By Linda Du Lac
As Membership Chair, I have the opportunity to speak to many new and returning Flathead Audubon Society members. The most frequently asked question I get is, “How come you sent me a membership renewal notice when I have already paid for my membership?” Investigating almost always reveals that the person joined or renewed their National or Montana Audubon membership, not their Flathead Audubon Society membership. The following should help clarify the distinctions among the three Audubon organizations and how they relate to each other.
National Audubon Society. www.audubon.org
Your National Audubon Society (NAS) membership supports National’s many excellent nationwide education and conservation programs. With a National membership, you receive both Audubon magazine and the Flathead Audubon monthly newsletter. NAS has chapters, such as the Flathead Audubon Society (FAS), throughout the United States. If you join NAS, you automatically become a chapter member in the geographic area where you live. Because your NAS membership donation stays at the national level, we encourage you to also join your local chapter to support local education and conservation programs.
Montana Audubon. www.mtaudubon.org
Montana Audubon (MA) is an independent conservation organization that works at local, state, and national policy levels to protect our national heritage. Flathead Audubon supports Montana Audubon by having a representative on its board. During the Montana legislative session, we provide a small amount of financial support to help fund “Action Alerts” and to advocate for issues important to our region.
MA partners with FAS in the management of the Owen Sowerwine area, providing insurance and helping with management expenses. A membership in MA stays within that organization.
Flathead Audubon Society. www.flatheadaudubon.org
When Flathead Audubon Society was established in 1977 we became a local chapter of NAS. Historically, to join FAS, you simply joined the national organization. Each year, NAS sent each chapter a “dues share” funding payment based on the number of that chapter’s members. In 2001, the dues share was eliminated, and chapters were required to become self-supporting.
Your membership in FAS supports the many local education and conservation programs we offer, including free field trips, the Pileated Post newsletter, and management of the Owen Sowerwine area. FAS members do not automatically become members of NAS.
We appreciate the support you continue to give us through your FAS membership and donations. It is through your generous support that we have been able to continue expanding our education and conservation programs, offering free field trips, publishing the Pileated Post newsletter, and managing the Owen Sowerwine area.
Should you have any membership questions, I can be reached at membership@flatheadaudubon.org or lindadulac@flatheadaudubon.org.