Roger Still has been appointed as executive director of Audubon Missouri. From 1997 to 2001 Still was executive director of the Missouri Chapter of the Nature Conservancy which is headquartered in St. Louis. He will begin his tenure with Audubon Missouri on September 4, 2001. Katy Burkett will continue to serve as Audubon Missouri's office manager at the office in Columbia.
Russ Sewell's resignation as Executive Director of Audubon Missouri was effective on October 6, 2000. Cheryl Riley was appointed Acting Executive Director on December 1, 2000. On January 19, 2001 an office manager, Katy Burkett, was hired. Riley resigned on March 5, 2001 to take a position in the St. Louis area. A permanent Executive Director is now being sought. The Audubon Missouri office can be contacted at:
Address:
Cheryl Riley, Executive Director
Audubon Missouri
1001 Walnut, Suite 200
Columbia, MO 65201
Office Phone: 573-442-2583
The Missouri Audubon Council was founded in the early 1990's and was composed of representatives of the 14 chapters of the National Audubon Society in the state plus the Audubon Society of Missouri. It's purpose is to coordinate and represent the interests of these chapters at the state level. In recent years the council has supported the establishment of the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge along the Missouri River, opposed lead prospecting and mining on state-owned public lands, opposed the creation of more all-terrain vehicle trails in national forests and asked for a moratorium on permits for chip mills and for a study of the impact of chip mills on Missouri's forests, wildlife, water and soil resources.
The Audubon Society is entering an exciting time, and we, as members, have a great deal to say about the future of Audubon in Missouri. Many of you have heard about or have read about the strategic plan that is setting the direction of the National Audubon Society. The plan was developed with participation of Audubon members from across the nation in concert with the National Audubon staff in New York.
One of the focal points of the strategic plan is an effort to establish Audubon field offices in as many states as possible. A state field office, with full-time staff, would be devoted specifically to Missouri needs and help the Audubon organization in Missouri become an even more visible presence on behalf of conservation and environmental goals.
The Missouri Audubon Council has begun to consider the feasiblity of
setting up a field office and develop plans for it. Establishing a field office, of course, is a large responsibility.
It requires well-considered plans, significant fundraising to support the office, and the support of many, many
Missouri Audubon members.
- Anita Randolph (adapted from an article in The Timberdoodle, the newsletter of the River Bluffs Audubon Society)
(Editor's note: This concept was expanded and developed in a Case Statement and Plan in November 1997.)
This process began July 13, 1996, in Columbia when more than 30 Audubon members from across the state gathered to hear about the National Audubon vision for field offices from Glenn Olson, National Audubon director of field operations. Glenn spoke about the fact that one of Audubon's primary strengths is its many chapters. Strategic planning for National Audubon, completed a few months ago, concluded that state offices would be an effective way to strengthen chapters further and reach Audubon goals of environmental education and advocacy. National Audubon will provide some money to match state fundraising efforts to start a state field office.
Don Arnosti, director of the Audubon state office in Minnesota, traced development of the Minnesota office
through the past decade from its beginning as a small office with a couple of staff people to today's staff of five
full-time people. He spoke about the successes they have had in habitat protection and in increasing the visibility
of Audubon as a credible presence in Minnesota. He spoke of the fundraising that is necessary to support the state office.
Fundraising probably is one of the largest sources of apprehension for many Missouri Audubon members.
Audubon Members in Minnesota have shown that it can be done, which is encouraging.
- Anita Randolph (adapted from an article in The Timberdoodle, the newsletter of the River Bluffs Audubon Society)
At the regular Missouri Audubon Council meeting August 3 in Rolla, Council members took the plans a step further. We had a brainstorming session to identify the kinds of activities that we want a state field office to do. Then we set priorities by deciding which activities are most crucial in Missouri. The priorities for a field office include environmental education activities, legislative lobbying, fundraising, protection of stream and river quality, and strengthening Audubon chapters.
This comprises a draft plan for a field office. During September, each chapter was asked to
review the draft plan, add to it, make suggested changes and so on. Once we had feedback
from chapters, the Council took another look at the plan to determine whether there is
sufficient chapter support to move forward with setting up a field office and what modifications
need to be made in the plan.
- Anita Randolph (adapted from an article in The Timberdoodle, the newsletter of the River Bluffs Audubon Society)
Discussions of and planning for an Audubon Society field office for Missouri continued. The Missouri Audubon Council discussed the proposal once again at its September 29 meeting at Lake of the Ozarks State Park. Much of the Council's discussion focused on feedback from individual Audubon chapters across the state. Each chapter had been asked to review the draft field office plan and offer comments and input to the Council. The National Audubon Society places a high priority on establishment of Audubon field offices in as many states as possible. The field offices would be staffed through fundraising efforts of Audubon chapters in each state. The office staff would focus on priorities set by the state's Audubon chapters and also help bring National Audubon campaigns to individual states.
Several chapters have discussed the field office proposal. There appears to be broad
chapter support, although a number of questions remain. This is to be expected with a proposal
of this magnitude and this important to the Audubon organization. Environmental education, wildlife and
habitat preservation, and the importance of a strong grassroots organization continue to show up as
priorities in many chapter discussions.
- Anita Randolph (adapted from an article in The Timberdoodle, the newsletter of the River Bluffs Audubon Society)
The vision for an Audubon field office in Missouri is moving forward. For the past several months, a steering committee composed of delegates to the Missouri Audubon Council has been developing a plan to set up a field office in Missouri. The steering committee reviewed the ideas contributed and questions asked by chapter members from across the state when the first draft plan was circulated to chapters this past fall. A second draft is nearly ready to be distributed to chapters for a second round of review. Within a very few weeks, the proposal will go to National Audubon Society for consideration.
The plan lays out priorities and objectives for the work of Missouri field office staff, including
enhancement of stream quality, forest conservation, prairie preservation, legislative lobbying,
and Audubon chapter development. The plan also recognizes that fundraising activities will be
vital to the formation and survival of a state office. National Audubon is promoting establishment of field
offices in each state to increase the effectiveness of Audubon as a premier grassroots organization.
The steering committee has been working to identify potential funding sources that will not require
additional funds from chapters.
- Anita Randolph (adapted from an article in The Timberdoodle, the newsletter of the River Bluffs Audubon Society)
At the Missouri Audubon Council meeting in April at Columbia Brad Jacobs reported that he had received postive responses on the Missouri field office proposal from nine of the 15 Audubon chapters in Missouri. The Council voted to continue with the process on the field office proposal, including the formation of a search committee for employees, obtaining responses from the remaining chapters, finalizing the written proposal, and sending the proposal to the National Audubon Society. "Audubon Missouri" is the proposed name for the field office.
The proposal for a Missouri field office was forwarded to the National Audubon Society.
The Missouri Audubon Council (MAC) continues its efforts to establish "Audubon Missouri", an Audubon office that will enhance the partnership between the National Audubon Society and the local chapters in Missouri. The creation of Audubon Missouri is currently in the discussion stage, awaiting a meeting of National staff members Glenn Olsen and Ron Klataske with MAC president Karen Uhlenhuth and MAC steering committee chair Brad Jacobs. With tight schedules for everyone it looks like early October will be the time of the meeting. As most of you know, a proposal and agreement have been sent to National Audubon for their consideration. In the upcoming meeting these will be the focus of our discussion. Once we iron out the wording of the documents, we will be flying new primaries.
In the interim, the MAC steering committee will be developing job descriptions for the Audubon Missouri staff and working closely
with National staff to get the new partnership off and running. We hope to get a director for Audubon Missouri on board this fall, and
work together to add additional staff as feasible.
We hope everyone will help with this exciting new venture. It will take a lot of your help to make it the success we envision.
- Brad Jacobs (from The Chat, the newsletter of the Columbia Audubon Society)
The proposed Audubon Missouri Office was discussed at a meeting of the Missouri Audubon Council on November 1 in Springfield. Various issues were raised and in order to clarify these issues a Case Statement and Plan for the new field office was written on November 21.
The Missouri Audubon Council met with the National Audubon Society's West Central Region Representative Ron Klastaske regarding the proposal for Audubon Missouri. The group supported the initiation of a fund-raising campaign starting by the end of February.
The Missouri Audubon Council's proposal for a Missouri state office is on hold until preliminary funding can be assured. National Audubon wants to avoid problems that have plagued other state offices, where the directors have often found it difficult to run an effective office with inadequate funds--where neither fund raising nor conservation can be done effectively.
State offices promise to invigorate Audubon, providing paid, full-time staff to do many tasks that volunteers with limited and meager budgets cannot accomplish. State offices may be expected to have specialists in wetlands and forestry management. A wetlands specialist could evaluate wetlands threatened by development, check up on the quality of mitigation wetlands offered to substitute for wetlands lost to construction, and work with landowners to restore endangered wetlands. A forestry specialist could visit and evaluate on the site areas in our national forests that have been proposed for salvage cutting, or clear cutting. And he or she could evaluate the quality of forested areas that are threatened by mining claims. With state offices, Audubon can become a more effective force for the protection of birds, other wildlife, and wildlife habitat--Audubon's goals under its new strategic plan.
The Missouri Department of Conservation has given the Missouri Audubon Council $25,000 for the new state office. This gift expires at the end of April, but it is expected that it will be renewed if we are making progress. The Packard Foundation has given us $100,000 in matching funds, to match contributions which we can obtain in Missouri.
The fund raising drive will be aimed at 2 groups of donors. In March, the West Central Regional Office of National Audubon mailed letters to all Audubon members in the region asking for contributions. Contributions from Missouri Audubon members will go toward the establishment of the state office and will probably be requested in the range of $100 to $500. At the same time, appeals will be made to individuals who may be able to give much larger sums.
A search for a state office director will begin after some $75,000 in additional funds have been pledged. National Audubon wants to make Missouri a good example of how to get a state office successfully funded and operating. Missouri Audubon members have much to gain by making their contributions count for conservation of Missouri's wildlife resources. Missouri voters have consistently supported conservation and state parks by large majorities. Missouri Audubon members can continue this tradition by contributing significant amounts to the establishment of a state office.
- By Jim Holsen, President, St. Louis Audubon SociertyThe Missouri Audubon Council met in Jefferson City on May 2, 1998 and reviewed the progress in fund raising for Audubon Missouri, the Missouri State Audubon Office. Over half the funds have been raised or pledged toward the $100,000 goal needed to release the $100,000 of Packard Foundation matching funds.
All Audubon members in Missouri should have already recieved a request for funds for Audubon Missouri and are urged to make their contribution as soon as possible. Volunteers are also need to help raise funds.
The Council also reviewed the procedures for hiring a director of the office. Hopefully, solicitation for candidates to apply for the director's position will begin this Summer.
At the December 1998 meeting of the NAS Board of Directors John Flicker, President of the National Audubon Society, presented his vision for Audubon Centers in the year 2020. This Audubon 2020 Vision provides the road map for our evolution over the next twenty years -- as the most effective community-based environmental organization in the country. Ficker proposes that NAS develop 1,000 Audubon Centers by 2020.
This ambitious plan will strongly influence the direction of Audubon Missouri as it would mean a goal of about 20 Audubon centers in Missouri by 2020.
To read the 2020 vision click on: http://www.audubon.org/local/cn/99winter/future.html
To see a list of existing Audubon centers and sancturaries click on: http://www.audubon.org/local/sanctuary/
The National Audubon Society, one of the nation's leading conservation organizations, is seeking a director for Audubon Missouri, a new state office. The director will be the chief executive officer for Audubon within Missouri and responsible for the organization's overall performance in that state. The director will be an employee of the National Audubon Society, will be accountable to the membership of the state of Missouri, and coordinate with the Board of Directors of Audubon Missouri on policy and program implementation issues.
The Director will be responsible for the growth and development, management, and integration of all Audubon programs within Missouri including: wildlife policy, habitat management and restoration, water quality issues, management of National Audubon sanctuaries and centers, environmental education, private landowner outreach, government affairs, implementation of the Important Bird Areas program, Audubon Campaigns, science, communication, media relations and fundraising.
This position requires a proven commitment to conservation, a high level of professional experience in wildlife conservation, public lands management, private landowner outreach, and solid fundraising experience. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, computer literacy, and experience working with volunteers of a non-profit organization are essential.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. For confidential consideration, send resume indicating salary requirements to: Glenn Olson, Field Director, National Audubon Society, 555 Audubon Place, Sacramento, CA 95825. Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities are encouraged to apply.
An Audubon Society office in Missouri should be established this summer. Three years of effort, planning, and fundraising by the Missouri Audubon Council, other Audubon chapter members, and National Audubon Society staff are about to come to fruition.
The Missouri Audubon Council and National Audubon received more that 50 applications from people interested in serving as the director of the state Audubon office. An interview team, comprised of a few Audubon Council members and two staff from National Audubon, has narrowed the candidate field to six. These six candidates will be interviewed May 14, and we could have a state director hired by July. This would mark the official establishment of the state Audubon office.
Audubon members have contributed or helped raise nearly $100,000 to start the office. National Audubon has matched this amount, which puts us in good shape to get the office established and a director hired.
The state office, to be called Audubon Missouri, will lend a rational, knowledgeable, and important voice to the efforts to protect migratory bird habitat, preserve prairies, protect Missouri's water resources and other conservation and environmental issues.
In Septembey 1999 the National Audubon Society hired Russell W. Sewell to be the director of the new state Audubon Office which will be known as "Audubon Missouri".
This action is the culmination of three years of planning and work by the Missouri Audubon Council (MAC) and the NAS. Nearly 60 applications for this position were received and five excellent candidates were selected for interviews conducted in May and July by a MAC Search Committee and NAS officials. This office will be governed by a partnership between the National Audubon Society and a new board which will be formed for Audubon Missouri.
Russ Sewell has worked for Pheasants Forever as the organization's Vice President of Program Development & Education since 1991. Russ began his work with Pheasants Forever in 1989 as a Regional Biologist. His primary interests are in conservation ethics, conservation education, and public-private cooperation conservation efforts. Since 1992 as Director of the Leopold Education Project (LEP) he has been involved in conducting workshops for environmental educators across the country. The LEP is a unique land ethics based curriculum that uses the writings of the renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold as a springboard for environmental awareness and learning. In fiscal year 1998-99 LEP's lessons reached over 700,000 students in 29 states and two Canadian Provinces.
Russ completed his Master's degree at South Dakota State University studying the flora and fauna colonization of restored prairie wetlands. He received his Bachelor's degree at the University of Minnesota - Duluth. He has a diverse employment background, which includes college program teaching and administration. Russ has also worked as a wildlife researcher and manager with university departments and federal agencies. He is the current chairperson and founder of the Wildlife Society's public education and extension working group.
Russ enjoys all forms of outdoor recreation and the outdoor life and is an avid birder, canoeing enthusiast and camper. Writing, gardening, travel and music, especially folk and bluegrass, are key interests. He resides with his wife, Deborah, and two-year-old son, Vincent near St. Paul, Minnesota. The family is anxiously awaiting a second child, due in mid - August.
The Audubon Missouri office was housed at a temporary location in Jefferson City while a permanent office was being located. Russ began work in Missouri by mid-September.
-- July 30, 1999
The new Audubon Missouri office opened on September 7, 1999 in Jefferson City. The office was moved to Columbia in August of 2000. Executive Director Russ Sewell resigned effective on October 6, 2000. Acting Director Cheryl Riley was appointed on December 1, 2000. An office manager, Katy Burkett, was hired on January 19, 2001. A search for a new permanent director is being conducted.
On September 26, 1999 the Council created an Interim Board to oversee the Operations of the Audubon Missouri office. Also a Nominating Committee, chaired by former Council Chair Anita Randolph, was created to propose names for a new permanent Board of Trustees. The new Board was organized in November of 2000. Many of the policy making functions and adminstrative functions of the council will be transferred to the Board. Some board members are elected at-large but others represent a chapter or a group of chapters.
As of November 2000 the Audubon Missouri Board of Trustees included: