October 5, 2023
“TAKING ACTION ON SINGLE USE PLASTICS!”
Heidi Shiver, President of Bird Town Pennsylvania &
Sue Murawski, President of Presque Isle Audubon Society
7:00 PM, Thursday, October 19, 2023

This webinar will reinforce that the most effective efforts to reduce single use plastics at this time are at the municipal level. This is the best pathway, in the near term, to achieve measure of success. This webinar is not just for chapter and bird town leaders but important for your interested chapter and bird town members as well. Plastics have a deleterious impact on birds, wildlife and our waterways!
 
Single Use Plastics (SUP) was identified as conservation issue of highest priority by our chapter network. This presentation will focus on actions our chapters and bird towns can consider regarding this. We will briefly review the Pennsylvania Audubon Council’s Education and Outreach Statement for “Elimination of Single use Plastics” with Sue Murawski, the lead author for the statement. Heidi Shiver will spotlight some local successes from several Bird Town Pennsylvania municipalities. These efforts will be profiled and amplified by panelists that include Richard Metz and Faran Savitz, PennEnvironment’s Zero Waste Advocate.
 
This is a Pennsylvania Audubon Council virtual program and all are invited to participate via ZOOM. Registration via Eventbrite is required in order to participate via ZOOM. The ZOOM link is sent to registrants in advance of the presentation.

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The Third Pennsylvania Bird Atlas:
A Five-Year Community Science Opportunity for All of Us!

The presentation by Amber Wiewel on Friday, September 22nd was well received and provided a comprehensive overview of the third atlas project. This five-year long community science project will begin in January 2024 and continuing through 2029. The presentation made it clear that there will be widespread opportunities for people to participate in PBA3! Participation will be welcomed among our members despite their birding expertise. There is a role for everyone and the Council, our chapters, Bird Towns and the network of bird clubs and birders will all be welcome! We had many virtual participants from Audubon chapters and bird clubs across the Commonwealth. The program was recorded and can be found on the Pennsylvania Audubon Council YouTube channel.
NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA AUDUBON SOCIETY
A Requiem for a Pennsylvania Audubon Chapter

It is with sadness that I report that the Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society (NEPAS) had made the decision over this past summer to cease operations as an organization. The chapter, founded in 1966, had served members in the northeastern part of the state for decades. We were fortunate to have active support of NEPAS leaders in the formation of the Audubon Council of Pennsylvania in 1987. At that time, an attorney on the NEPAS chapter board, Errol Flynn, undertook all of the legal work, on a pro bono basis, to incorporate the Council at that time. He created and submitted the Articles of Incorporation that was signed by leaders from nearly all Pennsylvania Audubon chapters at a special Council meeting. He authored the original Constitution and Bylaws. Katherine Dodge, who served the chapter in multiple capacities for these many years, undertook the effort to put together a compendium of speakers and programs for chapters to use as a resource. She helped to make the chapter an advocacy voice in the region. All of this was before the advent of social media. Four years ago, Jim Sanders, the President of NEPAS at that time, became an active member and leader on the organizing committee to reactivate the Pennsylvania Audubon Council. Jim has since moved to Florida and was no longer active with the chapter. I had a good conversation with Kathy Dodge, who has moved to Maine and she shared more of the details of the demise of the Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society. She advised that more details can be found at www.nepaaudubon.org for more of the story. Their long commitment to providing scholarships to the Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine will continue. Their stewardship of chapter sanctuaries will continue as well!
 
The demise of the Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society is a poignant reminder that we need to work together to support chapters that may need assistance to bridge challenges that we all inevitably face from time to time. The November 9th discussion to explore ways we can provide mutual support through our chapter network is an important forum to address these challenges.
“CREATING A SYSTEM OF MUTUAL SUPPORT FOR CHAPTERS!”
A Special Virtual Council Meeting!
7:00 PM, Thursday, November 9, 2023

A primary purpose of the Pennsylvania Audubon Council has been to establish a means to foster mutual learning and support among our Pennsylvania chapters. All chapters need to address organizational issues that include recruiting and supporting chapter leaders, attracting members, funding activities, providing education and outreach to the communities within our chapter territories, and more. Most of our chapters have functioned for decades but not without challenges. We have lost some chapters over the years including the Bucktail Audubon Society, Unami Audubon Society, Wapiti Audubon Society, and now Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society. Nearly all chapters experience organizational struggles from time to time.
 
This meeting will be an open forum for all chapter leaders to identify enduring organizational challenges and to share ideas on how our chapter network can provide consider support. This is a Pennsylvania Audubon Council virtual program and all are invited to participate via ZOOM. 

Registration is required in order to participate via ZOOM. Once you are registered, you will receive the Zoom link.

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PENNSYLVANIA AUDUBON COUNCIL LEADERSHIP UPDATE!
John Carter is Appointed as PAAC Secretary!

We are pleased to announce that John Carter has been appointed as the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Audubon Council. The post was vacant at the time of our elections last June. John responded to the invitation to serve. The Executive Committee of the Council at their August meeting unanimously supported his appointment. John is the past president of the Juniata Valley Audubon Society. He is now a member of the Conococheague Audubon Society since relocating to that area of Pennsylvania. John is a professor in the “World Campus” program of the Pennsylvania State University. 
Share Your Chapter Posts on the
Pennsylvania Audubon Council Facebook Page!

The Pennsylvania Audubon Council Facebook Page is active! It was 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.
We Need Your Updated Chapter Contacts
Please continue to share your updated list of chapter contacts to be added to the DRUMMER mailing list. Similarly, contact us if individuals whose names are on the current distribution list should be removed. Members of the Council Executive Committee will also follow up as needed to confirm any changes, additions, or deletions to the contacts listed for your chapter. Please send your most current and updated list to: paauduboncouncil@gmail.com
Manage Your Email In Box!
A Recommendation:
The Pennsylvania Audubon Council uses a Gmail address for many routine communications. Because Gmail uses a “.com” in its address, many recipients will find messages routed to a “junk” or “spam” folder. This can be avoided by a simple step as you manage your email at home or work. Simply add paauduboncouncil@gmail.com to your email mailbox and future messages will appear in your regular “inbox” of incoming emails.