ATTENDEES: Helene Gardel, Peter Lev, Catherine Bishop, Anne Brooks, Brent Byers, Anneke Davis, Georgia McDonald, Gil Myers, Karen Morley, Patsy Perlman, Debbie Terry, Carol Schreter, Drew Thornblad, Pete Webb, Joy Wheeler

President Helene Gardel called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM.

In a continued discussion about the Dorothy Blake Martin Fund request, Martin Fund Chair Karen Morley voiced concern that the request did not come directly from the Cylburn Arboretum Association (CAA), and that the consultant contract was already signed. Others felt that our commitment to Cylburn, our MOS home base, was such that BBC could be proactive, contributing at this early stage as partners in CAA strategic planning process -- as requested by our representatives to CAA. The Board voted on this motion: From the Dorothy Blake Martin Fund, BBC should commit $1,000 (interest and principal) to the CAA to help support their contract with Preston Associates, independent consultants contracted to do a strategic plan for Cylburn, in preparation for the City's master plan. This motion passed with 11 YES votes, 4 NO votes, and 2 Abstentions.

The minutes of the December meeting were accepted, with disappointment voiced that the minutes did not include the Nominations Committee developing slate and the gist of December's discussion about the Dorothy Blake Martin Fund request. Note that we have not yet identified a nominee for the position of Vice President.

Anne Brooks, BBC Treasurer, handed out several items:
1) a Treasurer's Report for December 2001;
2) an "Interim Budget Report" showing expenses to Dec. 31, 2001, which she used to prepare:
3) a "Proposed Revision to the 2001-2002 Budget" allocating the extra $2,337 in donations received this year. ($617 between May and December + $1,720 from the Membership Appeal)

Helene proposed that at the February meeting the board discuss and vote upon the Revised Budget, which specifies how we wish to allocate donated dollars. Anne was authorized to roll over the Museum Insurance Fund's Certificate of Deposit into another 12 month CD -- paying just 2.66%. At the January 13 Covered Dish Supper, Helene will announce the success of the Membership Appeal, generating $1,720, and thank members effusively for their donations.

The Conservation Committee was authorized to send out letters about West Nile Virus to public health officials and environmental organizations, based upon the text of two letters reviewed by members, by e-mail, in advance of this meeting. Suggested changes included: 1) Letters signed by Helene, as President, note that this was authorized by the BBC Board; and 2) Letterhead shows "Reply to" Peter Lev, thus directing responses to the Conservation Committee.

In a rare unanimous vote, the Board voted that future Board meetings be changed to the second Tuesday of each month, rather than Monday, so that both BBC lectures and Board meetings will be on Tuesdays, for the sake of convenience.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop reported that the 57 members not renewed to date will not be sent future issues of Chip Notes or MD Yellowthroat. Given the 45 new memberships since May, the total list remains at about 400, totaling more than 400 members because household memberships include more than one person.

Pete Webb, Field Trip Coordinator, needs helpers for Winter Count on January 26.

Conservation Chair Anneke Davis noted, sadly, that a federal judge ordered that Mute Swans be protected. She says this is misguided as Mute Swans are not native and not migratory. Protecting Mute Swans results in a failure to protect native birds and migrants. The Committee may write in response.

Joy Wheeler noted that the Evergreen House Library will display rare bird and artist books on January 29, 2001, 5:30 - 7:30. Reserve in advance.

Joy reminded us that a new Museum event, DRAW FROM OUR COLLECTION, open to the public, is scheduled for Saturday, February 2, from 10 AM - 3 PM.

The next meeting of the Board is Tuesday, February 12, 7:30 PM. However, as noted in the program booklet, if the February 5 lecture (Bob Ringler discussing the Breeding Bird Survey) is postponed by snow and rescheduled for February 12, then the Board meeting will also be postponed -- to February 19.

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,
Carol Schreter

ATTENDEES, Helene Gardel, Peter Lev, Catherine Bishop, Jeanne Bowman, Anne Brooks, Anneke Davis, Georgia McDonald, Gil Myers, Patsy Perlman, Debbie Terry, Carol Schreter, Drew Thornblad, Joy Wheeler

President Helene Gardel called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. The minutes of the January meeting were accepted with the following correction: Jeanne Bowman, Elfriede Carney and Elliot Kirschbaum were present, while Irma Weinstein was not.

The bulk of this meeting was devoted to discussion of 3 reports from Treasurer Anne Brooks. (Thanks Anne!) Some changes stem from the fact that the Membership Appeal has generated to date $2,170 from 48 members (an average of $45 per person). Fully 78% or $1,688 may be used for general operating expenses. Another 22% was targeted to specific purposes: $307 for education and the BBC Museum, $150 for outreach and publicity and $25 for conservation.

A. The "January 2002 Treasurer's Report" presents a new and helpful column "Budgeted Balance," showing allocated dollars remaining by program category.

B. The "Budget Proposal 2001- 02 (revised)" shows expenditures of $10,134 as compared to the Interim Budget of $9,208 approved in April 2001, with the $926 difference coming from recent Membership Appeal income. Authorized changes:

- The board voted to allocate funds for 500 pounds of birdseed used in Cylburn woods in the winter months, as Cylburn is not now willing to pay half that cost. Gil Myers is filling feeders at Cylburn weekly.

- The board voted to increase the "Donations" category to pay increased Cylburn Arboretum Association dues. This category will be changed to "Organizational Memberships," to distinguish it from donations/contributions the club receives.

- At the request of Peter Lev, the board voted a grant of $200 (an estimated 80% of the cost) for materials used by an Eagle Scout who is planning to build a Hawk Identification Kiosk at Cromwell Valley Park this spring.

C. The "Projected Budget 2002-2003" was distributed for a March discussion and an April vote. It was noted that a Conservation Committee request for $100 does not appear. Joy Wheeler suggested that BBC continue its organizational membership in the National Audubon Society.

- For 2002-03, the board authorized $200+ to produce a "Birds at Cylburn" checklist, to be updated by Peter Lev and Debbie Terry, etc. by June.

We will not know the MOS portion of 2002-03 dues until June, after the MOS Annual Meeting vote. Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop will accept the current dues rate ($20 for an individual) until September. Our August/September renewal mailing will list the new rate (a probable $35 individual membership).

Joy Wheeler, Cylburn Arboretum Association (CAA) representative, reported that the successful DRAW-IN for artists will be repeated. She distributed the 2002 CAA program schedule, asking for Museum sitters on 10 Open House dates.

For the Conservation Committee, Carol Schreter described a budding SwiftWatch project -- 12 chimneys watched Spring and Fall by 20+ volunteers, including 12+ new members. We will send weekly numbers to the SwiftWatch research project at William and Mary College in Virginia. Each building manager will get the 2 newspaper articles (Chip Notes and Sun) from last fall, so that they can thoughtfully protect these chimneys and birds. New member Adriana Masiarova Frangos will be our SwiftWatch Coordinator.

Both Helene and Carol were contacted by Irvine Nature Science Center, given a list of ideas on ways the two organizations might interact to promote both groups. It was agreed to reconsider this in June, with the new Board in place.

Debbie Terry distributed a revised, draft BBC Manual of Operations for discussion at the April meeting. Your careful review and comments are invited, as Committee duties are somewhat changed.

Catherine Bishop was told that bulk mailing costs could be paid each time by Dot Gustafson with a blank BBC check from Anne -- because the Post Office is inconsistent in tracking money prepaid to organizational accounts.

Respectfully Submitted,
Carol Schreter
Recording Secretary

ATTENDEES: Helene Gardel, Catherine Bishop, Jeanne Bowman, Brent Byers, Anneke Davis, Gail Frantz, Gil Myers, Patsy Perlman, Debbie Terry, Carol Schreter, Drew Thornblad, Pete Webb, Irma Weinstein

President Helene Gardel called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM. The minutes of the February meeting were accepted with one clarification. BBC dues will remain the same until renewal notices go out in August with the new membership rates.

Unfortunately, Treasurer Anne Brooks was not present and Helene forgot to bring the budget reports. Nevertheless, the bulk of the meeting was spent discussing the Proposed Budget for 2002-2003 distributed last month. It seemed to show a deficit of $600 - $1,800 (amount unclear). Questions for Anne: 1) Was available money from the December 2001 Membership Appeal reflected? 2) Why such a deficit without extraordinary expenses, when we are raising dues by $5 to cover core costs?

The Board discussed the need to implement a three-pronged strategy: raise dues by $5, make fundraising routine, and also cut costs. An ad hoc Finance Committee was formed composed of Anneke Davis, Peter Webb, Anne Brooks, and hopefully, someone from the Museum Committee, which represents a substantial non-core expense. They will bring us suggestions at the next meeting. For now:

- The Board voted to eliminate the telephone line, BirdLine, by August -- when new printed materials appear. Sooner if MOS now has a working (800) phone line which could be used to receive and forward calls to the proper person. Debbie Terry will check on this. When BirdLine is disconnected, Catherine Bishop offers to have calls forwarded to her private phone.

- For the Trip Committee, Peter Webb suggested sending out trip forms to leaders by e-mail this year, saving up to $35. To shorten the program booklet, he will abbreviate the routine introductory material. He will price the cost of a printing of 500, as compared to the 700 printed last year.

- The Museum Committee was asked to consider the import of the Museum Self-Insurance Fund, now holding more than $4,000. Could it be used to pay the anticipated $700 exterminating expense? Why add $250 into the Museum Self-Insurance Fund annually when the taxidermied bird collection is essentially irreplaceable?

Earlier in the year the Board decided that our portion of dues will be raised by $5 next year. Helene pointed out that our Bylaws require approval by 2/3 of the members present at any regular or special membership meeting. Thus, a vote will be taken at the April lecture meeting. Peter Webb will put a notice and explanation into the April Chip Notes, just about to go to press.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop reported that the club has 55 new members since May. She noted that new members pay half the dues after a certain date -- but when? Different places state different dates. It was agreed that we will follow the date in the Bylaws -- half-rate to new members after March 1. This needs to be stated consistently. Check the website (Terry Ross), the Program Booklet (Peter Webb), and the orange Membership flyer (when next reproduced, by whom?).

Brent Byers announced that the next Chip Notes will advertise a new series of lectures at Marshy Point Nature Center in Chase, Maryland, on Dundee Creek. The topic on April 16 is Snowy Owls. In May, Sunpapers writer Tom Horton will speak.

The Board next meets on Tuesday, April 9, 7:30 PM, when we will discuss the revised Manual of Operations and Proposed Budget for 2002-2003. On Tuesday, May 14 the new leadership and board starts their year.

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol Schreter
Recording Secretary

ATTENDEES: Helene Gardel, Peter Lev, Catherine Bishop, Anne Brooks, Georgia McDonald, Debbie Terry, Carol Schreter, Drew Thornblad, Irma Weinstein, Cathy Carroll, Paula Warner

President Helene Gardel called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM. The minutes of the March meeting were accepted.

Anne Brooks presented three different Treasurer's Reports:

- The March 2002 Treasurer's Report.

- The Annual Report for 2001- 2, to appear in the August issue of Chip Notes.

- The Proposed Budget for FY 2002-2003.

The bulk of the meeting was devoted to discussion of the Proposed Budget for FY 2002 - 2003 which starts May 1. We were given a proposed budget with options.

1) Two levels of income: a lower level of income (with a $5 increase in dues) and a higher level of income (with a $10 increase in dues).

2) Two levels of expenses: a higher level of expenses (as requested by each committee) and a lower level of expenses (necessary core expenses).

Unfortunately, both scenarios show a deficit for next year. With dues and expenditures at the higher levels, the year's deficit would be $141. With dues and expenditures at the lower levels, the deficit would be $901 for the year. Note that we do have an extra $1,000 from this year's Membership Appeal to cover the deficit.

In the ensuing discussion, we noted that the April issue of Chip Notes just had an article announcing a May vote by the membership on a dues increase of just $5, and here we were already talking about raising this to a $10 increase. Anne pointed out that if we proceed with the $5 dues increase, we would certainly have to raise dues again soon, maybe even next year. Note that the Museum request at the higher level equals 16% of total income or 33% of income available to BBC. The board discussed possible cuts on various items.

There was not a quorum of 10 Board members, just 9. The Board decided to allow observers Cathy Carroll and Paula Warner to vote -- as they are incoming board members who will have to live with the decisions made.

In a very close vote of 6 to 5, it was decided to:

- accept the budget with the higher dues increase of $10;

- reduce the higher proposed budget by $650. This includes taking $500 from the Museum request for taxidermy costs (put on hold) and reducing organizational memberships to just $85, for the Cylburn Arboretum Association and the Md. Conservation Council. (Thus excluding Hawk Mountain, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Irvine Nature Science Center.)

- This budget allows an increase of about $100 for recycled content paper to be used in future mailings to members.

Thus at the May meeting, the Board (with whom as spokesperson?) will be asking for membership approval of a dues increase of $10, despite what Peter Webb wrote up in the last issue of Chip Notes. If this is turned down by a 2/3 vote of the members present at the lecture meeting, we may have to find other means to cut next year's costs.

Our Treasurer Anne thanked Helene for her fine service as President, especially for her willingness to get the budget under control.

Anne reported that Birdline, our telephone number, was canceled as of April 9, with no forwarding phone number. The BBC phone number should be removed from the website, our upcoming Program booklet and on the orange Membership Applications to be reproduced very soon.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop reported that the club has 56 new members since May of last year. Four Board members (Irma Weinstein, Paula Warner, Cathy Carroll and Anne) offered to contact some new members, to welcome them into the Club. To date, most new members have been contacted by someone. Carol Schreter asked Debbie Terry to consider adding, somewhere, to the revised Manual of Operations an assigned duty of -- Welcoming New Members.

Carol will contact Bea Nicholls (moving to Arizona) to make certain that the MOS Scholarship materials get to Ben Poscover, the new Scholarship Chair.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M. The next meeting, with the new board, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, 2002, 7:30 PM at Cylburn Mansion.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol Schreter
Recording Secretary

ATTENDEES: Pete Webb, Cathy Carroll, Catherine Bishop, Anne Brooks, Anneke Davis, Gail Frantz, Greg Futral, Patsy Perlman, Carol Schreter, Drew Thornblad, Paula Warner, Irma Weinstein, Joy Wheeler

BBC's new President Pete Webb called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM. This was an auspicious start, as a double rainbow, horizon to horizon, graced the entrance to Cylburn as we approached the mansion house.

Minutes of the April meeting were accepted. Carol Schreter distributed current BBC Bylaws, our Manual of Operations plus a Membership Application form on which the BBC phone number (disconnected) must be changed to the MOS number:

Carol reported on two General Membership votes taken at the May 7 BBC lecture.

- Officers recommended by the Nominating Committee were elected.

- In a vote of 26:1, members authorized a BBC dues increase of $10 for next year. Note that MOS, our parent organization, is also likely to raise their dues by $10, based on a June vote at the MOS conference. This will make an individual membership cost $40 and a household membership cost $50.

Anne Brooks presented the Treasurer's Report for April, which shows a balance (checking + savings) of $12,121.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop reported that the club has approximately 400 paid members. We lost this year about 50 members, and gained 58.

Anneke Davis delivered the Conservation Committee's annual report to President Pete Webb -- to pass to MOS. She noted that 3 Conservation Committee members (Anneke, Peter Lev and Carol) met in April with Cyrus Lesser, Chief of Mosquito Control at the Md. State Dept. of Agriculture, to discuss our concerns about widespread pesticide spraying to combat the spread of West Nile Virus.

In response to a question from Pete, Anneke explained that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is supporting the development of Patapsco Valley State Park for commercial uses, as a tourist attraction, including paving alongside the river. Opposition is organizing. Pete asked BBC members to help identify endangered plants or creatures in Patapsco Valley State Park, creating a legal argument to halt or curb development in this important natural environment.

Pete complimented Shirley Geddes (not present) for a fine job with Hospitality this year. He will call to confirm that she will continue in this role next year.

Patsy Perlman, our Bird Museum representative, seeks volunteers to help show children around Cylburn Park. To track the numbers of birders using the park, Patsy was advised to ask Joe Lewandowski about the Sunday Self-Guided Bird Walks. Patsy thanked the 15 BBC members who led walks at Cylburn on April 21 when 75 National Audubon Society leaders, including Steven Kress, visited.

To reduce mailing expenses, Gail Frantz for the Trip Committee will experiment, cautiously, with an e-mail delivery of Trip Report sheets to trip leaders.

The Cylburn Park Bird Checklist needs updating before being reproduced in quantity. Anne reminded President Pete that he had offered to update this list, with help from Joe Lewandowski who shepherds the Cylburn Self-Guided walks.

Joy Wheeler invited BBC board members to attend Cylburn Arboretum Association's (CAA) presentation on Thursday, June 6, 2002, 7 PM about the recently completed Cylburn Strategic Plan (for Cylburn Park's Masterplan). BBC contributed $1,000 from the Dorothy Blake Martin Fund towards this privately funded study.

Joy also reported that BBC outreach this Spring included a Cylburn Breakfast with the Birds, a BBC display at a Loch Raven Symposium, and a talk by Keith Costley at the Benjamin Banneker Museum in Oella, near Ellicott City.

New Business? Irvine Nature Science Center is interested in some cooperative ventures with BBC. Carol asked if BBC is interested in starting a discussion with Irvine, and if so, asked who would represent us in this discussion? Reaction was divided. This will be further discussed at our June meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.M. Next meeting =Tuesday, June 11, 7:30 PM, at Cylburn. When BBC Board meetings resume in September, they will be on the second Tuesday of the month -- except in November when the building is closed for election day and the Board meets Tuesday, November 19, 2002 (3rd Tuesday).

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol Schreter
Recording Secretary

ATTENDEES Pete Webb, Cathy Carroll, Catherine Bishop, Anne Brooks, Anneke Davis, Greg Futral, Helene Gardel, Patsy Perlman, Roberta Ross, Irma Weinstein, Joy Wheeler

President Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM. The minutes of the May meeting were accepted with one addition. In revising the Cylburn checklist, Pete will consult with Brian Rollfinke and Joe Lewandowski.

Anne Brooks' Treasurer's Report for May showed an end-of-year checking account balance of $2,977. Greg Futral asked that future reports show totals for all columns. The board voted to add a category of Miscellaneous Expenditures which will show the recent $200 payment for a newly constructed kiosk for Cromwell Valley Hawkwatchers.

Corresponding Secretary Roberta Ross, defining her role, will ask Debbie Terry about duties listed in our partly-revised Manual of Operations. She will devise with Joy Wheeler a means to distribute the MOS mail which comes to Cylburn.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop will provide Board members a phone and e-mail list of officers. New members are being asked to join at the new dues rate. Dot Gustafson and Michele Melia are responsible for revising the text on the dues fee renewal envelope.

Joy Wheeler reported that our Conservation Chair Anneke Davis was honored in May by the Parks and People Foundation. At that time, Anneke gave a speech "Biodiversity: How it Effects Efficiency of Energy Use."

For the Conservation Committee, Anneke announced that on Sunday, June 23, at 2 PM, Congressman Ben Cardin will hold a Health of Our Environment town hall meeting at Ft. McHenry, with a walking tour of Jim Peter's wetland project. DNR (Dept. of Natural Resources) seeks volunteers (afoot, with canoes or kayaks) to remove Water Chestnut seeds from the Bird and Sassafras rivers.

For the Dorothy Blake Martin Fund, Helene Gardel reported that recent grantee Marty Brazeau would like time at a meeting to report on naturalist training provided at a New York State Boy Scout camp. Martin Fund Committee member Anneke will ask Debbie Terry for time at an upcoming Tuesday evening lecture.

Pete reported that Hospitality Chair Shirley Geddes is not available to provide refreshments at the June 22 MOS Board meeting to be hosted by BBC at Cylburn. Anne Brooks will coordinate and seek volunteers. Patsy Perlman will see that a meeting space is reserved.

Patsy reported that the Bird Museum was visited this past month by four school groups, by Oregon Ridge Trail Guides, by 100 people attending the Cylburn Market Day event, and by artists attending the second Draw-In for Artists.

Joy Wheeler, our Cylburn Arboretum representative, seeks volunteer help to do an inventory of BBC books and journals. She reported that the newly completed Cylburn Arboretum Association (CAA) Strategic Plan holds some surprises for BBC:

- City-funded renovations to the Cylburn Mansion House, such as painting and air conditioning, may start soon. During the repair process, BBC may need alternate space for some lectures or board meetings.

- While Joy and Patsy foresee moving the Bird Museum into a renovated Carriage House, Carriage House renovations are not a priority in the CAA Strategic Plan. Their grantwriter will first seek funds for a CAA Executive Director, Education Director and Volunteer Coordinator.

Pete Webb, Field Trip Coordinator, along with Committee members Gail Frantz and Peter Lev, are lining up trips for next year, mostly by e-mail.

Joy promised to deliver to our new Scholarship Fund Chair, Ben Poscover, the MOS Scholarship materials sent in by Bea Nicholls.

The Board voted to authorize Anneke Davis to explore with Irvine Nature Science Center the possibility of cooperative ventures, and to bring ideas to the BBC board for consideration.

Board meetings next year will be on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, September - June, at 7:30 PM, at Cylburn Mansion -- except for September and November when meetings will be on the third Tuesday. The meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol Schreter
Recording

PRESENT: Pete Webb, Cathy Carroll, Anne Brooks, Paula Warner, Catherine Bishop, Anneke Davis, Debbie Terry, Gil Myers, Greg Futral, Jeanne Bowman, Irma Weinstein and (did we miss anyone?)

1. President Report: Pete apologized for the Field Trip/Program Book spelling errors.

2. Minutes: Approval of June minutes postponed until next meeting. Only Pete mentioned that he had read them on line and did not notice anything to add or change.

3. Treasurer:
a. Anne Brooks handed out the monthly treasurer's report.
b. Paula Warner presented two new potential monthly report formats. The group discussed three versions: 1) Anne's current one; 2) Paula's abbreviated format; and 3) Paula's detailed format. There seemed to be consensus to use Paula's detailed format with a few modifications. There would be columns for the current month; year to date; budgeted amount; variance (how much over or under the budgeted amount) and a % of total.
c. Anne handed out a corrected and final annual treasurer's report.
d. Paula presented her findings on the audit of the club's books. The club's books are in very good condition. All the details are available and the errors were clerical. Paula and Anne have corrected the discrepancies and will work together on further defining receipts and expenditures by categories.
e. Anne announced that the club stationary is available at Cylburn. Contact Joy if one needs any. Debbie said she has been using e-mail rather than club stationary.
f. Anne left a large stack of Orange membership flyers for everyone to take and for Cylburn. Board members were reminded to take them on birding trips, leave them at libraries, etc.

4. Corresponding Secretary: Roberta Ross was not present. Debbie said she and Roberta will work together to write a job description for this position.

5. Membership Secretary (Catherine Bishop)
a. Memberships for the new year total 223 including: 132 paid individuals, 39 paid households, 1 sustaining membership, 21 life members where 4 pay chapter dues only, 8 chapter-only members and 21 freebees.
b. There were 388 mailings and 171 who have not renewed yet. A letter will go out stating that membership expires this month. A final notice letter will go out in November.
c. 9 new members are included in the 223 above.
d. 4 asked to be deleted: one because of the dues increase, two because they have lost interest.
e. In the future Catherine will provide membership/renewal data compared to the previous year.

6. Conservation:
a. Anneke Davis described several programs of interest regarding conservation (Rachel Carson program, Chesapeake Audubon program) and the Jones Falls Watershed Festival. Anneke noted there is still a problem with the Mute Swan issue and that the West Nile Virus issues may impact on watershed protection.

b. Helene Gardel stated that the MOS Conservation Committee chair wants chapter members to go to the DNR (State Dept. of Natural Resources) web site and comment on the Mute Swan issue and on the 5 new Chesapeake Bay plans.

7. Martin Fund: No one present.

8. Hospitality: Helene reminded the board that Shirley is asking for help and perhaps the board members should consider offering help to Shirley.

9. Bird Museum: No one present.

10. Program Committee:
a. Pete explained that the absence of BBC's field trips in Yellowthroat was due to a changing of chairpersons. The program book in hard copy had previously been sent to Yellowthroat as well as an electronic copy.
b. Helene asked about coverage for the Fall Count. Debbie explained that she contacts by e-mail members she knows who bird and asks them to forward the information to those not on that list. People often do not call in advance to explain what area they will cover and just call her with their results. Usually Cylburn, Lake Roland and Milford Mill are covered.
c. There was discussion about the unexpected fee of $18 per meeting for using Sherwood House for BBC monthly lectures. This pays for a person who must open and close the building. Suggestions included having a basket for donations or moving budgeted monies into the Lecture Committee's budget. Anne said it is possible that the printing of the program booklet was $100 less than budgeted or that a donation for $100 is available for general expenses.

11. Chip Notes: No one present. Pete said the next issue will be slim and is going to press now.

12. Scholarship Committee: Pete said Ben Poscover has asked about his role. Ben will write Bea Nicholls for instructions. Helene said that Jean Fry was sending Chapter Scholarship chairs the needed paperwork and will be able to guide Ben.

13. Old Business: Anneke will be meeting with Irvine to discuss possible cooperative ventures. She has invited Joy Wheeler to participate in the discussions.

14. New Business:
a. Jeanne Bowman asked about the roles and responsibilities of our MOS Directors. Only Jeanne and Helene went to the June MOS board meeting. It was agreed that Pete will talk with our MOS directors and invite one of them take the lead in determining who is going to the MOS board meetings, to assure coverage of the Baltimore chapter issues.
b. Catherine has received several checks for just the first half of the year, and asked for changes to the language on the orange membership flyer. Anne Brooks reproduces the flyers as needed and will make this change on the next printing.
c. Helene reviewed some major points from the MOS board meeting.
1. Members will soon receive notice of an MOS retreat to determine the direction, goals and mission of MOS. To be held November 9, 2002 at the Applied Physics Lab from 9-3:00.
2. Helene gave Pete and Anne copies of the sales tax exemption certificate.
Ask Pete for a copy if you are purchasing anything that will be taxed, as BBC does not have to pay sales taxes.
3. The Sanctuary Committee needs someone to help coordinate the work recommended for Irish Grove. The pay is $1,200 for the year. Call Dottie Mumford at (410) 849-8336 for information.
4. The next MOS conference will be in Montgomery County, May 16 - 18, 2003.
5. The Atlas Committee needs money and seeks a lawyer (Maryland Contract Law) willing to volunteer his/her time. If the wording on a boiler plate contract is modified, there is an opportunity for a State grant of $20,000 per year. Call Jane Coskren for information.
6. Attention MOS Directors, the next MOS board meeting will be Dec 7, 2002.

The next meeting BBC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 8, 2002, 7:30 PM at Cylburn.

Respectfully submitted,
Helene Gardel (with minor edits by Carol Schreter)

ATTENDING: Pete Webb, Cathy Carroll, Catherine Bishop, Anne Brooks, Elfriede Carney, Patsy Perlman, Roberta Ross, Carol Schreter, Drew Thornblad, Paula Warner, Irma Weinstein

Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. Minutes of both the June and September 2002 meetings were accepted.

Carol Schreter bemoaned the fact that BBC's 2002 - 2003 materials do not show the current phone number and/or website address, both recently changed. Please use these on all new materials:

Anne Brooks presented Treasurer's Reports for August and September. They use the new format. Note that in the column called "Variance" a parenthesis denotes that this item is overdrawn or over budget.

The Museum was allocated this year just $400 to transport City School children to Cylburn. Patsy Perlman reported that she has already promised transportation to just 4 groups and may be $600 over budget. Patsy was urged to bring a budget request to the next Board meeting, for a vote, and to make no more commitments for the year unless transportation money is pre-allocated by the Board. Patsy will request targeted donations via an article in December's Chip Notes.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop reported that 147 people have not yet renewed and will receive a final notice. Those paid to date include: 147 individuals, 41 households, 1 sustaining, 8 chapter only, and 22 life members (some paying, some free). We have just 9 new members this year, as compared to 33 this time last year. As compared to November 2001 with 90 not renewed, we may be 50 renewals behind schedule. Losing members will have budget ramifications.

For the Conservation Committee, Carol distributed a Baltimore Sun feature story about Chan Robbins ("A Witness to Birds Fading Song," July 7, 2002) and a Letter to the Editor (Loyola's Project isn't for the Birds, Sun, July 3, 2002) penned by BBC member Leslie Starr.

Cathy Carroll pointed out the importance of such publicity in recruiting new members.

Ben Poscover, our new MOS Scholarship Chair, returns to Baltimore this month. He will need to quickly mail out applications. Joy Wheeler is holding for him a mailing list and folder. Phyllis Gerber can be called upon for background.

Lectures at Cromwell Valley Park's Sherwood House are attracting about 50 people -- the usual faces. Pete Webb was asked to remind people at the next lecture to renew and pay their BBC dues for the year.

Reporting for the Museum, Patsy Perlman noted that Roland Park Country School students have helped inventory the BBC Museum collection as a community service project. A Loyola College Nature Writing Class will visit in October.

Patsy announced that Cylburn Mansion renovations, starting soon, should not interfere with our meeting spaces.

As Field Trip Coordinator, Pete Webb encouraged attendees to join the Saturday trip to Turkey Point in Elk Neck State Park. Carol Schreter announced that for "Swift Night Out," Sept. 6-8, 2002, Hampden in Baltimore again proved to be the 2nd most active chimney in the nation, with counts of 4,932 and 5,232 Chimney Swifts entering at dusk. See national results at www.concentric.net/~DWA.

Is the Beth Hartline Property in Baltimore County now an MOS Sanctuary? Pete Webb will ask MOS if the donation of this land to MOS has been finalized.

Old Business: Roberta Ross is redefining the duties of the Corresponding Secretary.

Because BBC has no Publications Chair, Roberta agreed to accept responsibility for reprints of club publications.

Miscellaneous:

- Good Publicity: Carol Schreter distributed a Fort McHenry flyer advertising the 35 trips scheduled for this year "with Jim Peters, Baltimore Bird Club."

- Next year, print extra Program Booklets for publicity purposes.

- In next year's program booklet, reinstate the MOS Purposes on page 1.

The meeting adjourned at 9 P.M. sharp.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol Schreter
Recording Secretary

ATTENDING: Pete Webb, Cathy Carroll, Catherine Bishop, Anne Brooks, Roberta Ross, Drew Thornblad, Paula Warner, Irma Weinstein, Ruth Poscover, Ben Poscover, Greg Futral, Debbie Terry, Joy Wheeler, Anneke Davis

Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. Minutes of the October 2002 meeting were accepted.

President Peter Webb reported that the meeting about the Hartline property had been held but he was not able to attend. The project to make this property an MOS sanctuary is still in the works. He understands that the house will be sold and MOS will own the land.

Vice President Cathy Carroll called our attention to an article in The New Yorker magazine issue of November 18, 2002 concerning the environmental record of the Bush administration and the consequences of the recent Congressional elections for environmental issues. Anneke Davis has lists of Congressional committee chairs Democrats being replaced by Republicans.

Cathy also reported she has attended some good trips of the Kent County chapter.

Anne Brooks presented Treasurer's Report for October. Note that some donations were previously included in membership dues, so there is an addition and subtraction of $305 moving those from the Membership category to Donations. Also there have been more sales of site guides and other merchandise than anticipated in the budget.

There was some money donated for the museum last year which had not been used, so that money was used to pay for school buses.

There was some discussion of the low interest rate we receive on our account.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop reported that 125 people have not yet renewed and will receive a final notice. We have just 18 new members this year, as compared to 33 this time last year. As compared to November 2001 with 90 not renewed, we may be 35 renewals behind schedule. Losing members will have budget ramifications.

For the Conservation Committee, Anneke Davis reported on two issues - the proposals for using wind-generated electricity in Maryland and the meeting concerning local policies on West Nile virus.

The Public Service Commission will hold hearings on various proposals by power company groups to build windmills along Backbone Mountain for use in generating electricity. Chan Robbins has expressed concern over the impact on migrating birds. One utility wants to shorten the required study time.

Clipper group has made a proposal and is talking to environmental groups, and Savage Mountain and Mountain Air are investigating. More study is need to determine the environmental effects, but in general there is reason to be concerned. The places where the wind is are also the places where birds migrate, and they may not be able to avoid these windmills.

Anneke, Peter Lev, and Carol Schreter attended a meeting with various Baltimore County agencies including the Department of Health and the Environmental Protection and Resource Management. There was an hour and a half of open discussion about the spraying for West Nile virus. Anneke feels they are really thinking about what our group had to say. The meeting was amicable. They are using larvacides, which they say is less dangerous to the environment than spraying in the air. West Nile virus is continuing to spread.

Joy Wheeler reported on the museum and Cylburn. Cylburn has hired another naturalist to take the place of Tiffany Cox, who left over a year ago. Naturalist Glenda Weber is accepting calls from schools that want tours. The Loyola College nature writing class visited Cylburn, also 60 first graders from Lakeland Elementary School. At Cylburn Festifall, 250 people visited our museum.

Joy also reported on other community outreach. Elfriede Carney attended the Pumpkin Festival at Irvine. Joy gave a talk at Broadmead and to a garden club at Mercy Ridge. Joy wrote an article for The Urbanite magazine on watching birds at Cylburn.

Volunteers are needed for Cylburn holiday open house on December 7 and 8, and for the regular open house on December 14 and 15. Sierra Club wants volunteers to supervise Little Brothers (children on the waiting list for Big Brothers) in a trail upkeep project at Cylburn.

The Natural History Society of Maryland is trying to develop a consortium of groups with collections of natural history exhibits. Joy moved that we express support for this effort. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Joy will write the letter.

Pete Webb reported on fields trips. The Horsehead trip was canceled. It may be rescheduled but there is not enough lead time to put it in Chip Notes. The name of Horsehead Wetland Center has been changed to Chesapeake Bay Center.

Several members of the Baltimore chapter attended the MOS retreat on the direction and organization of MOS. There were discussion groups. MOS feels it has too many committees, and a consolidation is planned. There was also discussion of how the state organization can help the chapters, for instance, by providing leadership training for boards and field trip guides.

Debbie Terry reported that the Dec. 1 program at Cromwell Valley Park's Sherwood House and the Jan. 12 covered dish supper at Cylburn will have their lectures reversed. The Dec. 1 will be Show & Tell, and the Jan. 12 will be Hank Kaestner's lecture. Fran Saunders and Terry Ross should be notified for web site changes. There is not enough time to get the change into the Chip Notes. Debbie has called some people for the Show & Tell to make sure there will be some people presenting.

Ben Poscover, our new MOS Scholarship Chair, has mailed out 31 letters for applications. He presented a written report to the President with a copy for the Recording Secretary. Roberta Ross will give this to Carol . It includes a list of the program choices for the scholarships for 2003 and a list of the people in the database.

Ben also reported on a very nice letter from Vince Vaise, who is a ranger at Fort McHenry. Vince attended a class on one of the scholarships and was very enthusiastic about the experience.

Old Business: Debbie Terry asked about the suggestions made previously that the Corresponding Secretary should take over ordering reprints of the stationery and the application brochure, and that the duties of managing correspondence should include sending get-well cards, sympathy notes, letters of recognition.

A motion was made to include these items in Manual of Operations. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. This will include a budget responsibility, as the budget information is to be submitted in January.

Roberta Ross asked that board members let her know when these things need to be reordered, or when letters or cards need to be sent out.

Miscellaneous: - Joy Wheeler mentioned that Bob Rineer has a project to have a competition among cities related to birding.

The meeting adjourned at 9 P.M. sharp.

Respectfully Submitted,
Roberta Ross
Substituting for Carol Schreter, Recording Secretary

ATTENDEES: Pete Webb, Cathy Carroll, Catherine Bishop, Anne Brooks, Elfriede Carney, John Landers, Georgia McDonald, Ben Poscover, Ruth Poscover, Debbie Terry, Carol Schreter, Paula Warner, Irma Weinstein

President Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:40 P.M. The minutes of the November 2002 meeting by Roberta Ross were accepted. They will be also sent out again, as some members did not receive them by e-mail.

Anne Brooks' Treasurer's Report for November shows that approximately 2/3 of income from dues has been received. Donations total about $620, mostly in response to the line on the membership renewal form inviting donations. Ben Poscover, for the MOS Scholarship Committee, requested $50 per year for expenses.

Catherine Bishop, Membership Secretary, is distressed that we had to send renewal notices to 125 people. For people not responding, the December Chip Notes and the January Yellowthroat will be their last. The 288 paid memberships to date include: 190 Individuals, 50 households, and 48 other (sustaining, life, affiliate, free and special) members. Be Aware: The slow response could reflect a refusal to renew because dues were raised from $20 to $40 this year.

The Conservation Committee brought up two issue for votes, based on information mailed to Board members in advance of the meeting:

- Board authorized Pete Webb to sign a Protect State Forests in Maryland petition urging state legislators to have the Dept. of Natural Resources manage forests for conservation and recreation rather than for logging, which was their historic role.

- Board authorized Pete Webb to sign a revised letter from BBC encouraging the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to give the Cerulean warbler protection under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

For Patsy Perlman and the Museum, Anne Brooks reported that special events at Cylburn last weekend stimulated 32 people to visit the BBC Bird Museum.

On ad hoc field trips, Pete Webb, Field Trip Coordinator, and Cathy Carroll both saw the Harlequin Duck at Pt. Lookout State Park in Southern Maryland.

Ben Poscover, Ruth Poscover and John Landers, our MOS Directors, reported on the MOS Board meeting held December 7, 2002 near Hagerstown, MD. Note:

- The Breeding Bird Atlas Committee located volunteer coverage for only half the state. Howard County will match Chapter donations, up to $1000.

- In order to renegotiate a signed contract that is unfavorable, the 2003 MOS Conference is being rescheduled for Memorial Day weekend, May 24 - 26, 2003.

- A MOS Long-Range Planning Retreat (November 9) Report was distributed. To be resolved: MOS has too many committees, given the volunteers available.

New Business?

New Members: To balance our budget, we'll need to keep new members. Ideas:

- The first letter now invites new members to contact Georgia McDonald for a personal guided tour at Cromwell Valley Park. Just a few have responded.

- Five board members (Anne, Carol, Cathy Carroll, Paula Warner & Elfriede Carney) agreed to contact the 21 new members since May -- by e-mail or phone -- and to invite each to our January 12 Covered Dish Supper at Cylburn.

- Invite new members to introduce themselves at every gathering, at trips and lectures. It may be wise to develop a "Guidelines for Trip Leaders".

A Calvert School teacher asked for a BBC birder to take 10 students out on a December 21 walk. Cathy Carroll may be available.

Ben Poscover, whose early role with BBC involved youth education, suggested that BBC develop a list of resources for youth -- describing where to go to learn about birding. Board members seem to agree that such a list could be put on the BBC website.

Old Business ?

Debbie Terry would like to keep Board meetings productive, with less time on Committee reports and more time to discuss serious business. She suggests that:

- The President time Committee reports to keep them brief;

- Complex issues raised during Committee reports be discussed later, under Old or

New Business.

- the June meeting be set aside for small group discussions to deal with issues not requiring full board input. (Examples: How to enliven the Covered Dish Supper; Guidelines for Field Trip Leaders; or Resources for Youth.)

Paula Warner suggested that any Committee with a complex report put a succinct message on e-mail in advance of the meeting. These can be e-mailed to Carol, who will copy (not rewrite) the text and e-mail it out to all Board members.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan 14, 2003, at 7:30 P.M. This meeting adjourned at 9:01 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol Schreter
Recording Secretary

ATTENDEES: Pete Webb, Catherine Bishop, Anne Brooks, Joan Cwi, Gail Frantz, Gil Myers, Patsy Perlman, Ben Poscover, Ruth Poscover, Roberta Ross, Debbie Terry, Carol Schreter, Drew Thornblad

President Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM. The minutes of the December meeting were accepted. Pete noted that the January 12 Covered Dish Supper was a success, with good food and a great speaker, Hank Kaestner.

Anne Brooks, Treasurer, reported that the Museum Self-Insurance Fund now contains $5,690.80 in the form of a CD (certificate of deposit) recently reinvested for 18 months at 2.5% interest. Anne asked all committees to submit an annual budget request by late January. She will bring a proposed annual budget for 2003-2004 to the March meeting.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop reported that 91 people did not renew their membership, perhaps in response to the dues increase. Thus BBC will qualify for four (not five) MOS Directors next year. Anne Brooks will ask the BBC printer to lower the quantity of newsletters from 450 to 400 copies, and get price quotes on this quantity for next year's budget.

For the Conservation Committee, Carol Schreter asked board members where they have seen Shade-Grown coffee sold. A list of locations will appear in an upcoming newsletter article.

For Hospitality Chair Shirley Geddes, Pete asked: Is anyone is willing to bring refreshments to the March or April or May lectures?

Patsy Perlman, Cylburn Bird Museum Representative, noted that the second "Draw-In for Artists" is scheduled for Saturday, February 8, 10 - 3 PM. Cylburn Mansion renovations just began with the kitchen. At last Cylburn has hired a new Naturalist, Glenda Weber, who is now responsible for visiting school groups.

At Marshy Point Nature Center, BBC members Bob Rineer and Brent Byers are leading bird walks the second Sunday of each month, Carol Schreter discovered. Peter Webb and the Field Trip Committee will ask Bob and Brent if some or all of these walks can also be listed in next year's BBC Program booklet.

Debbie Terry, Lecture Chairperson, invites suggestions of speakers for next year.

Ben Poscover located two fine applicants for MOS Scholarships this year. Ben distributed to all copies of a 1985 publication, "A Guide to Sanctuaries of the Maryland Ornithological Society." Pete will ask about the Beth Hartline property, likely to become an MOS Sanctuary for which BBC will be responsible.

Old Business?

New Members: When Board members invited new members to the Covered Dish Supper, at least 6 of the 21 did come -- and seemed appreciative. Georgia McDonald may follow-up by inviting new members on Beginner's Bird Walks at Cromwell Valley Park. Lots of new members may be learning of BBC through David Holmes' Birdwatching classes at Johns Hopkins. Joan Cwi will give David Holmes copies of the revised BBC Membership Application form. Patsy Perlman will get the revised Membership forms to Jack Wennerstrom who is teaching a Birdwatching class for Roland Park Country School's evening program.

Joan Cwi, a David Holmes student and fan, offered to write a Chip Notes article about continuing education resources for new birders. In researching this topic, she will contact BBC members Scott Johnson, who teaches at Towson University, and David Thorndill, who teaches at Essex Community College.

Is Steve Sanford retiring as Chip Notes editor? Well, yes, soon. After a transition, Gail Frantz may be listed as Editor while Shireen Gonzaga handles layout and graphics. Cathy Carroll may collect trip reports. Pete Webb authorized Gail to publish a brief summary of BBC Board meetings in Chip Notes.

For the Nominations Committee, Gail Frantz announced the developing list of BBC officer and board member candidates, to be voted upon at the March Annual Meeting. An up-to-date Nominations Committee list follows these minutes.

At the next BBC Board meeting scheduled for February 11 we will discuss possible uses of "Field Trip Do's and Don'ts," retrieved from Ben Poscover's files. Board members will get this document by e-mail with January's minutes.

The meeting adjourned uncommonly early, at 8:45 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol Schreter
Recording Secretary

Nominated for Baltimore Bird Club Leadership Positions, 2003-2004

President: Peter Webb
Vice President: Cathy Carroll
Treasurer: Paula Warner
Recording Secretary: Carol Schreter
Corresponding Secretary: Roberta Ross

BBC Directors:
Joan Cwi
Joel Martin
Georgia McDonald
Nancy Meier
Wendy Taparanskas
David Thorndill

MOS Directors:
Jeanne Bowman
Mary Chetelat
Helene Gardel
John Landers

ATTENDEES: Pete Webb, Cathy Carroll, Catherine Bishop, Joan Cwi, Joel Martin, Roberta Ross, Debbie Terry, Carol Schreter, Drew Thornblad, Paula Warner

President Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM. The minutes of the January 2003 meeting were accepted.

Cathy Carroll distributed Anne Brooks' Treasurer's Report for January. Anne needs all 2003-4 budget requests in order to bring a proposed budget to the March meeting. Joe Lewandowski, who sets up a sales table at BBC lectures, asks if we want him to replenish supplies (i.e. make purchases from MOS) as MOS products can now be purchased via the MOS website. Cathy Carroll will talk with Joe about: 1) rate of sales at BBC lectures; 2) Joe's interest in continuing the Sales Table.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop received 293 paid memberships enrolling 354 people. This reflects a net loss of about 70 memberships. About 95 did not renew, offset by 25 new members. We wonder how many people might not renew because they can get the trip schedule on line.

A Johns Hopkins University Press publicist asked Joy Wheeler, our Cylburn Arboretum Association Representative, to help launch John Rappole's new book Birds of the Mid-Atlantic and Where to Find Them. As reported by Carol Schreter, Joy is suggesting that: 1) this occur at the MOS May Convention, and 2) the press donate a copy of this book for the MOS Convention Raffle.

Debbie reports that Baltimore Magazine's April issue will include an article about the Baltimore Oriole.

New Business:

The group made suggestions for Joan Cwi's developing list of available Birdwatching Classes and continuing education opportunities, to be posted on the BBC Website. To the next meeting, Paula Warner will bring a copy of Cornell's Self-Study Course on Bird Biology.

Debbie Terry asked for our reaction to inviting Baltimore County's Scales and Tails Exhibit (live/injured creatures) to Cylburn, for a special event.

Focus on Extra Business:

As a group, we began revising the BBC "Field Trip Leader Guide," created a decade ago and brought to us from Ben Poscover's files. Paula Warner will revise this document based on our discussion and e-mail it to attendees for further revision before the March Board meeting. Gail Frantz will be asked to send the revised Field Trip Leader Guide out to trip leaders along with her pre-trip e-mail including a sign-in sheet and species count list.

The meeting adjourned at 9 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol Schreter
Recording Secretary

ATTENDEES: Pete Webb, Cathy Carroll, Catherine Bishop, Anne Brooks, Joan Cwi, Gail Frantz, Carol Schreter, Drew Thornblad, Paula Warner, Irma Weinstein, Joy Wheeler

President Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM. The minutes of the February meeting were accepted. At the March Annual Meeting/Lecture, Pete did not ask for a General Membership vote on new officers recommended by the Nominating Committee. He will ask for a vote in April.

Anne Brooks presented the Treasurer's Report for February. She asked committees to submit reimbursement requests soon, as the budget year ends in April. Cathy Carroll will phone Joe Lewandowski to ask about: 1) rate of sales at BBC lectures; and 2) his interest in continuing the sales table.

The board reviewed with care the Proposed 2003-2004 Budget sent in advance of this meeting. It was approved with minor changes including: 1) $30 increase for publicity postage; and 2) $200 (not $300) for Hospitality.

Retiring Treasurer Anne Brooks offers to serve as BBC's Publicity Chair next year. For publicity purposes Pete will order 25 additional copies of the 2003-4 Program Booklet and update the Cylburn bird checklist in a form suitable for reproduction.

Cathy Carroll agreed to take minutes at the next (April) Board meeting.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop reports that five new members joined this month, at the half-year rate. One application showing the old fee schedule came from Cromwell Valley Park. At the April lecture there, Pete promises to replace old application forms with new ones -- showing the new membership rate.

The Board authorized Carol Schreter, for the Conservation Committee, to send all who receive Board minutes a message asking people to go to the American Bird Conservancy website (www.saveourbirds.org) and write public officials about the importance of requiring the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to consult with biologists when registering and approving the use of pesticides. This is a critical element in complying with the Endangered Species Act, as proven in the 1970s by the harmful effects of DDT on birds.

Inviting new field trip ideas! Especially if you provide a knowledgeable leader. Submit these ideas to Pete Webb or Gail Frantz by late May, as the annual schedule is finalized in June. Joy Wheeler's proposed trip to Greenmount Cemetery caused quite a stir. Pete was asked on the Cylburn Self-Guided Walk listings to add: Beginning birders welcomed.

Starting now, a new team consisting of Gail Frantz and Shireen Gonzaga will produce Chip Notes. Send all articles to Gail for the next, June 25, deadline. Possible changes include abbreviating the text on upcoming and past trips and a book review each issue written by Ranger Vince Vaise. For the next issue, Joy Wheeler is asking Ranger Vince to review the just published children's book Perry's Baltimore Adventure by BBC member Peter E. Dans (Tidewater Publishers, Centreville, MD. Call 800-638-7641).

Two organizations requested BBC members to do Bird Talks/Walks on Earth Day, April 26. Anne Brooks offered call the Reisterstown Senior Center. The Benjamin Banneker Museum, Ellicott City, will call Keith Costly who led a trip there last year.

Our Cylburn Arboretum Association representative Joy Wheeler announced that Saturday, April 5, 9-12 noon, will be an Invasive Plant Removal Day at Cylburn -- under the direction of the Native Plant Society. Volunteers are needed to help weed the Etta Wedge Bird Trail. Joy urged us to attend events sponsored by the Audubon Society at their new urban nature center in Patterson Park.

Paula Warner distributed a revised "Baltimore Bird Club Field Trip Leader Guidelines," to be further discussed at the next meeting on Tuesday, April 8, at 7:30 P.M.

This meeting adjourned at 8:59 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol Schreter, Recording Secretary

Attendees in alphabetical order: Catherine Bishop, Anne Brooks, Cathy Carroll, Joan Cwi, Anneke Davis, Gail Franz, Nancy Meier, Patsy Perlman, Wendy Taparanskas, Debbie Terry, Drew Thornblad, Paula Warner, Pete Webb

The April 8th, 2003 board meeting of the Baltimore Bird Club opened with introduction of members present. Three new board members were in attendance, Joan Cwi, Nancy Meier and Wendy Taparanskas. Drew Thornblad announced that his term in the board is complete and that this will be his last meeting.

Minutes of March 11th, 2003 were reviewed and approved. Pete Webb has received several pieces of mail addressed to the President of the BBC from various organizations like Citizens Planning and Housing Association, Baltimore County Public, City of Baltimore Planning Department, Piney Run Parks and Recreation asking for financial support. Generally, he is ignoring these.

Treasurer's Report: Anne Brooks reviewed the Treasurer's Report and circulated the final budget as approved at the March meeting. Anne asked for people to turn in expenses so she can close the books and turn these over to Paula Warner, incoming BBC Treasurer. This will be Anne's last meeting as Treasurer.

Vice-President: No news or agenda items to report.

Corresponding Secretary: Carol Schreter not present. Acting corresponding secretary for this meeting only, Cathy Carroll.

Membership committee: Catherine Bishop reported that we have two more half-year memberships this month. Since February we have received a total of seven half-year memberships.

Conservation committee: Anneke Davis reported that nobody knows what's going on in Annapolis. Nobody is happy with the budget and Governor Erlich is vetoing the budget. There is likely to be an extended session as the House and Senate need to meet again. Anneke also reported that West Nile Virus (WNV) has now been found in Florida alligators. Overall, WNV appears to be a much greater threat to birds and wildlife that originally thought. WNV could be capable of wiping out birds that are already threatened. Anneke referred to an article that appears in the March 29, 2003 edition of Science News. On other news, Red Knots decline seems to be directly related to the decrease in the Horseshoe crab population. Lawrence Niles, Ph.D. conducted a survey for the Endangered Species Program, New Jersey Division of the Fish and Wildlife Department. Best time to see the Horseshoe Crabs spawning is the full moon of May 16th. Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey are closing the beaches for the spawning period. The problem state, Virginia, will not do this. Finally, Anneke had a photograph accepted for an Army Corp of Engineers brochure on Wetland Conservation and circulated this for the group to see.

Dorothy Blake Martin Fund: No report.

Hospitality: No report.

Bird Museum: Patsy Perlman brings up again support for school buses. Wednesday, April 9th, is Arbor Day and three buses at a cost of $260.00 have been hired to bring school children to Cylburn. Annual budget is $400.00 of which $320.00 has already been spent. The Bird Museum does not have enough money in the buses budget, but has not spent all of the other museum monies.

Patsy requested to use the other money to pay for the buses. Anne Brooks pointed out that the museum received a $200.00 donation that has not been spent and could be applied to the bus cost. This spurred a discussion on how funds are spent and voting for use of funds. Patsy reminded the Board of its mission to support education, and needed BBC support to continue the City of Baltimore elementary school visits to the BBC Bird Museum. Patsy discussed the Bird Museum brochures that are distributed to Baltimore City school teachers. Paula Warner reminded the board that the brochures could generate more interest in the Bird Museum than we are able to pay for and that caution surrounding use of funds should be used when scheduling trips.

There was a long and winding discussion on the support of the BBC paying private for-profit bus companies large fees to transport Baltimore City elementary school children to the Bird Museum. Many questions were asked and answered and information received and clarified.

On to other news, Patsy also reported that William Stine, Head of Cylburn Horticultural Department is resigning as of May 1st, 2003. This comes at a bad time for Cylburn. Cylburn renovations have begun and are continuing as a snail's pace. Patsy pointed out that Mayor O'Malley does not prioritize for city parks of which Cylburn is on.

Debbie Terry inquired where Cylburn is with the completion of the renovations and how this may impact the 2003-2004 lecture series. Debbie would like to plan accordingly as it is much easier to arrange before the program booklet is published. Patsy will find out and get back to Debbie with this information.

Good things to report: Three different people have borrowed birds and slides for university lectures. The Museum has received many favorable comments regarding the Museum and its impact on individual learning and development.

Breakfast with the Birds is scheduled on April 26th and Patsy is seeking two volunteers to help with this. Anneke Davis volunteered. Irma Weinstein has already volunteered. Board members spent many minutes volunteering names for the Breakfast with the Birds event remaining volunteer position.

Lecture Series and May Count: Debbie Terry reported that Mary Gustafson will be the speaker at the May 6th lecture. As coordinator of the May Count, Debbie reminded everyone that the May count is on May 10th and to call her with your count location. Steve Sanford is the May count compiler.

Chip Notes: Steve Sanford will edit the next issue of Chip Notes (September/October edition). The Chip Notes editor position remains unsettled.

Scholarship Committee: Ben Poscover will e-mail Pete Webb a report at the end of the month. Three persons have been awarded scholarships.

Sanctuary Committee: Brent and Mary Byers were not present. Pete inquired about the proposed new sanctuary in Baltimore County - the Heartline property. There is no new news about this.

MOS State Board Meeting: no new news or attendees of this meeting were present for the state board meeting.

New Business: Paula Warner circulated the new draft of the Field Trip Leader Guidelines and this was reviewed and approved with one small addition. It was suggested that the Leader Guidelines be put on-line with the trip checklist. Trip leaders should be asked if they will download the checklist approved for the website. Paula will send the new Trip Leader Guidelines to Terry Ross, website manager.

Anne Brooks reported that she will go to Reisterstown Senior Center to do a small presentation on Birds.

Fairhaven Retirement Home in Sykesville (Carroll County) is requesting a speaker for the Friday or Saturday mornings.

Bird Courses/Bird Lectures: Joan Cwi reported that the Carey Murray Nature Center naturalist, Roy, emphasized to the bird club that this should be known for rehabbed birds. This is not entirely clear in acting secretary's notes and can be clarified at the next meeting if anyone has any questions and Joan can offer clarification. There was also something mentioned about Gwynns Falls and Leakin Park.

Respectfully submitted,

Cathy Carroll

ATTENDEES: Pete Webb, Anne Brooks, Joan Cwi, Anneke Davis, Gail Frantz, Joel Martin, Georgia McDonald, Nancy Meier, Roberta Ross, Debbie Terry, David Thorndill, Carol Schreter, Paula Warner

President Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM. Copies of the BBC By-Laws and the Manual of Operations were distributed. The minutes of the April meeting were accepted with the following corrections:

- Steve Sanford will be May Count data collector and will continue as Chip Notes' editor for the August/September issue because Shireen Gonzaga's medical condition remains unresolved. - Correct spelling: Beth Hartline property, Carrie Murray Nature Center. - Fairhaven Retirement Home seeks a Friday or Saturday AM presentation by BBC.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT: President Pete Webb has revised the Checklist of the birds of Cylburn Arboretum! He will add the BBC website address and possibly the names of the 1994 originators (Mark Pemburn with help from Bob Rineer). Corresponding Secretary Roberta Ross will get both the updated Cylburn Checklist and the orange BBC Membership brochure printed in quantity.

CONSERVATION COMMITTEE: A Conservation Committee Report for 2002-3 was given to Pete, to go to MOS. Joan Cwi wishes to analyze the data collected from Lake Roland field trips over the years -- and asks help locating past Trip Reports. Using as a starting point the April Chip Notes article "Why Buy Shade Grown Coffee?," Carol has taken on a Shade-Grown Coffee mini-project to increase local awareness and demand. The Committee will place in the BBC Library two items:
- Copy of Washington Post May 4-6, 2003 articles on the Nature Conservancy.
(See www.thenatureconservancy.org. Click on "Press Room" for their response); - Booklet Coffee, Birds and Trade Policy: Seattle Audubon Society, July 2001. (Also available at www.seattleaudubon.org)

TREASURER: Anne Brooks' finale, the 2002 - 2003 Annual Report and the April 2003 Treasurer's Report, show BBC's annual income at $13,436 and outlays, to date, at $11,314. BBC raised dues and lost about 50 members. BBC skimped on costs this year. At the next meeting, the board will discuss possible uses for the $2,000 remaining this year.

CYLBURN ARBORETUM REPRESENTATIVE: For Joy Wheeler, Debbie Terry announced that approximately 75 people visited the Bird Museum on May 10, Cylburn Market Day.

LECTURES: Cylburn will not book advance reservations for use of meeting rooms next year due to anticipated repairs to Cylburn Mansion. At the request of our Lecture Program Chairperson Debbie Terry, the board voted (unanimous) to allocate $126 to pay for the use of Sherwood House and approved the purchase of a spare bulb (price unknown) for the slide projector.

NEW BUSINESS:

- Volunteer Sought to Welcome New Members? Is anyone willing take on the task of BBC Welcomer, asked Carol? Of the 33 new members this year, the 21 who joined from May to December have already been contacted personally by a board member.

- Cornell's Feeder Watch Program is concerned about the high death toll for certain species of common birds, due to West Nile virus, said Anne Brooks. Pay special attention to the numbers of Black-Capped Chickadee (numbers may be down 90%) and the Tufted Titmouse. Do our May Count numbers show reductions in these species? Debbie Terry agreed to ask Wanda Cole of MOS where our May Count numbers ultimately go.

The meeting adjourned at 8:35 P.M. The Board will next meet on Tuesday, June 10, and then not again until Tuesday, September 9, 2003.

The Board will continue to meet at Cylburn Mansion, 7:30 PM. If Mansion repairs prevent our use of the building, a meeting may need to be moved (to a member's house?) several days before the meeting date.

Respectfully Submitted,
Carol Schreter
Recording Secretary

June 2003

Attending:
Cathy Carroll, Catherine Bishop, Joan Cwi, Anneke Davis, Gail Frantz, Georgia McDonald, Roberta Ross, Wendy Taparanskas, Debbie Terry, David Thorndill, Carol Schreter, Paula Warner, Joy Wheeler

Vice-President Cathy Carroll called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM. The minutes of the May meeting were accepted. In follow-up to the May minutes:

- Joy Wheeler will determine if we need to relocate a Board meeting next year due to Cylburn Mansion renovations. Board members will get several days notice, by e-mail, if we need to change our location. Joy offers use of her home for meetings.

- Roberta Ross, Corresponding Secretary, will get the Cylburn Checklist of Birds printed with the following revisions: 1) Name Mark Pemburn as the 1994 creator and Pete Webb as doing the 2003 revisions; 2) Add the BBC website address; 3) Use orange paper; 4) Change Rufous-sided Towhee to Eastern Towhee.

Treasurer's Report: Paula Warner presented the May Report and a corrected 2002-2003 Annual Report. An abbreviated annual report will appear in the August/September Chip Notes, giving all members access to budget information.

Corresponding Secretary: Roberta Ross will bring Membership Application forms to each meeting, for distribution. Board members who place these at specific locations are invited to put initials identifying the location -- to show us which locations are most helpful in attracting new members.

Membership Secretary: Catherine Bishop reported six new members since May 1, 2003.

Conservation Committee: The Board authorized Carol Schreter and the to write a letter from BBC to Delaware's Fish & Wildlife Service for a June 23 hearing. This letter will support proposed regulations to close the season for Horseshoe crab harvesting in Delaware during the crab spawning season, from May 1 - June 7.

Bird Museum: Joy reported that the new Cylburn Naturalist Glenda Weber is using the Museum often. The Board agreed to discuss in the fall the desirability of keeping or selling a rare book in our library: Ridegeway's Nomenclature for Colors, self-published in 1912, with a value of $700 - $1,500.

Field Trip Committee: Gail Frantz reports that the deadline for the 2003-2004 Field Trip Schedule is June 25. Carol will solicit new trip ideas by sending an e-mail to those who receive BBC Minutes. Note:

- We need a leader to replace Steve Sanford for Middle River, Patuxent, and Jug Bay trips.
- Joy will submit a list of Cylburn evennts such as the mid-winter Draw-In for Artists.
- Joy may submit a new series of mid-weeek trips to local cemeteries.
- Debbie Terry invites trips to new locaations identified as part of the Breeding Bird Atlas Project.

Lecture Program: At Debbie Terry's request, the board discussed what to do if a Covered-Dish Supper at Cylburn in January is not possible due to building renovations. It was decided that this item in the program schedule will urge all to confirm in advance -- via the BBC website (BaltimoreBirdClub.org) or by phoning (Shirley Geddes?).

Cylburn Arboretum: At Joy Wheeler's request, the board voted (12 for, 1 abstaining) to put into our program booklet this statement: "BBC programs and activities on the grounds of Cylburn Arboretum are presented for the public in collaboration with the Cylburn Arboretum Association." Joy will also provide CAA numbers reflecting BBC's use of the grounds. The numbers will go to the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, our host agency.

New Business:
This year's $2,000 budget surplus, should we save it or spend it? For the fall meeting, Board members are urged to bring in ideas with budget figures, to create a wish list. Debbie will investigate expected costs of the Breeding Bird Atlas. Carol will ask Keith Costley to develop a budget for BBC Business Cards, using designs he created for us 2+ years ago.

Old Business:
Debbie Terry reported that our May Count numbers go to Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, to Chan Robbins for publication in BirdLife.

The meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM. The next meeting of the BBC Board is Tuesday, Sept 9, 7:30 PM, at Cylburn Mansion.

Respectfully Submitted,
Carol Schreter, Recording Secretary

- Maryland BirdLife from 1945-1999, the MOS quarterly journal, is now available on CD for a cost of $2. Articles searchable by date or key words. To obtain, contact the MOS Vice President Janet Millenson at (301) 983-9337 or janet@twocrows.com.

- A disabled activist is suing the City because Cylburn Mansion is not wheelchair accessible. A judge wants this settled out of court. Thus, we will have to move or close the Bird Museum soon. A subcommittee will meet this month and bring advice to the Board at their October meeting.

For more information, see Minutes below, and also on attached file.

Baltimore Bird Club
Board of Directors Meeting
September 9, 2003

Attending:
Pete Webb, Cathy Carroll, Catherine Bishop, Joan Cwi, Gail Frantz, Joel Martin, Georgia McDonald, Nancy Meier, Roberta Ross, Wendy Taparanskas
Debbie Terry, Carol Schreter, Paula Warner, Joy Wheeler

President Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM at the home of Joy Wheeler. Noteworthy announcements:

- An Outdoors Maryland TV segment about hawkwatching on PBS in August, featuring Peter Webb and Kevin Graff, will be included in the January Show-and-Tell event.

- Jim Peters was honored at the White House this summer for his volunteer work at Ft. McHenry. Nominated by BBC member Ranger Vince Vaise, Jim received the first ever National Park Service Herzog Award.

- Maryland BirdLife from 1945-1999, the MOS quarterly journal, is now available on CD, searchable by date or key words. In Chip Notes, Carol will note how this can be obtained: send $2 to the MOS V.P. Janet Millenson (301) 983-9337 or janet@twocrows.com.

Corresponding Secretary Roberta Ross distributed copies of a new Cylburn Arboretum Checklist. (Alas, not on orange paper as requested.) Both Phil and Zlota Hartmann died since our last meeting. The family invited contributions in their memory to be sent to BBC.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop reported that 151 memberships, or 51% of the total, have already renewed. To keep better track of member deaths, Roberta suggested printing on Chip Notes' cover "Address Correction Requested."

Joan Cwi of the Conservation Committee is analyzing data from Lake Roland migration walks, 1997-2002. She invites suggestions on how this information might be used (i.e. for a Lake Roland checklist).

Carol Schreter reports that the Conservation Committee has been busy this summer.

- We stimulated "Web Action Links" on the MOS website Conservation Page. Using this, eco-activists can generate timely letters to public officials, as will be described in Chip Notes.

- We stimulated an article in the Baltimore Sun about shade-grown coffee: "Let's Talk for a Moment About the Birds and the Beans" (August 20, 2003 by food columnist Rob Kasper). Carol invited Board members to deliver a copy of this article to their grocery store manager, or to a socially conscious bulk buyer of coffee in their circle, such as their church.

- For Swift Night Out, September 5-7, 2003, nine BBC members and Girl Scout Troop #317 made 9 counts at six different chimneys. For national results go to the Driftwood Wildlife Association website in Texas at www.concentric.net/~Dwa.

Debbie Terry, our Lecture Program Chairperson, was given the OK to invite other Board members to introduce speakers at monthly lectures.

Much of this meeting focused upon the BBC Bird Museum at Cylburn. As summed up by Peter Webb: The Bird Museum must be moved or closed soon.

An advocate for the disabled filed a court case against the City because Cylburn Mansion is not handicapped accessible. A judge urged the City's Dept. of Recreation and Parks to settle this out of court. A similar legal suit prompted the City to sell the Cloisters Children's Museum several years ago. As with the Cloisters, an elevator in this building is not practical. The City Planning Department now looks at the recently developed Cylburn Master Plan with a sense of urgency and proposes to quickly fix up the Carriage House for public displays, using the 2nd and 3rd floors of Cylburn Mansion for office space.

Joy Wheeler requested that a special committee, appointed by the BBC president, meet before our next meeting, so as to advise the board on this critical issue at the October board meeting. Possible candidates for this committee: Ben Poscover, David Thorndill, Phyllis Gerber, Bob Ringler, Carol Schreter, Cathy Carroll, Joy Wheeler and Patsy Perlman.

Most of the discussion involved questions about the "quirky" relationship between the City-owned Cylburn Arboretum, the Cylburn Arboretum Association (CAA, a volunteer group most interested in the gardens) and the Baltimore Bird Club. The CAA now has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the City of Baltimore. In the CAA's new Constitution, the Baltimore Bird Club no longer has a place on the CAA board.

For BBC board members wishing to visit the BBC Bird Museum this month, Joy says the building will be open to the public on Sept 21 and Sept 28 from 2:30 - 4 PM. Or call Joy to arrange entry on other Saturdays.

Old Business:
We did not have time to discuss use of the 2002-2003 budget surplus, as intended. Please send Paula Warner, Treasurer, specifics about proposed uses of this money. Each request is to include a precise amount, a rationale and specified benefits. Paula will send a list of these suggestions to Board members a week in advance of the next meeting.

New Business also postponed until the October meeting:
- Wendy Taparanskas' proposed plan for ccontacting new members by e-mail.
- Discussion of increasing our use of ellectronic documents and archives, i.e. for BBC by-laws and Manual of Operations, Trip Reports.

The meeting adjourned at 9:35 PM. We next meet on Tuesday, October 14 at 7:30 PM, hopefully at Cylburn Mansion (based on the status of the repair work.). Many thanks to Joy Wheeler for hosting this BBC Board meeting at her home.

Respectfully Submitted,
Carol Schreter, Recording Secretary

Highlights:
1) Next meeting is Tuesday, November 11, 7:30 PM, in the Cylburn Carriage House. Bring a flashlight to help you circle the Mansion House in the dark. Come and see this space -- being considered to house the BBC Museum of Maryland Birds collection.

2) At the November meeting, we will be voting on some budget requests discussed in October. Please review that section of October minutes, to refresh your memory on this.
Carol S.

Attending: Pete Webb, Cathy Carroll, Catherine Bishop, Anneke Davis, Gail Frantz
Patsy Perlman, Debbie Terry, David Thorndill, Carol Schreter, Paula Warner, Joy Wheeler, +281 Mounted Birds

President Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM in the Museum of Birds of Maryland. The minutes of the September meeting were not discussed or approved.

Paula Warner's Treasurer's Report for September shows income as $2,500 behind this time last year. In memory of Zlota and Phil Hartmann, family and friends donated $850 to the BBC Bird Museum.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop reports that we have 21 new members since May. To date there are 224 paid memberships, with another 108 not yet renewed.

Catherine will e-mail BBC Executive Committee members the names of 13 receiving free BBC mailings, with an eye to culling this list. Catherine was asked to add Jerry Jackson, Sunpapers photographer and son of noted ornithologist Jerome Jackson.

For the Conservation Committee and Swift Watch Team, Carol Schreter described the joy of releasing into the wild five hand-raised Chimney Swifts brought here from Maine by a bird rehabber. Gail urged Carol to send the Swift release story to the MOS Yellowthroat's "Chapter Chatter" editor Martha Waugh.

Why did six songbirds die at Carol's feeder in late August? A Dept. of Agriculture necropsy of one House Finch carcass revealed cause of death as a combination of fungal pneumonia and West Nile virus. To raise awareness of West Nile virus's toll on wildlife, this was reported on MDOSPREY. An article will be placed in Chip Notes' Conservation Corner.

Publicity: Debbie Terry noted that our events held at Cromwell Valley Park can be publicized there. She hopes that Publicity Chair Anne Brooks will look into this possibility.

BBC Bird Museum: Now closed permanently. President Peter Webb appointed a subcommittee to look into the matter: Joy Wheeler, Patsy Perlman, Anneke Davis, Peter Webb, Cathy Carroll, Carol Schreter, David Thorndill, Ben Poscover.

Peter explained that City Officials from the Department of Recreation and Parks have invited the BBC to lobby the state legislature for $200,000, to be matched by City funds, to restore the Carriage House. Museum Designer Jean Gregorio, at Joy and Patsy's request, has submitted a proposed design and budget of $30,000 for installing the BBC Bird Collection in the Carriage House. Gail asked about upkeep. The City will be expected to maintain the historic building. David Thorndill asked if other options were being considered. (No answer.) It was agreed that our November board meeting will be held in the Carriage House.

Chip Notes editor Gail Frantz announced that future issues of Chip Notes will not include a list of upcoming trips. Instead, this section will just list changes to the program since the Program Booklet was published.

Old Business: From there on, we talked about money! Five supplemental budget requests had been submitted and sent to Board members in advance of this meeting. We do not need to approve any requests -- or to allocate the unspent $2,100 from last year's budget.

Pete Webb suggested that all requests be discussed before a vote. Given the late hour, we then agreed to vote on the requests at the November meeting. So discussion will continue for items # 1, 3, 4 and 5. (#2 already rejected.)

1. Debbie Terry: Each chapter is expected to give a "donation" to MOS to help support the Breeding Bird Atlas project. We are one of the larger chapters and have the highest dues. As shown on the MOS website, other chapters are giving substantial amounts. A donation of $400 - $500 is being considered.

2. Carol Schreter: BBC Business Card designs developed by Keith Costly in 1998 at the Board's request were distributed. Full-color cards at costs ranging from $250 - $500, depending upon the number ordered, were deemed expensive and unnecessary. For publicity purposes, BBC members are invited to take into the field the orange membership brochures, for distribution to other nature lovers.

3. Carol Schreter: In discussion, the board shaved considerably a Conservation Committee request for $300 to reproduce and distribute articles about shade-grown coffee and Hampden Chimney Swifts. Instead of paying the Sunpapers $75 for permission to reprint an article in our newsletter, Carol was urged to create new messages. Gail has a source willing to make copies in bulk, at no cost. Gail urged Carol to begin by "preaching" the shade-grown coffee issue to birders, such as with a Chip Notes insert in December saying: "For the Holidays, Give A Gift of Shade-Grown Coffee." (Conservation Committee will submit a revised budget for the November meeting.)

4. Peter Webb: $225 now and $125 in future years, to be paid to the National Audubon Society in order to sponsor BBC Baltimore Harbor Christmas Count observers. Because many BBC Christmas Count observers are not supplying $5 each along with their numbers, BBC counts are not being included in national compilations or the on-line database. The Christmas Count started in 1900 and provides a century long database, easily accessible on a website. Proposal not yet discussed.

5. Anne Brooks: Request for $100 for publicity, to buy space in newspapers. Not discussed.

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM. Next meeting is Tuesday, November 11, 7:30 PM, in the Cylburn Carriage House. Bring a flashlight to help you circle the Mansion House in the dark.

Respectfully Submitted,
Carol Schreter, Recording Secretary

November Highlights:
1) Board allocates a $500 "donation" to the MOS Breeding Bird Atlas Project.
2) In December Chip Notes, watch for a green paper insert "For the Holidays, Give A Gift of Shade-Grown Coffee."
________________________
Baltimore Bird Club
Board of Directors Meeting
November 11, 2003

Attending: Pete Webb, Cathy Carroll, Catherine Bishop, Joan Cwi, Anneke Davis, Joel Martin, Georgia McDonald, Nancy Meier, Patsy Perlman, Roberta Ross, Debbie Terry, Carol Schreter, Paula Warner, Joy Wheeler, and brief guest Tony Perlman

President Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:45 PM at the home of Patsy Perlman. The minutes of the October meeting were accepted with one correction in spelling: Zlata Hartman.

Paula Warner presented the Treasurer's Report for October. BBC income, including a recent check from the Membership Secretary, is about $1,200 behind this time last year.

Catherine Bishop Membership Secretary reports that 92 people have not renewed and will receive reminder notices in mid November.

For Hospitality, Debbie Terry reported that the January Covered Dish Supper cannot be held at Cylburn due to status of the renovations. She was urged to follow-up on Helene Gardel's offer of using the Bykota House in Towson, a senior citizens center. As announced in the Program Booklet mailed out in September, anyone planning to attend the Covered Dish Supper should call Shirley Geddes, Hospitality Chair, to determine the location.

Joy Wheeler, Cylburn Arboretum representative, reports that Cylburn will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in October 2004. BBC is invited to give anniversary event suggestions.

Would you like to receive a free copy of the MCC Conservation Report? The first issue each year, in December, is mailed out widely, for free. From January - April, only paid subscribers get weekly reports on conservation issues being discussed in the state legislature. To get a free copy call Anneke Davis or go to www.MarylandConservationCouncil.net.

Cathy Carroll who summarizes Field Trip reports for Chip Notes gave copies of past reports to Joan Cwi of the Conservation Committee, who is interested in doing some data analysis.

Old Business:

For the Committee on the Future of the Birds of Maryland Museum, President Peter Webb requested authorization for an initial fact-finding plan:
1) A meeting with State Delegate Pete Rawlings to explore the likelihood of getting state funds to renovate the Cylburn Carriage House; and
2) Getting a professional from the museum world to come assess the quality of the Bird Museum collection; and
3) Beginning discussion with other local natural history organizations interested in youth education, with an eye to finding a more visible location for this collection.

However, this plan was immediately tabled because Joy Wheeler surprised us with news that Baltimore City has completely changed its stance on the matter.

The City now accepts responsibility for renovating the Carriage House for use as public meeting rooms and office space. The Cylburn Arboretum Association (CAA) now proposes to move its Nature Museum into the Carriage House and to staff it as a public area. Speaking as a member of the CAA board, Dr. Tony Perlman invited BBC to move the Birds of Maryland Museum into the Carriage House or to give the Collection to Cylburn/CAA for public display. He urged BBC to pledge a sum of money by the end of December as a message to the City that citizens are supportive of this renovation.

"We are off the hook!" proclaimed Joy Wheeler. President Peter Webb suggested that this matter be referred back to the Museum Future committee, for consideration.

>From there on, we talked money. The 2002-2003 budget surplus of $2,100 led to five supplemental budget requests, some of which were discussed at the October meeting. After further discussion, the Board voted to add $680 to the 2003-2004 budget.

1) The Board voted (unanimous) to provide MOS a "donation" of $500 towards the Breeding Bird Atlas Project.

As shown on the MOS website, other chapters are giving substantial amounts. Money raised by MOS and calculations based on volunteer hours to the Breeding Bird Atlas Project will generate Federal and State matching funds.

2) The Board voted (12 for, 2 against) to provide the Conservation Committee a supplemental budget of $80 toward phone, reproduction and postage.

This is a revised, reduced budget request. Reproduction costs are now minimal, as a member offered to make copies for BBC at no cost. Example: Watch for an insert on green paper in your December newsletter: "For the Holidays, Give a Gift of Shade-Grown Coffee." This includes an updated "Why Buy Shade-Grown Coffee?" article.

3) The Board voted (unanimous) to pay $100 to the National Audubon Society (NAS) so that BBC's 2002 Christmas Bird Count numbers are included in national compilations.

For the 2003 Christmas Bird Count, volunteer counters will be told that they must each pay the requested $5 fee, or their data will not be submitted to NAS for nation-wide tabulations.

4) Two budget requests were not voted upon because no one put a "motion" on the floor.
- BBC Business cards at a cost of $250 -- $500, depending upon the number ordered.
- Publicity: $100 for paid ads in local newspapers, to attract new members.

The meeting adjourned at 9 PM. The next meeting on Tuesday, December 9, 2003 at 7:30 PM is scheduled for Cylburn. Joy and Patsy will determine if this meeting must be relocated.

Respectfully Submitted,
Carol Schreter, Recording Secretary

December 2003

Baltimore Bird ClubBoard of Directors MeetingDecember 9, 2003

Attending:

Pete Webb, Cathy Carroll, Catherine Bishop, Joan Cwi, Gail Frantz, Mark Linardi, Joel Martin, Georgia McDonald, Nancy Meier, Roberta Ross, Steve Sanford, Debbie Terry, David Thorndill, Joy Wheeler

President Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM in the Birds of Maryland Museum at Cylburn.. The minutes of the November meeting were accepted with the following corrections: It is the Cylburn Arboretum Association, not the City of Baltimore, that is committed to renovating the Carriage House for use as public meeting rooms and office space. The Cylburn Association is officially proposing that we move with them into the Carriage House, not that we give the bird collection to Cylburn. Joy Wheeler also wished to clarify her use of the phrase “off the hook.” It was not her intention to suggest that we wish to abandon the bird collection.

Copies of the Treasurer's Report for November were distributed, and the report was approved. Treasurer Paula Warner was absent, so there were no further comments.

Catherine Bishop Membership Secretary reports that we have 261 memberships with 320 members. There are still 64 people who have not renewed. There have been 26 new members so far in this year.

Joan Cwi reported for the Conservation committee concerning the status of Lake Roland. In September, we received a letter from the city in response to ours. This gave an overview of their plans. Since then, it appears the city may have started work on the pedestrian bridge.

There was nothing in their plan about dogs, but recently some members read in Dan Rodricks’ column in the Sun that the city plans to replace topsoil in the park because of the fecal contamination from dogs.

Peter Lev and Adelaide Rackeman have attended some meetings about Lake Roland. We would like to get an update on what is happening there. Debbie Terry said she would contact Peter Lev.

Old Business:

The Committee on the Future of the Birds of Maryland Museum has not met yet but will try to meet before the January board meeting.

As stated before, the Cylburn Arboretum Association (CAA) proposes to move its Nature Museum into the Carriage House and invites BBC to move the Birds of Maryland Museum into the Carriage House for public display. No further action has been taken to pledge a sum of money for this purpose.

The remainder of the meeting was a wide-ranging discussion about money and goals of the club. This discussion continued an email roundtable sparked by some complaints from existing members about the dues increase.

Handouts were distributed, including a comparison of chapter dues for various chapters in the MOS provided by Pete Webb and a selection of membership reports culled from the minutes by Carol Schreter.

All other chapters in the comparison had significantly lower chapter dues than the Baltimore chapter. Some of them have a booklet, some have newsletters. We’re not sure exactly how their expenses compare with ours.

Our membership number is declining, and there appears to been a greater decline since the increase in dues.

Shireen Gonzaga has said in an email that she would undertake some online fundraising.

Steve Sanford has been going through annual reports. He believes that we have plenty of money. For example, the current Treasurer’s report showed an operating balance of $15,919.12, and our entire annual budget is $11,536.00. Why? If we need this money for expenses we should spend it. If we don’t need it, maybe we raised the dues too much.

Some people felt that in order to determine how much we should be spending we need to clarify our mission. What are our goals? Do we want to focus only on birding activities, or do we want to spend money on conservation/ecology issues, or on education and outreach?

One expense we have that other chapters do not is bringing in school groups to tour Cylburn and the bird museum. On the other hand, we no longer have the Junior Nature Camp. Many expressed a desire to involve more young people, either children or young adults, in our activities.

We are not sure how many of our current members share the concern about dues or about the goals of the club. The possibility of a new survey was discussed. It has been some years since our last one. Since Joan Cwi has expertise in the area of survey research, she said she would think about it.

The Dorothy Blake Martin Fund was discussed. There is currently a balance of $37,354.00 in that fund. Some board members asked for copies of the fund’s guidelines.

Financial issues: Should we spend the savings? Should we reduce the dues? Should we spend less? If so, on what? More? If so, on what? Maybe the reporting of how we spend our money needs to be improved. In the past, we sometimes had annual reports in Chip Notes giving a summary of what each committee did during the year.

Nancy Meier, who works as a docent at the Baltimore Zoo, is going to put an article in Chip Notes about the zoo docent program. Also, she may have a proposal for the Martin Fund concerning signage for the birds at the zoo.

Joy Wheeler pointed out that we can also use volunteers at Cylburn. At the conclusion of the meeting Joy distributed a statement to the board members, “A History of the Museum of the Birds of Maryland.”

The meeting adjourned at 9:24 PM. The next meeting on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 at 7:30 PM is scheduled for Cylburn.

Respectfully Submitted,Roberta Ross, Correspondence SecretarySubstituting for Carol Schreter, Recording Secretary

January 2004

Pete Webb
Catherine Bishop
Joan Cwi
Gail Frantz
Mark Linardi
Georgia McDonald
Patsy Perlman
Roberta Ross
Carol Schreter
Paula Warner
+ 281 Mounted Birds

President Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM in the Museum of Birds of Maryland. The minutes of the December meeting were accepted.

Paula Warner presented the Treasurer's Report for December 2003 showing income as more than projected: memberships +$125, sales +$171, donations + $765 directed to the Museum. Please submit budget requests for next year by February 15. A committee of three (maybe Paula, Cathy Carroll and Anne Brooks) will prepare a draft 2004-2005 budget for the March Board meeting.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop reports that BBC now has 360 members. Of the 49 not renewing this year, 13 were new members.

The Board approved a Conservation Committee suggestion that three BBC representatives be appointed to join a group called Friends of Lake Roland being organized by Catherine Evans (433-7197). Our representatives will report directly to the BBC Board. Based on the Lake Roland Concept Plan from the City, the critical issue seems to be access not conservation. Appointed as our representatives: Mark Linardi, Joan Cwi and Dot Gustafson.

For the Conservation Committee, Carol Schreter displayed a Hampden community newsletter that published in November a 1/2 page article about Hampden's Chimney Swifts.

In follow-up to a letter sent by BBC last June to the Delaware Division of Natural Resources, we learned that Delaware reinstated limits on the harvesting of Horseshoe crabs:

1) No harvesting during spawning season from May 1 - June 7; and

2. A combined annual limit of 150,000 Horseshoe crabs by dredging and hand harvesting.

On October 1-4, 2004, Cylburn Arboretum Association will celebrate its 50^th anniversary. We agreed that BBC will schedule bird walks there on both Saturday and Sunday, Oct 2 & 3.

For the Field Trip Committee, Gail also announced that spring migration walks at Lake Roland will be moved -- based on news that the park will be closed on February 1 for bridge repairs. Our February newsletter will announce that the first migration walk (March 30) will be at Cylburn, with the remaining nine walks at Cromwell Valley Park.

Chip Notes: Someone wrote editor Gail Frantz lamenting that upcoming trips were not listed in the last Chip Notes. Other Board members echoed this sentiment. We suggested that the upcoming membership survey inquire if members wish to spend $250 - $300 a year on Chip Notes trip listings, when this is also available on-line and in the annual program booklet.

A new cyberspace store called Café Press was arranged by Shireen Gonzaga. Gail explained that items with the BBC logo are manufactured item by item, as ordered. BBC is to receive $3 for every item ordered. This new service will be explained in February's Chip Notes.

Editor Gail Frantz requests end-of-year reports from Committees, for Chip Notes.

The Museum Future Committee will next meet on January 27, announced Peter Webb. Patsy Perlman will make arrangements at Cylburn.

Attention: Volunteer needed to head the MOS Scholarship effort. Ben Poscover resigned after two fine years. Position to be appointed by the President.

Attention: Two volunteers, including a chairperson, needed for the Nominating Committee now composed of Georgia McDonald, Dot Gustafson and Carol Schreter. Gail resigned as chair due to new duties. Positons to be appointed by the Board.

Nominating Committee: Gail announced that proposed officers for next year will be the same as this year, except for Peter Lev replacing Cathy Carroll as Vice President. (Cathy may move out of the area.). To be voted upon at the general membership meeting in March 2004.

Old Business:

Membership Survey: For the last half hour, the group reviewed a draft membership questionnaire developed by Joan Cwi. A final version will go to all current members with the April newsletter and to the 49 who did not renew this year. In follow-up, we may ask Corresponding Secretary Roberta Ross to e-mail non-responding former (not current) members about reasons for not renewing.

A committee including Joan, Paula Warner and Debbie Terry will revise this draft, including comments from Board members. Joan will e-mail Draft #2 in advance of the February meeting. Roberta will determine printing costs, or it can possibly be reproduced for free.

The discussion involved reactions to the questions posed and suggested additions, such as:

• Look to the future. Are members getting what they want from BBC? Is there anything members might like us to do that we are not doing?
• Use this and a simultaneous April newsletter article to advertise our services. For example, do members know that we sponsor more than 100 field trips per year?

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2004, 7:30 PM at Cylburn.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol Schreter, Recording Secretary

February 2004

Attending:

Pete Webb
Cathy Carroll
Catherine Bishop
Joan Cwi
Gail Frantz
Mark Linardi
Georgia McDonald
Nancy Meier
Patsy Perlman
Roberta Ross
Debbie Terry
David Thorndill
Carol Schreter
Paula Warner
Joy Wheeler
+ 281 mounted birds

President Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM in the Museum of Birds of Maryland. The minutes of the January meeting were accepted.

Paula Warner presented the Treasurer's Report for January 2004 showing income as $2,186 over the amount budgeted. It was noted that the Museum was budgeted for $1,185, received $2,050 in donations this year, mostly from the Hartman family, and spent just $81 to date. Targeted Museum donations not spent this year will be placed in the savings account and identified as a separate line item in future budgets. Committees are asked to submit their 2004-2005 budgets to Paula by February 15.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop distributed a report showing 278 memberships including 339 people. She presented mailing labels for the 48 who did not renew to Joan Cwi, for use in the upcoming BBC membership survey.

At the request of the Conservation Committee, the Board approved a letter sent out in advance urging the C&O National Historical Park not to sell a 34-mile abandoned railway path along the Canal to adjacent private property owners for commercial purposes.

The Conservation Committee was authorized to send comments to Annapolis legislators if a draft Renewable Energy Standards bill promoting Wind Power does not include suitable language about siting -- to avoid hilltops used by migrating songbirds.

Carol Schreter reported on a Dept. of Recreation and Parks meeting on 1/29/04, the first public hearing about the Robert E. Lee Park Concept Plan and the proposed 2/13/04 closing of the bridge below the dam. Carol urged our representatives Mark Linardi, Joan Cwi and Dot Gustafson to: 1) Work with the Ruxton-Riderwood Lake Roland Association, where the homeowners are equally concerned about the proposed closing of the Light Rail crossing; and 2) Meet directly and soon with MTA officials to get their help in keeping the Light Rail crossing open. The committee was invited to call upon other BBC members, as needed, for meetings with officials.

For October 2, 2004, Cylburn's 50^th anniversary weekend, Joy Wheeler, our Cylburn Arboretum Association (CAA) representative, will need volunteers to help with a Breakfast with the Birds and tours of the grounds. Birdwatcher Bruce Biehler, a local son now working for the Smithsonian, has been invited to lecture.

Joy happily noted that CAA has hired a grant writer. She will ask for help getting money to transport school children to Cylburn. Joy reports that on April 14, Arbor Day, BBC will provide money for buses to bring some school children to Cylburn for tours of the grounds.

Peter Webb announced that the next Museum Futures Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2004 at 7:30 PM.

In May, based on the progress of Cylburn Mansion renovations, Debbie Terry, Lecture Program Chairperson, will decide if lectures next year should be scheduled at Cylburn or at the Bykota House, both of which are available to us at no charge. The February Show-and-Tell was cancelled due to weather. Debbie will use the $18 saved that night for a Sherwood House meeting on April 1 of Breeding Bird Atlas volunteers. Bob Ringler will provide tips on how to locate certain species of breeding birds.

Based on current membership numbers, it was decided that we now need 350 copies of Chip Notes per issue. Next year, we should budget for 375 copies of Chip Notes and 400 copies of the annual Program Booklet. Catherine Bishop agreed to bring to the Board any extra copies to use for publicity purposes. Peter Webb is seeking a new printer for the Program Booklet.

To locate a new Scholarship Chair, Debby Terry will call Brian Rollfinke who teaches at Friends School. If he is not available, Gail Frantz will ask Jim Peters for suggestions.

Considerable time was spent discussing draft #2 of a BBC Membership Questionnaire revised by Joan Cwi and Paula Warner (both of whom are professional survey researchers), with Debbie Terry. Joan explained that the demographic items will be used to sort responses and examine how various categories of members differ, such as young vs. older people, new vs. long-time members, or active vs. less active members. The toughest question is #9, asking for priorities: choose 3 of these 6 activities as most important to you. We are looking for a general overview from members of what is most important.

As to timetable, the questionnaire goes out in the April/May newsletter, asking for returns by May 1. Paula and Joan will report results at the September Board meeting.

Joan will be "ecstatic" with a 50% response rate to this questionnaire. To increase the rate of return:

- Questionnaires will be available and collected at the March and April lectures.

• April's Chip Notes will have an exterior text box saying ….. Questionnaire enclosed.
• Our Corresponding Secretary Roberta Ross will send an e-mail alerting members to watch for the questionnaire in their April/May newsletter.
• Field Trip leaders in the spring could urge attendees to send in their questionnaire.

Old Business:

Joy invites reactions to her "History of the Museum of Birds of Maryland" which she distributed at the December 2003 meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 9:35 PM. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 9, 7:30 PM at Cylburn.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol Schreter, Recording Secretary

March 2004

Attending:

Pete Webb Mark Linardi
Cathy Carroll Joel Martin
Catherine Bishop Patsy Perlman
Joan Cwi Roberta Ross
Anneke Davis Debbie Terry

President Peter Webb called the meeting to order at 7:50 PM downstairs at the Cylburn Mansion. The minutes of the February meeting were accepted.

Paula Warner was not present, but Cathy Carroll distributed the Treasurer's Report for February 2004 showing income YTD as $2,504.19 over the amount budgeted. She also distributed a draft budget for 2004-2005.

President Pete Webb spoke about the zoning meeting on March 9, which included discussion of a zoning proposal for Lake Roland. The proposal to zone the neighborhood as RC7 (rural conservation) is likely to go through. This zoning allows only 1 house per 25 acres, after the wetland acreage has been subtracted. Anneke, Catherine, and Joan also attended this meeting. Joan spoke at the meeting about the Baltimore Bird Club's support for this downzoning of an important ecosystem that provides habitat for birds, including the Baltimore oriole. Patsy Perlman brought copies of the Citizen's Comment Form.

Cathy Carroll had just come back from Michigan, where she saw a sawwhet owl and 8 long-eared owls in a tree.

We discussed the Treasurer's Report. with accompanying notes. As of February, we have a surplus for this year of $5,375. This is primarily due to income from donations and lower expenditures for Chip Notes, museum, hospitality and internet than budgeted.

Debbie Terry questioned the figure of $245 for honoraria. She will ask Paula about this.

We discussed the draft budget. Paula's accompanying notes pointed out that a likely surplus this year could offset a decrease in the dues, but we decided we do not want to try to change our dues for the coming year, even though some members are very concerned about this. It would mean revising our mailing pieces before the August mailing. Also, we would prefer to wait for the results of the questionnaire before making this decision. We will vote on the budget at the next meeting.

Some changes in the board for next year were mentioned. Paula Warner will not be Treasurer next year. As a legal requirement of the work she does as a licensed securities broker, she is not allowed to be the Treasurer of an organization. Cathy Carroll will be moving back to Michigan, and Peter Lev will be replacing her as Vice President.

Membership Secretary Catherine Bishop said that we have 35 new members this year, including 9 who joined since February under the half-year dues arrangement. The mailing list for February/March had 287 addresses, and there will be at least 299 for April/May. There were 3 old members who paid late.

Roberta Ross agreed to send out an e-mail to those members whose e-mail addresses we have, reminding people to respond to the survey. Joan Cwi suggested this should go out about a week after the Chip Notes go in the mail.

Anneke Davis reported for the Conservation Committee. There is a bill, HB 880, to require the repayment of transfers to the General Fund. Program Open Space is under pressure, as it often is.

Patsy Perlman spoke about the Master Plan for Cylburn that the Cylburn Arboretum Association is developing. They would like to have input from the Baltimore Bird Club. Comments from individuals and from organizations are welcome. The plan does include moving the bird museum to the carriage house. It also includes having a picnic area. Anneke expressed a concern about trash.

Debbie Terry and Eliot Kirschbaum are planning a get-together for the atlasing group, and there will be some hospitality expenses.

Arbor Day will be celebrated April 14 at Cylburn. Buses will be provided for schoolchildren attending this event.

Patsy and Joy and two visitors from Anne Arundel enjoyed Paula Warner's field trip to view birds in art at the Walters. Hunting may cause a problem for some of our trips. Some chapters are switching their May count to Sunday.

The Museum Futures Committee did meet, but they have now suspended meetings pending further developments in the Master Plan. We would like to know what our responsibilities will be and what it will cost us.

To locate a new Scholarship Chair, Debby Terry gave Gail Frantz some names of possible candidates.

Catherine Bishop brought some old copies of Chip Notes.

Joan Cwi reported that the Ruxton-Riderwood association has a portfolio of materials on Lake Roland. Their President would be willing to present this material for interested people. It includes professional drawings by engineers.

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 13, 7:30 PM at Cylburn.

Respectfully Submitted,

Roberta Ross, Corresponding Secretary