From Our President: The Gift of Volunteers...

Posted on Monday, December 1st, 2014

Each year at the Lane Audubon volunteer recognition party, as many as 80 attendees crowd the Eugene Garden Club to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year. These volunteers deserve much of the credit for Lane Audubon’s long-standing reputation as the area’s most effective grassroots advocate for birds and the protection of their habitats. Every volunteer plays a vital role in making our organization strong.

Can you volunteer time to work toward Lane Audubon’s goals? Volunteers bring the gifts of time, energy, expertise, and commitment to our organization. We’re always eager to welcome new volunteers into the fold. There are opportunities available for anyone with a little time and the inclination to help. We’ll provide the guidance, training, supplies, and anything else you need to get started.

As the new year begins, there are three specific areas that need volunteer assistance:

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President's Page

Conservation Column Dec 2014-Jan 2015: Elliott State Forest—Too Valuable to Sell

Posted on Monday, December 1st, 2014

Debbie Schlenoff

Some people argue that we need to privatize the publicly owned 93,000-acre Elliott State Forest and sell it to timber interests to generate money for our school funds. The argument does not hold water (although our forests do!) when one considers the actual value of our forests to the public. So what does a forest do for us? It cleans the air; it cleans the water; it traps pollutants. It slows the devastating effects of climate change by storing and sequestering carbon. It maintains soil quality and nutrient cycling. It supports the insects, bats, and birds that pollinate our food crops and other flowering plants. It also supports the wildlife that disperses seeds and controls pests.

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Conservation Column

52 Small Birds Now Available

Posted on Thursday, May 1st, 2014
A new book by Richard Weeks, 52 Small Birds, is now available! The book is a memoir of an eight-year quest to photograph and paint the 52 breeding warblers of the United States, and Richard’s beautiful artwork appears throughout the story. According to the author, “This narrative relates how the process of searching for, photographing, and painting birds enhanced and deepened my connection to the natural world.” Published in cooperation with LCAS, 52 Small Birds sells for $22 plus $2 shipping. It’s also available at LCAS monthly meetings for $20. All profits go to LCAS.
 
To order and for more information about the book and author, go to www.rweeksart.com.

Have Some Fun—Volunteer!

Lane County Audubon Society is an all-volunteer organization, and our members are very proud of the energy and diverse talents that volunteers bring to our cause—we couldn’t do it without them! Volunteering with Lane Audubon is a great way to meet new people, give back to the community, and best of all, have fun!
 
If you’re interested in volunteering for one of the opportunities below, or if you have other ideas about ways you can help, contact Maeve Sowles at 541.343.8664 or president (at) laneaudubon.org.
 
Audubon in the Schools Program Coordinator - The Audubon in the Schools (AITS) curriculum, developed by Kris Kirkeby, our former Education Chair, comprises five fun-filled lessons that combine bird biology and basic art techniques. It is designed to provide elementary students with a solid introduction to core aspects of bird biology, including bird feather anatomy and function, bird identification techniques, bird field marks, and habitat. The lessons are excellent examples of participatory education. The coordinator keeps all facets of the program going, including classroom scheduling and volunteer training, and also teaches lessons to students along with the other volunteers. We hope to find a new coordinator who can take this wonderful education program to new heights!
 
Program Chair - The Program Chair recruits speakers for the chapter Program Meetings that are scheduled eight times a year. This person seeks new programs that will enhance our members’ awareness of birding, habitats, natural history, conservation, and other issues, and he or she must be able to engage speakers and organize publicity and other logistics well in advance of each meeting.
 
Lane County Community Outreach - Help introduce Lane Audubon to community members at local events and present talks on birding and the natural world to small groups upon request. Help develop our “speaker bureau” materials and resources. This is a great opportunity to use your creativity and get involved in community outreach for Lane County Audubon! 
 
Booth Coordinator - Help with our booth appearances at local events and festivals. This opportunity involves setting up and taking down the booth four or five times a year and scheduling other volunteers to staff the booth at events. One or two people could share or split these duties. We will provide orientation and training. If you enjoy coordinating activities and working with people, this could be the opportunity for you. For more information, contact Ron Renchler at 541.345.0834 or christyandron (at) qwest.net.