November-December 2009 Wings and Things Newsletter Venice Area Audubon Society
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Transcript of November-December 2009 Wings and Things Newsletter Venice Area Audubon Society
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Wings&ThingsThe neWsleTTer of The Venice AreA Audubon socieTy | va. Founded in 1965
Nov/Dec 2009
A u d u b o n S o c i
e t y
V e n
i ce Ar e A
Ma m t Pt – M l. ct
VAAS. When you see this acronym what comes to mind? Hopeully, Venice
Area Audubon Society. Indulge me or a minute while I present another take on
what the VAAS acronym stands or.
V is for VOLUNEER. Energize Inc. describes a volunteer as “Someone who
contributes time, eort and talent to meet a need or urther a mission, without
going on the payroll.”
A is for AIUDE. Wikipedia explains, “An attitude is a hypothetical con-
struct that represents an individual’s degree o like or dislike or an item. Attitudes
are generally positive or negative views o a person, place, thing, or event—this is
oten reerred to as the attitude object.”
A is for ACION. Wordnetweb.princeton.edu states, “carry through: put in
eect; carry out a task; execute the decision o the people.”
S is for SEWARD. Yourdictionary.comdescribes a steward as “ a person mor-
ally responsible or the careul use o money, time, talents, or other resources, esp.
with respect to the principles or needs o a community or group.”
Volunteer. While searching or volunteers to serve on the Board o Directors,
one o the most disheartening statements I heard was “Are you kidding? Tat
Board is known or its contentious nature, no way am I going on that.” While at
times it eels like there is some truth to that statement, the current Board is antas-
tic. Just look at the make-up o these great people.
Attitude. Over the past ew weeks, considerable non productive time and
energy ocused on items such as irrigation systems and Audubon Adventures.
Misinormation appears to be the stem o this movement. Tese incidents may
prove to be an alarm system. Misinormation rom sources outside o the board is
getting in the way o progress. Rest assured, the Board o Directors hears the alarm
and will continue to search or the best way to distribute accurate inormation.
Te Conservation Committee ocusing on Green Initiatives or the building,
Scrub-jay management, protecting coastal habitat or beach nesting birds, and thedevelopment o a second rookery. Te Ways and Means group working on a pro-
gressive und raising agenda. Te Publicity Director is seeking new and exciting ways
to tell the VAAS story. Te Program Director is arranging an incredible line-up o
speakers. New and exciting eld trips are happening. What an incredible list!
Steward. Going back to the VAAS acronym, as we know it, the Venice
Area Audubon Society has incredibly devoted and dedicated members and
V olunteers with A ttitude willing to take A ction and strive to be the best
Stewards o resources. However, all too oten, energy is expended putting out
2009-10 cAlendAr of eVenTs
noVeMber
7 Felts Audubon Preserve, 7:30 a.m.
10 Jelks Preserve, 7:30 a.m.
14 Venice Landfll/Venetian River
Club, 7:45 a.m.
15 Carlton Reserve, 7:30 a.m.
17 Conservation Cmte, 3:00 p.m.
17 Board Meeting, 5:00 p.m.
21 Shamrock Park, 7:30 a.m.24 General Meeting, Venice
Audubon Center, 7:00 p.m.
deceMber
1 Conservation Cmte, 3:00 p.m.
1 Board Meeting, 5:00 p.m.
2 Placida Boat Trip, 8:00 a.m.
2 Shamrock Park, 7:30 a.m.
6 Carlton Reserve, 7:30 a.m.
8 Holiday Party Mtg., Venice
Audubon Center, 7:00 p.m.
10 Myakka River State Park, 7:30 a.m.
15 Christmas Bird Count
18 Wings & Things deadline or
January newsletter
19 Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, 7:30 a.m.
JAnuAry
2 Celery Fields Trip, 7:30 a.m.
9 Carlton Reserve, 7:30 a.m.
10 Emerson Point Park, 7:30 a.m.
13 Shamrock Park , 7:30 a.m.
15 Robinson Preserve, 7:00 a.m.
President’s Message continued on page 3
in MeMoriAMbaaa l. sapptWe are saddened to learn o the death
o our dear riend and aithul VAAS
member, Barbara, on October 1.
Although wheel chair bound or
several years, she continued to
support VAAS by attending meetings.
Our sympathy goes out to her husband
Walter and daughter Cindy Julius.
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2 Wings&Things | Nov/Dec 09
uPcoMing ProgrAMs ATVenice Audubon cenTer
endeMic, indigenous AndexoTic birds of hAWAiinv 24 at 7:00 p.m.Barry Rossheim, zoology teacher at
Venice High School and member oVAAS, will share his recent birding
eperience on the islands o Oahu
and Maui. His presentation will
eature the boardwalk area o the
Nature Conservancy o Hawaii’s
Waikamoi Preserve and the difcult
to access nesting area o the
Laysan Albatross. You will enjoy
hearing about Barry’s adventures
in his quest to see these “once in
a lietime” birds and his beautiul
photos will leave us all yearning ora trip to the Aloha State.
holidAy PArTyd 8 at 6:30 p.m.The Board o VAAS has planned
a estive evening at the Center
to share the warm spirit o the
holidays. VAAS will provide
beverages, cups, plates, etc. Please
bring hors d’oeuvres or dessert
(fnger ood to keep it simple) to
share or “cocktail hour” while wevisit and listen to holiday music.
Bring items you would like to donate
and/or solicit items rom a avorite
merchant or a silent auction—a
riendly bidding event to obtain
Holiday gits or yoursel or others
and a un way to add some unds to
our budget. You can bring articles to
the November meeting or contact
any board member prior to the
event so we can include them in
our inventory. Help is needed on theHoliday Committee. I you can be
a part o making this event happen,
call Marty Shirley at 941-496-4494.
Venice Audubon inPAnAMA – ca samp
Eight VAAS Panama trip members
had a antastic time as guests o the
Canopy Lodge in El Valle de Antón. We
were treated royally, with a short visit
to the Canopy ower, and then in the
mountains at the Lodge or nine days.
We enjoyed two birding excur-
sions daily which took us to dierent
Panamanian habi-
tats. Tere were two
all day outings, one
to Altos del Maria,
located at a higher
elevation in the
mountains, and the
other to the Pacic lowlands and a beachon the Pacic Ocean.
Our birding guides, José and Moyo,
amazed us. Tey heard and located birds
in the most dicult places. We were
told that the 237 species we saw was a
new record or nine days at the Canopy
Lodge. Te birding was so good, that
even our guides bagged a ew “liers!”
We all had a great time and everyone
saw all the birds. I anyone missed a bird, José and Moyo made sure to locate the
bird again. We can’t say enough about
the guides and the eorts they made to
accommodate us all—the casual and
hard-core birders alike.
Te ood was out o this world. We
enjoyed ne dining under a canopy
porch with a mountain view next to a
rapid fowing stream.
Te birds seen on this trip are toonumerous to list. I you’re interested see-
ing in a complete list, come to the “rips”
table at the next VAAS general meeting.
Te “Panama/Venice Fantastic Eight”
are: Virginia Bates, Rhea Guertin, Gail
Pigeon, Marian Shern, Norma Sayres,
Bill Fairbank, Carolyn Edmunds and
Charlie Sample.
oVerdue dues dueb faak
Annual dues are due by September 1
We have only received 1/3 o the mem-
bership dues so ar. We encourage t
ebers wo ave not et sent in
teir dues to do so as soon as possible
Tere is a renewal for located in te
2009-2010 Trip & Program Guide
Tese unds make possible the many
activities o Venice Audubon including
our educational programs.
Tank you to all members o VAAS
who paid their annual dues or thei
continued support.
We thank and welcome all new VAAS
members: Marie Beall, Dan Harris
Joyce Leary, Michael and Carrol Malott Jerey and Jane Parsons, and any othe
new members that might have missed.
I you have questions call Bill Fairbank
at 941-412-1610 or e-mail him a
uPcoMing field TriPs
nv 7 - Felts Audubon Preserve, 7:30 a.m.
nv 14 - Venice Landfll and the VenetianGol & River Club, 7:45 a.m.
nv 21 - Shamrock Park, 7:30 a.m.
d 2 - The Placida Boat trip. Lunch at
Fishery Restaurant. Registration required,
limited space. 8:00 a.m.
d 10 - Myakka River State Park, 7:30 a.m
Ja 2 - Celery Fields, 7:30 a.m.
Ja 10 - Emerson Point Park, 7:30 a.m.
For more details about any o the tripsabove, please see the 2009-2010 VAAS
Trips & Program Guide.
I you have any comments about any o
this season’s trips or have suggestion
about places to go net season, drop
by the Trips table at the VAAS genera
meeting or contact Bill Fairbank a
941-412-1610 or [email protected].
Wings is going greenTo receive the January edition, we
need your current e-mail address.
See mailing panel or details.
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Nov/Dec 09 | Wings&Things 3
President’s Message continued from page 1
res instead o ocusing on the great
tasks this group can accomplish. Maybe
that is the root o the confict, “keep the
res stirred” so VAAS cannot achieve its
ull potential.
Please remember that VAAS is a com-
munity o people with a variety o opin-ions, hopes, ears, expectations, and a
desire to achieve great things. Te Board
o Directors wants to assure you that we
are really trying to do a great job or our
organization. In addition, although we
may choose to do things a little dier-
ently rom the past, we are trying to be
the best we can be…and sometimes we
need to change in order to improve.
YOU are the vehicle that keeps all
things moving orward. Your construc-
tive support and guidance is needed to
increase VAAS’s potential. Should you
hear something that doesn’t sound right,
or eel something may be going haywire,
please channel it in a productive man-
ner by contacting a Board Member, or
asking to address the Board at a Board
meeting. In this venue, inormation will
be rst-hand and clear. Your knowledge,
experience, and insight may be the per-
ect stimulus to aid in moving a project
to great heights.
VAAs AT A glAnceChRISmAS BIRD COUN Te CBC is on uesday, December 15. Te
compiler or the Venice-Englewood count is Rett Oren. I you can help with
the count, contact Rett at [email protected] or 941-486-1424.
CONSERVAION COmmIEE One o our initiatives is to see i we can
make a positive impact on global climate change by making the Venice AudubonCenter more energy ecient and a model o sustainability. We engaged a volun-
teer engineer to investigate.We hope our Center can be a demonstration Center
or the South Sarasota County area, promoting VAAS’s name and conservation
mission to the community. We need help nding a name or this initiative. I
you have a suggestion, please send it to us at the Venice Audubon Center.
ROOkERy COmmIEE Te second rookery preparation is underway. Te
County has excavated a deeper channel on either side o the island to make it
(potential second rookery) less vulnerable to predators and human penetration.
Te next phase is to remove exotic vegetation and plant native trees.
AUDUBON ADVENURES It has come to our attention that misinormation
has been circulating via e-mail rom some about the Board’s recent decision regard-
ing our Audubon Adventures (AA) program. We’d like to set the record straight.
Te Board has decided to continue oering AA to the Girl Scouts and to
home-schooled children. Both groups have been ully utilizing the AA materials.
Tereore, all donations collected or this year’s AA program will support these
two groups. Te Board decided to discontinue oering Audubon Adventures to
the schools. Te reasons are as ollows: 1) AA materials were not ully utilized
2) costs have increased to $3,000 and 3) donations collected only totaled 1/3 o
the actual cost. Te VAAS teacher in the schools and other school educational
programs will remain in place.
We’d like to take this opportunity to say that when you have concerns about
things that VAAS is doing or any decisions the Board makes, please eel ree to con-
tact us directly to discuss your concerns and/or request to attend a Board meeting
to present your point o view. We are ready and willing to listen.
Tis is exactly what Jackie Barrett and Lori Stover did recently. Tey came to a
Board meeting to present their concerns about the Board’s decision to discontinue
oering AA to the schools and the unds collected or this part o the program. Te
Board commends Jackie and Lorie or caring enough about the education o school
children to present their concerns in a constructive manner to the Board.
BIRDS IN PARADISE At the September general meeting, Janie Dancho
did a great presentation on the Magnicent Frigatebird! Te members present
enjoyed the inormative and entertaining addition to our meeting and we are
looking orward to more. Janie will keep the list o volunteer presenters and will
have a sign-up sheet available at meetings. ell us about your avorite, conus-
ing or unusual bird. Contact Janie at 941-244-0769. For more inormation on
this program reer to the Sept/Oct edition o Wings & Tings.
VAAs finAnciAl rePorTba bma
Te reasurer’s April 2009 is too
detailed to be printed in this Wings &
Tings issue. Te report in its entirety
will be posted at the monthly meeting.
ma 2008 – April 2009
Income: $41,760.52
Expenses: $38,150.18
Current Assets as of April 30, 2009:
Checking/Savings: $21,672.13
Other Assets: $71,080.80
otal Assets: $92,752.80
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our Mission: T pmt tt w a t t a vat wt mpa a t atat
V A ct(haqat) a rk4002 S. Tamiami Trail(at Anne Road, behind the R. L.Anderson Administration Building)Venice, FLPhone: 941-496-8984
Mailing address:Venice Area Audubon SocietyP. O. Bo 1381Venice, FL 34284-1381
Wings&Things is published by theVenice Area Audubon Society (VAAS).
As a member o VAAS you receive fveeditions o Wings & Things per year,inormation on our feld trips, chaptermeetings and programs. Individualmemberships are $20 per year andamily memberships are $30 per year.A lietime amily membership is $1500.All membership dues go to theVenice Area chapter o the NationalAudubon Society.
rtba dt
Pt Missy L. [email protected]
1t V PtMarty Shirley941-496-4494 or [email protected] Chair
2 V PtKen Reamy941-493-1042 or [email protected] Chair
r sta Don [email protected]
cp sta Kathy [email protected]
Ta Brenda Bossman
[email protected] and Means andEducation Chair
dtBill [email protected] Trips and Membership Chair
dt Carol [email protected] Chair
dt Julie [email protected]
dtVacant
hptat cat Virginia Koss
941-493-8812
nwtt cat Charles Sample, EditorCarolyn Edmunds, Designer941-497-6463
Vt cat Arlene Kelpsh941-486-9022
yt eat cat Alena Copek941-429-8725
Venice Area Audubon SocietyP. O. Bo 1381Venice, FL 34284-1381
A u d u b o n S o c i
e t y
V e n
i ce Ar e A NON-PROFIT ORG.
P. O. BOx 1381
U. S. POSTAGE
PAidVENICE, FL 34284-1381
MANASOTA, FL PERMIT NO. 917
finAl noTice
Wings is going green
The net edition o Wings & Things
will be sent via e-mail and also
posted on our website. It will no
longer be mailed. To receive
the January edition, make sure wehave your current e-mail address.
See Bill Fairbank at the
membership table or e-mail him at