Summer Issue 2001

Newsletter insert of the Kentucky Audubon Council

It was recommended at the winter meeting in January that a newsletter insert be sent to each chapter quarterly. This suggestion was endorsed unanimously; so, what happened to spring 2001? My explanation just might remind you of the famous cartoon from U.S. History. Remember 'The Tammany Ring'? Which pictured a bunch of fat guys in business suits standing in a circle and pointing to each other? Everybody blamed everybody else. Ok, you're up to speed with the mental image needed; here's what happened to the spring insert.

Following the March meeting at Buckley Sanctuary, I, your volunteer editor, thought that the proposed fundraising brochure studied that day would soon be proofed, edited, and reworded by the National Audubon Society staff. This brochure is planned for use in soliciting funds for the opening and operation of our state office planned for 2003. Evidently NAS staff expected more information from some of us in Kentucky. We were waiting for them and they were waiting for us. I wanted to wait for the release of the brochure before sending out the newsletter insert; that's my stance in the ring of fat guys.

A meeting has been set for the Mission Advocacy Group, the steering committee working toward funding the state office, for Friday June 1 in Louisville. It is the purpose of this meeting to regain the momentum that has been stalled these past 2 1/2 months. While no one is happy about what happened, it is likely that every organization, large or small, charitable or political or otherwise has similar experiences of down time. Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Daviess County has raised money for supplies to build a nature center dedicated to the chapter's founders, Bert and Millie Powell. Construction is underway on a straw bale construction of a bird viewing blind. In April and May they sold Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and bird seed, had a Birdathon, and suffered through a failed attempt at a book fair.

Frankfort failure to send a meeting reminder caused Jim Durrell to miss the spring mtg.

Henderson Ken Hurm is interested in breathing life back into this dormant chapter. This is pleasing to K.A.C. because Henderson was the site of the first Audubon chapter in Kentucky. Ken has mailed out a page of questions to local people he thinks might be interested in reorganizing the chapter. There is no better birding in Kentucky than at Henderson's Saurheber Slough. Bravo, Ken!

Jackson Purchase is troubled by low attendance at meetings but their core group of members is alive, well, and showing interest in sending a representative to future K.A.C. gatherings. Our fingers are crossed that soon we'll draw them into state pow wow's where their input will be welcomed and heeded.

Louisville is the state's largest chapter with over 1000 members. The possibility of an ecotour to a site such as Alaska or the Galapagos Islands is being considered as a fundraiser. The group is quite proud of a series of outstanding program topics during the 2000-2001 year.