2009 Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting Celebrates Victories, Lays Plans for Next Year

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Over 100 Audubon members attended Audubon Minnesota’s 2009 Annual Meeting on November 14, 2009 at the Wilder Foundation headquarters in St. Paul.

“This gathering provided a perspective of the many significant conservation accomplishments that were achieved this year by our volunteers, chapters, and our state Audubon office,” said Mark Peterson, Executive Director of Audubon Minnesota. “It also provided a platform to announce the issues that our members have prioritized for next year and to inform attendees more about these important matters before us.”

Audubon members in Minnesota voted on 12 issues that are likely to come before the state legislature by mail prior to the Annual Meeting. The top three issues that will be recommended to Audubon’s state board are:

1. State Funding for Wildlife
2. Lead Ammunition Initiative
3. Off-Highway Vehicles and Greater Protection for State Forests

In addition to the issues, attendees heard from many featured speakers about the conservation issues before us.

U.S. Senator Al Franken kicked off the day calling for a national “Apollo Program” for clean renewable energy. He called the climate bill now before the Senate a “win, win, win.” Audubon reiterated its commitment to help pass the “American Clean Energy & Security Act” that we so successfully helped to pass in the House of Representatives last June. Among many provisions, the bill will reduce U.S. global warming emissions 83% by 2050.

Meteorologist Paul Douglas of Weather Nation presented the audience with a powerful visual program discussing the science of global climate change and climate trends that Minnesota is experiencing. In his presentation he noted that if the U.S. vehicle fleet were to achieve a 2.7 miles per gallon improvement, that would be enough to offset all petroleum imported from the Middle East.

Darby Nelson, Council Member for the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, updated attendees on the progress being made to fund critical conservation projects from proceeds being generated by the new constitutional amendment passed one year ago. This year, 40 large proposals were submitted and the Council will now be evaluating 26 of these that they feel are the most critical.

Dr. Luis Cruz-Martinez, Veterinary Resident at the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, presented disturbing new data on potential sources of lead exposure and its poisoning effects to bald eagles in Minnesota.

Sue Leaf, president of the Wild River Audubon Chapter, read from her new book: The Bullhead Queen: A Year on Pioneer Lake. Members could relate to her passage selection detailing Sue’s experiences of years participating in the annual Christmas Bird Count.

The meeting also presented recognition to many volunteers who made particularly significant contributions to Audubon’s conservation agenda this past year. Awards were also given to three individuals for the conservation successes they have achieved:

Minnesota Representative Phyllis Kahn for her leadership to pass a “Lights Out” bill in the state legislature last spring that will turn off lights of state owned and leased buildings during the migrations;

Eldor and Stella Omdahl for their leadership over several decades to restore habitat and provide conservation education to schools in northwestern Minnesota; and,

Mary Ellen Vetter for her leadership to Audubon over 40 years in serving in a variety of leadership positions both in chapter offices and in service to the Audubon Minnesota state board of directors.

In addition, Audubon chapters presented initiatives they undertook last year, the new Breeding Bird Atlas project was presented and attendees had the opportunity make and renew acquaintances with other Audubon members from around the state.