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56th Annual
Meeting
Chautauqua, NY
November 1, 2003
Brenda Best
The 56th Annual Meeting of the Federation, hosted
by Lake Erie Bird Club, Jamestown Audubon Society, and Roger Tory
Peterson Ornithological Club, was called to order at 9:25 a.m.
Roll call of member clubs revealed there were 68 delegates and
proxies from 32 clubs, and a quorum was present. Dorothy Crumb
made a motion to approve the minutes from the 2002 Annual Meeting
and Ellie Long seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
President's Report by
Tim Baird
There are 51 member clubs and 740 individual members of the Federation.
Our superb web site now has its own domain name. The Breeding Bird
Atlas has completed its fourth field season. Our publications are
strong, and New York Birders has a new editor. A new edition of
the official checklist now stands at 460 species. Dominic Sherony
has been appointed to the New York State Avian Records Committee
(NYSARC), and Angus Wilson has been re-appointed. Bryan Swift with
the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
has been an active participant at Board of Directors meetings.
Andy Mason and John Fritz are working on various conservation issues.
Several Federation members are involved with Audubon New York’s
Important Bird Area program. The Board of Directors has proposed
a formal name change for the organization. Tim thanked the hosts
of this year’s Annual Meeting, the people of Nuthatch Hollow
Nature Preserve where the Board has met for the past year, the
current officers and directors of the Federation, and “everyone
who, currently or in the past, has contributed to making this organization
a great one.”
Reports
and Elections
John Confer made a motion to accept the membership
application of ESF Birding Club from Syracuse, and Bob Mauceli
seconded. Motion was approved unanimously.
John Ozard gave the NYSDEC report and passed out a summary of their
bird conservation activities written by Bryan Swift.
The Treasurer’s Report dated December 31, 2002, was issued.
The major expense (60% of total expenses) is publication of The
Kingbird. The major source of income ($18,240 annually) is dues
from individual members. The Auditing Committee Report indicates
that the Federation’s finances are in good order.
Valerie Freer reports that about 4,400 Breeding Bird Atlas blocks
have been visited, but about 1,000 have had no work done in them.
More blockbusters will be hired for next year. Cornell University
Press will be the publisher. The Atlas is funded largely by Return-A-Gift-To-Wildlife,
with additional support from NYSDEC’s State Wildlife Grant
and New York Audubon. Its budget reveals the Atlas will cost more
than $1 million.
Tim Baird is the new editor for New York Birders and club editors
should send their newsletters to him. The Kingbird is in fine shape
with much material available. The new Checklist of the Birds
of New York State with a yellow cover is now available.
The Conservation Committee received an excellent response from
the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP)
in regards to our concerns about feral cat colonies and feeding
stations in state parks. They have issued a draft of “Guidelines
for Feral Cat Control in State Parks,” and OPRHP is requesting
feedback. The Committee is working on a resolution regarding wind
power in New York State, attended meetings regarding cormorants
on Oneida Lake, and contacted NYSDEC regarding the effect of West
Nile Virus and hunting on the American Crow population.
NYSARC has completed their work on 2001 reports and their findings
will be published in the December 2003 issue of The Kingbird. They
are currently working on reports from 2002.
Stanley Lincoln presented the report from the Nominating Committee.
Nominated for 2003/04 are President – Kevin J. McGowan; Vice
President – Andrew Mason; Corresponding Secretary – Timothy
H. Baird; Recording Secretary – Brenda Best; and Treasurer – William
B. Reeves. Nominated Directors are Robert G. Spahn, to fill a vacancy
in the 2004 Class, and for the 2005 Class – Berna B. Lincoln,
Robert Miller, and William Ostrander. Dorothy Crumb made a motion
to accept the Nominating Committee Report as read, and Barb Butler
seconded. Motion was approved unanimously.
Weather and the blackout affected field trips in 2003. A tentative
2004 field trip schedule has been developed, and Bill Lee is open
to suggestions.
Phyllis Jones asks that papers from all past presidents be submitted
to the Archivist.
Future annual meetings are scheduled for September 17-19, 2004,
Ithaca, hosted by Cayuga Bird Club, and for September 23-25, 2005,
Albany, hosted by Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club.
Andy Mason made a motion to accept the resolution regarding Bird
Population Management as published in New York Birders and mailed
to member clubs, and Gail Kirch seconded. With one nay vote, the
motion was approved to accept the resolution with one change. In
the first Resolved, the word “will” is to be changed
to “should.”
Berna Lincoln made a motion to honor the 60th wedding anniversaries
of Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Levine and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Sloss.
Seconded by Bill Lee and approved unanimously.
With a motion by Ellie Long seconded by Bill Lee, a Nominating
Committee consisting of Sue Adair, Tim Baird, and Gail Seamans
was elected unanimously. With a motion by Valerie Freer seconded
by Gail Seamans, the Auditing Committee consisting of Irving Cantor,
Peter Capainolo, and Emanuel Levine was re-elected unanimously.
Old Business
Bill Reeves made a motion to change the name of the Federation
of New York State Bird Clubs, Inc. to New York State Ornithological
Association, Inc. Seconded by Phyllis Jones. After some discussion
pro and con, a roll call vote was taken. Motion was passed, 47
ayes to 21 nays. Valerie Freer made a motion, seconded by Berna
Lincoln, to amend the By-laws Article I to change the name to New
York State Ornithological Association, Inc. Bill Lee then made
a motion to cast a unanimous vote to amend the By-laws Article
I to change the name, which was seconded by Bob McKinney. Motion
was approved unanimously.
New Business
Bob Mauceli asked about the role of individual members
in governance, and Tim Baird indicated the Board would discuss
this in the future.
Motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and approved unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 11:58 a.m.
Awards presented during the Saturday evening banquet:
Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Carena Pooth for
her work on the Federation web site.
Lillian C. Stoner Award, which provides financial help to one
or more high school seniors or college students so they may attend
the Annual Meeting, was awarded to Yelena Samsonenko, who was
nominated by Cayuga Bird Club.
John J. Elliott Award, given for the best article contributed
to The Kingbird each year, was awarded to Michael D. Stubblefield
and James D. Rising for their article entitled, “Review
of Eastern and Spotted Towhee Taxa Based on Possible Spotted
Towhee in Central Park, NYC – 26 April 2001” which
appeared in The Kingbird Vol. 52 No. 3.
Gordon M. Meade Distinguished Service Award, given to individuals
for outstanding service to the Federation, was awarded to Donald
A. Windsor.
 Respectfully
submitted,
Brenda Best
Recording Secretary
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