Fort Collins Audubon Society
Board of Directors Meeting

August 5, 2010

ATTENDEES:
Heman Adams, Scott Cobble, Ron Harden, Karl Krahnke, Jessie Meschievitz, Bill Miller,
John Waddell.

OTHERS PRESENT:
None.

CALL TO ORDER:
Vice-President Bill Miller called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

INTRODUCTIONS: – All:
None.

MINUTES – Review, revise, and approve – All:
The acceptance of the June 2010 and July 2010 minutes was tabled.

AGENDA REVIEW – All:
None.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: – All:
None.

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES:

REPORTS OF OFFICERS:

Treasurer’s Report – Waddell:
1. The checking account balance on August 5th, 2010 was $4,986.78.
2. The total balance was $12,557.14.
3. July 2010 expenses included:
a. $35.00 to NAS for one National membership.
b. $15.90 to Qwest for phone service - June 16th to July 15th .
c. $148.50 to Lincoln Center for May 13th program to replace check lost in mail.
d. $1,496.00 to Audubon Colorado for lobbyist fee.
4. July 2010 receipts included:
a. $295.00 from NAS for new memberships.
b. $130.90 for 22 pocket guides.
c. $35.00 for one NAS membership.
d. $1,736.50 from 35 donations for Birdathon 2010.
e. $0.12 from Wells Fargo for interest on the checking account.
f. $2,500 from NAS for Kroll Factual Data donation.
g. $67.00 in donations from three individuals.
5. Next CD maturation is September 11th, 2010 for $5,326.34.
6. FCAS Income Tax Return was filed electronically on March 27th, 2010.
7. Birdathon 2010 status: $2,395.65

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:
A. Membership – Pruessner:
No discussion.

B. Finance – Adams:
No discussion.

C. Education – Thomas
No discussion.

D. Conservation – Miller:
No discussion.

E. Field Trips – DeFonso:
No discussion.

F. Newsletter – Jones:
1. Bill and Carol discussed newsletter issues.
2. Carol would like to use a single font throughout the Ptarmigan.
3. Carol mentioned it would be desirable to format the online Ptarmigan so that
articles are in one location.
4. An occasional book review might be an interesting addition.
5. Set a word per article limit.

G. Programs – Meschievitz:
1. Thursday, September 9th: David Leatherman, Dragonflies and Damselflies.
2. Thursday, October 14th: Jon Stravers, Audubon’s Mississippi River Initiative
Driftless Area Coordinator. Jon has worked on monitoring and surveying projects
involving Red-shouldered hawks and other birds and the migration of raptors along
the Upper Mississippi River in cooperation with federal and state agencies. The
program for Fort Collins Audubon will include summaries of these bird surveys.
Most importantly, the program will include a message of the spiritual connections
from the river and wild places, and stories of doing this work by listening to and
interpreting the language of the birds.
3. Nathan Pieplow is confirmed for November.
4. There will be a donation box available.

H. Volunteers – Miller, Thomas:
No discussion.

NEW BUSINESS:

A. Direct Appeal Letter – Assign Responsibilities – Miller:
1. Draft Appeal Letter – Miller:
a. Bill has not yet had an opportunity to work on the letter.
b. The purpose of the letter is to outline why FCAS needs the funding. Possibilities:
i. The cost of literature such as brochures, checklists, and a new member packet.
ii. Reserve designated for scholarships.
iii. Reinstating the scholarship.
iv. Environmental learning experience for children.
v. Presence at fairs and other opportunities to promote bird conservation.
vi. Provide larger accommodations for increased attendance at programs.
2. Accomplishment Card:
a. Collect Volunteer Times and Miles – All, Cobble:
i. Bill will send a reminder to Board members for their numbers.
ii. Scott asked Board members to note their vehicle odometer readings prior to
leaving for home and again when they get home. Also, for Board members to
note the time they leave for home and when they get home.
b. Create 1st draft of Accomplishment Card – Thomas:
i. Bill will talk with Brett Bruyere to see if they are going to expand the number
of schools which will use the Environmental Learning Center.

3. Design Donation Card – Pruessner:
No discussion.
4. Incentives
a. Ron suggested that, in an effort at simplification, FCAS have one special excursion
for people who donate.
i. It may not be necessary to identify the nature of the excursion at the time of the
letter.
ii. Bill said it may be necessary to establish the level of donation to qualify for the
excursion.
5. Identify donors for matching monies – Miller, Others:
No discussion.
6. “Prime the Pump” article in September – Miller:
a. This will be included instead of the Conservation Corner article.
b. Bill wants to explain the Audubon structure. He also wants to explain why a
new dues structure is necessary and why there is going to be different dues for
FCAS and NAS. Bill will explain that FCAS does not benefit when local people
join NAS.

B. Nominating Committee – Miller:
1. Bill volunteered to serve on the committee.
2. The nominating committee has to be announced by October.
3. Karl will contact Sue Kenney for ideas of who might be interested to volunteer.

OLD BUSINESS:

A. Birdathon – Miller:
1. Bill has given John checks totaling $102.50.
2. John also received checks totaling $115.00 today.
3. With Heman’s donation of $132.35 the 2010 Birdathon donation total stands at
$2,600.00
4. John sent Bill the Birdathon totals dating back to 1998.

B. Mongolian Horse Adoption – Follow-up – Miller:
1. FCAS adopted two foals. The family will name one of the foals and FCAS will
name the other.
2. Northern Colorado Dressage Association adopted one foal.
3. Karl will work on the naming in order to get the information into the September
Ptarmigan. He might ask Rick Harness for a suggestion.

C. Need Reprints – Harden, Thomas:
1. Membership Brochure – Thomas:
a. Place less emphasis on the affiliation with NAS.
b. Ron suggested the brochure would look better with color.
c. FCAS, upon receiving information about a new NAS member, could send
the new member an informational brochure with an invitation to join FCAS.
d. The brochure could go into a membership packet.
e. Karl indicated he’d work on rewording the About Fort Collins Audubon
Society section.
f. New dues structure because it costs at least ten dollars to send a member nine
Ptarmigans by postal mail.
g. Heman said that it would be very helpful if FCAS had an information card that he
could hand to people at the Program meeting welcome table.
i. About FCAS information would be on the front of the card.
ii. A membership application would be on the back of the card.
iii. Scott mentioned he’d work on this.
2. “Birds of Larimer County, Colorado” – Harden:
a. Some species have been split.

TICLKER LIST:

A. Newsletter – Need to Delete NAS Membership – Miller:
No discussion.

B. Ptarmigan Editorial Committee – Miller:
No discussion.

C. Fund-raising Opportunities – Grant:
1. Beginning Birding Classes – Thomas, Miller, DeFonso:
a. No discussion.
2. Other – All:
a. No discussion .

D. Website Needs to be Updated – Hurmence:
No discussion.

E. Feral Cat Issue – Harden:
1. Ron will email the TNR Policy final format, with references, to the Board.

F. Audubon Colorado Public Policy Committee – Legislative Issues – Harden:
1. Ron mentioned concerns with the language all Colorado Governor candidates are using
regarding oil and gas regulations. They are saying the regulations are too strict and are
the result of overreaching environmentalists.
2. Folks should thank Randy Fisher and John Kefalas for their work on environmental
issues.

G. Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area Adoption – Miller:
1. No discussion.

H. Retreat Follow-up – All:
1. No discussion.

OTHER ITEMS:
1. Heman wondered if it might be worthwhile to periodically show a portion of the
FCAS website at Program meetings.