Space Coast Audubon Chapter Board Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 1, 2005

Space Coast Audubon Chapter Board Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 1, 2005

By Betty McKeown, Space Coast Audubon Secretary

Editors note: This article was edited for space.

The meeting was called to order by president Sarah Linney at 6:15. Present were: Sarah Linney, Jason Frederick, Dee Fairbanks, Laurilee Thompson, Betty McKeown, Juliet Allen Sisk, Barbara Venuto, Jim Stahl and Tom Atkinson.

Tom presented the financial report and reported a balance of $4,208.51. The Spaghetti Dinner will not be held this year so is a loss to income of $1500.00. Sarah was thanked for her gift of $150.

Dee reported that the listserve name had been changed to Space Coast Audubon. A letter of thanks was sent to the zoo for letting the Chapter use their facilities for last month’s meeting. Dee had been in touch with Gian Basali about the owl box designs. He will look it over and okay the one he likes and they will be built and put up in March.

Sarah asked if the actions taken by the Chapter each month should be listed in the Limpkin. It was agreed upon. Betty was asked to write it up and send a copy to Sarah and a copy to Dee for the newsletter. Tom suggested that we also recognize new members each month in the newsletter.

Membership costs were discussed and felt they should remain the same for now. $20 for new members, $35 for renewing memberships and $10 if only want the newsletter while here in winter. Tom said we should spend our efforts on increasing our membership.

Tom recognized Carroll Holland for getting a $50 donation from the “Y” when allowing use of the Chapter’s binoculars in Karr’s Park at a birding event.

Charlie Venuto called Tom to issue an invitation for the Chapter to have its display from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the United Space Alliance Earth Day event on April 25 at a tent in the facility at Cape Canaveral. We discussed other events which we expect to attend including Erna Nixon Park, Cracker Festival, Enchanted Forest, and Turkey Creek. Tom moved we attend the Earch Day event and Betty seconded the motion. It was unanimous. Jason will call to find out the dates and times of the various Earth Day events.

Conservation: Laurilee didn’t go to the meeting but Sarah said that the Partnership for Sustainable Future (PFSF) meeting they felt that the Pulte Home development Harbor Island Resort wasn’t bad. Laurilee said Charles Lee of Florida Audubon liked it as it could set an example for other developers. They will remove exotic plants, improve the old mosquito impoundments along the river, buy some wetlands and uplands for mitigation and improve the water quality in Indian River Lagoon.

The Rally for the Ocklawha River Festival on February 19 and 20 will be promoting eco-tourism and talking about the Rodman Dam removal. Tom will send out an e-mail about this and we were urged to attend. Laurilee talked about the Goby Festival at St. Sebastian River State Buffer Preserve (southern part) on April 9. There will be kayaking, birding and butterflying. She also mentioned the Coastal Preserve Alliance, another group in the area working on conservation.

Education: There will be a teacher In-Service at the Brevard zoo on April 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. It was decided to ask Cary Salter to participate. Tom was asked to do the book, same as last year as there will be different teacher’s attending. We will also use the left over owl pellets which are at Julie’s house. Barb will check with Julie to see how many are left. (turned out to be zero).

We will be doing a poster contest again this year. The poster contest will have no age limit, its theme will be “My Favorite Florida Bird,” and entries will be on an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper. Entries may be poems, essays, or drawings. The due date is April 15. We will use Beanie Babies as prizes. Dee has the video and will check to see the cost of CD’s and VHS and what discount we can get as a non-profit buying in bulk. A letter will be sent to school libraries offering it once we know the cost.

The Cape Canaveral library display was done thanks to Dee and Barb. Tom said he would go by and take a couple of photos of the display.

Laurilee said she would still like to do a kayaking field trip but the boat business had new owners. The new owner will work with us and Laurilee will talk to him about the cost, perhaps $15. It should be done in mid to late April to catch the nesting birds and lots of manatees. They’ll go to Mullet Head Island and in the Canal. She reminded the board of the Welcome Back Songbirds Festival which is also held in April and geared to kids.

There will be a butterfly exhibit at the Brevard Zoo in March and Jason will see if we can get discount tickets to go on a field trip to see it.

Jason said that he had talked again about the Vierra Bird Blinds and sent one plan for review. There will be no glass in the window in the blind so birds won’t fly into it and get hurt. There are two planned, one in the NW corner and one at the SE Island. Project Colony Watch is scheduled for February 6 at 4:00 p.m. He hasn’t talked to DEP or Audubon of Florida again.

Andy mentioned the World Series of Birding in May and again asked help in raising money for the chapter and MINWR. Laurilee said that after only one year participating in it the team Andy is on was approached by Nikon wanting to sponsor them. Dixie Crossroads already sponsors them.

Sarah asked who was going to the Audubon Academy in March. Andy, Juliet, and Dee will be attending. Sarah asked for a full report from anyone attending it.

Betty suggested selling native plants to raise money, either at meetings or special events. It was decided we may try it at the Space Coast Alliance Earth Day event. Tom will try to get hold of the orchid man that was at a fund raiser he attended recently. The chocolate fund raiser is on hold as Sarah had sent an e-mail but has heard nothing more.

The nominating committee consists of Marsha, Jason and Juliet. Sarah will announce it at the general meeting and announce the slate in March.

The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.