From the President
Happy New Year! First, I would like to thank everyone who helped make Ogeechee Audubon’s 40th Anniversary Celebration a wonderful event. The set-up team –Beth Roth, Pat Wolters, Regi Sonnen, Jaynne Reichert, and Sharon Spector did a fabulous job. Everyone brought great food. Pat Metz entertained us with tales of the old days, and we are particularly grateful for the attendance of nearly a dozen of our founding and/or early members. The video about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge reminded us that there is still plenty of work to be done to be good stewards of our planet and natural resources.
Speaking of resources, I want to take the time here to thank all the people who take the extra step to become Ogeechee Audubon Chapter Members. About eight years ago, National Audubon changed the manner in which they were sharing funds from renewals with the Chapters. We now receive about $2 per renewal each year. With our current membership of just over 600 people, we receive about $1200 from National. This basically enables us to maintain our liability insurance coverage. While we have raised some money selling hats, bug jackets, sweatshirts, and stools, it is the Chapter Memberships and contributions that have enabled us to remain financially viable as a Chapter, as well as print and mail the Marshlander.
This brings me to a difficult issue. At present, we continue to mail the Marshlander to nearly 500 people who have not become Chapter members. While we have been requesting that people sign up to receive their Marshlander by e-mail, that list is about 125 people, most of whom are also local members. At our next board meetings, we will discuss the need for those who wish to continue to receive the printed Marshlander by mail to pay something for that subscription.
Another thing that has confused people is the National/Chapter renewal issue. National Audubon offers a special rate of $20 for new members to join. If you join National for the first time through Ogeechee Audubon, all of that money comes back to the Chapter for that first year. After that, National members will receive Audubon magazine, and will then be asked to renew that membership directly to National Audubon at the time that the membership expires. At that point, $2 of your renewal comes to Ogeechee Audubon each year. If you are already a member of National Audubon, do not use the Chapter membership renewal form to renew your National membership.
Our Chapter membership is on a Calendar Year basis. All memberships run from January 1 through December 31. If you join Ogeechee Audubon after June, we are more than happy to offer a half-price membership for the remainder of the year. Again, thank you! With your support, we hope to celebrate many more years of Ogeechee Audubon’s activities in the Savannah area.
Diana Churchill, President, OAS
Tybee Island, GA
dichurch@bellsouth.net
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