Fort Collins Audubon Society
Board of Directors Meeting

April 1, 2010

ATTENDEES:
Heman Adams, Scott Cobble, Eric DeFonso, Ruth Grant, Ron Harden, Karl Krahnke,
Bill Miller, Louise Parker, Joann Thomas, John Waddell.

OTHERS PRESENT:
None.

CALL TO ORDER:
Vice-President Bill Miller called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

INTRODUCTIONS: – All:
None.

MINUTES – Review, revise, and approve – All:
The February 2010 and March 2010 minutes were approved.

AGENDA REVIEW – All:
None.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: – All:
None.

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES:

REPORTS OF OFFICERS:

Treasurer’s Report – Waddell:
1. The checking account balance on April 1st was $2,777.90.
2. The total balance was $10,482.42.
3. March 2010 expenses included:
a. $215.95 to PostNet for processing the March Newsletter with postcards.
b. $865.00 to Print It for printing the February ($395.00) and March ($470.00)
newsletters.
c. $22.37 to Rustic Oven for Scott Rashid’s Meal.
d. $100.00 to Scott Rashid for mileage ($50.00) and honorarium ($ 50.00).
e. $148.50 to the Lincoln Center for room rental on March 11th.
f. $2,200.00 to the Environmental Learning Center for youth scholarships.
g. $90.00 to National Audubon Society for three memberships.
h. $15.90 to Qwest for phone service - February 16th to March 15th.
i. $10.00 to the State of Colorado for FCAS corporate registration.
j. $185.00 to Audubon for participation fee for 37 counters in the Ft. Collins CBC.
k. $50.00 to the Colorado Nonprofit Association for annual dues.
4. March 2010 receipts included:
a. $1,798.28 from National Audubon for Baseline funding for 2009.
b. $2,364.88 from partial withdrawal from mature CD. Reinvested $3000.00.
c. $2.00 for two bird guides.
d. $215.98 for 36 pocket guides.
e. $281.22 for 15 memberships.
f. $165.00 for donations from four individuals.
g. $0.09 from Wells Fargo for Interest on checking account.
5. Next CD maturation is September 11th, 2010 for $5326.34.
6. FCAS Income Tax Return filed electronically on March 27th, 2010.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:

A. Membership – Pruessner:
No discussion.

B. Finance – Adams:
1. Heman advised that FCAS observe how its cash flow increases and decreases. He
recommended, given declining bank balances, that FCAS discontinue the teacher
tuition program. The general discussion supported that sentiment.
2. Karl will inform Lisa that FCAS will continue the Environmental Learning Center
program as planned for this year.
3. In the future FCAS will revisit the funding amount based on current bank balances
and funding sources.

C. Education – Thomas
1. River Watch still pending a site.
2. March 5th – Presented Backyard Birds slide show to Pioneer Women. About 50
attended the presentation.
3. March 6th – Exhibited at the Putnam Science Carnival. This festival has tremendous
support from the teaching faculty and the principal at Putnam school. Joann talked
with CSU’s ornithology exhibit hosts and hopes to team up with them next year.
Rich Roberts stayed and helped Joann all day. Ruth Grant and Liz Pruessner each
came for half of the festival.
4. March 17th – Attended 2nd planning meeting for NCBF.
5. Scheduled future events:
a. April 28th – Backyard Birds (slide show) – PEO Women’s Organization.
b. June 5th/6th – Urban Gardening Festival – Gardens at Spring Creek. Joann will
will take one of the days and Heman will take the other. Karl may be able to help.
c. September 25th – Northern Colorado Birding Fair.
d. October 21st - Backyard Birds – Livewires – Mountain View Presb. Church in
Loveland.
6. Scheduled NCBF meetings:
4/23 2:00 – 3:30 @ Nix 5/19 9:00 – 11:30 @ Nix
6/16 9:00 – 11:30 @ Nix 7/14 9:00 – 11:30 @ Nix
8/11 9:00 – 11:30 @ Nix 8/25 9:00 – 11:30 @ Nix
9/08 9:00 – 11:30 @ Fossil Creek 9/22 9:00 – 11:30 @ Fossil Creek

D. Conservation – Miller:
No discussion.

E. Field Trips – DeFonso:
No discussion.

F. Newsletter – Jones:
No discussion.

G. Programs – Meschievitz:
1. Thursday, April 8th: Rob Palmar, Colorado photographer and grand prize winner
of “Nature’s Best Photographer” featured in the January/February Audubon
magazine.
2. Thursday, April 29th: At the Loveland Museum, beginning at 7:15 P.M. Rick Harness,
Wild Horses and Raptors of Mongolia.
3. Thursday, May 13th: Brett Bruyere, Director of the CSU Environmental Learning
Center, will speak on research conducted during the past two years on engaging youth
and families in programs about nature. He will speak on how FCAS is doing their
part to address those barriers.
4. Thursday, September 9th: David Leatherman, Dragonflies and Damselfiles.
5. Potential Fall 2010 – Speakers.
a. October – Jon Stravers, Audubon’s Mississippi River Initiative Driftless
Coordinator. Jon has worked on inventory and monitoring projects involving
red-shouldered hawks and other birds.
b. November – Nathan Pieplow, sound recordist and expert birder, speaking on
bird sounds.
6. Other Business:
a. The Colorado Field Ornithologist Conference in Fort Collins, May 21st to 24th.
Jessie contacted the president of CFO, welcoming CFO to Fort Collins and asking
if FCAS could be of any assistance. Jessie also invited a CFO representative to an
upcoming monthly meeting to announce the May conference.
b. Karl took on Publicity duties. Would it be possible to format a program newsletter
into a monthly flyer which Karl distributes?

H. Volunteers – A. Waddell:
No discussion.

OLD BUSINESS:

A. Birdathon – Miller:
1. We really need to promote it. Need team Leaders, team members, and pledges.
2. The location of the post Birdathon get-together is still to be determined.
3. Heman registered people to participate.
4. Will be held on the 14th and 15th of May.

B. Newsletter – Electronic vs Paper – All:
1. The Newsletter Committee suggested simplifying the newsletter application form by
removing references to NAS, leaving FCAS membership and support options.
2. John emailed copies of returned postcards to the Board. The postcards, included
in the March 2010 Ptarmigan, allowed recipients to mark their distribution preference.
a. 122 returned post cards.
b. 73 indicated electronic newsletter.
c. 37 indicated USPS newsletter.
d. Nine indicated removal from newsletter distribution.
e. Three did not indicate a newsletter preference.

C. Membership Brochure Revisions – Thomas:
No discussion.

D. Feral Cat Issue – Harden:
1. Ron presented a draft policy statement. After much discussion it was decided that
Ron and Karl would work together to formulate a feral cat policy paper.
2. There had been an article in the Coloradoan regarding TNR and Ruth suggested
FCAS respond in some fashion to the article. Perhaps a letter to the editor. She would
run any letter by the Board.

E. Audubon of Colorado Public Policy Committee – Legislative Issues – Harden:
1. In regards to SB98:
a. As of March 26th, 2010, the bill had been amended and subsequently passed the
house. The Bill had been fixed so that there would be no raiding of funds to be
used for purposes other than what the funds had originally been intended.
b. Ron thanked Ruth for appearing as a private citizen at a hearing and testifying in
opposition to the bill.

F. Mongolian Horse Adoption – Loveland – Miller:
1. No new developments.

G. Fossil Creek Reservoir NA Adoption – Miller:
1. Karl will communicate to the appropriate person that it is unrealistic that a group
would be able to clean up Fossil Creek Reservoir NA each month. Bill will join him.

H. Retreat Follow-up – All:
No discussion.

I. River Watch – Thomas:
No discussion.

NEW BUSINESS:

A. Policy on lending out the chapter’s equipment – Miller:
1. The Board decided that FCAS equipment would only be used for FCAS sponsored
affairs such as field trips, classes, slide shows, and exhibitions.
 

B. Fund-raising opportunities – Grant:
1. Heman suggested making a direct request to membership for donations.
a. Soliciting for the cost of the meetings.
b. Soliciting donations for the scholarship fund.
2. Bill suggested announcing in the newsletter that FCAS needs to raise funds.
3. Ron and Bill brought up the fact that Bill has possession of a DVD, “Supporting –
Our Good Work” produced in 2004 by the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society that
details how they started sending out an annual fundraising letter in 1993.
4. Bill suggested viewing the DVD at the May Board meeting.

C. Canoe Trip – Hurmence:
No discussion.

D. Beginning Birding Class – Thomas, Miller, DeFonso:
No discussion.

E. Ptarmigan Editorial Committee – Miller:
No discussion.

F. Other – All:
No discussion.

OTHER ITEMS:
1. Scott suggested announcing to membership that Program meetings, starting in September,
will be held at the Senior Center. Bill said an announcement will be included in the next
two newsletters.

ADJOURN:
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 P.M.