President's Corner
Proposed Annual Budget
by John Shenot
In keeping with our bylaws, the FCAS Board agreed in November on a proposed annual budget for our 2023 operations. Members can vote on whether or not to approve the budget at our annual meeting in January.
The charts summarize our proposed expenses and revenues for 2023 by category. (A complete budget proposal with details on expenses and revenues is available to any member upon request.) The proposed budget represents a 13 percent increase in budgeted expenditures compared to 2022. Most of the projected increase in expenditures is due to increases in our conservation and education activities. We will start the year with bigger goals for donations and for our annual fundraiser than in past years, but the Board is confident we can hit our targeted revenues, so we are not proposing any increase to membership dues.
Nominating Committee Report
In October, the FCAS Board of Directors appointed a nominating committee, consisting of Andrew Monson, Barb Patterson, and John Shenot, to identify candidates to serve as officers and directors on the 2023 Board. The president serves a two-year term while all other board members serve one-year terms. In keeping with our by-laws, the nominating committee announces the following slate of recommended candidates to be officially nominated at our January membership meeting: President, John Shenot; President-Elect, none (seeking a volunteer); Vice-President, Liz Pruessner; Treasurer, Joe Polazzi; Secretary, Kim Vercimak; Directors-at-Large (up to 6 positions to fill), Rachel Belouin, Jay Breidt, Alan Godwin, Kit Gray, and Justin Hollis (seeking one volunteer).
Additional nominations will be accepted from the floor at the January meeting. Members present will vote, and those elected will be installed at the conclusion of the meeting.
The nominating committee also identified recommended candidates to chair our standing committees in 2023. Committee chairs are not elected; rather, they are appointed by the president with the consent of the Board. The recommended candidates are: Conservation, Ellie Harrison; Membership, Harry Rose; Education, Sheila Webber; Fi-nance, none (seeking a volunteer); Programs, none (seeking a volunteer); Field Trips, Nolan Bunting; Publications, Joe Webber; Public Relations, Andrew Monson; Hospitality, Cassie Cranmore.
If you would like to fill one of the vacancies or serve as a committee member, please contact any of our current board members or nominees.
