Gael Bissell, Flathead Audubon President BIRDS ROCK! and BIRD TROUBLE! and BIRD HELP! As 2020 closes out, it is my sincerest hope that the new Covid-19 vaccines gradually take the vise grips off society and we get back to some type of normalcy…like in-person Flathead Audubon meetings, field trips, and many other group birding activities!…
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by Rod Wallette A couple of changes occurred in FAS’s financial department this past fiscal year (July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020). Joe Batts needed to step down from the Treasurer position and I was asked to fill-in for the rest of his term. The first agenda to complete was the transition of our accounting program…
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by Bob Lee As you all know by now, Flathead Audubon postponed their annual meeting and FAS opted to hold elections and other business via a proxy vote. Ballots were mailed in and counted at a specially-called Board Meeting held at Lone Pine State Park. Officers and Directors in attendance were Gael Bissell, Rod Wallette…
Read More2020 Elections Instructions by Bob Lee As you are probably aware by now, the elections for Flathead Audubon are taking place by proxy. The procedure for proxy voting is fairly simple. Anyone who was a FAS member as of May 2020 is eligible to vote; individual members are allowed 1 vote, families who are members…
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by Bob Lee With all the uncertainty concerning gatherings last spring, Flathead Audubon postponed their annual meeting, the May potluck, to be rescheduled at an appropriate time this fall. However, gatherings are still limited. But we need to conduct some business, including elections. Per state statute and our ByLaws, we can hold a business meeting…
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FAS President Gael Bissell CANCELLATIONS AND POSTPONEMENTS. As we continue coping with this unfortunate pandemic, our non-profit organization, like many others, will be following CDC and state/local regulations to minimize people-to-people exposure for a bit longer. As such, we are cancelling our May Annual Meeting and Potluck at the Whitefish Community Center. The annual business…
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by Joe Batts The role of the Treasurer has expanded over the last 5 years that I have served as FAS Treasurer. Duties that were once spread among other board members are now more consolidated under the Treasurer. In addition, as the organization grows, greater accountability and reporting is needed. The Treasurer has always maintained…
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by Will Beyer How a person becomes interested enough to want to recognize each bird species by sight or sound and then make this a hobby is anybody’s guess. For me this happened years ago while working a summer job irrigating and cutting hay on a ranch in Central Montana. Never having spent so much…
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Each year, Flathead Audubon completes and discloses to our membership our Chapter’s financial reports for the previous fiscal year (July 1-June 30). This is not only an IRS requirement for non-profit 501 (c) 3 organizations, but also a good thing to do. We ask our membership to give a significant amount of money to FAS…
Read Moreby Gael Bissell, President Gosh, it’s already that time of year where you receive innumerable end of year appeals from dozens of worthy non-profit organizations. It can be a struggle to decide if and how much to give and to which organization. What it comes down to for me, what motivates me, is seeing those…
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