This has been a disturbing development for me. Although I have had very little
involvement with the club or TOS in general for a number of years, I still feel
strongly that the club should not dissolve. I agree with Rob and others who
have voiced their opinions on the matter. The people that have worked so hard
in recent years to keep the club active have earned my deepest respect.
As for my potential involvement with the club in the future: I really would
like to get involved but there are a number of obstacles. For one I have little
spare time to work with, but who does. With so many farm animals it is hard for
me to get away from the farm very much. Another thing is the distance from home
to the meeting place. I wish it was closer. One more thing that makes it hard
is that with my heavy involvement with the Friends of Roan Mountain and the
Roan Mountain Naturalists Rallies it is difficult for me to take on much more.
That being said, I would still like to help and get involved. I've been
thinking about this a lot. I'm not sure what it is I can do.
I am pleased that the decision was made to not dissolve the club right away and
to create another chance for its survival. Janice and Fred, this is the first I
have heard of your leaving the area. I hate to see you go and am sorry for not
being around in recent years. I still regard you as dear friends. Good luck to
you.
If anyone would like to contact me to discuss the matter or offer suggestions
on how I can be of help I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
Larry McDaniel
423-773-9234
________________________________
From: bristol-birds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <bristol-birds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
on behalf of Richard Blanton <zsleepyz72@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2018 8:48 AM
To: bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Bristol-Birds] Bristol Bird Club Meeting (January 16th)
Nine members and two guests braved the cold and snow to visit the home of
Janice and Fred Martin to discuss the future of the Bristol Bird Club last
night. Said discussion was a result of falling membership, attendance at
meetings, repetitious programs and previous changes to the bylaws that required
officers to step down after 2 years among other things.
After some heartfelt exchange of ideas that began at 7:30, we decided to put to
a vote a motion to extend the life of the club through June and the annual
picnic so that we could have ample time to create a road map for the future and
measure results of whether the new direction was having affect. The motion
passed 4-1 (with 4 abstentions).
As part of the extension, it was necessary to elect two new officers to which I
personally volunteered for VP of Marketing and Programs. The motion passed
unanimously. Mary Clark volunteered to take on the role of Treasurer. That
motion too passed unanimously.
Before departing at 9:05 p.m, we discussed a few dates regarding a planning
meeting to set the agenda / road map for the months between this meeting and
the extension that was passed. That currently is TBD pending the approval of a
venue. An additional notification will be sent once said meeting venue and
date is finalized. I strongly encourage anyone with any interest in the
Bristol Bird Club continuing beyond June to consider attending.
I will close for now by saying that I want to give Janice and Fred Martin a
sincere thanks for not only opening their home but for all the dedicated years
of service to the Bristol Bird Club. I wish them nothing but the best on their
upcoming move to Kentucky and hope to see them in the future when visiting my
own family in the Ohio River Valley area. Likewise, I would also like to
extend a sincere thanks to outgoing VP of Programs (Dave Worley) and Treasurer
(Diane Worley). The four of you carried the club through what has been it's
most difficult year. I am certain that your dedication to the club saved what
we hope to build upon going forward.
Sincerely,
Rick Blanton
BBC VP of Marketing / Programs
Johnson City, TN
