Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch suffered much damage in the April fire that swept through the ranch.  There is both an immediate and a long-term need for volunteers to assist with a wide-range of tasks as the Research Ranch implements a recovery and restoration plan.  If you are interested in helping please call Sam Campana at 602 468 6470 for information.  Please do not just show up without calling.

Sandhill Crane Festival: Lodi, CA, November 8-11.  For information contact the festival at 916-683-1700 or www.lodichamber.com/
cranefestival.html

Festival of Cranes:  Socorro, NM, November 19-24.  Contact information is 505-835-0424 or www.friendsofthe
bosque.org/crane. 

The Birdseye Guide to 101 Birding Sites, Phoenix:  A new guide published by Rupp Aerial Photography.  The maps are excellent, it is all in color and is $23.95.  For more information check www.ruppaerialphoto.com.  Also catch the author, Mike Rupp, at February's meeting.

ABA Regional Conference:  January 12-16, 2003 at the Salton Sea, California.  For more information call the ABA at 800-850-2473 or check their website-- www.americanbirding.org

 Nature and Bird Photography Workshop--January 17, 2003 at the Hassayampa Preserve in Wickenberg.  Open to all skill levels.  Bring lunch and camera equipment. The price is $45 which is a savings of $75 over the regular cost.  The workshop will 

begin at 8:30 a.m. and last all day with instruction indoor s and in the field.  Call Mark Sklarny to register or with questions (480) 317-1395.

Birding in Cuba:  February 15-24, 2003. Under a license from the U.S. Treasury Department, Grand Canyon University is offering an adult education class on the birds of Cuba that includes a 10 day trip to the major birding areas of Cuba.  The focus of the trip will be to locate and study the 21 endemic birds of Cuba, as well as birds rarely found elsewhere in North America (Ivory-billed woodpecker?!?)  The cost is between $2,500 and $3,000.  Linda and Tom Rawles will be leading the trip.  For more information contact Linda at lrawles@grand-canyon.edu or at (602) 279-5900.

For a detailed itinerary email the editor and it can be sent via email.  In Winging It, ABA's newsletter, is information for 2 more approved study trips to Cuba.  These trips are sponsored by Manchester Community College.  For information contact Gary Markowski at 860-354-5590 or cubirds@aol.com.  The dates are February 13-22 and February 27- March 8.

 ABA Annual Convention:  June 2-8, 2003 in Eugene, Oregon.  Call the ABA or check their website for more information.

 More birding and nature festivals.  www.americanbirding.org and www.birdinghotspot.com 

 Audubon Adventures:  Give the gift of discovery and share your love of the environment.  The program is designated for students in grades 4-6.  Introduce an entire classroom (up to 32 students) to the wonders of nature for just $35 (plus shipping charges).  You can select your favorite school or let Audubon do it for you.  For orders:  call 800/813-5037.

Maricopa Audubon T-Shirts—For information, contact Laurie Nessel at (480) 968-5614 or laurienessel@hotmail.com

Do you have an interesting story to tell about birding?  Please forward your submissions to the Editor—Deva Burns.  Check the back page for address/e-mail.  Actually, attaching an article to an e-mail is the absolute easiest way to submit an article.  If you have pictures or slides, you do need to send those to me directly.  Remember, all articles may not be published the first month after receipt.

I used to think being the Mayor of Scottsdale was the Best Job in the World.  But then I discovered it was not:  Being the Former Mayor of Scottsdale was the Best Job in the World.  And now I know the real fact:  being the first state director for Audubon is for sure the BEST JOB in the World!  Thank you Maricopa Audubon for making me feel so welcome.

We are going to do great things together in Arizona.  We have already been successful on several public policy issues.  I believe our own Senator McCain provided true leadership in Washington as he broke ranks with most of his party and his President to vote against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  I had the opportunity to be with him recently in a quiet social setting and he thanked Audubon for supporting him on that critical decision!  Very impressive – all the way around.

We are getting Important Bird Areas nominated from all over Arizona.  Scott Wilbor, the IBA co-ordinator, is doing a tremendous job being certain that the process is made easy, and that Arizona gets the national prominence it so deserves for our unique habitats for birds.  (Hey!  We have one of the Top Ten Birding Trails in America right here in Arizona!)

We are working hard on identifying the first site in Arizona for an Audubon Center.  We know it will be in Maricopa County, probably in central Phoenix.  We are building on all the work done by Maricopa and Sonoran Audubon members in the last few years.   We are meeting with federal agencies, state departments, county districts and city officials.  But we will come to our Maricopa Audubon chapters with the recommendations first.  Stay close – this will be very exciting!

I am SO enjoying this new job.  I hope to be here for the next fifteen years!  Please come by soon and see us!  You’ll be delighted by the wonderful donated magazines, furniture, rare and wonderful books.  Birds in oil, rare prints, watercolor, ironwood, saguaro ribs, clocks, plush toys, cups, calendars, cartoons, pins and plaques.  Bring a contribution or just come by to say hello and appreciate fellow Audubon members’ generosity!

To end on a birdnote:  I think watching the release of condors into the Vermillion Cliffs one windy February Day was my first authentic “birding” experience.  (Well, you have to start somewhere!)  I recently saw five of those same California Condors while hiking out of the Grand Canyon after a night at Phantom Ranch.  They were exquisite looking up at them from Indian Gardens too.

Yes, we are going to do great things together in Arizona! 

3

The National Audubon Society Board of Directors is holding its December 2002 meeting at the Arizona Biltmore on December 7th and 8th.  I would encourage each of you to attend.  This is the meeting where the annual board elections are held.  There are 36 NAS board members.  Nine of the 36 NAS board members are nominated as regional board members by the chapters in the various regions, while the remaining 27 directors are considered at-large directors. Regardless of whether the person is nominated by the regional chapters or whether he or she is nominated by the nominating committee, they all stand for election at the annual December meeting.  Each year one-third (12) of the 36 directors are elected at the December board meeting to a three-year term.

Historically the nominating committee lists only twelve candidates for the twelve board openings.  As required by law NAS mails out to all members a 

proxy form either in the Audubon magazine or separately, authorizing one of the NAS bigwigs to cast the vote of the proxy sender for each of the twelve nominated candidates. Last year the NAS people claimed that they had some 40,000 proxies in hand at the December meeting.

A group of chapter leaders from around the U.S. is trying to make this process more democratic, and is hoping to get more chapter oriented people elected to the NAS board.  You can help by attending the meeting or by sending me the proxy below, thus allowing me to vote in your stead.

You must be a member in good standing of National Audubon on October 4, 2002.  If you would like to help, please complete the proxy and mail it to me, Herb Fibel, 1128 E. Geneva Drive, Tempe, Arizona, 85282-3940.  Do not send in the proxy you receive from National Audubon.

PROXY 

Instructions:

You must be a member of National Audubon Society in good standing to assign your voting right under this proxy.

Members, please place a check next to each voting instruction you wish to authorize.

When voting for Board member candidates, you may only vote for a maximum of 12 people, because there are only 12 vacant positions.

To whom it may concern:

Know all persons by these presents, that I, the undersigned, a member of the National Audubon Society, Inc., do hereby constitute and appoint: Herbert Fibel with full power of substitution, my attorney and agent for me, in my name, place and stead, to vote my proxy the number votes I should be entitled to cast, if personally present at the annual meeting of members of the National Audubon Society to be held in Phoenix, Arizona, on either Saturday, December 7, 2002 or Sunday, December 8, 2002, and at any adjourned meeting thereof as authorized below:

________ to vote for the election of any, but not more than 12, directors to terms expiring in 2005 or until their successors are elected, as he chooses.

________to vote in favor of any resolutions presented at the annual meeting which he believes will increase democracy in Audubon.

________to vote for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

I hereby revoke any previous proxy executed by myself to authorize another to vote my proxy at the National Audubon Society December 7, 2002 or December 8, 2002, Annual Meeting of members.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I hereunto set my hand this ________ day of ___________________, 2002.

________________________________________  
Signature

________________________________________
Print Name

Help Maricopa Audubon Society Dramatically Increase its Donations with One Letter!

The Maricopa Audubon Society has expanded its audience to thousands of Arizona employees through workplace giving programs!  Many concerned citizens that have never been involved with our organization are now learning about our work and having an opportunity to participate and donate to Maricopa Audubon Society programs!

Still most campaigns only include the United Way - campaigns are just beginning to include conservation & environmental groups.  Employee letters are the key to opening up these campaigns to the Maricopa Audubon Society and many other excellent non-profit groups working on behalf of our State's environmental health and beauty!

Please take a few minutes to contact us* in and help make a big difference!

Email your name, phone number, and the name of your employer to: efaz@efaz.org  (We will email a sample letter and answer any questions)

OR

Fill out the information on our web site: http://www.efaz.org/CompanyLeads

OR 

Give the Environmental Fund of Arizona a call!  (480) 969-3682

We will email a sample letter to you and contact you by telephone or email.

IMPORTANT: Your name will not be shared and will be used for the sole purpose of broadening your workplace giving campaign.

* The Environmental Fund for Arizona coordinates workplace campaigns for Maricopa Audubon Society