Fort Collins Audubon Society
Board of Directors Meeting

Tuesday March 11, 2002

Attendees:  Bill Miller (VP/Conservation Chair), John Waddell (Treasurer), Dave Dubois (Director), Beth Dillon (Director), Cynthia Melcher (Education), Rick Schroeder (Publicity/Birdathon), Ron Harden (AOC Delegate), Ann Molison (Membership)

Minutes of Previous Meeting.  Minutes from the meeting of February 12, 2002 were approved as distributed.

Reports of Officers

1. Treasury Report - John Waddell
   John Waddell reported that he had paid $1456 to Colorado Audubon Society as the chapter's share of the lobbyist fee. He had also purchased two walkie-talkies for $96.96. this left a balance of $3030.00. He now has the Tax-free certificate for our chapter.

Standing Committee Reports

1. Conservation - Bill Miller: The application for FCAS participation in the Poudre Riverfestival has been completed and submitted.
2. Nature Committee - (Nick Komar was absent): Bill Miller reported that RMBO was looking for a new home in this area. Ann indicated that RMBO had approached the High Plains Environmental Center in Loveland. There will be a meeting on Monday, March 18, 2002.
3. Field Trips - Nick is working on the field trips for all of April.
4. Birdathon/Publicity - Rick Schroeder reported West Pawnee Ranch B&B will be a business sponsor. Rick and Cynthia are working on additional sponsors. Flyer indicates that $100 sponsorship will equal a one-year membership for the business. Ann will ask Newcomers to participate. Rick indicated the publicity is ready and on track.
5. Programs - Jackie had indicated she has an April program but wasn't present to report.
6. Membership - Ann reported we have added $230 worth of memberships for this year.

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Earth day events- Bill Miller reported Earth Day is scheduled for April 20 and is being organized by the CSU Environmental Learning Center. We have scheduled a natural area cleanup with the City's Natural Resources Department. This year we will clean the area along Fossil Creek, west of the railroad tracks and south of Trilby Road. The cleanup is scheduled from 8:30 am until 11:30 am. Two members new to FCAS, Doug Jackman and Jim Gano, were "recruited" through the Newcomers organization, will coordinate this effort. We will also have a booth at the ELC, setting up at 12:30 pm., and closing at 5:00 pm. Ann Molison will coordinate the afternoon booth at the ELC from 1 to 5. She will need volunteers to help at our booth. Audubon-led field trips from the ELC will begin shortly after 1:00 pm.
2. RMBO - Dale will contact Scott at RMBO about an insert into the next or May's Ptarmigan.
3. Nametags: Cynthia Melcher indicated she would take care of the nametags for those board members who don't have one. Rick H will e-mail Cynthia to remind her and to add his name to the list of those who need one.
4. Bill reported that he had sent a sympathy card to Francis Clark who had recently lost his wife, Evelyn.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. By-laws: It was agreed upon, after a short period of discussion, that we did not have enough time to do justice to a discussion of each and every change. We will at the next meeting.
2. Discussion was held about having a set night every month took place without conclusion. Rick will schedule the next meeting.
3. Poudre Riverfestival: Bill reported that he had submitted an application for FCAS to have a booth at the event. He made a commitment on part of FCAS to have several field trips before and during the Riverfest that emphasize the Poudre River. We need to identify leaders and dates, and provide that information back to the Riverfest organizers.
4. Citizens for the Arapahoe-Roosevelt National Forest (CFAR) - There is no watch group now for the Arapahoe-Roosevelt National Forests, which also includes the Pawnee National Grasslands. CFAR would be a coalition of organizations and individuals, from which a steering committee would be formed. Bill Miller recommended that we participate. The Board approved such participation, with Bill being our representative.
5. Special Event Field Trips: Ann discussed the out-of-town trip to Kearney, Nebraska, to view cranes. 10 people had signed up for that trip. Ann also passed out a proposal for reduced-rate lodging at the CFO Convention in late May. There was concurrence we should be offering special opportunities.

UPDATES:

1. AOC Report - Ron reported on the hard financial realities that Audubon of Colorado is facing, including staff and project funding cutbacks (see the minutes of the March 9, 2002, AOC meeting, provided as a handout.)
2. Rick H. reported that Fish and Wildlife services have lined up several major energy companies who will announce they are becoming "bird friendly" in Colorado. These include Excel for raptor protection.

We adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Ann Molison, acting secretary