Monticello Bird Club meeting, 4 September 2019
President Guy Babineau convened the meeting by thanking volunteers and introducing the member of the club’s board. Each member gave a few remarks.
- Dan Bieker, Vice President, announced the upcoming VSO annual meeting, which will be held in Charlottesville in 2021. Dan is also serving as president of VSO.
- Mary Ann Kirkpatrick is the new hospitality chair. She hopes to simplify the refreshments and she encouraged members to bring their own water bottles to avoid/reduce the use of plastic.
- Doug Rogers is now Publicity Chair and he is maintaining the MBC Facebook page, which offers regularpostings of bird sightings and member news. We have an opening for the News Reporter now that Joanne Bricker has retired after six years.
- Peggy Cornett continues as secretary after many years and she reminded members of the upcoming Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello, Sept. 21.
- Scott Connuck is the new Membership Chair. His goal is 180 members. To date we are at 114. He plans to host a table at the Charlottesville City Market to share information about the club.
- Maynard Davis continues as Treasurer. The budget for the coming fiscal year is posted on the MBC website. We had $1,100 surplus in 2018 and this year we plan for a $20 surplus. Last year’s membership was a record 188. Maynard also reported on the Bird Seed Sale. The order email just posted, and members are encouraged to place orders well in advance of the October 23 deadline. Seed pickup willbe at the Forestry Department warehouse on November 2.
- Susan Babineau continues as Field Trips organizer. She thanked Dave Hogg for leading the recent Nighthawk watch at Ivy Creek. On September 21 the Hawk Watch at Rockfish Gap is from 10 am-3 pm. The Sept. 28 trip is to Fan Mountain Observatory.
- Myrlene Staten is serving as Program Chair. She reported that her criteria for speaker selection will focus on conservation and some travel topics. She reminded members of the opportunity to purchase MBC logo shirts and other merchandise from Lands End.
Other Announcements:
- The Education Committee needs more volunteers.
- Jenny Gaden, as part of the Conservation Committee, is spearheading efforts to monitor bird strikes at the YMCA building. She is coordinating volunteers who will help monitor and collect data during the fall migration season in order to better inform the YMCA of the problem.
Myrlene introduced the evening’s speaker, Mark Pucket, of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, who gave a presentation of Bobwhite Quail.
Submitted by Peggy Cornett, MBC secretary
