GRAND TRAVERSE AUDUBON CLUB
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
8.18.20
APPROVED 02.04.2021
Board members present; Leonard Graf, Barb Graf, Kathy Flegel, Ann Kennedy, Shirley Mesch, John Mesch, Mary MacDowell
(The meeting was held at Boardman River Nature Center Pavilion)
President Graf called the meeting to order at 2:10 pm.
- Minutes of the 2.20.20 Board Meeting were reviewed:
Motion: Moved by to approve the minutes by John Mesch, seconded by Ann Kennedy.
Unanimously approved
- Treasurer’s Report: Ann Kennedy
- Walter Hastings Fund has $480.20
- Checking and Savings: $2216.26
- Ann has paid the Copy Central bill in the amount of $53for layout of the trifold brochure. Note the brochure was not printed or needed due to the State mandated closures.
- October Annual Meeting: Discussion was held regarding options of the club’s Annual Meeting. Given the current state of uncertainty, the board felt that it not wise to have the Annual Meeting this year.
- It was mentioned that this precluded electing new officers. The current slate of officers agreed to continue to serve through 2021.
- Motion: Moved by Shirley Mesch seconded by Ann Kennedy that the 2020 Annual meeting be postponed to a date to be determined in 2021.
Approved Unanimously.
- Vice President Report, Kathy Flegel: Programs
- Discussion was held regarding the September, November, and December meeting. While we have programs for these months, it was, again, felt that we cannot hold these meetings. Additionally, the Nature Center building is not open to the public.
- Motion: Moved by Barb Graf seconded by John Mesch that the board cancel all remaining meetings for the year 2020. Approved Unanimously
- Christmas Bird Count:
President Leonard Graf will contact Ed Moehle and Nate, the past leaders of the Christmas Bird Count to discuss this activity and determine if and how it might proceed.
- Membership Directory:
Mary MacDowell reported that she has not been able to successfully format the electronic file to have the directory printed. Mary will contact Copy Central and discuss the cost of formatting if we provide them with the electronic file. If this is not feasible, Mary will provide Barb and Leonard with a hard copy of the membership list.
- Nature Center:
Discussion was held regarding the fact that the Nature Center is not open to the public and the fact that we are not holding meetings. The result of this discussion was the decision to hold the amount of money allocated as a donation to the Nature Center for use of the room. Leonard will contact the Nature Center to discuss the bird feeders and whether the feeders are being filled. NOTE: John Mesch did a recon and it does not look like they are being filled.
- 2021 Programs Vice President Kathy Flegel
Kathy will begin to contact potential speakers for 2021 to determine their willingness to participate. This will be contingent on the state of the health conditions and any governmental orders that may preclude meeting. This would also be contingent on the limitations in place by the Boardman Nature Center. There was also discussion regarding the feasibility of having Field Trips in 2021. We will identify the usual Field Trips that we have but note these may be contingent upon the state of health conditions and government orders.
- Dues for 2021
Discussion regarding dues for 2021 given that we have not had any programs or field trips.
Motion: Moved by John Mesch and seconded by Ann Kennedy that the dues for 2020 will roll over for 2021. Passed Unanimously
- Communication with membership:
The board expressed concern that we need to keep the membership updated as to board discussions and decisions. The Board directed that a copy of this meetings minutes be posted on the GTAC web site and that a Yahoo groups note be sent to the members directing them to the website. Mary will work with Carol Towar to have the minutes posted once the board reviews the draft minutes.
- Miscellaneous
Shirley Mesch indicated that the Board’s Facebook page is not being updated. The individuals who were doing the updating are no longer able to do this. Ann Kennedy indicated that she would look at the Facebook page to see if she might be able to help.
Adjournment: Mary MacDowell moved that the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Ann Kennedy.
President Graf adjourned the meeting at approximately 3:20 pm