Imagine Virginia in twenty years. The population of the
state has grown by 20% to 7,250,000.
One percent of the state's citizens are members of Audubon. That means 24,000 households: people old and
young, from the inner city, suburbia and the countryside, of all different
races and from all walks of life. These individuals and families support a
statewide network of Audubon affiliated nature sanctuaries, many with
state-of-the-art centers that each year connect one in every four school
children in the state with nature. These sanctuaries also protect thousands of
acres of diverse natural habitats, which are studied, experienced and loved by
their communities as well as citizens from throughout the state. Lessons taught
locally on the land inspire a desire to protect the environment on a broader
scale – at state, national and even international levels. Partnerships with
diverse populations as well as private and public entities engage people,
creating broad-based support for conservation. Ten thousand volunteers - 500
per center - dedicate their time, energy and financial contributions towards
community-based conservation and education programs. Through Audubon, citizens
are leading the effort to forge creative, science-based and successful
solutions to the state’s environmental problems. This is the culture of conservation
As part of promoting a culture of conservation nationwide, Audubon needs a strong voice in Virginia. Conversely, Virginia needs an active, cohesive Audubon program. Audubon’s focus on hands-on education at environmental centers, combined with its national reputation for science-based advocacy and policy on behalf of birds, wildlife, and their habitats is unique.
We are fortunate to have twelve
six active chapters and over 10,500 ???? members currently in the state. Working both individually and collectively,
these Virginia chapters have been instrumental in supporting the culture of
conservation in Virginia. Rewrite for Virginia: For example, working to
promote the Non-Game Checkoff on the state income tax. The non-game program has successfully
reintroduced Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons and River Otters into the state. Several chapters have initiated land trusts
with which they continue to be closely associated. Members worked with others to have the Conservationist’s
Alternative adopted as the Hoosier National Forest Management Plan. They provided support for the establishment
of the Patoka National Wildlife Refuge and the state's Blue Grass Fish and
Wildlife Area. In addition, several chapters have close working relationships
with local nature centers or State Parks.
Chapters also provide many educational opportunities through field trips,
presentations at public meetings, and the support of Audubon Adventures
classroom programs in the elementary schools around the state. Chapters have
been active in local issues such as park management and protection, clean air
and water quality issues. Audubon members have served on a number of local,
state and federal advisory committees.
With the development of a state program, new professional staff will be able to harness the grass roots energy that these chapters and members represent and build them into an even more effective group. By creating a permanent state presence, Virginia-Audubon can provide a vehicle for coordinating cooperative projects with existing organizations in the region, and can leverage national support for the benefit of the state.
The
immediate goal is to raise sufficient funds to begin a state program. These
funds will allow Virginia-Audubon to hire and support a state director, as well
as administrative, fundraising and program staff. Once hired, the state
director will work with the existing chapters and the state board to develop a
state program based on realistic priorities.
The object will be to establish an energetic operation following a
comprehensive Audubon agenda for conservation through education, science and
advocacy. Aggressive fund-raising capacity will ensure that operations have a
solid base of financial support, and an enduring partnership between members,
chapters, volunteers and other supporters will guarantee long-term community
involvement.
The Program
As outlined in its strategic
plan, Virginia-Audubon will use the combination
of scientific information, environmentally educated grass roots members and
chapters, and proven educational programs to accomplish its mission. Virginia
Audubon will promote programs for environmental education and advocacy through
a network of Audubon owned and affiliated Centers around the state. By
providing educational programs to citizens of all ages, a voice for sound
conservation policy at the state and local levels will continue to be heard for
generations to come.
The state program will be alert to state and local conservation issues in which both Virginia-Audubon and chapters can become productively involved. The director will ensure that all efforts are based on solid science and sound policy. Programs will be designed for the sustained and effective involvement of individuals and chapters, and they must have the widespread support of the Audubon community. They will have clearly designed and meaningful goals that can be accomplished and fall within the mission of Audubon: to conserve birds, wildlife and their habitats.
Programs
may fall into three broad categories:
1.)
Issues of state-wide importance related to birds, wildlife and habitat
where Virginia-Audubon can be a leader or work in partnership with other state
organizations, either governmental (e.g., Department of Natural Resources) or
non-profit (e.g., The Nature Conservancy);
2.)
Issues of local concern related to birds, wildlife and habitat where a
chapter (or chapters) can provide local grass roots energy and Virginia-Audubon
can provide staff or other assistance in an effective partnership;
3.)
Issues of national concern related to birds, wildlife and habitat where
Virginia-Audubon can support the positions of National Audubon
Programs will be guided by the
program goals in the Virginia Audubon Strategic Plan:
The
director will spearhead a strategic planning process that will result in a
prioritized list of Audubon Center site
possibilities based on new opportunities in areas not currently served by
existing programs, and that will provide the organizational and financial
underpinnings to make them effective expressions of the Audubon mission. In
addition, the plan will explore and promote partnership opportunities where
there are existing protected natural areas and establish a standard of
excellence in programming on behalf of the conservation of birds, wildlife and
habitat.
The
development of a center network and other educational programs that meets the
Audubon vision of reaching one out of every four school children in the state
will be a critical measure of Virginia-Audubon’s success. Centers will be
established as funds become available through capital fund-raising campaigns,
based on their ability to meet the Audubon mission.
Please see the Six Essential
Elements of a State Office for a full picture of all the activities of a state
program. The 2020 Vision for Centers brochure
provides additional details about Center goals and programming.
We
have an initial goal of raising $500,000 to start-up and sustain a state
program for the first two years.
During that period, Virginia-Audubon will create a Development Plan for the long-term support of the state program. It will include the implementation of new fund-raising strategies such as:
·
An
aggressive effort to cultivate large gifts from foundations and major donors;
·
Development
of an Endowment Fund from which investment income can be realized;
·
Creation
of a bequest program to generate income for the endowment;
·
A
mechanism to realize contributions from Virginia-Audubon members and chapters
(e.g., Birdathon or Annual Fund); and
·
An
expanded corporate-giving program for both general support and program
sponsorship.
Existing
chapter expertise complemented by new energy and diverse experiences from as
yet untapped leaders will be vitally important for establishing and growing the
Virginia state program. A staffed Audubon presence in Virginia will lead
quickly and directly to a considerable expansion of Audubon activities. Development of a state board will contribute
to the success of Virginia-Audubon by creating a team to work with the state
director and program staff to:
·
Identify
and plan priority campaigns statewide addressing conservation issues;
·
Plan
and implement educational activities that involve more members of the public in
Audubon’s mission;
·
Fund-raise
actively for state program support;
·
Maximize
communication and coordination between members, chapters, and Virginia-Audubon;
·
Establish, direct and support Virginia’s growing network of centers.
Virginia-Audubon
will benefit from technical support available through National Audubon’s
headquarters in New York. This will include forms of consultative support from
program specialists, e.g. the Audubon Field Support, Public Policy, Science,
Centers and Education, and Development staff.
Strategic planning in Virginia will benefit from the experience of
Audubon in other states as well as from Audubon access to independent
consultants. The establishment of a
bequest program will benefit from the guidance and technical knowledge of the
Audubon Planned Giving staff. The
design of effective programs for education and advocacy will be improved
through the advice and counsel of Audubon Centers and Education staff and staff
of the Washington D.C. Office. Audubon
networks and support structures between and among the various state and field
offices will also benefit the Virginia state office.
As a result of the establishment of the Virginia-Audubon office, an already active Audubon presence in the state will become a prominent force for the environment, preserving and restoring the natural beauty of our state so that future generations will be able to learn about and enjoy what nature has to offer. By promoting the culture of conservation in Virginia, we will succeed in our mission to conserve birds, wildlife and habitat.