Fletcher Library Meeting Room, 7:00 p.m.
The meeting was called to order by President Jane Gulley. She spoke briefly about two interesting articles on the decline of Monarch butterflies and how owls rotate their heads.
Barry Haas presented the February minutes which were approved. The Treasurer’s report by Jim Dixon was accepted, and he also reported that he’d opened a checking account at First Security Bank. Money was moved from the ASCA Edward Jones account to this new free checking account.
Jane presented the upcoming field trips to Lake Maumelle and Winrock Grass Farm, Wapanocca National Refuge, and events for International Migratory Bird Day.
Upcoming programs are Edie Calaway and Kelly Chitwood for tonight, and Bruce Shackleford on April 11. There is no meeting in May in lieu of IMBD on May 11.
Dan Scheiman introduced tonight’s speaker, Edie Calaway. Kelly Chitwood of El Dorado was unable to attend the meeting as co-presenter, so Edie launched in to an entertaining program as she recounted the trip that she and Kelly had taken to SE Arizona in early June, 2012.She and Kelly had taken numerous pictures during their visit to the Sonoran Desert to points including the Carrie Nation Trail to Mt. Wrightson in the Santa Rita Mountains, Madera Canyon, and up the steep Catalina Hwy to Mt. Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Edie shared many humorous and personal stories for the group of about 34 attendees.
Under Old Business, DeLynn Hearn gave us an overview of the Arkansas Rare Bird Alert and her activities as administrator for the RBA since 2002. DeLynn reported that there is now fewer than one call per week. She also compiles periodic reports to Bird Central and would continue to do that if we drop the phone line/answering machine.
Also during the discussion it was noted that the RBA requires 6% of the budget, and now with internet and cell phone availability, it is no longer needed to get out information on rare birds in the state and region.
DeLynn made a motion to delete the the RBA phone line, and after a second by Dottie Boyles, the motion was passed. A very large round of applause was given to DeLynn for doing such an admirable and exemplary job for the past 11 years. Jim Dixon will call AT&T to stop phone service on this line. The Rare Bird Alert has been sponsored by ASCA for the past decades.
Also under Old Business, Ed Laster reported on adding “Hotspots” to our ASCA website and that Lyndal York, Webmaster, will add a hotspot with information for places to bird at Lake Maumelle. It had also been determined that contributing toward a plaque at Two Rivers Park will not be pursued.
With Other Business, Barry updated us on the Lake Maumelle Watershed and reported that Tyler Denton with the Pulaski County Quorum Court had offered an amendment that had passed and now puts the Land Use plan and Zoning Code ordinances back on a first reading. Although his intent is to make the final Zoning Code a better one, there are problems with his amendment. Many are working together to make the Zoning Code more satisfactory for all affected by the ordinances.
Also under Other Business was the discussion on payment of CBC participant fees. This item had been deferred until Bill Shepherd could lead the exchange. During discussion, it was noted that since CBC participant fees are no longer mandatory, Bill suggested that ASCA consider making a voluntary donation, and if so, the amount. No action was taken, and this item will be addressed at a later meeting.
Susan Hardin presented a letter of thanks form the Institute for Bird Populations acknowledging our contribution of $600.00 to MoSI.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Hardin