[chapter-communicator] FW: Board Meeting Update
- From: "BIANCHI, John" <JBIANCHI@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <chapter-communicator@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 18:21:44 -0500
All -
I apologize in advance for the size of the file
[BIANCHI, John]
> -----Original Message-----
> From: FLICKER, John
> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 6:05 PM
> Subject: Board Meeting Update
> Importance: High
>
>
> To the Audubon Family,
>
> The Board of Directors just completed a very successful quarterly meeting in
> Little Rock, Arkansas this past weekend. I wanted to update you on what
> happened there.
>
> First, I want to thank Audubon Arkansas Director Ken Smith, and Board Chair
> Don Nelms, for all the time and effort they devoted to making the meeting so
> successful. We were all excited to join them for the launch of the new Little
> Rock Audubon Center, and to help them honor Bob Shults for his leadership in
> founding the Arkansas program.
>
> I also want to thank all participants in Sunday> '> s excellent Board Forum
> on Diversity in the Environmental Movement.
>
> And finally, a special thanks to all of you who have told me how much you
> value these reports, and for your input on how I might improve them in the
> future.
>
> John Flicker
>
>
>
> Audubon Board Meeting Update
> Little Rock, Arkansas
> March 14-16, 2003
>
>
> Highlights
> Meeting began Friday with an orientation session for new Board members
> elected at the Phoenix meeting in December. New members participating were
> Charles Kahle of Seattle; WA; Tami Longaberger of Zanesville, OH; Allen Model
> of Philadelphia, PA; Sarah Muyskens of Burlington, VT; Margery Nicolson of
> Pacific Palisades, CA; and William Yellowtail of Bozeman, MT. New Board
> member Susan Kent from Beton, PA was not able to attend.
>
> Board Chairman Donal O> '> Brien and John Flicker presented an Audubon
> overview. Several staff and Board committee chairs made other presentations
> outlining Audubon> '> s activities in Science, Education, Public Policy,
> State Programs, Chapters, Finance, Development, Communications, and Board
> procedures.
>
> On Friday afternoon the Board and staff joined Audubon Arkansas and the
> Mayor of Little Rock in a press conference and signing ceremony launching the
> new Little Rock Audubon Center. This new inner city Center on more than 2000
> acres of protected parkland in the heart of Little Rock will be Audubon> '> s
> first Center in Arkansas.
>
> On Friday evening Audubon Arkansas hosted a reception for the Board,
> for Arkansas Chapters, and for their other public and private partners in
> Arkansas.
>
> The following Board Committees met on Saturday: Executive, Science,
> Education and Centers, Public Policy, States and Chapters. Below are
> summaries of their reports to the full Board.
>
> The Full Board met on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
>
> David Seideman, Audubon Magazine Editor-in-Chief, made a presentation
> about the magazine's history of conservation advocacy and sphere of
> influence, as well as his current efforts to cover key conservation issues
> while aligning content with Audubon's mission and activities.
>
> The Board reviewed and approved Audubon's One-year and Five-year Goals
> that were first presented at the December meeting in Phoenix. The Board
> approved a resolution amending the proposed Goals to authorize John Flicker
> to negotiate with Birdlife International to become a full partner in the
> Birdlife network. Final revised copies of the Goals are attached below.
>
> The Board passed the following resolutions:
>
> * Resolution authorizing the purchase of approximately
> 4.39 acres of land in Dallas County, Texas, in connection with the
> establishment of an Audubon Center at Dogwood Canyon.
>
> * Resolution designating that all funds gained from the
> 2001 sale of a parcel of property located on the Pine Island Sanctuary shall
> be used first for programs related to Pine Island
>
> * Resolution authorizing Audubon to enter into agreements
> for establishment of the Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
>
> * > Resolution that Audubon shall not pay real property
> taxes in any jurisdiction where it is exempt unless otherwise authorized by
> the Board.
>
> New COO Christian Farman was introduced to and welcomed by the Board.
> The Board also welcomed new State Directors, David Eshbaugh of Oregon, and
> Gary Graham of Colorado, to the Audubon staff.
>
> The following individuals were elected to the offices of the
> Corporation:
> * Christian G. Farman, Chief Operating Officer
> * David Eshbaugh, Vice President
> * Gary Graham, Vice President
> * Michael Harris, Vice President
> * Madge Lindsay, Vice President
> * Lynn Tennefoss, Vice President.
>
>
> Committee Reports
>
> Executive Committee
> The Executive Committee expressed concern about the ongoing health and
> vitality of Audubon's Chapters after the phase out of dues share. The
> committee is actively looking at new ways to assist Chapters in achieving
> Audubon's shared conservation objectives. The Committee will again address
> this issue at the June board meeting in St. Louis.
>
> Science Committee
> Science Committee reviewed and approved December 2002 5-year goals,
> focusing on IBA program plans - including integration of IBA data in the
> World Bird database, and strategies for coordinating the program across the
> Audubon family - and growth strategies for the Audubon at Home program.
> Frank Gill presented a resolution authorizing Audubon to negotiate with
> Birdlife International regarding partnership, which was approved by the full
> board (Audubon is currently partner designate). Greg Butcher reported on
> Citizen Science programs, which he now oversees, and identified Chapters,
> Centers, the magazine, and the Internet as vehicles that can enable us to
> reach America> '> s approximately 65 million bird enthusiasts. Greg also
> demonstrated how Christmas Bird Count data is being used to identify and
> analyze population trends, including drop-offs in some species that may be
> related to the West Nile Virus. Greg highlighted the Great Backyard Bird
> Count (nearly 50,000 checklists submitted 2003), and its role and potential
> to involve a broader audience in conservation, and placed Audubon> '> s
> Citizen Science work in a global context. It was announced that a Coastal
> Bird Conservation program has been launched, and coastal bird expert Scott
> Hecker is hired to lead the effort.
>
> States and Chapters Committee
> State goals for 2003 were reviewed, including improving efficiency and
> performance of state programs by developing and implementing regionally
> oriented field-support teams made up of key programmatic & administrative
> divisions of the organization. It was announced that Carol Warden will leave
> her position as Vice President of states; the process of finding her
> replacement is in the recruitment stages.
>
> Also, 2003 goals for Chapters were discussed, including increased
> alignment and integration of Chapters; national support for Chapters around
> their achievement of Audubon> '> s 2020 Vision; updating and supplementation
> of support materials for Chapters; and streamlining the annual Chapter
> reporting process. Madge Lindsay, State Director of Mississippi, gave a
> report on Mississippi> '> s programs. Arkansas State Director Ken Smith and
> Audubon Arkansas Board Chairman Don Nelms reported on Arkansas> '> s
> programs. New Vice President, Real Estate Jeff Francell reviewed his
> initiatives and a proposed resolution for Dogwood Canyon, Texas. Glenn Olson
> updated the committee on regional elections.
>
> Public Policy Committee
> Key Audubon issues discussed included Arctic Refuge; Clean Water Act
> and wetlands issues, in particular the Water Resources Development Act;
> appropriation issues for Audubon> '> s mission, such as centers,
> international family planning, and key conservation programs; and key federal
> natural resources and environmental programs. With prospects for federal
> funding dim in this year> '> s budget, the committee looked at how Audubon
> can best make a difference over natural resources policy not only in
> Washington but also at the state and Chapter level. It was agreed that
> efforts to influence policy must continue to use and expand the work our
> state offices and Chapter grass roots contribute - and develop a strategic
> approach to building longer-term political momentum by focusing on key states
> and Governors. The desired result would be momentum behind Audubon
> priorities in these states and Congressional districts, carrying to the
> national level and complimenting our efforts there.
>
> The Committee asked the Chair and Co-Chair to work with Senior Vice
> President for Public Policy Bob Perciasepe to develop an analysis of funding
> and budget issues for policy in the upcoming 2004 Audubon budget. Catherine
> Grant updated the Committee on national grass roots programs; she has
> expanded these programs via the Internet and on-the-ground activities, and
> the committee congratulated her and her staff.
>
> Centers and Education Committee
> Tamar Chotzen, Senior Vice President Centers and Education, provided a
> history and overview of the Audubon Centers initiative - including
> overarching goals, essential elements of an Audubon Center, projected growth
> of Centers, challenges and strengths, lessons learned, and goals for 2003 -
> to new members of the committee. It was agreed that the > "> Essential
> Elements of Audubon Centers> "> should be revisited periodically as the
> program expands. Two additions were made to the approved one-year goals:
> first, defining desired outcomes for Audubon Centers and quantifying the
> measurement of success (A task force will be formed to define these outcomes
> and measurements - members Johnson, Stanton, Russell, and Longaberger
> volunteered); second, that the committee annually review the current 5-year
> goal of launching 200 Centers. Future agenda items were identified: creating
> Centers Plan 5-year checkpoints; more clearly defining relationships between
> Audubon, its state offices, and its Centers; establishing guidelines for
> partnering with Chapters on Audubon Centers; and suggesting to the Board
> Chair that guidelines are established for working with corporate entities and
> accepting donations.
>
> Regional Directors Committee
> Dave Pardoe reported that the phase out of dues share was discussed at
> the Executive Committee and that the committee expressed concern about its
> effect on Chapter programs and activities. A number of Regional Directors
> expressed similar concern. The Executive Committee will address the issue
> again in St. Louis in June, Pardoe said, as it looks for ways to help
> Chapters align their activities with Audubon's conservation goals.
>
> Board Forum
> The Forum on Sunday morning focused on Diversity in the Environmental
> Movement. The Board heard a series of thoughtful and enlightening
> presentations on one of the most important issues facing the environmental
> movement: how to engage diverse groups in conservation action. This theme is
> a major thrust of Audubon's 2020 Vision. The Board heard presentations from
> Bernard Craighead and Michael Pitts from the Archer Group, a Washington DC
> consulting firm specializing in political organizing in African-American
> communities, on strategies and methods for reaching out to minority
> audiences. Two other panels, one composed of Board members Vivian Johnson,
> Robert Stanton, and William Yellowtail, and the other of staff members Alison
> Austin of Audubon Florida, Madge Lindsay of Audubon Mississippi, and Mary
> Smith of Audubon Arkansas shared their experiences and observations for
> effectively working with diverse communities.
>
> On Saturday evening Audubon Arkansas hosted a very successful black tie
> dinner for over 200 supporters of the Arkansas program honoring Bob Schults.
> Bob one of Arkansas> '> most respected civic and conservation leaders. He
> is a former member of Audubon> '> s national Board, and the founder of the
> Arkansas state program. In addition to honoring Bob Schults, John Flicker
> presented Senator Blanche Lincoln with a plaque thanking her for the critical
> role she played as a swing vote to block oil drill in the ANWR. When
> accepting the plaque, Lincoln disclosed for the first time that she would
> vote against drilling again when it come up in the new budget resolution.
>
>
>
> > > <<Audubon 1&5 yr goals.doc>>
>
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