Minutes of the Fort Collins Audubon Society Board Meeting
Seed Storage Lab, CSU campus
Meeting, January 20, 2000
Seed Storage Lab, CSU campus
Members present: Dave Dubois, Ron Harden, Joel Hurmence, Sue Kenney, Susan
Kirkpatrick, Cynthia Melcher, Bill Miller, Kathleen Tracy, Barb Turnbull, John
Waddell
The Board unanimously approved the minutes of the December 2 board meeting.
As requested by President Sue Kenney these minutes note that during the program
meeting of January 13, the Chapter held elections for the proposed slate and
revisions to the By-laws. Rick Harness is President-Elect, Bill Miller is
Vice-President, Kathleen Tracy is Treasurer, and Linda McNamara is secretary.
Sue Kenney is serving the second year of her two year term as President. The
revised bylaws were approved without discussion.
Susan Kirkpatrick addressed the board on membership issues at the national
level. She passed out copies of the National Audubon Society "Chapter
Networker," Volume V, No. 1. The National Audubon Society was once the
largest growing conservation organization, but not anymore. Trends of the past
will not last. Costs are becoming a problem. A video will be available to
address membership issues and the financial bottom line. The National Audubon
leadership is appealing to the membership for help in finding solutions to the
rising costs and slow growth. The Audubon magazine is expensive to produce.
Three-fourths of Audubon members consider themselves "subscribers of
Audubon magazine," rather than Audubon Society members-- that leaves only
25% who consider themselves members of a conservation organization. Of the
reduced first year dues ($20), $14.50 goes toward the magazine and only $5.50
goes toward dues. It takes several years of renewed memberships to recoup the
costs in dues. One of John Flicker's options is to sell Audubon magazine to
relieve National Audubon of the publishing costs. National Audubon has the
highest dues (after the first year) of any listed in the newsletter. Most of the
membership growth is through magazine subscriptions-- only 4% of the growth is
from chapter recruiting. Direct mail is the most efficient method to grow
membership, but is expensive. Susan's message to the chapter members: let us
know what you think. Decisions will be made by those interested. Engagement of
the local chapters will depend on the energy they have to put in it, and in
translating their perspective to National Audubon. Time line for input is now
through March 15. Need suggestions for growing membership and cutting costs.
(Staff meetings with Audubon of Colorado Board on March 4 and June 10.)
Discussion: Comparing to other organizations Ron: Direct mail membership may
increase members, but likely not long-term members. They may not renew,
especially if there is no interest in the local chapter. Bill: Audubon needs a
clear purpose, as do the Nature Conservancy and the National Parks Conservation
Association. Need to get birders involved in activism and conservation.
Susan Kirkpatrick on the Washington, D.C. lobbying trip, February 29 - March 1.
Members have until February 1 to let Susan know that someone in the Chapter
wants to go. Susan already has three from other chapters (2 in Denver, 1 in
Roaring Fork). Cost $600 per person. A $1500 grant will help with expenses.
Attendees will participate in visits to congressional delegation.
Committee Reports: Sue Kenney reminds all to turn in WRITTEN reports for 1999.
(Including the Treasurer's report, Kathleen!)
Web Page: Sue Kenney would like a new look. Look at other web sites for
examples-- other Audubon sites, CFO site. Get some ideas. Sue and Bill will get
together with Jon Burch to discuss this. Cynthia: perhaps Rachel Kolokoff will
help us (she did CFO site). We may have to pay a small amount. Could also hire a
professional service. Another alternative is using interns, but what about the
long-term maintenance of the site?
Newsletters: Sue cannot do the newsletter AND be president. Cynthia: using
interns could be a possibility, but they would have to be chosen carefully. Sue
Kenney will do the newsletter for February, and John Waddell will do the mailing
list. Cynthia: what is so time consuming about the labels? We get paper labels
from National Audubon, compare old and new addresses to update our electronic
version, then throw the labels away. We email our e-file of addresses to First
Class Direct Mail (the mailing company). Our e-file also includes complimentary
copies not on paper labels. National Audubon can't seem to provide us with an
up-to-date electronic version each month. Editing consists of: having people
send in information, edit it down, dig up other information to put in
newsletter. Choose layout, graphics. Cynthia: how about paying someone to do it?
Sue: we have March, April, and May left. Kathleen volunteered to do the March
newsletter (Thanks!). Dave Dubois officially offered his secretary to do the
label and e-file update each month, March-May (Big thanks!). John will
communicate with Dave directly. Cynthia, we still need to fill the Newsletter
position-- how about using a phone drive? Find someone in the membership to do
the newsletter and to fill other positions in general. Sue Kenny asks Cynthia to
put together ideas for a phone drive. Cynthia: who do we need? What specific
things does each entail? Bill: we can used enhanced membership list for a list
of phone numbers.
Conservation: Ron Harden passed out written report-- Review of 8 Jan 00 Colorado
Audubon Council Meeting. There is a question on the CAC Project Fund. Use whole
principal on a big project, or maintain it just as we are. Note: in the future,
money from a birdathon should be sent to state rather than to National. State
will forward correct portion to National.
CBC 2000+: Need a new compiler. Kevin Cook will not be doing it.
Enhanced membership list contract: Matches member voter records to membership
list. Very accurate. Motion by Dave to participate in this enhanced list for
2000 and sign the contract. Seconded. Some discussion took place, explaining the
usefulness and cost (none). Motion carried.
Break for Lunar Eclipse! Wow!
June Rise. Bill Miller updated the board on the citizen planner fund raising
effort to hire an activist. The board will consider whether to put information
in our newsletter.
Poudre River Trust and the River Festival. Sue Kenney gave update: no one wants
to keep doing Riverfest-- the Trust needs additional assistance. Meeting January
28, noon-1:30 p.m. at Chamber of Commerce Board Room, 225 S. Meldrum. (Note:
this is not Friends of the Poudre Fest in June-- this is in regard to the
September cleanup at Lee Martinez Park).
Wildlife Watch: Details will be in newsletter.
Checklist Donation Box: A box to collect donations for the free bird checklist
available at monthly meetings. Sue just had a box full of copies made. Cynthia
will design a donation box. Sue will receive the money collected from the box
each month and give it to Kathleen.
Avian Appreciation Days: Saturday Jan. 22 at Bath Nursery. Dave, Barb, and Ron
volunteered to staff the FCAS booth.
Project Fund: A small grant program that National Audubon offers. Grant
applications are simple-- Sue would do it, if approved. Due date January 31. Sue
suggests an outreach project. Suggestions: (1) giveaways at FCAS booth (e.g.
bird checklist), or (2) binoculars for school with bag and a place for a bird
book. Target elementary schools. A city program bought substitutes for teacher,
allowing them to attend training and stimulate their interest in field trips.
Audubon could supplement the City program with gifts of binoculars for the
class. Ron: May also give "how to" books as other groups do.
Discussion: some caution indicated, but what have we got to lose?
Meeting Adjourned at 9:50 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Joel Hurmence