Augusta-Aiken Audubon Bi-Monthly Meeting Minutes

May 8, 2008

The program for the evening was “Birding in Peru” by Chuck Braun. There were twenty-eight people in attendance for the program.

Business Meeting Minutes

The election of officers for the 2008-2009 was held. The following officers were elected: 

	
	President		Gene Zielinski
	Vice President		Ken Badke
	Secretary		Nancy Demko
	Treasurer		Gerald May

President Lois Stacy gave a report on her Georgia chapter meeting at the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center.  All eight local 
chapters were present and decided to meet once a year.  The future yearly meetings will discuss the following:


1.	Information sharing
2.	Discussion of collaborative funding decided by consensus to be reported back to the local chapters
3.	Discussion of IBAs


A list serve site will be set up on the Internet to talk about Georgia birding issues.  A motion was passed to reimburse Lois for 
travel expenses to the meeting.  Lois will send minutes of the meeting to anyone who requests them.


Audubon announced a five year green campaign in collaboration with Toyota.  The website for the program is TogetherGreen.org.  
It is available for more information about the program.  Parts of the program include:


1.	Two year grants for a conservation project
2.	Co-operation between an Audubon Chapter and an entity (city, group, etc.)
3.	Volunteerism


Lois will send an e-mail on the campaign she received from Audubon to anyone who requests it.


Our chapter has renewed its membership to Phinizy Swamp.


Conservation Issues


•	The Army Corp of Engineers wants to drain land in Mississippi.
•	Last fall the U.S. House of Representatives passed a law to fight invasive species in the Wildlife Refuges.  More information is available on the environmental issues page of our website.
•	Delaware has issued a moratorium on horseshoe crab fishing.
•	The Fish and Wildlife Department will remove rats that have invaded Bird Island in the Aleutians.


Outings


•	Saturday, May 10th is the spring migration count.  117 species were counted last year.
•	2008 Birdathon:  Paul’s team had 112 species in two days.  Send your money to Gerald May.  The proceeds will support the Silver Bluff Audubon Sanctuary.
•	Saturday, August 9th is the annual Storks and Corks fund raiser at the Silver Bluff Audubon Sanctuary from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Sightings


•	Redstarts
•	More Painted Buntings sighting this year
•	Rose Breasted Grosbeak
•	Loggerhead Shrike


Nancy Demko, Secretary