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Editor: Maria Quasius | Great Backyard Bird Count - February 2011 |
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Audubon of Southwest Florida on Facebook
Become a fan of Audubon of Southwest Florida's Facebook page.
On our page you will find notifications of events, programs, and field trips.
Join today! |
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Message from our representative on the Audubon of Florida Board of Directors, Alan Keller.
On January 28 and 29 Audubon of Florida (AoF)/Florida Audubon Society (FAS) and National Audubon Society (NAS) held Board meetings in the Naples area. Thus it proved possible to form impressions on how all the players are reacting to divisive issues which have plagued the relationships between NAS, AoF, FAS and local chapters over the past ten years.
For the issues to be meaningful a brief overview of their context is required. Since 1999 the previously long standing independent Florida Audubon and National Audubon Societies have engaged in an uneasy partnership under which they have attempted to unite state level Audubon efforts under one entity denominated Audubon of Florida. Among the conditions of partnership the agreement stipulated that the Executive Director of AoF is to be jointly appointed, evaluated and dismissed, that fundraising for Florida activities should be closely coordinated between AoF/FAS and NAS, that NAS should encourage chapter development in Florida, that AoF and NAS should both engage in advocacy of issues of importance in Florida. In the context of that agreement issues have arisen with regard to:
- control over the assets brought to the partnership by FAS ;
- assessment of a 15% overhead charge on AoF expenditures by NAS and lack of transparency on how those funds are used ;
- responsibility for covering AoF operating deficits;
- depletion of FAS resources in covering such deficits occasioned at least in part by NAS management practices;
- poor NAS financial accounting procedures occasioning considerable unnecessary loss of staff time in reconciling AoF accounts;
- poor chapter and member services provided by NAS including repeated dunning of members to renew NAS memberships long before expiration and poor maintenance/updating by NAS of dual local chapter/NAS membership lists;
- inadequate sharing with chapters of NAS membership fees;
- poor coordination of fundraising between NAS, AoF, FAS, and chapters leading to potential donor confusion if not to outright rejection;
- definition of the roles of AoF and NAS in building membership and training of chapter leaders.
The tensions between NAS, AoF, FAS, and chapters have been years in the making, and it is not surprising that none was completely resolved during the joint Board meeting. The new President of NAS, David Yarnold, has recognized the inadequacies in their information technology and accounting procedures, and it appears likely that both will be improved and a more equitable formula for distribution of joint NAS/chapter membership dues developed. However, the deficiencies in chapter services have dragged on for so long that many Florida residents have opted for local chapter memberships and may resist rejoining NAS.
More problematic is the issue of the 15% assessment by NAS on AoF operating budgets. It is hoped that Yarnold will provide transparency on the use of this amount, currently about $680,000 annually. Since much less expensive in-state payroll and accounting service alternatives exist, the issue will be whether NAS can commit to utilizing such funds for services that AoF/FAS and Florida chapters value, such as NAS lobbying on Florida, national and international conservation issues. Probably of less interest to AoF/FAS and Florida chapters is seeing Florida funding being applied to NAS training for chapters since that function is already well handled by the Audubon Academy.
NAS, AoF, and Florida chapters share the same fishing holes in search of donor funding. The current lack of coordination leads to donor confusion, if not outright resistance. Efforts are beginning to improve coordination in southwest Florida between AoF/FAS, local chapters, and Corkscrew Sanctuary, but the jury is still out. Those between NAS on the one hand and AoF/FAS and chapters on the other have not even started.
The coming year will be critical in the efforts to redefine the relationship between the Audubon entities at work in Florida. There is reason to hope for improvement, but there are major obstacles to overcome.
Alan Keller
(Alan Keller is the Audubon of Florida, Florida Audubon Society Board Member representing southwest Florida and president of Collier Audubon. He would be happy to hear from members of chapters in the area about concerns that might wish to bring to the attention of the AoF/FAS and can be reached at ackeller298@comcast.net or 239-263-2643).
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February Program:
Alaska's Arctic Wildlife Refuge
by "Ding" Darling Biologist Tara Wertz
See, add, comments on ASWF's Facebook. Good job Tara, thanks. |
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ASWF Conservation Chair, Brad Cornell, was recognized for his contributions to the 55 thousand acre CERP Picayune restoration project. Brad has been working on this habitat and hydrological project for more than twenty years.
In his remarks at the groundbreaking Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said " "You have the commitment of the President of the United States to Everglades restoration."
 | | Secretary of the Interior Ken Salzar at Picayune Groundbreaking with Rock Salt and Eric Buermann |
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'Family Birding on Bunche Beach 2/19
Great beaches are our backyards!
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Audubon of Southwest Florida invited people of all ages to come learn about the beautiful bird life of Fort Myers' Bunche Beach. A 15-minute birding lesson was followed by guided birding on the beach.
Lots of shore birds. See Facebook for species.
Great weather.
Binoculars and snacks were provided.
This event was organized by Sarah Larsen. Thanks Sarah.
Join us for on next birding trip.
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Birdathon 2011
Saturday April 2- 9th, 2011 -
Awards April 9th at Annual meeting at Iona House
Audubon of Southwest Florida is holding its annual 2011 Birdathon fundraising campaign April 2-9th. Individuals solicit sponsors to pledge either an amount per species sited donation. Birdathon will be any 24 hour period the birder chooses from April 2- 9th with the conclusion and awards being after the dinner on April 9th, 2011. Birders search for as many different species of wild birds as they can find. Pledge money is then collected and sent to the Audubon of Southwest Florida, where the contributions go to the Charles Foster Conservation Education Fund and are used to further local environmental conservation, education programs and Scholarships.
For forms and more details contact Toby Clark, ASWF Birdathon Chair at TGClark@eagle.fgcu.edu
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FGCU Renewal Engery Discussion
The FGCU Student Government Environmental Initiative and Sierra Club- Calusa hosted a discussion of Renewable Energy in Florida Past, Present and Future with the Honorable Michael Sole, VP Governmental Affairs, Florida Power & Light and formerly Secretary of Florida Department of Environmental Protection at FGCU February 4th. Among the organizors was ASWF's Conservation commitee member Sarah Larsen (seen here next to Sec. Sole) and Hendry/Glades Audubon Conservation chair, Rhonda Roff.
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A special thanks to Steve Brookman for the generous donation to ASWF from the proceeds from the River, Roots and Ruts trail run in January. Thanks too to those ASWF members who helped staff the event. For the next Run, mark your calendar - Jan.8th, 2012!
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As always Dan VanNorman was one of those volunteering to help |
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ASWF will hold elections at the annual meeting on April 9th. If interested in becoming a chapter officer, member of the board of directors, or serving on a committee, please contact the nominating committee. Only current members of ASWF (chapter-only member or chapter-affliated member of National Aububon) are entitled to run or vote.
A letter with your invitation to the annual meeting, proxy form and a return envelop for renewing should be recieved early next month. Or ,you can renew now via the secure link on the website. If you are a current member of ASWF and do not get a letter please contact Maria at members@AudubonSWFL.org so she can add you to the mailing list.
Current 2010-2011 Board of Directors
President: Wayne Daltry
1st Vice President: Mary Lee Mann
2nd VP/Treasurer: Jim Rodenfels
Secretary: Vacant -
Webmaster: Pete Quasius
Conservation Committee: Brad Cornell (chair), Pete Quasius, Sarah Larsen
Membership: Maria Quasius (acting chair), Elspeth McCulloch
Birdathon: Toby Clark
Education Chair : Carl Veaux (chair), Sarah Larsen
Program Chair: Mari Hanley
Newsletter Editor : Maria Quasius
Festivals and Special events Chair: Vacant
Field Trips: Vacant
Past Presidents of Audubon of Southwest Florida, who are chapter members in good standing, are entitled to request membership to board. Past presidents include - Bill Hammond, MaryLee Mann, Roger Clark, Connie Jarvis, John Cassani, Don Doggett, Vince McGrath, Pete Quasius, Maria Quasius, Carol Newcomb-Jones, Gerri Reeves
Candidates to date for 2011/12 board:
in alphabetical order with position sought:
Brad Cornell - remain as Conservation chair
Wayne Daltry - Field Trips chair
Sarah Larsen - President
Pete Quasius - Secretary/webmaster
Jim Rodenfels- remain as Treasuer -
Teddy Rodenfels - Membership Committee chair
Carl Veaux - member Conservation and Education Committees
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The 2011 Audubon Academy, March 18-20
Paramount Plaza Conference Center
2900 SW 13th St. (U.S. 441)
Gainesville, FL
About Audubon Academy
Chapters are Audubon's crucial link to the community and government in taking actions that will protect Florida's birds, wildlife, and habitats. Our communities need the voice of strong Audubon chapters throughout the state to define and shape a better Florida.
Now in it's 7th year, Audubon Academy is designed to strengthen chapters by providing encouragement, knowledge, and tools for action. Audubon Academy is a financially sustainable enterprise led by volunteers with support from AOF Chapter Coordinator, Jacqui Sulek, and funded by chapters, Academy participants, and Florida Audubon Society.
The 7th Annual Audubon Academy will provide opportunities to learn more about citizen science, collaborative grants, advocacy skills, creating partnerships, Important Bird Areas, birding classes, field trips - all geared to respond to chapter conservation goals. Please click here for a full schedule. The process will result in a customized toolbox your chapter can use in conservation planning for 2011. We'll provide the framework so you can easily share it with your chapter's board of directors. Find this event on Facebook.
It's About Fun, Too!
- Walk a trail with friends old and new
- Meet Audubon staff and leaders
- Share ideas, best practices and strategies
- Welcome new chapter leaders
Why Audubon Academy?
Florida chapters provide the crucial constituency and feet on the ground for support of conservation of Florida's Special Places, Florida's Coast, and Everglades campaigns.
Our 6 Regional Conservation Committees help organize chapter responses to the conservation challenges we face in protecting our wildlife, water resources, and quality of life.
Let's work together to integrate our conservation/education goals into our 2011-2012 chapter programs!
About Paramount Plaza
Special Room rate: $82/night/double
Easy access to I-75
Near Paynes Prairie State Preserve
and many other excellent birding sites
(352)377-4000
www.paramountplaza.com
For more information, please contact
Joyce King, Academy Coordinator
Jacqui Sulek, Chapters Coordinator, Audubon of Florida
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Attend the Hog Island Leadership Camp!
The August 2011 leadership camp will focus on the Atlantic Flyway Initiative and is therefore perfect for Chapters in the Eastern states! This is a valuable opportunity for Chapter leaders all along the Atlantic Flyway to recharge the energy in your Chapter. Please consider attending yourself, or ensuring strong future leadership by sending an up and coming Chapter leader who might lead your organization in years to come. Audubon staff members from the region are helping to coordinate and will serve as instructors at this year's camp on Hog Island, making this a great opportunity to get to know Audubon education, policy and science staff leaders focused on your area. As an active Chapter leader, we really hope you will be able to join us at this special session.
National Audubon is offering a $225 scholarship for all campers that secure matching funds from their local Audubon Chapter. All you need is a letter from your Chapter to receive the scholarship. This is big savings for the attendee given that the entire program costs $750 (shared occupancy rooms). It means someone could attend for only $300 for the entire week! ($750 -$225 from a local Chapter - $225 from National = $300). Housing, meals, programs and field trips for the session are included.
Please consider attending yourself, or encouraging another board member to come and get refreshed and inspired by great people and the beauty of Maine. Also: Puffins! (And the Perseids meteor shower! And fall migrants peeping overhead!)
Go to http://hogisland.audubon.org to learn more and to register.
Following is a description from the website:
"August 15 to August 20 - This session is designed especially for active Chapter leaders who work within the Atlantic Flyway, to build and deepen your expertise and ability to enhance Audubon's effectiveness at all levels. Led by top-level State and National Audubon program staff and experienced Chapter staff and volunteers, participants will enjoy a combination of information-packed interactive workshops, special presentations, and lively discussions, as well as the traditional Maine boat cruises for puffins and other seabirds, island exploration, serenity and fine food that are hallmarks of the Hog Island Camp.
Daily sessions will include an in-depth focus on key Audubon conservation programs including beach and forest stewardship, tidal marsh protection and enhancement, IBAs, education and citizen science, as well as State-Chapter partnership opportunities, fundraising, leadership development and training. Take away great information, refreshed inspiration, and a strong connection with new friends and colleagues in the region!"
Read the rest at http://www.projectpuffin.org/OrnithCampsDescriptionACLP.html#Programs
We hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Lynn Tennefoss, VP of State Programs and Chapter Services
PS - Just for fun, I am adding some feedback from Chapter leaders who have attended hog Island camps in the past which came from registration this year and the Hog Island Facebook Page:
"Hog Island and the Grand Canyon are the two most beautiful places in the world. "Once you have slept on an Island you will never be quite the same." Don't know who said it but it is true. LOVE Hog Island and glad it will be open this summer !!!!"
One Chapter board member wrote that she saw "it as the "heart" of our organization".
Another Chapter leader and WWII vet told the registrar for Hog Island that their Chapter has been sending members to Hog Island for as long as he has been involved with Audubon because they "come back inspired sometimes for life, sometimes for a few years"
"I went in 2007, best week of my life! thought the world was going to end when it closed down for a year!!"
"My memories of time spent on Hog Island are wonderful!"
"Hello Hog Island friends, I miss the sights, sounds, smells and certainly tastes (great food) from HI. What an amazing week the teacher workshop was. I was so inspired by Stephen Kress I had my students participate in Audubon's Pennies for the Planet, Project Puffin, for Earth Week. We raised over $1,000.00. I spent... hours standing at the coin counting machine. The theme for Earth Week was "For the Birds, Become a Bird Brain." I was able to get binoculars with grant money. My Green Team (Middle and high School students) helped each student in K-4 (about 800) make bird band bracelets like we made. Each class represented a different bird. We took all the students out on the nature trail for bird stations..." |
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2011 Audubon Conservation Action Agenda
Coastal Conservation
Florida's Special Places
Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Energy and Climate Change
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CCAS to host March RCC meeting The Southwest Florida Audubon Chapters Regional Conservation Committee (RCC) and SW Florida chapter leaders will meet in Naples March 13th to discuss priorty Audubon conservation campaigns.
Board members interested in participating, or members interested in listening in, can get details or call-in number at 239-643-7822. -
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How to do the Great Backyard Bird Count
1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count. You can count each day or just some of the days and you can count in different places. Just be sure to keep a separate list of birds for each day and each location.
2. For each type of bird you see, count the most you see at any one time. For example, maybe you see two chickadees when you start watching, then five chickadees a few minutes later. The number you put on your list for chickadees is five. Do not add two plus five. (This way way you don't accidentally count the same bird twice.)
3. Enter your results on the Great Backyard Bird Count web site! Then watch the maps as more and more people enter their reports.
That's it! Now get ready to participate in the GreatBackyard Bird Count because when it comes to watching birds,kids count!
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 | | By Pete Quasius |
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Please send your tax deducible contribution to support this program to:
Audubon of Southwest Florida, Inc.
Post Office Box 61041
Fort Myers, Florida 33906-1041
''A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES By CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-
7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR
RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.'' REGISTRATION# CH30193 |
The North American Migration Count in Florida
is sponsored by Florida Ornithological Society, and is supported by local Audubon Societies, local bird clubs, and other interested organizations.
PURPOSE: The mission of the North American Migration Count (NAMC) is to:
v Obtain a "snapshot" of the progress and "shape" of spring and fall Migration. Spring 2011 count is May 14th.
v Obtain information on the abundance & distribution of each species.
v Initiate more participation among birders within a state and between states.
v Create challenges and goals among birders while collecting useful information.
v Aid in organization and centralization of date.
v HAVE FUN.
North America Migratory Count
 | | Sandhill Cane and chick by Mark Renz. |
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Please "Register" for program and field trips. Why? We need to have some idea of how many people are planning to attend so the organizers can set up the venue, the presenter can tailor the program, prepare handouts etc, and the chapter can justify the costs. In the event of cancelation we can also contact you so you don't make a nonproductive trip.
If you decide to use Constant Contact annoucement for some other organization you are associated with, tell them Audubon of Southwest Florida sent you. We'll get a rebate on our costs, as good as a donation. Please "subscribe" to Flyways so we can send you the next edition when it is produced. We promise not to share your email address with any other organization. You can unsubscribe with just a "click" on any incoming message. |
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Audubon of Southwest Florida is a sponsor of Eco-Voice
Eco-Voice, Inc. is provided as a public service to facilitate the flow of information about environmental issues and events in South Florida. The "Voice" also produces a daily digest of eco-news and happenings in South Florida. Give it a try.
Registration for the Eco-Voice Daily Digest
Enter your email address below to join the Eco-Voice Daily Digest mailing list.
Eco-Voice, Inc. uses  which guarantees the permanent removal of your email address from its mailing lists.
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Contributions to Audubon of Southwest Florida, Inc., a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, are tax deductible to the extent allowed by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
''A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES By CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-
7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR
RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.'' REGISTRATION# CH30193
Audubon of Southwest Florida, Inc,
P.O. Box 61041
Fort Myers, Florida 33906-1041
www.AudubonSWFL.org
info@AububonSWFL.org |
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