Fort Collins Audubon Society
Board of Directors Meeting

June 3, 2010

ATTENDEES:
Scott Cobble, Eric DeFonso, Ruth Grant, Ron Harden, Karl Krahnke, Jessie Meschievitz,
Bill Miller, Liz Pruessner, Joann Thomas, John Waddell.

OTHERS PRESENT:
None.

CALL TO ORDER:
Vice-President Bill Miller called the meeting to order at 7:08 P.M.

INTRODUCTIONS: – All:
None.

MINUTES – Review, revise, and approve – All:
The May 2010 minutes were accepted as written.

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 June 1st was $1,111.00.
2. The total balance was $8,681.36.
3. May 2010 expenses included:
a. $124.08 to PostNet for processing the May newsletter.
b. $375.00 to Print It for printing the May newsletter.
c. $13.68 to Rustic Oven for Eric DeFonso’s meal.
d. $148.50 to the Lincoln Center for room rental on May 13th.
e. $8.55 for miscellaneous expenses for the Putnam Science Fair.
f. $25.00 to the Gardens at Spring Creek for the Urban Gardens Festival booth.
g. $20.00 to National Audubon Society for one National membership.
h. $15.90 to Qwest for phone service March 16th to April 15th.
i. $96.00 to the Postal Service for annual post office box rental fee.
4. May 2010 receipts included:
a. $95.00 from National Audubon for new memberships.
b. $10.00 cash donation for Birdathon 2010.
c. $26.00 for a shirt.
d. $2.00 for a shopping bag.
e. $20.00 for two Colorado Wildscapes.
f. $65.50 for 11 pocket guides.
g. $141.85 for nine memberships, two National and seven FCAS.
h. $19.00 for donations from four individuals.
i. $87.00 in donations for the horse adoption from Hustai National Park.
j. $0.08 from Wells Fargo for Interest on checking account.
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. The office manager of AoC indicated FCAS will be receiving the Kroll-Factual Data
disbursement.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:

A. Membership – Pruessner:
1. Newsletter numbers are not being reported this summer as it is not being published.
2. May is the last month FCAS will run the “Woodpecker – Save the Trees for the
Birds” ad on the front page of the newsletter
3. The September issue of the Ptarmigan will return to having only the program
announcements on the cover.
4. The new brochure and membership pricing structure will be in place by September.
Members who wish a published copy can pay extra for the printed copy. Hopefully
this will cover the costs of printing and mailing the newsletter.
5. The Ptarmigan will contain an on-going piece asking printed newsletter recipients to
move to the electronic newsletter.
6. Joann will attempt to get some National Audubon brochures from the NAS website.

B. Finance – Adams:
No discussion.

C. Education – Thomas
1. The canoe trip has been opened to the general public.
2. Eight people with binoculars and scopes came for the May 27th Bird Program at
Equalizer Pond for HEPC. Western Grebes displayed courting behavior
including dancing across the water.
3. Scheduled future events:
a. Jun 5th/6th – Urban Gardening Festival – Gardens at Spring Creek.
b. Jun 24th – Equalizer Pond for HEPC – 7:00 A.M.
c. Jun 26th – Poudre River Bike Tour (cancelled).
d. Jul 13th – Aspen Club, MCR, - Flights of Fancy (Hummingbirds).
e. Jul 29th – Equalizer Pond for HEPC – 7:00 A.M.
f. Aug 20th - 22nd – Canoe trip.
g. Aug 26th – Equalizer Pond for HEPC – 7:00 A.M.
h. Sep 16th – Equalizer Pond for HEPC – 6:00 P.M.
i. Sep 25th – Northern Colorado Birding Fair. Joann is on the steering
committee.
j. Oct 21st - Backyard Birds – Livewires – Mountain View Presb. Church in
Loveland.
k. October 28th - Equilizer Pond for HEPC – 8:00 A.M.
4. Scheduled NCBF meetings:
5/16 9:00 – 11:30 @ Nix 7/14 9:00 – 11:30 @ Nix
8/11 9:00 – 11:30 @ Nix 8/25 9:00 – 11:30 @ Nix
9/08 9:00 – 11:30 @ Fossil Creek 9/22 9:00 – 11:30 @ Fossil Creek

D. Conservation – Miller:
No discussion.

E. Field Trips – DeFonso:
1. Nancy Howard’s rescheduled beginning birder trip had between 10 and 12 people
show up.
2. Eric DeFonso’s June 5th sparrow field trip is full.
3. Bill Miller’s Burrowing Owl and Mountain Plover already has four people signed up.

F. Newsletter – Jones:
1. Karl and Bill will discuss newsletter issues with Carol.

G. Programs – Meschievitz:
1. Thursday, September 9th: David Leatherman, Dragonflies and Damselfiles.
2. Potential Fall 2010 – Speakers.
a. October – Jon Stravers, Audubon’s Mississippi River Initiative Driftless
Coordinator. Jon has worked on inventory and monitoring projects involving
red-shouldered hawks and other bird and the migration of raptors.
b. November – Nathan Pieplow, sound recordist and expert birder, speaking on
bird sounds.
3. Might send a reminder postcard or e-mail in August for the September program and
new FCAS event location.
4. Further discussion may be in order concerning a free will donation to be used
towards future programming.

H. Volunteers – Miller, Thomas:
1. Joann has had two new volunteers help her with her programs.
2. Joann has identified a graphic artist who is interested in volunteering.

NEW BUSINESS:

A. Direct Appeal Letter – Assign Responsibilities – Miller
1. Draft Appeal Letter – Miller:
a. Bill will write the Draft Appeal Letter then distribute it to the Board for commentary.
b. Five items
i. Appeal letter.
ii. Accomplishment card.
iii. Hand addressed envelope
iv. Donation card.
v. Return response envelope. Joann indicated she would look into the expense
associated with this.
2. Accomplishment Card:
a. Collect Volunteer Times and Miles – All, Cobble
i. Scott will gather information from the Board that will be used in the
accomplishment card.
b. Create 1st draft of Accomplishment Card – Thomas
i. This is a compilation of chapter accomplishments over the past year, such as field
trips.
3. Design Donation Card – Pruessner
a. Liz will generate some examples.
4. Incentives
a. Everyone is encouraged to think of possible incentives.
5. Identify donors for matching monies – Miller, others
a. Who might be willing to do this?
6. “Prime the Pump” article in September – Miller
a. Discuss dues sharing.
b. Newsletter expenses.

B. Harvest Farm Appeal – Miller:
1. Ron felt that FCAS could survey the area and give suggestions for habitat
enhancement.
2. Karl said he’d write a letter to Harvest Farm.

C. Nominating Committee – Miller:
1. Need Directors, Field Trip Coordinator, Public Relations Chair, and Volunteer
Coordinator.
2. Joann has volunteered to serve on the Nominating Committee.

D. Alaska Wilderness League – Harden:
1. Ron will compose a letter stating FCAS supports the Alaska Wilderness League’s
campaign for the United States Fish & Wildlife Service to designate the costal plain of
ANNWR as wilderness.

OLD BUSINESS:

A. Birdathon – Miller:
1. Nick Komar’s group detected 150 species. They traveled all the way to Hayden, CO.

B. Mongolian Horse Adoption – Follow -up – Bill:
1. John will discuss this with Rick Harness.

C. Need Reprints – Thomas, Miller:
1. Membership Brochure – Draft Revisions – Thomas:
a. Joann is having difficulty with brochures transferring from XP to Windows 7.
b. Joann has graphics for the new brochure.
c. Reference to NAS has been removed.
2. “Birds of Larimer County, Colorado” Checklist Needs Updating – Miller:
a. Ron indicated there are several updates to the species list including
species splits.
b. Will probably get at least 1,000 copies.

D. Canoe Trip – Thomas:
1. Four Audubon members have signed up.
2. The Trip has been opened to the general public.
3. The trip will not occur if at least eight people don’t sign up.

TICKLER LIST:
A. Newsletter – Need to Delete NAS Membership – All:
No discussion.

B. Ptarmigan Editorial Committee – Miller:
No discussion.

C. Fund-raising Opportunities – Grant:
No discussion.

D. Beginning Birding Classes – Thomas, Miller, DeFonso:
No discussion.

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

F. Feral Cat Issue – Harden:
1. The policy statement now contains examples of non-scientific myths.
2. The policy statement is not a press release.
3. Further discussion was tabled.

G. Audubon Colorado Public Policy Committee – Legislative Issues – Harden:
No discussion.

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

I. Retreat Follow-up – All:
No discussion.

J. River Watch – Thomas:
No discussion.

OTHER ITEMS:
None.