What Is The Board Up To?

By Jason Frederick

After the first board meeting of the new term, I believe we are headed in the right way. The new board members and veteran board members are hard at work already. I think we are going to have a productive year.

Our Education Chairperson, Lora Losi is working hard putting together a proposal package together. We are trying to get some presentations together for the different grade levels. Hopefully, we will be able to present a side of nature that peaks the interest in the students and they will start on a life long journey protecting Florida's and the world's amazing creatures and their habitats.

Sarah Linney has been working on getting our financial matters in order. As many of you know, Russ Bentley, our past Treasurer, had a stroke and we were short handed last term. Sarah stepped up and took on the task of President and Treasurer during that time and this term has continued on as Treasurer. She also has handled the situation of the P.O. Box. The old Cocoa Post Office had water damage and could not be repaired (by the way, the building is no longer there) so, new P.O. Box numbers had to be issued and now she is changing all the paper work to reflect the new number. Russ is doing better and has returned home.

I have been putting the field trips together for the Audubon Assembly. So far, Jim Stahl, Dave Freeland, Jim Meyer, and I have volunteered to lead the trips. We still need help on the Nov. 1st trip at Viera Wetlands from 2-4 in the afternoon. Also needed is a fieldtrip leader or two for the Nov. 3rd trip to Pine Island in Merritt Island from 8:30-11-15. If you would like assist in leading a trip let me know.

Maureen Rupe and Sarah Linney have been putting their time in with the Viera Company as they are working on the Viera West project. This is a huge project with over 11,000 homes projected to be built. The good news is that there are conservation areas and plans to protect wetlands. We will hopefully have a report by the Conservation Chair that will shed more light on this subject.

These are just a few of the things we are working on. We are still in need of a few more board members, so if you would like to assist, please contact me. Together, we can make a accomplish the Audubon Mission Statement: Audubon's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.

Thank you to the board members for their hard work and to the chapter members for their support.