President’s Message

IT’S BIRDATHON TIME

by SeEtta Moss

   It’s that time of year—Birdathon, our major fundraising event. If you have not donated yet, please give this some consideration.  A significant portion of our funds are used to support a lobbyist, shared among other Audubon chapters in Colorado as well as similar conservation groups. This lobbyist works both to educate our legislators about conservation issues and keeps us apprised of bills that may impact our conservation goals.
   Some funds are used each year to buy frozen mice for Babe, an eagle our chapter has “adopted” (bet you didn’t know you could buy frozen mice, did ya?). And our major education outreach project is purchasing Audubon Adventure kits for schools in the area we represent. Your Board of Directors have a strong belief that it is essential that we introduce children to nature and give them the opportunity to learn about birds, other wildlife and their habitats. We certainly hope that you, our members, share this conservation ethic. 
   And much of our funds go to provide each of you with our monthly newsletter. We are hopeful that many of you will choose the option of receiving an email notification that the newsletter is posted on our website where you can read it while reducing the costs to our chapter for printing and postage. Be assured that, as a volunteer Board, we do not use the chapter’s funds for our benefit; in fact, the refreshments that are served at our monthly program meetings are donated by your Board members.
   So, this is the one time each year that we ask you to contribute to AVAS. This is your chance to support conservation education in our local schools as well as to have input into conservation related issues in our Colorado legislature. So please, donate what you can.

May program

PHOTOGRAPHING

NATURE

    Our May 9 educational program will feature award-winning nature photographer, Michael J. Pach, owner of AdventureCam Photo.  Mike got his start in photography as a high school sophomore while on his first backpacking trip to Colorado.  Armed with his brother's camera, he fell in
love with photography and the mountains.
   In the past two years, Mike has won 25 awards for his work and has been published more than a dozen times.  His artwork can be found at Garden of the Gods Trading Post and Artazia Gallery in Colorado Springs.

   Mike has recently completed his first book, which is a collection of his images and photography and hopes to have it available in stores soon.
   Mike's program will include a slide presentation of his work and a discussion on how to improve your own images.  He will also have some of
his artwork on hand that will be available for purchase.

   AVAS educational programs are held on the second Friday of each month except December or during the summer. We meet in the Pueblo Zoo classroom with social time beginning at 7:00 p.m. followed by a bit of Chapter news and the program.

“Photographing Nature,” as are all our educational programs, is free and open to the public. Bring friends and family and enjoy the show!