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Virginia Audubon Council Meeting January 22, 2000 Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Richmond, Virginia The meeting was called to order at 9:35 am. The following Chapter members and other invitees were present: Cape Henry: Andy Tate; Gray Puryear |
| The minutes were read and approved with minor
edits. Eileen Rowan noted that the minutes referred to her as VAC Conservation
Chairperson, a title that had not been formally approved by the VAC. After
the minutes were approved, a motion nominated Eileen Rowan as VAC Conservation
Chair. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.
The Treasurer circulated a revised report, showing an additional $1,000 in monies from Chapters for the Virginia State Office, held in a Certificate of Deposit. The revised Treasurer's report was noted and accepted without comment. President E. L. Carlyle thanked Pam Dummitt for the food and drink. He also thanked by name all the Chapter representatives who had served on the Strategic Plan Committee under the leadership of Brian Moores. The President requested a motion to nominate Eileen Rowan as VAC Representative to the Virginia Conservation Network (VCN). A motion was seconded and approved unanimously. He reported that the planned visit to the Roanoke Valley Bird Club had not taken place, but he noted that Alice Quinn, the new Club President, was enthusiastic about National Audubon affiliation. He said the VAC had been invited to hold one of its quarterly meeting in Roanoke. A decision in this regard was taken later in the meeting. Next, the President initiated a dialogue with Dave Pardoe regarding the disposition of Chapter funds for the Virginia State Office. National Audubon holds $3,389.63 from Chapters in a restricted fund. VAC holds $1,000 in a CD (see above) at the Bank of Clark County. He noted that it was his understanding that any funds held by the National Office would not be returned to Chapters, but could be used only for State office activities, either in the State originating the funds or in another state. In contrast, the $1,000 held by VAC would be returned with interest in the event the State office did not materialize. Dave Pardoe said he agreed with the President's views, noting that tax regulations kept National Audubon from shifting money from one tax-exempt organization to another, so the money could not be returned but only spent for its original purpose. Dave Pardoe reported on the December meeting of the National Audubon Board of Directors. He mentioned that Florida Audubon and National Audubon had merged, as had Maine Audubon and National, in effect creating State offices. Similar moves were in the works for Hawaii and Arkansas. He noted that the Board had approved "Essential Elements of Audubon Centers" and "Governance Guidelines for State Programs." National Audubon is keen on more State offices, an effort called the Greening of America, and will initiate a new fund raising program, led by Don O'Brien, to raise $30 million over 3 years. National understands that starting a State office requires funding assistance, but has no money currently for State offices. Mr. Pardoe also reported that NAS staff had grown by 50% over the last 3 years, but general membership in the Society had remained static at 500,000 or so, requiring constant efforts at fund raising just to stay even. The Population and Habitat program followed. Using slides and handouts the presenters drew the connection between population growth and loss of habitat for wildlife. They urged Chapter members to take the printed material, and lobby the Congress to provide more funding for population programs carried out both bilaterally and multilaterally. U.S. contributions to such programs represent only .02% of the International Affairs budget, one of the lowest contributions among industrial countries. Gerry Eddy from Northern Neck Audubon was unable to attend so E.L. Carlyle reported on the acquisition of Hickory Hollow in Lancaster County. Through a combined effort between NNAS and the State of Virginia, 250 acres of wetlands and forest has been saved from industrial development and preserved. The President requested that the minutes reflect Happy Birthday wishes to Tom Teeples of Northern Neck Audubon. After lunch, Eileen Rowan on VCN activities. She circulated a VCN legislative priorities list which include a statewide nontidal wetlands protection program, State funding for land acquisition of at least $40 million, farm preservation. She urged Chapters to take these on as their priorities, to work with like-minded organizations, and bring the Audubon (or bird) perspective to these issues. She invited Chapters to attend the February 2 VCN legislative reception and to take part in the February 21 VCN lobby day at St. Paul's church. More information is available at the VCN Web site: http://www.vcnva.org. Eileen also mentioned that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission was weighing a menu of options regarding the level of Horseshoe crab harvesting. She also mentioned that the comment period for the Chesapeake 2000 plan ended in March. Virginia State Office By-laws: Brian Moores introduced the latest draft. Dave Pardoe noted that National had issued preliminary governance guidelines for State offices. The guidelines suggest that Councils form transitional committees to work on the State office structure which would then determine the by-laws. VAC already has formed standing committees to carry out the core program of the State office. The result of the discussion was a tabling of the draft by-laws for later consideration. Finally, the date of the next meeting was discussed, and it was tentatively set for April 29th, at a location to be determined, most likely one of the potential sites in the Richmond area for the State office: James River Park or Henricus-Dutch River Gap. It was also agreed to explore having the July 22nd meeting in the Roanoke area. There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 14:40. Respectfully submitted,
Manny Barrera
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