2
Nelli's Notes
By Nelli Falzgraf
I want to thank the membership for the opportunity to serve as President of ASO since 2003. Without your participation and fellowship, our Chapter couldn't continue its diverse programs, projects, and partnerships.
It seemed my job was to back up elected officers and directors, support committees who provide activities, facilitate core functions, and take care of finances.
We're fortunate that Board members have come to us with a background working with other organizations, have experience managing surprises and changes of directions, and work for the good of ASO as a whole. I appreciate and am grateful to Chapter and Audubon leaders.
Mission and Priorities
The NAS mission was restated, tailored specifically to ASO, as follows: to promote environmental awareness to the community through education, with an emphasis on birds. We identified priorities: continue educational efforts, strengthen birding interests, and encourage research at Heron Haven.
Education
The ASO continued to provide monthly nature programs and informative newsletters. Volunteers provided outreach to our community, including birding classes; programs on birds, wildflowers, Lewis & Clark, and others; and partnered with the Birding Club and Omaha Raptor Team. Volunteers participated in the Nebraska Alliance for Conservation and Environmental Education planning and informed our readers of conservation issues via the Meadowlark, programs, and emails.
Birding Interest
We continued birding trips, NAS and DeSoto Counts, and the Great Backyard Bird Count. Our members monitored bluebird and kestrel trails; helped with HawkWatch, USGS's Breeding Bird Survey, and Tern & Plover Conser
vation Partnership; and led trips for Nebraska and Iowa Ornithologists' Unions. We worked with Audubon Nebraska's Important Bird Areas, Nebraska partnership for All Bird Conservation Birding Trail Workshop, and NGPC's Natural Legacy Project.
Natural Areas Management
The ASO monitored a 52-acre greenspace in Washington County since 1998 and managed two natural areas. Volunteers continued to restore our 13-acre Prairie Preserve under the direction of Glenn Pollock, Prairie Manager. There were attempts to develop the adjacent land for a shopping mall and cut an access road through the never-mowed part for a housing area. The Prairie Manager wrote the Planning Board and City Council to protect and defend ASO land against claims.
The ASO contributed $87,530 to the Papio-Missouri NRD for its purchase of the 10-acre Heron Haven wetland in 1992, mostly using ASO general funds. Much volunteer time and effort was put into fundraising to develop it for talks and walks, including $240,000 for construction and other costs for maintenance, projects and programs. Because of high costs and the uncertainty of a possible project to removal invasive grass, it was decided to hold off on big projects for awhile. The butterfly garden, attracting 22 species of butterflies, continues to be a highlight of Heron Haven, and we welcome volunteers who have a green thumb and love of beauty.
In December the NRD was contacted that a corporation was formed, the Friends of Heron Haven, that is outside of the ASO, has separate funds, and intends to "operate Heron Haven." Recently they resolved that the ASO should sign an NRD contract and give them management. However, it's owned by the NRD and the decision will be theirs.
Administration
We nominated new officers and directors, held orientation for new board members, handled Chapter funds, compiled a grants list since 1993, used email to facilitate communication (minutes and business), kept current with Audubon Nebraska, and attended a symposium on volunteer resources.
The ASO contributed $70,000 to the NRD for its purchase of the building in 1996 and moved in 3 years later. Many volunteers worked to renovate, maintain, and staff for visitors, but it was costly—over $1,200 a month the past 6 years. Almost 2/3 of the building overhead was paid
