Fort Collins Audubon Society
Board of Directors Meeting

Wednesday April 11, 2001
National Seed Storage Lab
Colorado State University

Minutes of Previous Meeting
Minutes from the March meeting were accepted as distributed.

Reports of Officers

John passed out a financial report, including last year’s financial statement and this year’s financial projection.  We may owe approximately $427 this year.  The main difference between the two years is the amount we receive from National; that amount declined from $930 to $788. 

John noted that we earned $35 from the sale of Stephen Jones’s books at the last program.  John discussed the postage cost for the newsletter.  With the $125/year for the bulk permit and fees for First Class Direct (the mailing service), the cost adds up to about 33 cents a newsletter.  If we sorted and labeled them ourselves, we could just put a first class stamp on them.  The Board decided that, all things considered, it would be easier to continue the current method.

Nick pointed out that we gave $1,350 to National from the Birdathon last year.  Rick stated that he will meet with Susan Kirkpatrick to discuss the change in what we give the state office.  He will report back to the Board.

John asked about the $100 outstanding donation to Janos.  Cynthia responded that it was already paid.  John will adjust the records accordingly.

Standing Committee Reports

b.     Education – Louise Creager was not present to give the report. 

c.      Nature Center Committee -  Nick Komar

Nick reported that he sent out a committee report to the Board.  The committee has held two meetings so far and has agreed on objectives, which seem to match NAS objectives for nature centers.  The next step will be to meet with Susan Kirkpatrick.  Nick will meet with her on Friday.  The committee is leaning towards a focus on the Poudre River in the downtown area.

Cynthia wondered if there was any discussion of the new Environmental Learning Center.  Nick responded that the committee did discuss potential “competition,” but decided that none of the existing facilities does what an Audubon center would/should do.  Cynthia wondered if we could work with the ELC to make it better.  Nick thought it was something to look into.  He reported that the next step will be to define direction, then develop a vision.  The committee talked about visiting other nature centers around the state.

Nick mentioned that he’d rather see the list of upcoming events on the back of the newsletter in place of the directory.  Nick gave a report on past trips: 1. Gull trip – not many people or birds due to snow.  2. Lower Larimer lakes – 2 people attended in the snow.  In the afternoon, a family came along to look at some owls.  3. Beginners – Saw some new spring birds despite the bad weather.  Nick will post field trip reports on the website.  Future trips include the Poudre river focus trips leading up to Riverfest.  The Birdathon will be May 12.  The May Beginners trip will be at Rawhide with Ron Ryder.  June 9 will be the bird survey along the Poudre.  It will be promoted at Riverfest, and will involve people signing up for teams.  A list of breeding birds of the Poudre River corridor will be developed and published in the CFO journal.  The results will help nominate the area as an Important Bird Area.

Kris brought up the idea of a trip to Kasy Weber-Smythe’s property in mid-June.  Kasy had called Kris to ask again about scheduling a field trip.  Kris will set up a date for the trip and notify the Board.

Nick reported that there will be field trips during the summer. 

Updates:

·        Rick showed a card received from Chuck Powell’s daughter regarding the donation made in his name by Johnson Control.

·        COPIF – Rick Harness, Kris Cafaro

Kris reported on the Colorado Partners In Flight meeting she and Rick attended.  She noted that Rick gave a presentation on the impact of communication towers on birds.  Additional topics addressed included the Partners In Flight website (on which the COPIF Bird Conservation Plan is now available); Project Colony Watch; the Colorado Wetlands Initiative; and an update on the Important Bird Areas program.

 ·        Update Brochure – By April 22 for Earth Day

Laurie will put something together and send a draft to the Board.  She reported that she needs good close-up bird photos to use.  Rick and Cynthia will get some images to her.  She will run 500 copies for now.

·        Update Checklist- Nick Komar

Nick discovered many inaccuracies in the checklist.  He has revised it, and will work with Joel H. to update it and create a new master list.  Nick will also redefine the categories (e.g., add another category between common and rare). 

New Business

·        Sue K. reported that Jim Clark (Horticulture Center) will be doing a twilight garden series on backyard wildlife habitat.  She asked the Board for ideas on a speaker on birds.  Nick suggested Steve Martin or Dave Leatherman.  Sue thought Cynthia might do it.

·        NAS Board of Directors from the Rocky Mountain Region

Rick reported that one of the 2 candidates has dropped out, leaving only one.  There is a June 30^th deadline for voting.  Ron Harden endorses the remaining candidate (John Bellmon).  Our chapter has two ballots to cast.  We need to either support John or write someone else in.  We can ask the membership or just the Board for input.  Rick can send out a copy of his resume if people are interested.  We need to post a notice to our members if we vote for this candidate.  Rick will ask Ron to send around his reasons for support. 

·        Chapter Policy revised – www.audubon.org/local/cso/

Comments are due by May 11, 2001 via email to Lynn Tennefoss.  The revision will mean we will report to the state instead of National.  Requirements to be a chapter have also changed.

·        Lynne Hull - Procession of the River Species project update and video.  

Lynne reported that she is happy that FCAS is behind the Procession project.  She has found a space in Old Town for an open studio for mask making.  The Procession will be from Oak Street Plaza down College, Mountain, through Old Town Square, Linden, the River trail, ending at Riverfest at Aztlan Center.  A press release will go out next week.  There will also be a flyer and a limited number of posters.  Lynne would like a flyer to go out as an insert in the Audubon newsletter.  Lynne would cover the cost of inserting.  “Invitations” will be handed out at Earth Day.  Lynne would also like to show video clips before the Audubon program. 

Lynne showed video clips to the Board.  Sue suggested that Lynne could talk before the program and just show part of the video.  Nick suggested Lynne could bring examples of masks and costumes and pass around a sign-up sheet, and that Lynne could come to the May meeting as well. 

·        Status of  Procession of the River Species -  Kris Cafaro

Kris reported that the grant proposal to the Fort Collins Community Foundation has been submitted and is being considered.

 ·        Shade-grown coffee – Rick Harness for Rick Schroeder

Rick H. reported that Rick S. asked that the Board look at the website on the shadegrown coffee and decide if we should support the program (Grounds for Sharing).  FCAS would get proceeds from promoting the coffee.  Sue noted that you sign up to get coffee every month.  A portion of the fee goes to a non-profit (like FCAS).  The Board noted that offices might be good potential customers.

 ·        Birdathon update

Cynthia will announce the Birdathon and pass around a sign-up sheet at tomorrow’s program.

·        Jackie wondered if we should have Steve Jones back again in the fall.  Cynthia thought we should maybe revive the Pawnee National Grassland weekend, and that Steve could come during that event.

·        Colony Watch – COPIF Rich Levad/David Hanni

Rick reported that David Hanni will speak about Project Colony Watch at tomorrow’s program.

·        Cynthia announced that Sarah Flick of Larimer County Open Space is trying to set up a monitoring program at Cobb Lake (pre- and post-development project).  She’d like to solicit volunteers at tomorrow’s program.  Sue wondered if we need a more formal process for requests to speak at programs.  Rick thought that as long as we limit the time, we should allow announcements.  The Board agreed that Sarah could make the announcement.

 Announcements

v     Newsletter articles due in ASAP

v     Nick reported that spring migration is in full swing.  At Prospect Ponds he saw a flock of 50 swallows of all 6 species.  At Strauss Cabin Lake he saw avocets, Bonaparte, Franklins and CA gulls, a Peregrine falcon, and loggerhead shrike. 

Adjourn 9:07 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Kris Cafaro, secretary