-President Doug Rogers opened the meeting at 7:00 pm, welcoming all 47 attendees, which included five newcomers, at least two of whom had found us due to our online presence.
-Ann Dunn, Albemarle and Fluvanna County Coordinator for the Virginia Bluebird Society, is in need of monitors for three established Bluebird trails–the Ivy Trail (14 boxes), the Mint Springs Country Park Trail in Crozet (which needs some materials updating), and the Ivy Creek Trail (12-13 boxes). Ann passed around a sign-up sheet for volunteers. Please contact Ann ( [email protected] ) if you would like to become a trail monitor. The season is from the end of March through early August. Ann will provide volunteers with all the training and support needed.
-Doug announced the March 11th MBC Board meeting and asked for suggestions for items that the Board needs to consider.
-Nominations for the coming fiscal year MBC Board are President–Doug Rogers; Vice-president–Dan Bieker; Secretary–Peggy Cornett; Treasurer– Maynard Davis; Membership–Myrlene Staten; Programs–Lou Tanner; Field Trips–Jon Rockett; Publicity–Susan Babineau; Hospitality–Patty Kalbfleisch; Club News Reporter–Joanne Bricker. Bird Seed Sale chair is vacant and needs someone to volunteer his/her services. Doug also made a formal announcement that the coming year will be his final year to serve as President.
-Doug read Gabriel’s Field Trip report about a productive trip to Dutch Gap. The scheduled Belvedere walk was cancelled by it leader, due to a menacing weather forecast. March Field Trips include a search for Woodcocks (3/10) and a bird walk at Lickinghole Creek (3/18). Gabriel also “plugged” the March 11th Crozet Artisan Depot Bird Walk and all day activities. The Crozet Artisan Depot is located at 5791 Three Notch’d Road in Crozet.
-Treasurer Maynard Davis reported that our current budget surplus is due in main part to the more than $800 donated to the Priscilla Kingston Memorial Fund. Upcoming expenses will be incurred for the Photography Contest, and Maynard forecasts about a $500 deficit for the year, which will be accounted for by spending down a part of last fiscal year’s surplus of roughly $1500. Contact Maynard with any questions and/or view his Treasurer’s Reports on this website.
-Myrlene Staten reported the club’s current membership is 153 members, which includes 13 new members. This is slightly lower that last year’s membership of 161 at this time. Donning her Photography Contest co-chair hat, Myrlene encouraged members to get out their cameras — from cell phone to big glass — and enter. Contest rules and directions for online submitting of photos can be found through this website. Entry deadline is April 24 and judging will be in May.
-Doug reminded folks about the Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas Training to be held on March 25 at Ivy Creek. (See the recent post on this website for more details, including how to sign up online for the training.)
-In lieu of Lou Tanner, Program chair, Doug introduced our speaker, Jennifer Ackerman, whose topic was “The Genius of Birds.”
Submitted by Joanne Bricker for Secretary, Peggy Cornett