Fort Collins Audubon Society
Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday, April 7, 2005

ATTENDEES: Heman Adams, Kate Bolster, Scott Cobble, Beth Dillon, Carol Fiore, Phil Friedman, Ruth Grant, Ron Harden, Lynne Hull, Joel Hurmence, Diann Johnston, Bill Miller, Sue Miller, Sue Riffe, John Waddell, Ellen Wride.

OTHERS PRESENT: None 

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by President Joel Hurmence at 7:10 P.M.  

INTRODUCTIONS: None.  

OPENING STATEMENTS: None 

MINUTES � Review, revise, and approve � All:

     March 3, 2005

          1. Bill indicated:

              a) On page 4 in OLD BUSINESS, Section B) 2) e) the letter �d� should be added to the word �move�.

          2. Beth moved to approve the minutes as revised. Bill seconded the motion. The Board
              unanimously approved the minutes. 

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITEES: 

     REPORTS OF OFFICERS: 

          Treasurer�s Report � Waddell:

               1. John had previously electronically distributed:

                   a) 2003 Newsletter costs

                   b) FCAS April 2005 Financial statement

                   c) April Achiote/Emerald Planet report.

                       i) The Achiote fund has about $90 in it.

               2. Phil mentioned that Advanced Direct Marketing might be an option for a direct mail
                   service. Phil indicated he�d show them thFCASAS newsletter to see what their fees
                   would be.

               3. John indicated that Postnet would be an option as well.  

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES: 

          A. Conservation � Fiore:  

               1. The last Conservation Committee meeting will be in May.

               2. A woman living on the Poudre says that rafters are disturbing birds, including Lewis'
                   Woodpeckers, living near her property. She will present her information at the May
                   Conservation Committee meeting. 

               3. Evidently the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forrest wants to make a change to the
                   indicator species.

                   a) Beth asked what the reason was for such a change.

                   b) The reason evidently is whether or not the species can be adequately monitored.

               4. Carol indicated the newspaper pared down her letter to the editor.

               5. Carol needs an article for the Conservation Corner in the Ptarmigan about ANWR. 

          B. Program � Boss:

               1. Jim Knopf will be the featured speaker at the May Program meeting. 

          C. Nature Center � Komar:

               1. Judy Sherpelz will purchase a property on Vine Drive.        

               2. She gave the DDA a presentation to see if they would be interested in financing the
                   project.

               3. Joel asked Ruth to become involved because of her prior experience with Nature
                   centers.

          D. Education � Hull:

               1. Kevin Cook called Joel to mention there are eleven people in the Birding class. 

          E. Membership � Bolster:

               1. The FCAS membership now stands at 716.

               2. Ron suggested contacting those individuals who have dropped their NAS membership
                   and ask them if they�d be interested in FCASAS chapter membership.

               3. Ron also suggested requesting address service of the Post Office in an effort to keep
                   the address list up to date. 

          F. Public Relations � Johnston:

               1. Diann created posters for the canoe trip and for the birding class. She sent them to the
                   Coloradoan newspaper. Her source said he�d try to give some free publicity.

               2. Diann asked Phil if he wanted to do advertising for the Birdathon. He indicated no.

               3. There has not been any interest in the Scholarships yet. Beth suggested sending a flyer
                   to Poudre and Thompson School Districts.

               4. Joel suggested a photo gallery on the FCAS website.

               5. Diann suggested that text not in columns is easier to read.

               6. Diann asked how people sign up for the Birdathon. Phil replied a sign up sheet is used.
                   She suggested mass marketing by postcards.

               7. Bill suggested field trip leaders tell their attendees about the Birdathon.

               8. Diann said she�d send notice to the newspapers.

               9. Sue suggested mentioning what the Birdathon money will be used for.

               10. Phil will draft a notice. Joel and Diann will edit the notice and Joe will format it.

          G. Volunteer � Wride:

               1.Ellen said she�d like to put a volunteer application in the next Ptarmigan. She�ll
                  write the piece then compile the results.

               2. There have been no email results from the website yet. 

          H. Other � All:

               1. Sue Miller researched where to get 8 ounce paper cups. One source is Jerome-Ricker.

               2. Ruth mentioned that Styrofoam does not recycle well while paper does. 

NEW BUSINESS:   

     A. Vision Graphics price increase and findings of new direct mail service � Waddell:

          1. Discussed earlier. 

     B. Creating a ListServ for FACS � Hurmence:

          1. Joel postponed discussion.

          2. Debra Holman, who works at UNC, will manage the listserv.

          3. Yahoo Groups are free. 

     C. �Critter Patter� 5:00 � 5:30 P.M. April 9 KCFR � Hurmence:

           Phil volunteered to help Joel on the program. 

     D. Need someone to lead April Program Meeting, pick up

           mail, and Deliver scholarship Applications to Carol, Ruth � Hurmence:

           1. Beth said she could pick up the material from Joel and take it to the Program meeting.

           2. Phil said he�d do the announcing at the meeting.

           3. Ruth will check the mail for scholarships. 

     E. Audubon Colorado Funds for Chapter work on IBA�s � Hurmence:

          1. If FCAS officially adopts an IBA then there will have to be a plan and on-going
              activity.

          2. FCAS would apply for a reimbursement of funds.

          3. Joel will take the lead on this.

          4. Might be able to use the Fossil Creek checklist. 

     F. Schedule Spring Cleanup at Fossil Creek � Hurmence:

          1. Phil suggested having the cleanup in June but advertising for it in May.

          2. Bill  mentioned that FCAS might look for a second area to cleanup since Fossil Creek is
             pretty clean. 

     G. Schedule Summer Garden Tour of habitat gardens � Hull, Bolster:

          1. Lynn believes FCAS can come up with four members who would be willing to show
              their backyards at perhaps $10 per person in August as a fundraiser.

          2. This would fit in with May�s program meeting.

          3. Lynn and Kate will put together a piece for the newsletter.

          4. Bill mentioned that Larimer County is putting on a series of Saturday evening talks at
              various campgrounds. They want to know if FCAS would like to be involved.

          5. Bill will give Joel information and Joel will write up something for the May newsletter. 

OLD BUSINESS

     A. IMBD Poster/T-shirts? � Friedman:

          1. Phil presented an example of the t-shirts. The sense of the Board was not to purchase any.

          2. Beth suggested buying posters and giving them to schools. Diann moved to order 100
              posters. The motion was seconded by Ron. The Board unanimously approved the motion.  

     B. Birdathon � Friedman:

         1. Diann asked Phil how much interest there was in the Birdathon. Phil indicated there was
             at least a whole sheet of signatures.

         2. Phil asked people to talk to businesses to ask them if they might be up for a donation. 

     C. Send out Fundraising Letter for Birdathon? Next year? � Hurmence:

          1. Bill has not worked on the DVD yet.

          2. Joel said he�d do a Birdathon tear out appeal in a special mailing. 

     D. Approval of Proposals from Retreat � All:

          1. Membership Brochure � Bolster:

              a) Kate said the vertical image of the Mockingbird will be fine for the newsletter.

              b) Other Board members discussed having a different bird on the newsletter.

          2. Field Trip Policies � Friedman:

              a) Deferred until May.

              b) Phil emailed a copy of the working documents.

          3. Fundraising � Miller:

              a) Discussed earlier. 

     E. Canoe Trip update � Hurmence:

          1. Eleven people have signed up already.

          2. Beth will be going on the trip. 

NAS BUSINESS  

     A. Restructure of NAS Regions � Hurmence:

          1. Joel will email information to the Board about it. 

COMMENTS

Ruth mentioned that she was a judge at the State Science & Engineering Fair. Various groups gave awards for different projects. Ruth ventured that perhaps FCAS might want to become involved

and offer a scholarship for a project a child has done. Some Board members thought it would be a great idea to get involved in a local science fair. 

ADJOURN:

     Phil moved to adjourn the meeting. Carol seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously
     approved by the Board at 9:30 P.M.

     Respectfully submitted,