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Virginia Audubon Council July 29, 2000 Longwood College, Farmville, Virginia The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m. The following VAC representatives, Chapter members and guests attended:
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| E.L. Carlyle
introduced Dr. Cormier, President of Longwood College. She welcomed the
Council to Longwood College and spoke of the common interests between the
Council and the College. She added that a new opportunity presented
itself in the Ames Hull Springs Farm, bequeathed to the College by an alumna.
The farm, in Westmoreland County, extends over 560 acres and holds more
than 130 species of birds and over 90 species of plants. There are 5 buildings
on the property. It is a working farm and environmental studies site for
the college. Longwood plans to ask the VAC for assistance in future use
of the property.
John Coe reported on the Henricus-Dutch Gap facility. The building is still under construction, with completion set for March 2001. The offer from the Henricus Foundation to VAC for the State Office includes one closed office and one cubicle space on the second level. The first level is an educational facility. Other occupants at the site would be the Henricus Foundation, Friends of the James River Riverfront, and the Chesterfield County Park naturalist. The cost to VAC for use of the space would be $3,000 a year to cover utilities and office materials. The Henricus Foundation would prefer an upfront contribution of $9,000 for 3-5 years occupancy. John also mentioned Belle Island, which has potential as an Audubon Center, but probably not as a State office location. E.L. asked whether we wanted a State office, or a State office with an Audubon Center. Next, Glenn Olson presented the National Audubon view of the State office program. He referred to the Greening of America program, which includes an office in each State, 1000 Audubon Centers, one percent of each State's population as Audubon members, and 25% of the students in each State reached by Audubon programs. Olson emphasized education programs as the best way to get started and raise funds. Study the area for the proposed State office, determine the potential number of students that can be reached by an Audubon Center and then proceed. E.L. Carlyle asked where the VAC could find the funds and expertise to get started. Olson replied that NAS had limited staff to help out, but that fund raising consultants were available at NAS Headquarters in New York. He added that over the next 6 months an NAS team would form to help out with advice. In the meantime, he suggested we do a short case statement of what we want to do. We should feel free to contact him for advice at: golson@audubon.org. E.L. then requested that the VAC should have written approval to set up the State office from each of the Chapters if it had not been received already. He added that for tax purposes the State office is not to be a separate corporation but a part or subsidiary of NAS. Eileen Rowan, the VAC Conservation chairman reported on wetlands legislation, and thanked the VAC membership for helping out on this important issue. She reported the state of play on horseshoe crabs, and Virginia's non-compliance with the total moratorium imposed by the Secretary of Commerce. She also reminded the group of the Virginia Environmental Assembly scheduled for September 16. More information is available at the VCN Web page. E.L. reported a total of $1,210.58 in operating funds, and $17,096 in funds set aside for the State Office. The latter includes $10,000 from the Wareheim Foundation, with the balance coming from Chapter contributions, some of which are held by National. The issue of VAC dues to the VCN was raised, and a motion was seconded and approved stipulating that the VAC go back to its former status of paying $1,000 in annual dues. The four larger Chapters would be asked to contribute $250 each in order to raise the $1,000 in dues. E.L. continued the President's report, noting that he had talked to Virginia Society of Ornithology officers, and he felt a need to mend fences with the VSO. He added that apparently there was no interest from Roanoke in forming an Audubon chapter. No one from Roanoke had come to the VAC meeting as E.L. had hoped. Larry Lynch, President of VSO, said that the disagreements between the VAC and the VSO were in the past, and that Richmond Audubon was sponsoring the VSO annual meeting in 2002. E.L. next requested the results of the work of the Nominating Committee. Manuel Barrera, Chairman of the Committee, reported a slate for VAC officers in 2001 comprised of Caroline Coe, President, Andy Tate, First Vice President, no candidate for Second Vice President, Manuel Barrera, Secretary, and Juliana Simpson, Treasurer. Eileen Rowan said she thought the VAC needed someone to look at land issues, and thought a Land Stewardship chairman would be appropriate. A discussion ensued, and as a result of the discussion E.L. will talk to Bob Coles regarding his availability to look at land issues on behalf of the VAC. E.L. reminded everyone that the next VAC meeting would be on October 28 at Airlie Conference Center. The meeting adjourned at 2:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Manny Barrera
Minutes approved at the VAC Meeting of October
28, 2000
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