About MONEP

  • Mission Statement

    The mission of the Missouri Nature and Environmental Photographers is to provide a forum for individuals interested in the field of nature photography and the environment, provide education, gather and disseminate information, and promote nature photography as an art form and medium of communication.

  • MONEP Board & Committee Members

    MONEP Board of Directors

    President:
    Scott Avetta    		Vice President:
    Don Morice    		Treasurer/Secretary:
    Linda Moder
    Recording Secretary:
    Kathy Cherry    		Ken BiddleJerry Miller
    Barbara Addelson
    Pat Burgess    		Robert Charity
    Jane Griesenauer    		Kate Sprague

    MONEP Committees

    Programs:
    Scott Avetta*
    Ken Biddle*    		Membership:
    Michelle Jones
    Linda Moder*    		Newsletter:
    Barbara Addelson*
    Dug Threewitt
    Web/Social Media:
    Barbara Addelson*
    Kate Sprague*    		Digital Committee:
    Jerry Miller*
    Pat Burgess*
    		Community Outreach:
    Don Morice*
    Lori Purk
    ( * Board Member)

    Contact a Board Member

    • MONEP FAQ

      What do you mean by “nature photography”?

      Our members have a wide variety of interests. Many members shoot landscapes. Others choose animals, from dragon flies to mammals to birds. Some specialize in flowers and other plants. You shoot what you like! Shoot where you like! Nature is nature, no matter your location.

      Do I need to be really good photographer to join?

      Not at all. The almost 150 members of MONEP have a wide range of skills and interests. Our members’ skills range from beginning photographers to professional photographers. You will find cameras ranging from phones to professional level DLSR’s.  Your skill level isn’t what’s important; it’s your interest in nature photography and the environment.

      What does it cost to join?

      First of all, you are welcome to attend our meetings just to see what goes on. If you wish to become a member, our current yearly dues are $30 for one person, or $40 for two people in the same household.

      How often does the group meet?

      MONEP members gather once a month on the third Tuesday of the month. We normally meet at the Powder Valley Conservation Area Nature Center 6:30PM-8:30PM. Due to the pandemic, we are meeting virtually.

      What happens at a meeting?

      We have a speaker at each meeting. We try to present a variety of topics. One month may deal with a photography related topic and the next may focus more on an environmental topic.

      I have some interesting pictures I’d like to share. Is there a way to do this?

      Definitely!  At most meetings we encourage members to share up to five images with the club.  We call this “Show and Share”. We are doing this in a digital format. Information for submitting images is found on our web page and in our monthly newsletter, Close Up. If they wish, members may share a little about each image as it is shown.

      How can MONEP help me improve my photography skills?

      One way is through the speakers at our meetings. We also schedule a monthly field trip from spring through fall. You’ll find that most of our members are only too happy to answer your questions. Don’t ever be afraid to ask! We try to go to a various locations to give participants a variety of subjects to photograph. Some of our field trips focus on improving a particular skill, i.e. composition, macro photography, lighting.

    • Meetings

      MONEP holds meetings on the third Tuesday of each month, except in December. While we are pleased to announce that we have returned to in person meetings, starting in July 2021, please note that some meetings may be held via Zoom in the future.

      A guest speaker presents to the group on photography or nature related topics. MONEP has hosted many well-known presenters from the St. Louis region, as well as speakers from outside our area.

      In addition to a speaker, members can share their work during the meeting’s “Show and Share” segment. The focus is on learning and not on competition. An annual Holiday Show and party is held each December and features members’ images set to music.

    • Field Trips

      MONEP also organizes local field trips and occasional overnights to photograph nature. These activities provide an opportunity for members to share techniques, learn from each other and enjoy the company of people with similar interests. 

    • Seminars

      Every few years, MONEP invites nationally known nature photographers to conduct photography seminars and/or workshops that are open to the general public as well as the membership. Past presenters have included Jennifer King, Bill Lea, Rob Sheppard, Bill Fortney, Richard and Susan Day, Willard Clay, and Rick Sammon among others.

    • Community Events & Services

      MONEP is invited to participate in local and national community events each year.  Volunteering our time and services at these events is our way of giving back to the community by helping increase public awareness of natural beauty and the environment.  MONEP has previously participated in such events as…

      • A photographic exhibit at the Shaw Nature Reserve
      • Community events on National Public Lands Day
      • Earth Day
      • Fall Festival at Faust Park. 
      • Members have donated prints and slides to help with the educational work of the World Bird Sanctuary after a field trip there.

      MONEP Charitable Gifting

      While MONEP has been gifting for many years, in 2010 the board established a gifting fund and created a committee. This fund was financed to cover a minimum of five years. The funding came from previous Seminars and could not have been established without the help of our past speakers, sponsors and volunteers. In addition, it was decided that all profits from future MONEP Seminars would be directed to the Fund to extend the life and the scope of the fund. Recipients and awards are decided solely by the gifting committee.

      Historic Donations:

      We are proud to announce since the establishment of the fund, MONEP has contributed to the:

      – UMSL College Scholarship – Scholarship for the Pierre Laclede Honors College.
      – Shaw Nature Reserve Youth Photo Contest – awards for youth 14 and younger.
      – Forest Park Forever (Keeper of the Park)
      – The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (Guardian)
      – NABA – North American Butterfly Association of ST. Louis (The Jim Ziebol Butterfly Garden at Bush Wildlife Conservation Area)
      – Shaw Nature Reserve – purchased and donated cameras for educational programs for students
      – Wildlife Rescue Center (matching funds) – building a Community Wildlife Education building
      – The Heritage Foundation – August Busch Memorial Conservation Area
      – The Green Center – assisted in the purchase of cameras for youth nature/photo workshop
      – IPHF – International Photography Hall of Fame (matching funds)
      – The Nature Conservancy of Missouri – prairie restoration
      – The Nature Conservancy
      – NANPA – The North American Nature Photography Association Foundation
      – Nancy Rotenberg Student Endowment Fund (for High School Students)
      – Arbor Day Foundation (matching funds) Trees for Joplin MO campaign.
      – The Heritage Foundation – Powder Valley Nature Center for building a viewing blind
      – Alaska Wilderness League
      – The Fund for the Tiger
      – UMSL Center for International Studies
      – St. Louis Community College at Meramec – Donation of student photographic equipment
      – The Missouri Prairie Foundation
      – Wildlife Rescue Center – Fox Level
      – Tree House Wildlife Center
      – World Bird Sanctuary
      – Living Lands and Waters
      – The Ethical Society



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