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Her longer version, published by GreenSourceDFW , includes testimonials from NTMN members and covers his efforts with NTMN, Oak Cliff Earth Day, and the Celtic community. A tribute album of photos is up at Flickr. Donations in Lee’s name may be made to Twelve Hills Nature Center . Lee Kelton Some spirits depart and the void is immense. Lee Kelton is one of those people. A matchless spirit who gave so much to the world. Dallas is a better place to be because of Lee, and we were so lucky at North Texas Master Naturalists that he gave so much to us. It was sudden, being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia only last week, and his family was with him as he passed, including his wife Lybo Buchanan, class of 2020. Starting with his graduation in 2012, Lee was integral to NTMN. He could work a Nature Discovery Trunk like no other. People flocked to the table to experience his raconteur spirit, but also his deep nature knowledge. His vision, affection and hard work infuses every square foot of Twelve Hills Nature Center, and his legacy will live on in all the students he interacted with in the Nature Leader Program at Rosemont Elementary, especially his posse of 5th-grade boys. Lee was the energy and soul of the Oak Cliff Earth Day with Lybo, stepping up in a big way after his brother-in-law Coke Buchanan passed away. His volunteer spirit graced Cedar Ridge Preserve, Texas Discovery Gardens, and Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. He was active with Audubon Dallas and the Texas Wildlife Association where his enthusiasm enthralled Texas youth in the L.A.N.D.S. (Learning Across New Dimensions in Science) program. Recognizing his outstanding service, NTMN presented Lee the Volunteer of the Quarter Award in the summer of 2019. Before he was part of NTMN, he was a cornerstone of North Texas Irish Festival. The NTMN booth at NTIF was enlivened by his mirthful visits and occasionally by his gift of whiskey shots. From his Irish enthusiasm with NTIF, to his outreach with NTMN and more, to his Oak Cliff activism staged from the love-filled house on Kings Highway he shared with Lybo, to the way he made even strangers smile every day, his is a tremendous loss. Lee called himself a landman, working in the management of oil fields in Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Texas. He retired from Lone Star Gas as a Senior Petroleum Land Manager. From that point on, he was a land man for nature, pouring himself into the recruiting others to care as deeply for the Earth as he did. His great heart, his deep spirit, his huge hugs, his terrible jokes, his deep laughter, his endless stories! The party started when Lee arrived. He was truly an overgrown Irish leprechaun, robust and larger than life. His eyes had a perennial twinkle. NTMN gatherings will simply not be the same without his presence. Our hearts go out to Lybo Buchanan, his loving family, and to the myriad of people who call him friend. At sunset tonight, raise high your favorite beverage (he’d appreciate if it were whiskey) and remember this great man and all he has done for our world. The family asks that donations in Lee’s name be made to Twelve Hills Nature Center . We will keep you posted on the family’s decisions about arrangements. Thank you, Scott Hudson President An Urgent Update to the NTMN Community about Coronavirus – March 20, 2020 Posted on March 20, 2020 by Whitney Wolf An Urgent Update to the NTMN Community about Coronavirus – March 20, 2020 “Rapidly evolving” hardly captures the changes we’ve experienced over the last week. Phrases like community spread and social distancing, new to my vocabulary, are now heavily on our minds. As of yesterday, Dallas County reported 55 covid-19 cases and, sadly, our first fatality. At the same time, significant progress is being made on the testing front and some of the first cases have already gone home healthy. We all have a major role in what happens from here. To quote Dallas County Judge Jenkins again, “It is imperative that you exercise sound decision-making in your personal responsibility decisions. We must replace selfishness with sacrifice if we are to protect our seniors and most vulnerable amongst us. Don’t give into fear, rather have faith in the science, the science that will be your road map to keeping you and your family safe. Replace panic with prayer and personal responsibility. We can do this North Texas, but it takes all of us. The life you save may be your Nana’s.” The latest CDC recommendation is to postpone or cancel events over the next eight weeks. The NTMN board wholeheartedly supports this. To that end, all North Texas Master Naturalist in-person gatherings are suspended at least until May 15 th . While our meeting venue at Brookhaven College remains closed, the programs team is working on a way to conduct the May meeting online. Check here for updated information. We will be closely monitoring the situation. Any changes will be posted here. Stay safe. A few resources: CDC on stress and anxiety: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html DCHHS Order: https://files.constantcontact.com/4bcac1ec301/3a400386-6421-4650-9fe9-2ab00de017b9.pdf City of Dallas Regulations: https://files.constantcontact.com/4bcac1ec301/0a508e65-854b-48a0-a5b3-9ce47c4f391d.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html Guidance as of 3/15/2020 Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals. Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for l arge events and mass gatherings , recommends that for the next 8 weeks , organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States. Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations , hand hygiene, and social distancing . When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual. Please keep up the nonpharmaceutical interventions: 1 – Practice good hygiene Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. 2 – Practice social distancing to minimize close contact, especially if you are at higher risk . Limit going out as much as you can When out in public, take advantage of the space available to spread out. Greetings – consider a wave, nod, etc. A...