Greater Grand Rapids Womens History Council
  P.O Box 68874, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-8874                     Phone: 616-574-7307

  

  

April 17, 2017

GGRWHC Board of Directors

Mary Seeger,
Jo Ellyn Clarey
 Co-Presidents 
Susan Coombes
  Vice-president 
Connie Ingham
  Treasurer
Ruth VanStee
  Secretary 
  Newsletter editor 

  
Jo Ellyn Clarey
Michelle DeRose 
Kristin Du Mez
Melisssa Fox 
Connie Ingham 
Kyle Irwin
Mary Seeger
Ruth Stevens 
Amy Dunham Strand 
Julie Tabberer
Kate van Liere   
Ruth Van Stee

Deirdre Toeller-Novak
  Webmistress 
  
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On Earth Day visit the Blandford
Nature Center
      
to honor environmental educator
Mary Jane Dockeray!

Grand Opening & Dedication
Mary Jane Dockeray Visitors Center
   
1 - 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 22, 2017  

 
Blandford Nature Center exists today because of the work, dedication,  and inspiration of Dockeray.  After graduating from Michigan State she became Curator of Natural History at the Public Museum. For 19 years she visited area schools presenting programs about birds, animals and the environment and sometimes she took children on walks through land on the northwest side of Grand Rapids. On one of these walks she noticed surveying stakes on the land. She tracked down the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Blandford, and met with them.  They said they had considered donating their land for a park.  A great idea! 

Dockeray has received much recognition for her efforts over the years, including acknowledgement by GGRWHC in the 1990s as one of Twelve Outstanding Women  in Grand Rapids.  In 1985 she was named Michigan Audubon Society Outstanding Member. Friends established the Mary Jane Dockeray Scholarship to recognize outstanding high school seniors planning on science careers and in 2012 she was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of FameAnd now this building named in her honor.

Mary Jane Dockeray Visitors Center 

Join the celebration!
Visit on Saturday for the ribbon cutting ceremony, building tours, property tours,
wildlife encounters and much more. 
 
For more information about Blandford Nature Center click here. 
 
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Keep up with us on our website!  Scroll down our homepage today to find introductory information about GGRWHC involvement in June conferences.  Stay tuned for more!   
 
 

Join us or Update your Membership!  

Not a current member of GGRWHC?   Register or renew your membership and help offset the expenses associated with annual research and programs. Your membership helps to set the record straight on the women who've made history here in our community.
 

GGRWHC Board Meetings

Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 4:30 p.m. in the Vanderveen Center for the Book at the Grand Rapids Public Library. If you have suggestions for programs, oral histories, or other items, please email us or plan to attend a meeting.

 

 

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Please take a moment to forward this message to others you know who may be interested in Women's History.  If you've received this message as a forward, consider joining our mailing list (click on the button in the left column above!) in order to receive future updates about programming.

Thank you for your interest in preserving and celebrating the history of the many phenomonal women who've helped to shape West Michigan!  If you aren't already a member of the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council, consider showing your support through annual membership.  Visit our web site for more information and the ability to register using Pay Pal online!

Hats off to the historical women who've shaped West Michigan!