Volume XII, No. 5, Spring 2009
A Quarterly Resource for Audubon Chapter Leaders Across the Nation and Beyond
Think Big with a TogetherGreen Grant
“Greenomical” Practices at Chapter Services
Using Facebook as an Organizing Tool: Part II
What are the Birds Telling us About Global Warming?
Chapter Leader Models Success for Audubon Adventures
Keep Track of the Birds in Your Yard All Year
Chapter Discount on Audubon Licenced Products
Greater Ozarks Audubon Society volunteers count frogs for local flora/fauna census. Photo by Bob Ball.
Think (and Go!) Big with a TogetherGreen Grant
Since receiving this year’s awards, Audubon Chapters have hit the ground running with their TogetherGreen Innovation Grant projects. Fourteen Audubon Chapters received funding support totaling $352,547. Here is a snapshot:
- In Missouri, Greater Ozarks Audubon Society, together with Missouri State University, launched the Green Leadership Academy for Diverse Ecosystems (GLADE), a summer camp that will engage 10th and 11th graders in science and habitat restoration projects as well as give them introductory skills for becoming future environmental leaders.
- In California, Mendocino Coast Audubon Society and California State Parks are engaging visitors to Ten Mile and Virgin Creek beaches – home to the federally-threatened Western Snowy Plover – in bird censuses and cleanup efforts to create healthier beaches for all.
- In Arizona, Tucson Audubon Society, in partnership with the City of Tucson, is helping residents design and create attractive outdoor green spaces with vegetation that thrives in arid, hot environments so the City can drastically reduce the importation of water from the distant Colorado River, saving money and energy.
With Innovation Grants, Chapters have the chance to think big and bring their most creative conservation dreams to reality. The program is meant to engage diverse local audiences in conservation, producing tangible results in habitat, water and energy efficiency. And through partnering with other local organizations – a critical component - Chapters can build a larger, more active constituency and expand the reach and effectiveness of programs.
Do you have a project you want to get off the ground that meets these goals? Or an existing project that needs funding to continue? Is there a local group with whom you would like to partner on a creative idea?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then consider applying for a 2009 Innovation Grant!
In 2009, at least 40 grants will be awarded, ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, with an average grant size of $25,000. In addition, this year TogetherGreen is offering three to five planning grants of $5,000 or less. Visit www.togethergreen.org/grants to read grant guidelines and selection criteria, complete an application, or to learn about current grant projects.
The deadline to apply for a 2009 Innovation Grant is May 1, 2009.
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to strengthen your projects, build leadership skills, and connect with other conservation leaders!
FOR MORE INFO:
Contact Flo Miller at (802) 505-0839 or fmiller@audubon.org.
Tools for Chapters
Audubon Annual Report 2008
A 48-page, full-color booklet featuring Audubon’s accomplishments, donors, and summary for 2008. Multiple copies may be ordered for special events or donors.
Cost: Free (shipping charges apply for orders of more than one)
Audubon’s Field Guide to Eastern Birding Trails
Published in the March-April 2009 issue of AUDUBON, the third in a series of birding trail guides by Kenn Kaufman is a full-color, glossy publication describing 10 different birding trails in the Eastern United States. Learn where you may find Canada warblers singing from rhododendron thickets, visit islands where Atlantic puffins have been successfully reintroduced, or observe snowy owls visiting from the Arctic.
Cost: $6.00 per 100
Clean Break
Written by Bradford Plumer and featuring illustrations by Laurent Cilluffo, an insert from the March-April issue of AUDUBON discusses the concept of a feed-in tariff—a new strategy that could offer the best and quickest solution to global warming.
Cost: $6.00 per 100
FOR MORE INFO:
To order any of the three publications above, contact Chapter Services at (800) 542-2748, chapter_services@audubon.org, or complete and send the order form at http://www.audubon.org/local/outreachHome.html.
Managing Chapter Member Lists – A Survey
At Chapter Services, we often receive questions on various management systems for Chapter member lists. In the interest of saving Chapters from re-inventing the wheel, we’re curious to know:
How do you manage your member list? Do you use Excel, Access or another program? Does your current system work well for your needs?
Have you developed user-friendly membership management system or software that you would be willing to share with other Chapters?
Let us know what type of membership management system has worked for your Chapter by contacting Rebecca at chapter_services@audubon.org or call (800) 542-2748. Thanks for your help!
A Message from John Flicker
Just a year ago, none of us could even imagine the economic turmoil that now dominates the headlines and puts many plans in doubt. Unprecedented economic developments are creating new challenges for organizations worldwide. Not-for-profit groups are being hit hard. National Audubon and Chapters are not immune. And you’ve probably been hearing about steps National Audubon is taking to address the situation. But rest assured that those steps have one end in mind: to make certain that National Audubon—along with all of you—remain a vital force for conservation for decades to come.
We have survived and made significant conservation contributions through difficult times over more than a century. I am confident that Audubon Chapters and national programs will get through this tough period and emerge more efficient and effective than ever. That won’t be easy for any of us. But Audubon volunteers and staff are some of the most committed people to our shared cause of conservation that I have ever met. Within National Audubon, many staff have already volunteered to donate a significant percentage of their salaries to a new employee fund created to help fill a growing budget gap stemming from the impact of the economic crisis on Audubon members and donors. National Audubon staff made these sacrifices knowing that others would still be needed; that some programs would be cut back, benefits reduced and layoffs would still be unavoidable. But they accepted these changes as necessities that would permit the organization to remain focused on our collective mission.
Every action that Audubon makes is guided by our commitment to the future. And now more than ever, we must protect birds, wildlife and the health of our environment from both well-known threats and new schemes that promise limited gains in exchange for tremendous environmental losses. We can best ensure ongoing success by nurturing the initiatives that reflect the essence of Audubon—using science, education and policy to inspire through the wonders of birds and nature, and to equip people with the knowledge, tools, and assistance to protect them. We are committed to maintaining the effectiveness of our unique relationship with the Chapter network—you are the foundation of Audubon’s conservation strength. Maintaining state offices and education centers remains another top priority, as is the focus on sustaining Important Bird Areas, citizen science programs and ongoing major landscape conservation efforts. And we definitely won’t miss out on the exciting opportunities to work with the new Administration in Washington or to build on the strong foundation of the TogetherGreen initiative with Toyota.
As we move through this very difficult period in our nation’s history, I want you to know that I understand the constraints and challenges that Chapters are under, yet also see the opportunity to develop organizational efficiencies. I would like to hear any ideas that you have for making National Audubon Society more efficient and effective. I encourage you to send your suggestions directly to me at recessionideas@audubon.org.
Overall, whatever changes may be needed during these uncertain times, Audubon will remain true to those things that have made our organization successful for more than a hundred years.
From curbing global warming and restoring the health of birds and habitats, to nurturing tomorrow’s nature stewards, Audubon’s work is both urgent and clear. We will look forward and show supporters the achievements their contributions make possible. And we will constantly show the world the benefits of connecting to nature and using the power to make a difference.
John Flicker
President
“Greenomical” Practices at Chapter Services
Inspired by Chapters who have written about their eco-friendly and economical (thus, “greenomical”) practices in their newsletters, we would like to share some of ours.
All boxes used to ship publications from are reused. They may not look pretty, but they have saved some trees! We also reuse foam, paper, and bubble wrap for packing, when possible. Starting last month, we began purchasing end rolls of newsprint from the local newspaper—for only 25 cents each. We have transitioned to sending more notices via email, most anything we print is double-sided using black ink only on the “fast draft” or “economy” setting, and all office paper is 100% recycled. Additionally, when the weather warms up a bit, we bike to and from work as well as to the post office to mail packages.
Please continue to share your greenomical practices with fellow Chapter leaders, members and Chapter Services. Every little bit we do helps to create a better future for birds, wildlife and their habitat.
Using Facebook as an Organizing Tool: Part II
In the Winter 2008 issue of the Chapter Networker, Part I of this article covered the basics of the social networking site Facebook (www.facebook.com), including how to create an online profile and the benefits of creating Fan Pages and Groups for your Chapter. Now we’ll delve into the nuts-and-bolts of setting up Fan Pages and Groups.
Screenshot of the Facebook Fan Page of the Seattle Audubon Society
Creating a Fan Page
Once you have created a personal account on Facebook, you are free to create Fan Pages and Groups. You’ll need to be logged in to your Facebook account in order to follow most of the links in the remainder of this article.
To create a Fan Page for your Chapter, log in to your Facebook account, look for the “Applications” area (located in the toolbar on bottom left of the screen), click the Page Manager icon, then click the “Create Facebook Page” button on the next screen (Or follow this link to go directly to the “Create New Facebook Page” screen: http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php). Choose the “Brand or Product” category and select “Non-Profit” from the drop-down menu. Type name of your Chapter carefully in the “Name of Non-Profit” box, as you cannot change the name once the Page is created.
Select the “Info” and “Photos” tabs at the top of the screen to add information and upload photos. Click the “Edit Page” link on the left to view more editing tools.
Once you are happy with your Chapter Fan Page, you will want to make it live by changing the published status in the Settings to “published” (click the “Edit Page” link from your Fan Page to go to the Settings). Until you publish the Page, no one can view it but you. Be sure to share your published Page with all of your Facebook friends by using the “share” button in the lower left corner of the Page.
If you want to update your Page or check on its recent activity, click on the Page Manager icon, then click “pages” and select the Page that you want to view (or go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=141295950623). Use The Pages Help Center if you get stuck: http://www.facebook.com/help.php?page=175. To view other Audubon-related Fan Pages, go to the Page Directory at http://www.facebook.com/pages/?browse, and type “Audubon” or “Audubon Society” into the search field.
To advertise your Fan Page on a website, a “Find us on Facebook” button can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/promo_guidelines.php. You can copy and add this button to any website as a link to your Fan Page.
Creating a Group
A Facebook Group is a special interest Web page. Whereas Facebook Fan Pages should reflect the many different activities in which a Chapter engages, Facebook Groups are more effective when used to highlight a single activity or purpose, such as new member outreach or a political campaign (read more about the differences between Pages and Groups in Part I of this article, Winter 2008 Chapter Networker).
The Group’s title is extremely important and should be catchy and designed to send a clear message about that Group’s purpose. Possible titles for Facebook Groups designed for outreach could be “Cool birds of {insert your region here}”, “I Love {insert name of local bird here},” “Shake Your Tailfeathers! The Fun Birdlovers of {insert your region here}.” Don’t be afraid of puns or bad jokes; people are more likely to join a Group with a humorous title. If your Facebook Group concerns a political action, make that message clear in the title. For example, it could be “Don’t Run Your ATV over My Nest!” (if you have a campaign against allowing ATVs in sensitive habitats) or “Vote Yes on Proposition _______” (if your Chapter is working to support a specific state proposition in an election). You cannot change the title of your Group once it has been created, so choose it carefully.
To create a Facebook Group, click on the the “Groups” icon in the Applications section of the toolbar at the bottom of the front page of your personal Facebook profile. You will be taken to a page that shows the Groups to which you belong as well as Groups your friends have joined recently. At the top of the page, click the gray “Create a New Group” button. The next screen prompts you to enter the Group title, a short description, the type of Group, and other optional information such as the email and mailing address of your Chapter. Remember that this information will be public for anyone to see. Once you are satisfied with your Group’s information, click the “save” button at the bottom of the page to save your information.
On the next screen, you have the option to upload a photo. People are more likely to join Groups with an eye-catching picture. This is a great time to use any attractive bird photos you have! On this screen you may also enter your Chapter’s website address and set the level of access for others in the Group. Do you want other people to be able to post their photos or videos to the Group? Encouraging members to share their cool bird photos can be a great way to engage them; however, some people may try to use this access to post advertisements on Groups. As an administrator, you should check the Group periodically to delete any undesirable comments or images. You may also choose key people as Group administrators, allowing only that subset of Group members to post photos, links or videos.
In the summer issue of the Chapter Networker, Part III of this article will discuss how to effectively use a Facebook Group or Fan Page once you have created it and attracted members or fans.
FOR MORE INFO:
Contact Heather Brutz at hbrutz@audubon.org or Rebecca Richter at chapter_services@audubon.org or (800) 542-2748.
Heron tenants nesting on the new platform. Photo by Jack Nowak.
Habitat for Herons
Lake County Audubon Society
(Libertyville, IL)
Great blue herons make nests and raise their young in a rookery consisting of a group of trees where about 20-50 mating pairs build their nests. These nests may be reused year after year if they are not destroyed by winter storms.
Volunteers from Lake County Audubon Society (LCAS) observed declining nesting opportunities for great blue herons at Almond Marsh, a Lake County Forest Preserve. A number of nest trees had been lost to natural deterioration, reducing the heron population there.
LCAS decided to help the herons by building artificial nesting platforms. The Chapter applied for Audubon Collaborative Funding in the fall of 2008 and received $800 to build an artificial tree and begin restoring nesting opportunities at the rookery. Audubon recommended beginning with one structure that could support at least one breeding pair. Once the artificial nest tree succeeded by attracting a breeding pair of blue herons, more structures could be built and become promising replacements for the natural nest trees.
On February 20th of 2009, a group of hardy volunteers from sponsoring organizations spent three hours on a bitterly cold frozen pond installing the first-of-its-kind heron platform in Lake County. The next time you visit the Almond Marsh Forest Preserve, look closely toward the north horizon and you’ll see an “iron tree” blending in with many nests built on nearby snags. In early March, the herons started to return to Almond Marsh, and several tenants have already built nests.
FOR MORE INFO:
This installation was a joint effort of the Lake County Forest Preserve, the Lake County Audubon Society, and Integrated Lakes Management. To view project photos, visit http://www.lakecountyaudubon.org/Heron_Platform.html.
What are the Birds Telling Us About Global Warming?
Like canaries in a coal mine, birds are telling us that global warming is happening here and now. A recent report released by Audubon, Birds and Climate Change: Ecological Disruption in Motion, analyzes the past forty years of Christmas Bird Count data to see how the ranges of birds have shifted during that time. Audubon’s scientists found that a majority of bird species in the United States have shifted their ranges north, and that this shift northward was strongly correlated with increasing winter temperatures.
While polar bears have grabbed the spotlight on global warming, and predictions of impacts may seem decades in the future, the Birds and Climate report sounds a warning that the effects of global warming are being felt now. It is once again the birds in our backyards that are signally a clarion call to take action. If you would like to hear Dr. Greg Butcher, Audubon’s Director of Bird Conservation and the co-author of the report, describe his findings, you can watch and listen to his Webcast at www.birdsandclimate.org. The Webcast was aired live on February 20, 2009.
It took citizen science to gather the information that gives us this wake up call. It will take citizen action to solve the problem of global warming. Scientists tell us that we need to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gas pollutants by at least 80% from 1990 levels by 2050 in order to avoid the worst effects of global warming. In order to achieve these reductions, we need our government to put in place strong policies to address global warming, including a mandatory cap on greenhouse gas pollutants. Our state and federal agencies also need to incorporate planning that will help birds and wildlife adapt to global warming. To send a message to Congress urging them to pass strong climate legislation and put in place policies that will help birds and wildlife adapt, please sign Audubon’s petition at www.birdsandclimate.org.
A student reviews Audubon Adventures materials in the classroom. Photo by Grant Peterson.
Chapter Leader Models Success for Audubon Adventures
Contributed by Tom Hodgson, Jackson Audubon Society (Jackson County, MI)
In 1991, Jackson Audubon Society (JAS) began an Audubon Adventures program for children grades 3-5 in local schools. JAS sponsors classrooms by providing Audubon Adventures kits for teachers.
Board member Harold Winters agreed to be the Chapter’s education chairperson and spearhead the Audubon Adventures project. Harold is a retired biology, chemistry, physiology, and general science teacher who taught 38 years in Jackson Public Schools. The first year, Harold convinced three local elementary school teachers to accept subscriptions for their classrooms. As word spread about the useful publications, more teachers signed up.
It soon became apparent that JAS’ budget could not support the growing demand for this popular publication. To bridge the gap, Harold began soliciting donations from local businesses and private individuals. Each year more classrooms signed up and Harold’s task became greater.
In 2008, 138 classrooms in 20 local elementary schools participated, making JAS the second largest sponsor of Audubon Adventures in the United States. With a subscription cost of $45.65 per classroom, Harold had to raise nearly $6,300 to cover expenses.
Each year Harold visits the schools to re-enroll teachers who participated the previous year and to recruit new teachers who have replaced those who have retired. He also visits with each of his business sponsors and with private donors to keep them involved. He writes a personal thank you letter to each donor. He also writes an article in the Chapter newsletter each year to keep JAS members informed of the program.
This year Harold will celebrate his eightieth birthday and nineteen years as education chairperson for JAS. Raising funds to cover the cost of the program will be especially difficult this year due to Michigan’s economy. Harold does not know how many more years he will be able to continue, and would like to mentor his replacement at some point. Finding someone else to fill his shoes may be a tall order, however.
Harold feels the need has never been greater. “Continuing this program is important because educating our youngsters is important. These kids will become the stewards of our natural world in the future,” said Harold in an interview in January 2009.
FOR MORE INFO:
To learn more about JAS Society or to become a local sponsor of “Audubon Adventures” in your community, visit www.audubon.org/educate/aa or contact Elaine O’Sullivan eosullivan@audubon.org.
Illustration by Steven D'Amato
Keep Track of the Birds in Your Yard All Year
Do you enjoy watching birds and contributing to our growing understanding of birds and their conservation?If so, you can help by keeping track of the birds in your yard with a new My Yard eBird online at http://ebird.org/content/myyard. My Yard eBird takes the power of regular eBird, but makes it friendlier and easier to use for backyard birdwatchers.By contributing bird sightings to My Yard eBird, your yard becomes a biological research station, joining a network of thousands of other yards contributing bird sightings across the country.
Unlike some citizen science programs where your data goes in but you get nothing out, My Yard eBird allows you to see all your bird sightings, graph them, and map them along with all the other data being submitted. You can use this tool to keep track of your yard list or follow changes in your yard birds from day to day, month to month, year to year, or even decade to decade. You can also track how many times you’ve seen any given bird, the highest number of birds seen at any time, and dozens of other reports.Of course, to have access to such useful data, you need to first enter it online.But once you get the hang of it, My Yard eBird does all the work of preserving your data and graphing it for you.
eBird is a joint Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology project, and My Yard eBird was developed through an Audubon At Home agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
FOR MORE INFO:
Contact Rob Fergus, Senior Scientist, Urban Bird Conservation at audubonathome@audubon.org or visit Audubon Birdscapes at http://birdscapes.audubon.org.
Chapter Discount on Audubon Licensed Products
Audubon Logo Apparel and Accessories
Audubon embroidered logo apparel & accessories are brought to you by Corporate Casuals, which has been in the custom embroidery business for over 20 years. Show your support by wearing Audubon apparel and using branded accessories.Included in the line, you’ll find organic clothing, tote bags, hats, and more.Visit the discount website at http://www.corporatecasuals.com/storefront2/index.asp?id=408. Prices on this website reflect a 20% discount off the retail price.Please do not share this discount website with anyone outside of Audubon.
Chapters may substitute their own logo on apparel and accessories for a fee of approximately $65 by contacting Kristen Whitaker at Corporate Casuals at kwhitaker@corporatecasuals.com or (866) 369-5935.
Audubon Feeders, Houses, Baths, & Accessories by WoodLink
Since 2002, WoodLink has created an excellent line of Audubon products.In 2008, they won the Hardware Retailers’ Choice Award for Audubon’s new line of GOING GREEN recycled plastic bird feeder and house series.Each product is carefully reviewed and field-tested by the Licensing Department and Audubon Science. To order Audubon products by WoodLink and receive a 40% discount off the retail price, visit http://www.audubon.org/local/licensed.html#P37_6119 to download the order form.
FOR MORE INFO:
Visit http://www.audubon.org/local/licensed.html
New Chapter Publication
“Georgia’s Vanishing Treasures”
Atlanta Audubon Society (Atlanta, GA)
A 13-page full-color booklet profiles ten birds found in Georgia that have faced significant declines in population, some by as much as 90 percent. Each profile includes a photo and illustration, range map, description, and factors contributing to the species’ decline.
FOR MORE INFO:
Contact Catharine Brockman Kuchar for copies of the publication or for further information at aas.info@atlantaaudubon.org.
Illustration by Steven D'Amato
Chapter Networker Information
The Chapter Networker is published quarterly by National Audubon Society as a resource for Chapter leaders. Please send Chapter Networker articles and Chapter Services inquiries to Audubon Chapter Services at the contact information below.
Chapter Services Office
National Audubon Society
Building 30, Fort Missoula Road
Missoula, MT 59804
Phone/Fax: 800-542-2748
Email: chapter_services@audubon.org
Lynn Tennefoss,
Vice President, State Programs and Chapter Services
ltennefoss@audubon.org
Rebecca Richter, Program Associate
chapter_services@audubon.org
Contact Audubon-Policy Office
1150 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036,(202) 861-2242, Fax: (202) 861-4290
Contact Audubon Home Office
225 Varick St, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10014, (212) 979-3000, Fax: (212) 979-4290
Audubon Website
www.audubon.org
Chapter Resources Webpage
www.audubon.org/local/index.html
Chapter Networker Editor
Rebecca Richter
Design
Randy Stekly, DoubleClick Design
Contributors
Steven D’Amato, Bob Ball, Catharine Kuchar Brockman, Chris Geiselhart, Tom Hodgson, Jack Nowak, Grant Peterson, Sherrie York
Deadlines for submitting newsletter content
Summer 2009: Friday, May 29
© Audubon 2009