President’s Message

GOALS AND THE BUDGET

by SeEtta Moss

       I am pleased to report that for the second month in a row we have not only met our objective set last summer to increase program meeting attendance, but have exceeded it by more than doubling the attendance compared to last year. Your Board is working hard to come up with programs that will draw more people, but we need your support— please make an effort to attend at least one program meeting this year and bring a friend. 

     We are doing less well on the budget. Due to changes by National Audubon in the formula they use to disburse chapter shares of Audubon member dues, we received about half of the amount of money we had last year (although membership was fairly close in numbers both years). This resulted in a deficit in spending from our budget and we had to use reserve funds to cover this. Although neither disastrous nor totally unexpected, it does mean we either have to increase revenue from other sources such as fundraising, decrease our budget by spending less for conservation education kits for children, or reduce our newsletter costs (postage cost is a high line item), or a combination of these (most likely). 

     We certainly do not want to decrease our efforts in education for children since they are our future.  We are considering asking members with internet access to agree to have a newsletter reminder sent to them, with a link to our internet site where they can read the newsletter on line.  We know this is not for everyone and we also do not want to impair our link with you. Another alternative is to reduce the number of newsletters published each year.  We are also exploring other fundraising possibilities. We will keep your informed.  If you have preferences or suggestions, please let us know.

January program

WOLVES IN RECOVERY

  (Following our tradition, there is no December program meeting.)

    On Friday, January 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the Pueblo Zoo education room, Carol and Mark Rickman of Pueblo will present a program on an important, and sometimes controversial, issue--wolf re-introduction and recovery in the West. They will focus on the wolf recovery effort in Yellowstone National Park and on the changes in the ecosystem that have taken place since wolves were re-introduced into that region.

    Since 1997, the Rickmans have served as volunteers in Yellowstone and have assisted the lead biologist responsible for studying wolf recovery and its wide-ranging ramifications. They are affiliated with the Pueblo Zoo which will cosponsor the program.

    The Rickmans will bring some wolf artifacts for hands-on viewing and include a short video showing wolves in Yellowstone.

    Bring the whole family and invite friends to share the social time and refreshments. It is free and open to the public.