Details

The 22nd Annual Meeting of the Missouri Herpetological Association was held on 26 – 27 September 2009 at Bull Shoals Field Station near Kirbyville, Taney County, Missouri.

A total of 34 members, representing 9 institutions, attended the meeting. Eleven paper sessions were presented during the regular meeting. A brief business meeting followed the last regular presentation. Business meeting discussion topics included the date and location of the 2010 spring field trip and 2010 fall meeting. After dinner, several gathered around the campfire or inside the Drury House to swap stories and make plans. Abstracts from presentations will be published in the 2009 newsletter, which will be available sometime this winter.

PDF Document Schedule

Several from the group spent Sunday morning at Coy Bald (Hercules Glades Wilderness, Mark Twain National Forest) to participate in the Sunday morning field trip effort.

The MHA would like to thank Missouri State University for hosting the 2009 meeting. We wish to extend a special appreciation to Alicia Mathis for waiving the overnight charge for everyone that stayed Saturday night at the field station.

Group Photograph

Front row (seated and standing): PJ Muelleman (TSU), Brian Edmond (MSU), Alicia Mathis (MSU), Robert Aldridge (SLU), Mitch Tucker (UMC), Don Moll (MSU), Jean Elbers (MSU), Michael Reichert (UMC), Flavia Barbosa, Andrew Hoffman (HC), Carl Gerhardt (UMC), Boryana Koseva (TSU).
Second row (seated and standing): Tony Wilmes (TSU), Amande DeBrot (TSU), Teresa Ausberger (MWSU), Adam Crane (MSU), Jeff Briggler (MDC), Jenny Parsons (MSU), Rob Hunt (MSU), Jessica Wood (UMC), Rob Humfeld, Caleb Humfeld, Sarah Humfeld (UMC), Nora Humfeld.
Third row (standing only): Chad Montgomery (TSU), Mark Mills (MWSU), Matt Ausberger, Day Ligon (MSU), Trisha Crabill (USFWS), Brian Greene (MSU), Ty Sanders (MSU), Richard Daniel (UMC), Katy Klymus (UMC), Glenn Manning (UAM).
Key: HC=Hanover College, MDC=Missouri Department of Conservation, MSU=Missouri State University, MWSU=Missouri Western State University, SLU=Saint Louis University, TSU=Truman State University, UAM=University of Arkansas at Monticello, UMC=University of Missouri at Columbia, USFWS=US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Other Photographs

Original Announcement

Date and Location

The 22nd annual meeting of the Missouri Herpetological Association will be held September 26 – 27, 2009 at Bull Shoals Field Station, approximately 10 miles southeast of Kirbyville off of Route J in Taney County, Missouri.

Agenda

Paper sessions will begin at 1pm on Saturday afternoon. Members planning to present a paper should fill out and return the attached registration form to Jeff Briggler no later than September 11, 2009. Registration for the meeting is free.

An evening potluck dinner is planned. Please bring a hot dish, salad, chips, dessert, hot rolls, chicken wings, etc. Supply your own drinks and tableware for dinner. Fellowship, musical entertainment (bring instruments), and telling tall tales will follow dinner.

A Sunday morning field trip (9am to noon) is planned in the vicinity. Details will be finalized that weekend based on local weather conditions and site availability.

Accommodations

Accommodations include a dormitory (bunk beds and cots for approximately 30 people on a first come basis). Tent camping sites near the Drury House are available. Bring pillow, sleeping bag, or bedding. There is a $5 charge for anyone staying overnight. Motel rooms are available in nearby Forsyth and Branson for the less adventurous.

Driving Directions

From Springfield, take Highway 65 south about 38 miles, then exit at MO 248 (red route – red diamond on exit sign). There will be a traffic light at the intersection of the exit ramp and 248. Turn left (east) which will take you into old downtown Branson. At the roundabout, select Veterans Blvd (Business 65) that continues south through a major intersection with Main Street. After this intersection the road becomes MO 76 east. Continue on 76 for 6 miles. As you leave town, cross Lake Taneycomo and turn left after the bridge. After the long hill and some curves, you will also pass a golf course and new developments on the right. Shortly after passing a small school (Kirbyville), turn right (south) onto county road J. Follow J for about 6 miles, and then go straight through the four-way intersection (a MO Department of Conservation sign points toward the near by Mincy Conservation Area for a turn to the right).

The pavement turns to gravel as you pass through an open gate where you will see yellow Department of Conservation signage for the Drury Wildlife Area. You will later pass through a second bar gate, which is usually locked, but open for special events. Follow the gravel road for 4 miles until it dead ends at the field station. You will see the Bull Shoals Field Station sign and the large stone house overlooking the lake.

More Information

The following documents contain more information.