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REPORT OF THE CHAPTER GATHERINGS
The Pennsylvania Audubon Council sponsored three successful fall chapter gatherings. These occurred in Pittsburgh on October 5th at Beechwood Farm Nature Reserve, Harrisburg on October 19th at Fort Hunter, and Allentown on November 2nd at Muhlenberg College. The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, Appalachian Audubon Society, and Lehigh Valley Audubon Society were the host chapters. Thirteen of our Pennsylvania Audubon chapters had representatives attend at least one of the gatherings, and many sent two or more participants! The agendas for each were wide-ranging and designed to include substantial time for discussion and input around several areas of interest or concern for chapters and the Council. Heidi Shiver, President of Bird Town Pennsylvania and a former President of Bucks County Audubon Society, attended all three gatherings and recorded extensive notes to help document the discussions.
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OUR FIRST QUARTERLY CONSERVATION UPDATE:
Andy Loza, Executive Director, WeConservePA
7:00 PM on Thursday, January 16, 2025
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Andy Loza, Executive Director of WeConservePA is scheduled to provide his first quarterly update and advocacy report to the Pennsylvania Audubon Council. Andy will provide his outlook on the new two-year session of the General Assembly that starts in January. This first quarterly report will be followed by subsequent reports in April, July, and October!
This first quarterly update will cover three areas. Andy will share his experience on the most effective ways to communicate and have an impact with your state representative and state senators. He will also share his thoughts on how we can best organize for effective policy outreach. Andy will also provide a general and very early look ahead on the prospects of environmental issues in general and our Council’s environmental priorities in particular as the new session gets underway.
We encourage chapter leaders, advocacy or conservation committee chairs and any interested chapter members to sign up and participate.
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“CREATING A SYSTEM OF MUTUAL SUPPORT CHAPTERS!”
Phil Witmer, Valley Forge Audubon; Tess Wilson, Audubon MidAtlantic; and Leigh Altadonna, Liberty Bird Alliance (formerly the Wyncote Audubon Society) met last winter to follow up on the January 2024 Council Meeting where former Board members of Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society (NPAS) chronicled the factors that led them to the decision to dissolve as an organization. We identified ways the Council can provide support for the chapters to avoid the circumstances that were in play for the NPAS. One avenue of thought is to welcome any of our sister chapters that have successfully navigated sustainability issues to share their experience with the Council. In addition, a series of zoom presentations to share chapter experiences that contributed to the strength, durability, and health of a chapter could be shared. Experiences shared at each of the three-chapter gatherings last fall served to demonstrate the value of the shared experiences of our chapter network. The first in this series of chapter-to-chapter presentations is scheduled for this month!
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ONE CHAPTER’S STORY:
Pat Nastase, Valley Forge Audubon Society
7:00 PM on Wednesday, January 29, 2025
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It was just one year ago that the Council hosted a conversation with leaders from the Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society (NEPA) and the circumstances that led to the decision of their board to disband the chapter. This news was sobering as many of the challenges faced by NEPA Board are shared by virtually all chapters at one time or another. These challenges and issues were among topics discussed by chapter leaders at each of the chapter gatherings this fall. Now a year later, another chapter will share how it fared in the face of similar challenges.
Pat Nastase will profile the experience of the Valley Forge Audubon Society (VFAS) and share how VFAS was able to successfully navigate their challenges and revitalize the chapter. Pat notes that “In 2018, Valley Forge Audubon was on the verge of closing their chapter. Learn about the roots of their problems and the steps they took to revitalize their chapter.” This presentation will provide some ideas and approaches that other chapters may find helpful in our quest to remain vibrant and effective.
We encourage all chapter leaders and board members to sign up and participate in this program!
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Bird Habitat Recognition Program
An important outcome of the chapter gatherings was broad support for a proposal to have the Bird Habitat Recognition (BHR) Program reestablished under the umbrella of the Pennsylvania Audubon Council. The BHR program originally set up over a decade ago by Steve Saffier when he was with Audubon Pennsylvania. The program was updated a few years ago by Kelly McGinley when she was with Audubon Mid-Atlantic. Last year, Audubon Mid-Atlantic notified chapters that it would no longer administer or manage the Bird Habitat Recognition Program.
Several chapter representatives have committed to participate in a “task force” to revisit the BHR Program and develop a proposal for consideration by chapters interested in participation in a redefined program. The program goals are to educate, engage, and enroll community members in the effort to promote bird-friendly practices at their homes and places of work and worship through an emphasis on native plants in landscaping and bird-safe practices like mitigating bird collisions with windows.
Our goal is to complete the tasks at hand during the winter months and provide a presentation by early spring.
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The Nomination Form and directions for the Pennsylvania Audubon Council Walt Pomeroy Conservation Award are available on the Council website. The nomination window for the 2025 Award is open through June 27, 2025. The Council Executive Committee will review the nominations and select a recipient for the award. The tradition has been to present the award informally at a chapter-designated location or event. The award has been presented in simple ceremonies and not intended to be given as part of a fundraising event. Last year’s award was presented to Dr. Daniel Klem as part of the Eastern Chapter Gathering on November 2, 2024, at Muhlenberg College. The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society and Presque Isle Audubon Society each submitted a nomination for Dr. Klem.
We rely on the chapter network to identify nominees associated with their chapters who have worked to promote the conservation issues of highest priority identified by our chapters through the Council. This award is not intended as a “lifetime” achievement award for a beloved chapter leader. Rather, it is intended for a leader who has worked on conservation projects and issues. The individual may have served as an officer or board member of a chapter but may also have led a noteworthy conservation effort.
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The “new” Pennsylvania Audubon Council Website was previewed at each of the chapter gatherings this fall and is now live! Among the features highlighted on the site are active links to each of the twenty Audubon chapters across the Commonwealth. We encourage chapters to check the link to their own chapter and alert us if any changes are needed. Also featured is an interactive map with layers that reflect each chapter’s “territory,” Congressional Districts, State Senate and House Districts, Audubon Bird Towns, and “Important Bird Areas.” There is also information and the nomination form for the Walt Pomeroy Conservation Award. Continued feedback and suggestions from chapters to improve the website are welcomed. | |  |
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Visit the Pennsylvania Audubon Council Facebook Page. On our Facebook page , you'll find frequent posts that spotlight chapter events, programs, and activities. It is a “private” Facebook group, but available to be viewed publicly and chapter members are encouraged to join.
Chapters can request permission to become an approved "poster" and have access to post your chapter events. This can help foster broader interest in your programs and help you reach a wider audience. The Pennsylvania Audubon Council Facebook is also intended to demonstrate the vibrancy of our chapter network!
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Keep Us Apprised of Your Leadership Changes!
Some of our chapters operate on a regular calendar year and conduct elections at their annual meetings often scheduled in December or January. Please provide the names and email contacts for changes or updates in your officers and board members so that they can be added to the mailing list for the DRUMMER. Please send the name, position with the chapter, and email address to paauduboncouncil@gmail.com.
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MANAGE YOUR EMAIL INBOX
Be Sure to Receive Messages from the Council:
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.
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