Resolution Regarding a Change in Membership Categories

National Audubon Society  Board of Directors

Dated: December 9, 2001

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors recognizes that Audubon’s membership is key to our strength; and

The policy has been to require all members of a Chapter to also be National members; and   

Despite Audubon’s policy, many Chapters have felt that both Chapters and their members receive significant benefits from Chapter-Only memberships and a number of Chapters have already formed Chapter-Only memberships; and

The Board of Directors established a Friends of Task Force in September, 2000 for the purpose of creating a common identity for all members of Audubon; and 

The Friends of Task Force was comprised of a representative sample of Audubon Chapter leaders and Center, State and National staff; and 

The Friends Of Task Force determined that the issue of Friends Groups for Audubon Centers is separate from the issue of Chapter-Only Memberships, and that guidelines for Friends of Audubon Centers should be developed as part of internal Audubon Centers policy; and

The Friends of Task Force has sought to accomplish its purpose by re-evaluating the definition of membership in Audubon, examining options to bring Chapter-Only members into Audubon membership, and creating a win-win solution that causes no harm to existing positive relationships between members and the part of Audubon to which they feel most closely connected; and

Through numerous conference calls, a nationwide survey, and significant email communications, the Friends of Task Force has determined that separate Chapter Membership offers significant benefits to Audubon; and 

The Friends of Task Force has developed a One Audubon Membership Policy (attached hereto as Exhibit A) in which there will be one Audubon membership, comprised of a combination of National Members and Chapter Members; and 

The One Audubon Membership Policy will allow either a Chapter or National to use the total combined membership number when referring to Audubon membership, while also setting out new guidelines for administration of Chapter-Only Memberships; and 

The One Audubon Membership Policy supports Chapter efforts to fundraise and recruit locally; and 

The One Audubon Membership Policy provides benefits to members who choose to support their local Chapter while also allowing for increased overall communication with these members. 
 
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors hereby approves the Friends of Task Force recommendation that Audubon Membership consist of two categories of members: National Members and Chapter Members, and that the relationship between the two categories of members be governed by the One Audubon Membership Policy.