President Doug Rogers welcomed the forty-three members and guests attending the meeting, including first-time visitors and members of the Charlottesville Camera Club who came in association with the MBC Photo Contest. Doug announced that, beginning in September, we will include time at our regular monthly meetings for members to share highlights from trips/conferences and let the Club know about resources such as guides and special travel destinations to see birds, etc. Please contact Doug in advance to make arrangements.
Board meeting update: The MBC Board decided that we would create a Speaker’s Bureau instead of coordinating the Poster Contest as our community outreach project. This bureau will be available to do speaking engagements in the schools in Albemarle County and Charlottesville City. The programs will be an outreach to youth with a goal of getting kids interested in birds, birding, and conservation. Doug has begun recruiting speakers and is seeking more. Mary Maple is on this team and is working on getting us into a training program that is done by the State. We also will partner with the VBS to install Bluebird nest cams in any school that will use them. See me for particulars.
Doug thanked all who made our Club Year successful by recognizing those who helped with the annual Bird Seed Sale, the Poster Contest, field trip leaders (including First Saturday Bird Walks at Ivy Creek and Birding before Work), all current and upcoming board members, and all who have joined in non-board capacity roles to organize the upcoming Bird Seed Sale. Doug also recognized Bernice Melvin, the new (non-voting) board member who will captain our fall2017 sale.
Treasurer’s Report: Maynard Davis noted we have a deficit of +/- $800, but last year’s surplus of +/- $2000 puts us in good shape. Membership is down fourteen people and the bird seed sale was down $500.
MBC members bid farewell to past-president and long-time member, Stauffer Miller, who is moving from the Charlottesville area.
Membership chair Myrlene Staten introduced the program on the Photo Contest, which was a new initiative in collaboration with the Charlottesville Camera Club. It was noted that the CCC meets on the second Thursday of the month at the Senior Center.
