April 7, 2023
A PENNSYLVANIA AUDUBON COUNCIL FORUM
 THE "AUDUBON" NAME:
 A Conversation Among Pennsylvania Audubon Chapter Leaders
7:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19,2023
The Pennsylvania Audubon Council is offering an opportunity for Pennsylvania Audubon Chapter Leaders to participate in a conversation regarding the decision of the National Audubon Society to retain the “Audubon” name. This opportunity is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. We are pleased that Shelly Cihan, National Audubon Society Board Member and Regional Director of the Atlantic Flyway North, will join us for this conversation. There is no formal agenda for this meeting. This is simply a chance to share concerns and considerations in a thoughtful exchange. 
 
Shelly Cihan met with the Pennsylvania Audubon Council Executive Committee in March. It resulted in a fruitful exchange and an opportunity for our Executive Committee members to share how each of their chapters were responding to the National Audubon Society decision. Shelly and the Executive Committee agreed that a session open to any interested chapter leaders should be offered. Please join us on April 19th!
 
Please share this invitation and link below with any of your chapter Board members and committee chairs as you and they are invited to participate in this special forum! 
A COUNCIL FACEBOOK PAGE IS LAUNCHED!
 
The Pennsylvania Audubon Council now has a Facebook Page! It is established as a means for our Pennsylvania Audubon Chapters to share posts that spotlight special projects, events, and other significant activities. The goal is to demonstrate the contributions that our chapter network makes to benefit the conservation and protection of birds and the environment. It is a public Facebook group intended as a vehicle to highlight our important work in communities throughout the Commonwealth.

The Council will be inviting chapters to designate an individual(s) to have the authority and access to post to the Council Facebook. Look for an invitation to participate soon. Note that anyone can join, but only those who are directly invited or granted permission will be able to post/comment.

Here is the link for people to join the group:
Note that this new Council Facebook presence is not intended to duplicate each individual chapter’s Facebook presence or promote local meetings. Rather, it is intended for chapters to selectively showcase a special event or project of regional or statewide interest. The Erie Bird Festival or the launch of “Lights Out Harrisburg” are examples of such posts. Look for more details and information coming soon via email.
The Pennsylvania Audubon Council
“WALT POMEROY CONSERVATION AWARD”
 
Last October, the Pennsylvania Audubon Council “Walt Pomeroy Conservation Award” was presented to Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources. The Pennsylvania Audubon Council Executive Committee reinaugurated its conservation award in honor of Walt Pomeroy, a great friend of Audubon who passed away in May 2022. Cindy was the clear choice as the recipient of this award. The Audubon Council of Pennsylvania originally established the Conservation Award in 1988 as a means for the Council to recognize individuals who made significant contributions to the environment. Governor Robert Casey received one of the first Conservation Awards. Past recipients have included policy makers, legislators, and others including Secretary Maurice Goddard and Congressman Jim Greenwood.
 
A “blue ribbon” group has been recruited to help the Council propose guidelines and criteria as we seek nominations for future awardees. This group is comprised of Cindy Adams Dunn, Marci Mowery, Amy Weidensaul, Scott Weidensaul, and Paul Zeph. All five of these individuals knew and worked with Walt Pomeroy. In addition, these individuals have been supporters of the Audubon Council of Pennsylvania and understand the connections of the Walt Pomeroy Conservation Award with our Pennsylvania Audubon Chapters and the Council.
 
We are not seeking any nominations or names of potential recipients at this time. That opportunity will come after the proposed guidelines have been developed and shared with the chapters in coordination of the Council’s Executive Committee. The tradition has been to present the award in an informal basis with one, sometimes two, recipients in any given year. The award has been presented in simple ceremonies and never intended as part of a fundraising event.

We welcome any and all ideas and suggestions from chapter leaders for the guidelines and criteria for this award. Please share suggestions or comments via paaudboncouncil@gmail.com.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS!
Pennsylvania Audubon Council Nominating Committee is Appointed!
 
The Nominating Committee of the Pennsylvania Audubon Council is appointed. The Committee includes Vince Smith, President of the Valley Forge Audubon Society; John Carter, President of Juniata Valley Audubon Society; and Heidi Shiver, President of Bird Town Pennsylvania and Past President of Bucks County Audubon Society. The Nominating Committee is charged with the responsibility to solicit nominations and recommend a slate of Officers and additional individuals to serve with the Officers on the Executive Committee of the Council. All positions are for election to one-year terms from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. The Executive Committee conducts a monthly meeting and can hold additional meetings if needed. Although all current Officers and Representatives to the Executive Committee are eligible to be nominated, there is interest in expanding the number of representatives to serve on the Executive Committee. A candidate for Secretary also is needed. We will solicit nominations through April and by May 5, 2023. The Nominating Committee will put forward a slate of nominees and the election will take place by virtual ballot. Each chapter will be invited to vote and submit their ballot for the 2023-2024 slate. We hope to replicate last year’s election that witnessed all 21 Pennsylvania Audubon Chapters participating in the election! We invite chapter leaders to nominate individuals for any of these posts. Please submit your recommendations to paauduboncouncil@gmail.com
WE NEED YOUR UPDATED CHAPTER CONTACTS!
 
The Pennsylvania Audubon Council needs your most recent and updated contacts to add to our DRUMMER mailing list. Many chapters have their elections for officers and directors on a fiscal year schedule. Please share your updated list once your elections take place this spring. We also welcome requests for chapters for any names and contacts be added to the DRUMMER mailing list. Similarly, contact us if individuals whose names are on the current distribution list should be removed. Send any changes, additions, or deletions to: paauduboncouncil@gmail.com