His professional affiliations and awards demonstrate the breadth and depth of his commitment to environmental education and research. Since 1987 he has been the Science Curriculum Coordinator for Williamsburg-James City County Schools where before that he taught biology and physical sciences for 16 years. As a teacher he twice received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Science. Bill is a member of the Board of the Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition and an adjunct faculty member of the College of William and Mary's School of Education. He is an associate editor for the Journal of Mathematics and Science and serves on the Manuscript Review Panel for Science Scope.
Bill has contributed to bird field study for over 25 years throughout Virginia and particularly on the Eastern Shore. He is a Research Associate at the Center for Conservation Biology and was a founder of the Williamsburg bird Club. He has had several positions, including President, with the Virginia Society of Ornithology (VSO) and is a recipient of VSO's Jim Eike Service Award. Bill has published numerous articles on Virginia birds. He is currently combining his professional and avocational interest to produce a book of bird-related science and mathematics activities under the aegis of the A.I.M.S Educational Foundation.
Since 1975, Bill has directed the colonial and beach nesting waterbird survey for the Nature Conservancy's Virginia Coast Reserve. In 1995, this project earned the Conservancy's highest volunteer recognition, the President's Stewardship Award. In 1977, Bill was among those who started the Kiptopeke Hawk watch which continues now as one of the three major K.E.ST.R.E.L research initiatives.
Brian Taber of Williamsburg is K.E.ST.R.E.L's Vice-President.
A William & Mary graduate, he was influenced by the active field birders there and has been involved with Virginia's birding community for over 20 years. He is a former board member of the Virginia Society of Ornithology, serving on the Avian Records Committee and Bird Observatory Study Committee which led to the design and construction of Kiptopeke's observation platform. Brian was also a founding member of the Williamsburg Land Conservancy and the Williamsburg Bird Club, for which he has been newsletter editor and field trip chair. Brian has published articles on a variety of bird studies and traveled extensively studying birds and bird habitats.
As K.E.ST.R.E.L Vice-President, Brian has spearheaded many, many new initiatives and projects: Spring migration censuses, Super Bowl of Birding, K.E.ST.R.E.L's brochure, newsletter, and merchandising.
Mary Anne Kellam is K.E.ST.R.E.L's Treasurer.
She lives on the Eastern Shore in Franktown, and, as far as we can tell, is known and liked by everyone who lives in Northampton County. Mary Anne has been a VSO board member and continues as its Education chair. For several years she has served on the Eastern Shore Birding Festival Committee. She's also active in a variety of other Eastern Shore endeavors. She has acted in several productions at the Trawler Dinner Theater, most recently Auntie Mame. Currently she is Conservation Chair for the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore and Treasurer of the Eastern Shore Bird Club. She is also active with the Eastern Shore ecumenical group, the EMMAUS Community and volunteers with the Lighthouse Ministry.
Mary Anne travels extensively. To see birds, she has visited Kenya, Ecuador, the Galapagos islands, Panama, Belize, Venezuela, New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. To visit her daughters, she frequently travels to Alexandria and Harrisonburg, VA.
Mary Anne's K.E.ST.R.E.L contributions extend far beyond her Treasurer duties. Indeed, it seems if it needs doing, Mary Anne does it! --- developing and manning K.E.ST.R.E.L displays, coordinating publications, finding housing for K.E.ST.R.E.L interns, serving as a one-person membership committee and more.
Return to Summer 97 Newsletter