Draft Minutes

Virginia Audubon Council Annual Meeting

October 25, 2003

Huntley Meadows, Virginia

 

The meeting, hosted by Fairfax Audubon, started at 9:30 am.  Present were:

 

Cape Henry: Andy Tate

Fairfax Audubon: Manny Barrera, Walter Simonson, Jim Waggener, Deblyn Flack, Kathy Dismukes, Greg Fleming, Carol Hadlock, Chuck Brader

Richmond Audubon: Caroline Coe, Jeanne Menuet, Ellen Ackerman

Northern Neck Audubon: Rick Skelton

National Audubon: Dave Pardoe, Catherine Grant

 

Jim Waggener, President of Fairfax Audubon Society, welcomed the Council to Northern Virginia and presented a $500 check from FAS to support the Virginia Important Bird Area (IBA) program.  The contribution represented a portion of the proceeds from FAS's successful 2003 Birdathon.

 

Caroline Coe, President of the VAC, and Ellen Ackerman, Interim Coordinator for the IBA program, reported on the status of the IBA.  Caroline noted that the VAC was in negotiations with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for funding of the IBA project through 2004.  At the same, the VAC is sub-contracting with National Audubon (NAS) to provide a full-time coordinator for the IBA program. Dave Pardoe, NAS Board Member, noted that IBAs is one of the ways that NAS helps with State-wide activities.

 

Ellen Ackerman reported on the activities of the Technical Committee and the preparation of IBA-site nomination forms. She also reported that the Virginia Society of Ornithology had pledged almost $3000 to the IBA this year and had also ear-marked next year’s Roving Ravens pledges to the IBA.

 

Andy Tate introduced himself as the next Interim Coordinator and outlined the activities of the Steering and Technical Committees over the near term.

 

Dave Pardoe, Mid-Atlantic NAS Director, reported on National Audubon activities, including a description of recent events at Mill Grove,  John James Audubon’s house.  He encouraged all to put the house on their next trip itinerary to Pennsylvania.

 

Jim Waggener, President of FAS, reported on the chapter’s involvement with the Audubon at Home program.  The Ohio State Office and two Virginia chapters (FAS and RAS) are participating in a pilot project to create enduring projects that will inspire people and communities to participate in wildlife friendly practices such as planting native species and reducing water and pesticide use.  So far, FAS has identified a number of sites  ranging from the former Lorton prison site to private gardens to a restoration of Four-mile Run.  FAS remains in contact with Congressman Jim Moran’s office and is closely coordinating with NAS and the NRCS; the Congressman was instrumental in leadership support for appropriating the $500,000 in funds to launch pilots of the Audubon at Home project.

 

Deblyn Flack and Kathy Dismukes of Fairfax Audubon Society described how FAS carries out its public communications goals. The key is to determine the various audiences and decide what the themes and tailored messages should be.  Communications should be in support of Chapter plans and activities and coincide with what is happening in the natural world.  Consideration should be given to eco-dates, legislative calendars, and topical conservation issues.  Advanced planning, perhaps as much as a year in advance, and recruiting content providers are critical success factors in order to deliver a timely and consistent message.   Materials were shared, such as a sample communications matrix, which are useful in developing a communications framework.

 

Catherine Grant, grass-roots coordinator for NAS’s office in Washington, DC, presented the NAS legislative priorities.  After reviewing the many pieces of bad legislation pending in the Congress, she emphasized the need to keep Chapters informed and to poll Chapters for their conservation priorities.

 

Next, Caroline Coe led a discussion on the possibility of an Audubon vanity plate for Virginia. After a few minutes of back-and-forth on the issue, Caroline asked for a motion and how to proceed and the Council agreed that Deblyn Flack of FAS should put together a report on the vanity plate issues for the next meeting of the VAC.

 

Caroline mentioned the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan for Virginia, spearheaded by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.  She said that David Whitehurst wants a strong Audubon presence as this effort moves forward, and the IBA is an important part of the process.

 

Ellen led a discussion on the Virginia Audubon Council web addresses and the Council agreed to offer NAS the audubonvirginia.org address and keep the virginiaaudubon.org for the use of the Council.

 

The meeting ended with election of officers for 2004:

 

President, Manny Barrera, FAS

Vice President, Rick Skelton, NNAS

2nd Vice President, vacant

Secretary, Brian Moores, RAS

Treasurer, Julie Simpson, NSAS

 

Dates for the 2004 VAC meetings were set at 1/24, 4/24, 7/24, 10/23.  The meeting adjourned at 2 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Manny Barrera, Secretary