Minutes for the Bristol Bird Club Meeting of Tuesday, January 16, 2013 Club President Lois Cox called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. 16 members were present. The December meeting was the Christmas Party, so there were no minutes to have been read for the December meeting. Janice Martin, Treasurer, presented an overview of the club’s financial situation, with $2009 in the bank account, $850 in the Lee Herndon Fund, and $60 to be paid for the water level control project at Paddle Creek. Members confirmed seeing the sign that is up at Paddle Creek describing the water level control project between the Crumley property owners and the Bristol Bird Club. The project purpose is to provide improved water levels for shore birds during migration periods. Unfinished Business: President Cox encouraged members who have not done so to pay their dues. President Cox had handouts for the by-laws committee, consisting of Wilma Boy, Chr., Faye Wagers, John Hay, and Sherri Hiter. The committee will meet and, drawing on information gathered by Sherri, draw up recommendations of by-laws for the club to consider at a subsequent meeting. Tom Hunter noted that a $75 payment to the national hawk watch association is now due. The annual payment was approved earlier. Up-coming field trips were noted: The annual Soup ‘n Sparrows field trip to Central Holston—the anticipated date of January 26 needs to be confirmed. The annual winter Burke’s Garden Field trip is scheduled for Saturday, February 9, 2013. The Bristol Library has asked the club to hold a birding program to introduce some aspect of birding to the public. The club agreed to find out from the library when they would like to have the program—the club will then design a program on an appropriate topic. President Cox announced that the Spring Meeting of TOS will be held in Knoxville April 26-28, 2013. The conference hotel is the Clarion Inn off Hwy 75. The banquet will be at the Knoxville Zoo. Registration is due April 10, 2013. Complete information is in the December, 2012 issue of the Tennessee Warbler. Tom Hunter announced that the Russell County (VA) field trip to Clifton Farms and Corn Valley is this coming Saturday, January 19. Meet at the Hardee’s in Lebanon at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast. Participants will set out at 8:30 a.m.. Lunch will be at Russell County Club President Jerry Thornhill’s residence. With business and announcements finished, the club proceeded into the program, which was a “show and tell” session on birding equipment. Items covered included bird song player programs on ipods and cell phones, birding field guides on cell phones and Kindle Fire and other electronic notebooks, bird listing software, cameras, optics for birding including monoculars, binoculars and spotting scopes, and a discussion of the weather-monitoring equipment used by Tom Hunter for the Hawk Watch on Clinch Mountain at Mendota. Respectfully submitted, Roy Knispel Those present (* indicates dinner at Mad Greek prior to the meeting) Wilma Boy * Lois Cox * Mary Erwin * John Hay * Sheri Hiter Laverne Hunter * Tom Hunter * John Kelly Roy Knispel * Fred Martin Janice Martin John Moyle * Polly Moyle * Charlie Powell Judy Roach * Dave Worley