Each year, Audubon members can shape the future of Audubon by participating in the election of Audubon’s directors at the Annual Meeting of Members. However, if you cannot attend the Annual Meeting, you can still participate in one of two ways.

First, you can submit one proxy by mail. Audubon Magazine gives you two opportunities: in the November/December 2009 issue between pages 80-81, and in the forthcoming January/February 2010 issue between pages 32-33.

Second, if you allow Audubon to contact you by email, you should have received an email asking you to submit your proxy online. Another email will be sent in the first week of January 2010. If you have any questions about the online proxy, please contact Proxy_vote@audubon.org.

On the other hand, if you will be in the area, disregard the mail-in and online proxies, and join us at the Annual Meeting. Audubon’s 2010 Annual Meeting of Members will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 29, 2010 at the Stoneleigh Hotel, 2927 Maple Avenue, Dallas, TX 75201.

By participating in the election of Audubon’s directors, you help play a vital role in Audubon’s conservation efforts. Thank you for everything you do!

Headlining the 2010 Audubon Calendar Collection are two new calendar titles: JOHN JAMES AUDUBON’S BIRDS OF AMERICA, with twelve beautifully reproduced paintings from Audubon’s seminal work Birds of America, and GREEN WORLD, a year of eco-travel featuring a dozen extraordinary destinations, each one rich in geographic and geologic wonders and teaming with flora and fauna. Audubon Calendars are available to Chapters at 40 – 50% discount off retail prices. To view calendars and place an order, download the order form here.

For more information, contact Rosalyn Garcia, (212) 979-3027 or via email.

It is time once again to request nominations for the Charles H. Callison Awards! The Charles H. Callison Award was established to give special recognition to an individual or group whose continued diligence has accomplished sound environmental legislative policy achievement at the local, state, or federal level. The award is given each year to one Audubon professional and one volunteer. Nominees need to achieve significant success in environmental policy, creativity, coalition-building, education and/or outreach. Two awards will be given, one in each category: Volunteer and Professional. You are encouraged to nominate staff and volunteers for this prestigious recognition of significant accomplishments. Deadline for nominations is January 15, 2010. Details of the nomination process and a list of past recipients are online at http://www.audubon.org/local/chapterAwards.htm.

The Audubon Guide to Binoculars, by Wayne Mones, originally published as an insert in AUDUBON, is an excellent handout for the Chapter information table at your next outreach event. The author demystifies binocular magnification, field of view and many other options along with recommending several different products, categorized by price range. Download the order form, or browse our other publications and outreach materials.

The annual Chapter Report Form and instructions are online. The questionnaire has been updated and streamlined as has the reporting process and we hope you will find it simpler to use. As part of the annual recertification process, each Chapter President or their delegate is asked to please fill out the report forms for the 2008-2009 program year and send them to Chapter Services between August 15 and December 31, 2009..