President's Corner
Visions for the Chapter
by John Shenot
FCAS wants to thank all our members, volunteers, and board members for making 2022 another successful year and helping us finish the year “in the black.” We rely on your membership dues for about 30 percent of the annual revenue that keeps FCAS going, and I hope you have already renewed your membership for 2023.
We haven’t raised our dues in more than 10 years. Our expenses have risen, but we’ve been able to keep membership dues affordable (while increasing our pro-gram offerings and services) through a combination of successful fundraising events and generous donations from individuals and organizations who contribute above and beyond their membership dues. We also rely on volunteers for everything we do, and we’re grateful for merchandise donations from businesses like Wild Birds Unlimited.
I want to use this month’s column to thank all the following who made cash donations in 2022, and hum-bly ask those who can afford it to consider a donation in 2023. Donations to our general fund would be much appreciated, but perhaps you might prefer to contrib-ute to our Alex Cringan Memorial Fund, through which we offer modest scholarships to students for conservation-related research and projects. Our ability to offer scholarships each year is wholly dependent on contributions to the Cringan fund.
Memorial Donations in 2022
By: In name of:
- Alan Godwin: Judy Balice
- Connie Marvel: Doris Bice
- Gayle Green: Elaine Coley
- Cindy & Brian McKnight: Elaine Coley
- Bonnie Harden & Duane Ammerman: Elaine Coley
- Cristen & Jack Harden: Elaine Coley
- Family of Elaine Coley: Elaine Coley
- Elizabeth Pruessner: Scott Cobble
Other Individual Donors in 2022
- Van & Sheila Baker
- Mary Beck
- Louise Boulder
- Tom & Anne Butler
- Patricia Cohn
- Beth Dillon
- James Dolan
- Randy & Kathy Fischer
- Margaret S. Grant
- Robert P. Godwin
- Michelle Haefele &
- Michael Knowles
- Ron Harden
- Mary Harris
- Carole Hossan
- Julie Janick-Wilkey
- Tod Leeper
- Jane M. Low
- Bob & Rosemary Lucas
- Ian & Barbara MacGillivray
- Connie Marvel
- Nancy Metzler
- Hildegarde Morgan
- Joseph Polazzi
- Elizabeth Pruessner
- Joseph Solvick
- Jeff Stewart
- John Waddell
Donations from Charitable Organizations in 2022
Hillard Family Foundation, a do-nor advised fund of the U.S. Charitable Trust; and Siegfried Kohen Charitable Giving Fund, a donor advised fund of Fidelity Charitable Donor Advised Funds.

FCAS Annual Membership Renewal
It is January and that means it is time to re-new your annual membership. FCAS chapter memberships run for the calendar year from January through December. Dues are $20 to receive the Ptarmigan electronically or $30 for a printed copy through the mail.
Please use the form on the back page of the newsletter to renew by mail or renew at a program meeting. You also can renew online. Remember, your membership and contributions are tax deductible.
Your local chapter dues strengthen our efforts and make possible our programs, meetings, education, and advocacy for birds and wildlife habitat. Keep the Ptarmigan coming by renewing today.
If you renewed September–December 2021, your membership is good through January 2023. Thank you to all those who have already renewed. We appreciate your support!
Find FCAS on Facebook for Field Trip Information
FCAS has a Facebook page where we post announcements about upcoming field trips, last minute changes to scheduled trips, and highlights of most of our outings. Just click on the “Like" button in the plugin to Like our page! Our announcements should then appear on your wall. You can also click on "Fort Collins Audubon Society" to be taken directly to the Facebook page. Note: All field trips are also announced in the Ptarmigan and on our website.
Find FCAS on YouTube for Previous Zoom Presentations
Did you miss the monthly live chapter Zoom presentation? The chapter has recently created a YouTube channel to provide an easily accessible archive of our monthly chapter Zoom meetings. Be sure to Like and Subscribe!
Upcoming FCAS Education Events
FCAS and Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (BCR) are now offering classes and hikes through the City of Fort Collins Recreator. Register at fcgov.com/recreator, register in person, or call 970-221-6655.
Join us for Feather and Flight Friday walks at the Fort Collins Senior Center led by Sheila Webber. As part of our partnership with the Senior Center and the new habitat hero garden, we are offering bird hikes from the Senior Center to Rolland Moore Park. All are two hours hikes that start at the garden on the patio at 9 a.m.; cost is $6. Dates: Friday, Sept. 13; Friday, Sept. 27; and Friday, Oct. 11.
Front Range Bird ID class for beginners is offered by Erin Youngberg from BCR. Learn techniques to identify birds, and how to use a field guide and binoculars. All are two hour hikes that start at the garden on the patio at 3 p.m.; cost is $15. Dates: Sunday, Sept. 8; Sunday, Oct. 20; and Sunday, Nov. 17.