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Audubon Washington
Mission
and History
Mission
Audubon Washington conserves and
restores natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife,
and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s
biological diversity.
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| © Jeff Larsen |
History
Audubon Goes Back Eight Decades in Washington
In 1916, the “bird club” of Seattle Audubon Society
was founded and, in 1962, became affiliated with the National
Audubon Society.
 Tahoma
started in 1969, with Lower Columbia Basin, Blue Mountain,
and Spokane coming soon after. Other chapters formed through
the years – some starting out as bird clubs, some because
of the organizing efforts of the Western Regional Office in
Sacramento – but a great many as a result of the tireless
work of Hazel Wolf, the legendary secretary of Seattle Audubon.
Chapters involved themselves in environmental
lobbying efforts at the state level with the legislature,
with almost no coordination, during the 1970s.
During this period, chapter representatives
began gathering twice a year to discuss issues, and share
ideas and inspiration. Most of the meetings were held in Ellensburg
because of its central location, and the gathering of chapters
became known as the Audubon Council of Washington (pronounced
A-cow). The spring and fall meetings have continued to this
day, organized by chapters and held around the state.
Enter the State Office
In the late 70’s, Pam Crocker-Davis, a Seattle Audubon
board member, was involved with issues of statewide concern,
and worked with legislators and legislative staff during the
session. Pam lived several years in Seattle but finally moved
to Olympia in the interest of efficiency. Seattle Audubon
provided some funding for her as the "state issues coordinator".
In 1981 Helen Engle, Bob Grant, Vim Wright,
and Judd Day proposed to National Audubon that a state office
be set up in the capital, with funding from chapters matched
by the national organization. The proposal was accepted and
Pam Crocker-Davis became the first official state office director.
In 1985 Kris Schoyen was hired as Pam’s part-time assistant.
In 1988 Tim
Cullinan came on board to work on timber, fish, and wildlife
issues.
 New
Staff, New Issues
In 1989 Tom Shoemaker took over from Pam, with Jeff Parsons
as part-time lobbyist. Jim Pissot was hired.
Jim was instrumental in the Ancient Forest
Campaign, a widespread effort to protect the last of Washington’s
old-growth forest and craft a forest protection plan for state
lands. During this campaign, the state office funded two Adopt-a-Forest
positions, Judy Johnson in Eastern Washington and Argon Steel
in Western Washington; both had many volunteers and contractors
mapping our state's remaining old-growth.
Ron Shultz was hired as a contract lobbyist
is 1994, and became a full-time employee in 1995. Jim Pissott
left Audubon in July of 1995; the executive director (ED)
position remained vacant until Jeff Parsons was hired a year
later. In 1997 Jane
Hartough and Christi
Norman joined the team.
Other staff members have contributed their
expertise and skills through the years as the office grew
in the late 1990s and early 2000s to encompass broader education
and policy directions.
A board
of stewards was recruited from chapters and communities
across Washington to provide volunteer leadership. The state
office became known as Audubon Washington, a collaboration
between the national organization and
the 25 chapters. In 2001, the WA State Audubon Conservation Committee, a partnership of
the state office policy team and all chapter conservation
chairs, was formed to set legislative lobbying direction and
work together on policy issues across Washington.
Belt-Tightening and Stronger Focus
Then in 2003 and 2004, like many nonprofits across the country,
Audubon was squeezed by the lagging economy and lingering
consequences of the stock market’s downturn at the beginning
of the decade. Additionally, National Audubon began transitioning
from support primarily from magazine subscriptions to support
mainly from individual donors. The latter approach is more
sustainable in the long run and allows total focus on our
mission but takes time to build. Audubon Washington must soon
be raising all its own operating funds.
So the state office tightened its belt,
shrunk its staff, and carefully managed a strict and realistic
budget. The board of stewards became much more involved with
both guidance and fund-raising. Clear focus on our core programs
of science, policy, and education resulted in significant
milestones, including:
 In
January 2005, with strong support from stewards, chapters,
and the national organization, Nina
Carter became executive director of Audubon Washington.
The internal focus for this year involves
refining our strategic direction, increasing financial security,
and strengthening our partnerships on the local and statewide
level. The overarching external focus remains on our mission:
conservation of birds and habitat.
“Audubon is national yet local
– 100 years old yet new each year with new members and
new hope.” Dee Arntz, Board of Stewards
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