well as hundreds of species of native plants, and is a vital stopover site for migrating birds. If you’re interested, please fill out this form and follow the instructions after you submit as soon as possible — we may be limited by the amount of equipment we have, so preference will be given to those who signed up first. Check out the attached flyer for more information!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXTERNAL EVENTS and OPPORTUNITIES…

  1. VermiCUlture, an RSO dedicated to bringing worm-based composting to the campus community, is hosting an info session from 4-5 pm TODAY, Wednesday, February 16 at the University YMCA. They’ll be on the second floor in the Wahl Room; snacks will be provided and there will be a gift card giveaway. Come check it out!

  1. TheNRES Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC) warmly invites you all to a game night on Friday, February 18 from 5-10 PM in Turner Hall. The event will be based in the Atrium (large entrance on the first floor) for the night and have several classrooms reserved to spread out and play a variety of different games! All are welcome, so please feel free to bring your family as well as invite anyone else who you think would be interested in enjoying a few friendly rounds of board games with NRES folks!

  1. Here’s asummer opportunity to work in Dr. Joy O’Keefe’s lab with Reed Crawford! Three technicians are needed for a study on bat roosting ecology in south-central Indiana. Research involves lots of hands-on field work as well as data entry and analysis. Research will be conducted within the study areas of the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (heeforeststudy.org) near Bloomington, Indiana. See the attached flyer for more info!

  1. Former RB President Frank Hassler has reached out to us to advertise openings for summer internshipsat his company in Madison, WI. The company, Good Oak Ecological Services, does ecological restoration work similar to what we do at RB and would be a great opportunity for someone looking to learn more and get further involved in restoration. See the attached flyer for more!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feel free to email us with any questions!

Vijay Shah
RB Secretary
redbison.rso@gmail.com

Join the RB GroupMe! Email redbison.rso@gmail.com to unsubscribe.

Honeysuckle Removal!

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EDIT: Friday, February 11, 2022, 8:01 AM CST
Good morning everyone!

I’m sorry to let you know that tomorrow’s meeting is CANCELLED due to snow coverage on the ground. Please stay tuned for our next newsletter!
Take care and stay safe!
Vijay Shah (he/him)
RB Secretary
===============  ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW ===============
Happy Monday everyone! We’ve got an event planned this Saturday!!
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RB HAPPENINGS…
1. We’ll be heading to near Lake of the Woods to drag honeysuckle on Saturday, February 12 with Tyler Courson, former RB President who now works with the CCFPD! We’ll meet at the Red Bison work shedat 9:15 AM and depart by 9:30 AM after a COVID check. We will park at the parking lot to the Museum of the Grand Prairie (950 N Lombard St, Mahomet, IL). If you are able to drive, please watch the tutorial and sign up at the carpool link below!
COVID precautions: Be sure to get tested within 72 hours of the event to keep everyone safe! Bring a couple spare masks! You should sign into your MyMcKinley portal to show your recent negative test result / take a screenshot that includes the date of the test result. Please roll down your windows (at least partially) and keep masks on while in the car!
Please watch the video tutorial on how to use the carpooling website below!
>>>> Website Tutorial <<<<
>>>> Carpooling Website <<<<
2. Thank you to everyone who applied for the Red Bison Undergraduate Award! We were moved by the depth and passion of all the applications we received. Congratulations to Sakshi Vaya, a first-year student in Earth, Society and Environmental Sustainability, who won this year’s award! Please look out for next year’s call for applications!
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EXTERNAL EVENTS and OPPORTUNITIES…

3. SSLC Co-President Maria Maring will be hosting a conversation on her experience as an activist for environmental justice TODAY, Monday, February 7 at 6 PM. See the flyer! (Zoom Meeting ID: 874 1237 0876 // Password: 041269)

 

4. Former RB President Frank Hassler has reached out to us to advertise openings for summer internships at his company in Madison, WI. The company, Good Oak Ecological Services, does ecological restoration work similar to what we do at RB and would be a great opportunity for someone looking to learn more and get further involved in restoration. See the attached flyer for more!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feel free to email us with any questions! Hope to see you Saturday!

Vijay Shah
RB Secretary
redbison.rso@gmail.com

Join the RB GroupMe! Email redbison.rso@gmail.com to unsubscribe.

Stay Warm & Safe This Weekend!

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Happy Wednesday everyone! Thanks to those of you who joined us at River Bend Preserve this past Saturday!
Red_Bison.jpg

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RB HAPPENINGS…

1. We will not be meeting this weekend due to the inclement weather — the SAW will still be covered in snow!! Stay safe this weekend!!

2. Thank you to everyone who applied for the Red Bison Undergraduate Award!! Look out for the winner in our next newsletter!!
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EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES…

3. Spring elections are right around the corner! Positions in Illinois Student Government, The Urbana-Champaign Senate, and Student Org Resource Fee Board, as well as the Student Trustee position, are open! Apply at studentelections.illinois.edu by February 4th at 5 PM. Check out the flyer! Reach out to studentelections@illinois.edu with questions.
4. Former RB President Frank Hassler has reached out to us to advertise openings for summer internships at his company in Madison, WI. The company, Good Oak Ecological Services, does ecological restoration work similar to what we do at RB and would be a great opportunity for someone looking to learn more and get further involved in restoration. See the attached flyer for more!
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Feel free to email us with any questions! Hope to see you at our next workday!

Vijay Shah
RB Secretary
redbison.rso@gmail.com

Join the RB GroupMe! Email redbison.rso@gmail.com to unsubscribe.

Cutting Honeysuckle this Saturday!

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Happy Monday everyone! Hope the first week of classes went well and that the semester is off to a good start! We’re excited to have our first in-person meeting of the semester this Saturday! Read on to find out more.
 

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RB HAPPENINGS…

1. We’ll be heading to River Bend Forest Preserve (1602 W. Mid-America Rd., Mahomet, IL 61853) to cut honeysuckle with the Champaign County Forest Preserves District on Saturday, January 29! We’ll meet at the Red Bison work shed at 9:15 AM. We will depart by 10 AM after doing a COVID safety check.

 
COVID precautions: Be sure to get tested within 72 hours of the event to keep everyone safe! Bring a couple spare masks! You should sign into your MyMcKinley portal to show your recent negative test result / take a screenshot that includes the date of the test result. Please roll down your windows (at least partially) and keep masks on while in the car!
 
Please watch the video tutorial on how to use the carpooling website below!
 
>>>> Website Tutorial <<<<
>>>> Carpooling Website <<<<

 

2. Thank you to everyone who submitted an application for the Red Bison Undergraduate Award!! We’re reviewing submissions now and expect to announce a winner in our first February newsletter!

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EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES…

3. If you’re interested in researching equity in the transition to renewable energy in Illinois, look no further! An interdisciplinary research project team is looking to hire for an environmental justice undergraduate research position. The position is part-time for Spring 2022 and will transition to full-time this summer. Apply by January 30; see the attached flier for details.
4. The University of Illinois seeks to nominate sophomores and juniors for the prestigious Udall Scholarship. The Udall awards $7,000 to (1) sophomores or juniors who are taking action to address environmental concerns and are committed to a career related to the environment or (2) Native American students interested in Tribal policy or health care. Students must be US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. The campus consideration deadline is January 31, 2022. Contact the National and International Scholarships Program at topscholars@illinois.edu or visit topscholars.illinois.edu/udall.
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Reach out with any questions! See you all soon!

Vijay Shah
RB Secretary
redbison.rso@gmail.com

First Meeting of 2022!!

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Hey y’all! Hope you had a good few weeks off and are ready for a new semester! Hope everyone had a great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” –Rev. Dr. MLK, Jr.


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RB HAPPENINGS…

1. I’m so excited for our first meeting of the semester on Zoom on Saturday, January 22 at 10 AM!! Join us to learn about what we do and play a game of RB Kahoot! If you’re planning to attend online, please RSVP here.
Meeting ID: 836 7880 0958

Password: prairie

2. The deadline to apply for the Red Bison Undergraduate Award is also at the end of this week, Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 11:59 PM. The $500 award is open to all full-time undergraduates of any major passionate about the environmental sciences. Underrepresented students are especially encouraged to apply!

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EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES…

3. The pollinator garden position at the National Soybean Research Center (NSRC) has now been filled. Thanks to everyone who expressed interest!!

4. On Wednesday, January 12, the Champaign County Forest Preserve District and Master Naturalist Programs hosted Dr. Eric Schauber for “Ask the State Biologist: Answers and insights into Illinois natural history and the Illinois Natural History Survey“! Here’s the recording in case you missed it: <mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_vqqzz330>.

5. If you’re interested in researching equity in the transition to renewable energy in Illinois, look no further! An interdisciplinary research project team is looking to hire for an environmental justice undergraduate research position. The position is part-time for Spring 2022 and will transition to full-time this summer. Apply by January 30; see the attached flier (check your inbox) for details.

6. The University of Illinois seeks to nominate sophomores and juniors for the prestigious Udall Scholarship. The Udall awards $7,000 to (1) sophomores or juniors who are taking action to address environmental concerns and are committed to a career related to the environment or (2) Native American students interested in Tribal policy or health care. Students must be US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. The campus consideration deadline is January 31, 2022. Contact the National and International Scholarships Program at topscholars@illinois.edu or visit topscholars.illinois.edu/udall.

7. Finally, if you’re interested in helping out the Champaign County Forest Preserve District by using herbicide at any of their workdays, some of which Red Bison plans on attending, you’ll need to attend a Zoom workshop Thursday, January 20th at 5:30 pm. The training is 1-2 hours long, and you can register here or by emailing Natural Resources Director Peter Goodspeed at pgoodspeed@ccfpd.org. This is a great way to get some hands-on experience with herbicide, an important tool in any ecologist’s kit.

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Reach out with any questions! See you all soon!

Vijay Shah
RB Secretary
redbison.rso@gmail.com

Join the RB GroupMe! Email redbison.rso@gmail.com to unsubscribe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.S.: Complete meeting invitation below.

Red Bison’s First Meeting of the Semester!
Jan 22, 2022 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/83678800958?pwd=aU5iUWRMTG9aaG1WSTNUSDJ3SEVBUT09
Meeting ID: 836 7880 0958
Password: prairie

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Gearing Up for Spring 2022

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Hi everyone! It’s Vijay, your new secretary. Wishing everyone at Red Bison a happy 2022!! Hope you’re enjoying your break and taking some time to rest up. Read on for some updates!!

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RB HAPPENINGS…

We’d like to have some indoor meetings while it’s still cold out, but we’re waiting to see how the COVID-19 situation evolves once classes start — stay tuned.

First up, the deadline to apply for the Red Bison Undergraduate Award is January 23, 2022 at 11:59 PM. We encourage you to apply for this $500 award, open to all full-time undergraduates of any major passionate about the environmental sciences, especially underrepresented students.

We’re making plans for next semester, including guest speakers, burns, socials, invasives removals, fundraisers, and possibly some new RB merch! We’ve also been thinking about having more frequent meetings if you can’t make the regular time at 10 AM on Saturday. Drop us a line if you’re interested!!

RB needs a new volunteer to tend the pollinator garden at the National Soybean Research Center (NSRC), a commitment of around 15 minutes per week. Email us for more information if you are interested in this position!!

If you are interested in helping clear the downed trees at Camp Kiwanis for the Girl Scouts, hold tight! We’re awaiting more details on when that’ll take place. Be sure to watch for details in a future newsletter.

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EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES…

On Wednesday, January 12 at 7 PM CST, the Champaign County Forest Preserve District and Master Naturalist Programs are hosting Dr. Eric Schauber over Zoom for “Ask the State Biologist: Answers and insights into Illinois natural history and the Illinois Natural History Survey“! Register and ask your questions here and email volunteer@ccfpd.org with registration issues.

The Red Oak Rain Garden (RORG) will hold a prescribed burn at the Dorner Drive Retention Pond (right across from the RORG) sometime before January 15! If you’re on campus and want to help direct people away from the prescribed burn, please email Layne at lknoch2@illinois.edu to be added to a list of potential volunteers. UIUC Natural Areas Manager Jamie Ellis will be present to help direct the burn!

Finally, if you’re interested in helping out the Champaign County Forest Preserve District by using herbicide at any of their workdays, some of which Red Bison plans on attending, you’ll need to attend a Zoom workshop Thursday, January 20th at 5:30 pm. The training is 1-2 hours long, and you can register here or by emailing Natural Resources Director Peter Goodspeed at pgoodspeed@ccfpd.org. This is a great way to get some hands-on experience with herbicide, an important tool in any ecologist’s kit. (It’s also possible that getting this training will allow you to use pesticides on RB workdays, but I can’t make any promises).

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Be sure to reach out with any questions! Looking forward to a great semester with everyone!

Vijay Shah
RB Secretary
redbison.rso@gmail.com

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