SOUTH MOUNTAIN AUDUBON SOCIETY
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
July 29, 2013

The Board of Directors of the South Mountain Audubon Society (SMAS) met on July 29, 2013 at the Adams County Agricultural Center at 4 P.M.

President Deb Siefken called the meeting to order with the following board members present: Nancy Locher, Mike Bertram, Carole Simon, Emily Cost, Bob Brandt, Elizabeth Weller, and Linette Mansberger.

SECRETARY’S REPORT
Linette Mansberger presented the Secretary’s Report for April 1, 2013.  No additions or changes were suggested to the minutes.

UPON MOTION DULY MADE, SECONDED AND CARRIED
  Resolved that: the minutes from the April 1, 2013 board meeting be approved by the board.

TREASURER’S REPORT
Mike Bertram presented the Treasurer’s Report/Budget for the Financial Year 2012-2013.   

It was noted that:

• the CD’s were created as endowments and only the interest may be spent – unless changes are officially made to the original intent,
• the Donations line in the budget consists mostly of proceeds from the Agway Bird Seed Sale and the yearly distribution amount from the National Audubon Society,
• the Administrative Costs reflect mostly insurance fees,
• we might consider adding a separate budget line for Education.

Discussions were held about presentation costs, fundraisers, and education-related items.

UPON MOTION DULY MADE, SECONDED AND CARRIED
  Resolved that: the Treasurer’s Report for Financial Year 2012- 2013 be approved by the board.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Programs:
Program Chair, Bob Brandt, outlined the following upcoming programs:

          September 9 – Patti Barber with the Pennsylvania Game Commission
                   Presenting “Bald Eagle Recovery”
          October 14 – Nancy Putt, Secretary of the State Bluebird Society
                   Presenting a program on Eastern Bluebirds
          November 11 – Main program not yet determined; a brief presentation
                   will be given about Project FeederWatch by Linette

Suggestions for future program topics and speakers included Saw Whet Owl, Ned Smith Center, Warblers and Sparrows, Female Ornithologists, Backyard Gardening, Hummingbirds, speaker Jim Flowers, and speakers from the state Audubon organization.

Nancy will send a list of previous programs to Bob.

Publicity:
Publicity Chair, Elizabeth Weller, asked for someone to help to be a Facebook administrator to add information to the SMAS page.  Deb agreed to help.

Deb thanked Carole and Emily for the excellent display placed in the Adams County Public Library during the month of May.

Field Trips:
The suggestion was made to generate new ideas for different places to hold field trips.  Ideas shared were Ned Smith Center, Waggoner’s Gap, King’s Gap, Nixon County Park in York County, some Maryland state parks, and a grassland area.

Newsletter:
No report

Membership:
No report

Education:
Education chair, Emily Cost, presented information on these programs:
          Monarchs at Wildwood on August 13th
          Canoeing Wildwood on September 7th
          Owl Walk at Renfrew in November

Carole Simon presented information on a request from Strawberry Hill Nature Center to sponsor a Bird of Prey program.  Due to unavailable information at this time, the topic was tabled for future discussion and consideration.

Conservation:
Conservation chair, Emily Cost, reported on the status of the proposed chicken farm on Mummasburg Road.

Hospitality:
No report

OLD BUSINESS

Annual Luncheon:  It was the consensus of those in attendance that the annual luncheon at Hickory Bridge was a success, the program was excellent, and the venue is part of what makes it an attraction.

NEW BUSINESS

Linette presented a positive review of The Handbook of Bird Photography, a project she agreed to do after the SMAS was contacted by the publisher.  The review will be in the upcoming newsletter and Mike requested a copy to place on the SMAS website.  This book is available for anyone to borrow.

Information about the annual Agway birdseed sale will be placed on the website.

A donation of a 1944 book of Audubon prints has been offered to the SMAS.  Deb will contact the owner for additional information.

After much discussion on fundraising, it was determined that any funds raised would be used for educational purposes.

UPON MOTION DULY MADE, SECONDED AND CARRIED
  Resolved that: An appeal will be made to members to pledge one cent for every five birds observed by members of SMAS who participate in the Christmas Bird Count in December, 2013. Alternatively, a donation of one's own choosing will be offered rather than basing it on the total bird count.  These funds will be channeled toward educational purposes. 

The next meeting of the SMAS Board will be at 4:00 on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at the Adams County Agricultural Center.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Linette Mansberger