March 2025

Our Conservation Issues of Highest Priority 2025/2026

Thanks to the chapters that have submitted their updated responses to the Council’s Conservation Issues Survey. The survey is more streamlined with opportunities for ideas, opinions, and input from each chapter. Chapters that have submitted responses reflect a range of approaches that worked best for their respective chapter. The survey takes less than fifteen minutes of actual input responses, but extended time is required to review and discuss each question before responding. There are still several days remaining to submit the survey if your chapter has not already done so. The deadline for submitting is Saturday, March 15, 2025.

Keep the Conversation Going

Our Quarterly Conservation Updates With Andy Loza!

Many of you participated in January for our first “quarterly update” with Andy Loza, Executive Director of WeConservePA. Andy provided his outlook on the status of environmental legislation in the General Assembly. Andy underscored the wide latitude we have as a chapter network in communicating our priorities with elected officials including our positions on selected items of legislation. Andy outlined the most effective ways to communicate and have an impact with your state representative and state senators. Andy will provide his second quarterly update at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 24, 2025, via zoom. Save the date for the future quarterly updates that are scheduled for 7:00 PM on Thursday, July 24, 2025, and Thursday, October 23, 2025. We can expect to get a report on the status of the budget discussions and an update on the status of some key items of environmental legislation that have been introduced early in this session.

CREATING A SYSTEM OF MUTUAL SUPPORT FOR CHAPTERS!

Recruitment of Officers and Board Members!

We had a nice response to “One Chapter’s Story,” presented by Pat Nastase from Valley Forge Audubon Society that was presented last January. Among the responses were requests for additional presentations on topics of concern. A timely topic that was suggested is approaches used by chapters to successfully recruit individuals for service on chapter committees, boards members, and as officers. Zach Richard, President of Appalachian Audubon Society, will spotlight his chapter’s successful approach. In addition, Peter Saenger, President of Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, will share the success his chapter has had with recruiting volunteers. Nilesh Shah, President of the Liberty Bird Alliance, will share how his chapter has had success in recruiting candidates for their relatively large chapter board. 

We hope this triggers discussion for other chapter leaders to share their experiences of what has worked and what has not worked in this quest to be a chapter with sustainable leadership. Please join us at 7:00 PM on Monday, March 31, 2025. Individuals from chapters who are fixed with responsibility for nominations in your respective chapters are especially welcome to participate in this zoom conversation.

Program & Advocacy Updates

Bird Habitat Recognition Program Update and Proposal!

Our Bird Habitat Recognition Task Force has been at work over the winter and have reached consensus on moving forward with a new and updated Bird Habitat Recognition Program. They are ready to present a proposal for consideration by chapters interested in learning about the program and to determine chapter interest in moving forward to participate. They have designed a new property sign, updated the application, and other components of the program for chapters to consider. The program goals are to educate, engage and empower community members in the effort to promote bird friendly practices at their homes, places of work and worship with an emphasis on native plants in landscaping and bird safe practices like mitigating bird collisions with windows. Please join us via zoom at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, to hear the proposal from the team.

We invite chapters to submit nominations for worthy candidates to be recognized with the Pennsylvania Audubon Council Walt Pomeroy Conservation Award. There are many individuals throughout our chapter network who have been devoted to the work of their chapters and dedicated to the conservation of birds. Check out the information about the award and access the nomination form on the Council website a paauduboncouncil.org. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis at any time of year!

The 2025 Nominating Committee of the Pennsylvania Audubon Council has been appointed. The Committee includes Ali Bowling, bowling.a@alumni.ou.edu, Past President, Appalachian Audubon Society; Michael Celec, MCelec@BCAS.org, Executive Director, Bucks County Audubon; and Robin Minnick, robinm19@ptd.net of the Tiadaughton 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, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The Executive Committee conducts a virtual monthly meeting and holds additional meetings if needed. Although all current Officers and Representatives to the Executive Committee are eligible to be nominated, we welcome anyone interested in serving on the Executive Committee.

We will solicit nominations through May 3, 2025. The Nominating Committee will put forward a slate of nominees later in May and the election will take place by virtual ballot. Each chapter will be invited to cast its “chapter vote” and submit their 2025-2026 ballot. We hope to replicate last year’s election that as every Pennsylvania Audubon Chapter participated in the election! We invite chapter leaders to nominate individuals for any of these posts. If there are additional questions or need for information about service on the Council Board, please contact paauduboncouncil@gmail.com.

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