North American Bluebird Society (NABS) (Part 1)

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas

Gary Springer is the new director of NABS and we (officers and board of directors) are working to rejuvenate the North American Bluebird Society to return it to the dominant clearing house of correct information for bluebirds and cavity nesters in the Americas. It is easy to let memberships in organizations drop. It is easier to simply not join a group in the first place!

NABS began more than 25 years ago when bluebirds were at extremely low numbers across much of North America. It started as a small core group that Larry Zeleny pulled together literally out of stacks of old letters from bluebird landlords that he kept in a closet over many years in a couple of old paper grocery sacks.

NABS membership exploded over what they projected they could EVER expect to join to help the cavity nesters! When Sialia began to be published every three months new information and the best ways to produce cavity nesters began to be shared around the country; bluebird, tree swallow titmice and chickadee populations soared to record numbers where large trails were maintained.

We all became a "Band of Brothers" in our efforts to save this unique blue bird. As populations of bluebirds exploded more and more people joined in the effort locally and statewide. Soon there were states with a thousand bluebird members! (Originally Larry Zeleny suggested that the most "Bluebirders" NABS should expect to keep was around 350 people.)

NABS helped state after state to form their own bluebird society. Many of the early state or local groups also exploded in members only to decline and disappear over the years and then like the Phoenix, NABS helped another group to grow and rebuild from their ashes in these states.

Many NABS members were the ones to form or pull together a group in their area or to encourage and push and prod someone to build a new group, rebuild a group or simply to make the one they already had better. Each group fed off of the energy of NABS and vice versa.

I have watched over the years as NABS let states run with bluebird conservation in their areas which makes sense as each region has their own issues and problems to overcome to best help the cavity nesters. This is fine as long as each state continued to grow membership.

BUT we all seem to fall victim to our successes! When bluebirds explode across a local or state area and members believe they know "enough" about bluebirds they tend to drop out and do their own thing with nestboxes.

Groups get political sometimes or lose focus or have a falling out with their neighbor state..Decline sets in when people or groups accomplish their goals.

NEVER before in the history of mankind has there been so much pressure to push so many species to the brink of extinction. There is NO other conservation effort anywhere that people can make a backyard contribution to than helping cavity nesters! If a picture is worth a thousand words then saving and touching a real living creature is worth a Million words.

NABS should be growing by leaps and bounds inspiring children and adults to make a difference in their own back yards and this is where you can step up and forward information to friends and neighbors. You can pass on information from your group or your backyard to NABS to share what you have learned and continue to see with others. Join NABS now and get involved!

Share with us what your vision is of helping our cavity nesters.

If you are ready to make a commitment to helping others find the Peace and Joy that the Bluebird of Happiness brings into so many lives then NABS is looking for candidates for Officers and Board of Directors in the years to come to lead in the field of conservation. Gary wanted me to forward the following to the list. Take a few minutes and drop Gary a note. KK

From: Gary Springer [mailto:garyspringer"at"bellsouth.net]
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2005 2:27 PM
Subject: Affiliates

I want to create a list of benefits of a strong continental wide NABS to the cavity nesting bird conservation effort.

I also want a list or reasons why regional affiliates are so important.

This is a very rough draft and your entries do not need to be well written.

Please insert your benefits below those I 've started to help me complete it.

NEED FOR A STRONG CENTRAL ORGANIZATION

1) To help establish new affiliates to increase bb conservation on the local level.

2) In todays world of superstores, nestboxes made at a single location are sold to birders across all regions. The NABS nestbox approval process increases the quality of boxes put up in all regions.

3) To ensure prompt sharing of scientific information originating at local levels to all regional affiliates.

4) Because there is a larger membership base at the national level, NABS is able to fund research such as :

5)bb 's move from region to region during migration. It is important to understand the entire life cycle about these birds if we are to maximize our contributions to bb success. A continent wide organization is necessary for this understanding.

NEED FOR STRONG AFFILIATES

1) Species and behavior within species are different from region to region

2) Because it is less expensive to travel within a smaller region, members of an affiliate can work more closely and meet more often thereby increasing effectiveness.

3) Not only are there three different species of BB 's each with varying needs, but also, the same species needs change from region to region. And the same applies to other cavity nesting species. Emphasis on different species changes from region to region.

Keith and All,

The new director of NABS, Gary Springer, asks us to submit information to him regarding the:
"NEED FOR A STRONG CENTRAL ORGANIZATION."
Box design is included as a suggested topic for this "need."

It is not clear whether Gary's intent is to include more local input into NABS or whether it is to exercise more control over local regions. From Gary's past posts, I will assume the intent is to exercise greater control.

>From a West Coast Bluebirder's perspective working with trails in
highly-urbanized conditions, it would be a disadvantage to give NABS any sort of central control over box designs or monitoring techniques across the
continent. NABS review and approval for basic designs are OK as it is now,
but any "strong central" standardization over localized regions would be counterproductive. For example, even though 2-holed hanging boxes are very successful for my urban trail, it is highly doubtful they would pass NABS approval process. Indeed, one of the NABS guidelines has been to keep boxes away from trees. Orange County, Calif. monitors simply disregard guidelines such as those.

Gary's box design (The Springer Chalet) and mounting techniques (post
mounted) would not come close to protecting the birds on my trail. The Springer Chalet seems to be well-built and suitable for Eastern Bluebirders, and that's wonderful for those areas. On the other hand, Gary has been one of the strongest opponents of the box design (2-holers) and mounting technique (hanging boxes) that is best for my trails. Gary even suggested that capitalized warning signs be placed on hanging boxes because snakes MIGHT get into them (Gary has snakes in his area). That would be just as silly as placing warning signs on Springer Chalets in my area because people WOULD get into them..

Gary is not alone in his opposition to alternate methods of monitoring techniques and these specific points are brought out only as an example of why there is no need for a strong central continent NABS organization that might position itself to have greater control over what monitors use on their trails and how they use them.

Here in tiny Orange County, Calif., we fledge a comparatively huge amount of nestbox-raised Western Bluebirds from hanging boxes. Standardized techniques and designs coming from a "strong central" NABS would be counterproductive to the declining Western Bluebird species.

Linda Violett
Yorba Linda, Calif.

Dear Bluebird-L subscribers,

It has been a long time since communicating with all of you. I truly miss the camaraderie with many of you who Bluebird-L represented my only contact.
You were a big part of my life for many years when it was styled after Henry David Thoreau's secluded but not so secluded wilderness world at Walden Pond. I hope this finds you well.

I'm glad many of you remain vigilant in your watch and continue to express your opinions openly. Free expression is key to success.

And so is unity and organization. Without organization, and without your financial support, this list and bluebird societies would not exist. Soon after the demise of these organizations, the bluebirds would follow.

So, express your concerns freely but also provide support to the organizations which are so vital to the success of 'your' bluebirds. Among many of these are the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, your local bluebird society, and the North American Bluebird Society.

Within the office of Executive Director of the North American Bluebird Society, since I have occupied that position, there has never been and never will be any plan, discussion, intent or thought of controlling any affiliate bluebird society.

I clearly recognize the tremendous contribution to bluebird conservation made by the leaders and members of the affiliates.

I also clearly recognize the tremendous contribution to bluebird conservation that stems from NABS efforts to organize new affiliates.

And, I will increase that effort, in part, because of the reasons I gave earlier which are:

NEED FOR STRONG AFFILIATES
> 1) Species and behavior within species are different from region to
> region
> 2) Because it is less expensive to travel within a smaller region,
> members of an affiliate can work more closely and meet more often
> thereby
increasing
> effectiveness.
> 3) Not only are there three different species of Bluebirds, each with
> varying needs, but also, the same species needs change from region to
> region. And the same applies to other cavity nesting species.
> Emphasis on different species changes from region to region.

At present, what needs to be made more clear isn't that the affiliates are an important branch of bluebird conservation. No one has questioned the need for affiliates or their contribution to bluebird conservation.

At present, what is often dangerously overlooked, is how important the North American Bluebird Society is to the success of bluebird conservation and to the success of affiliate bluebird societies, not only at present for the reasons I gave, but also ten years, twenty years, fifty years and beyond when affiliate leaders today are incapable to monitor even one nestbox because of their age.

There isn't a single state bluebird society that could have survived the loss of as many members as did the North American Bluebird Society weather since the loss of its founder Lawrence Zeleny.

Not only does NABS provide a safety net for regional organizations and assistance for new affiliates, and not only is NABS stronger and more responsible for bluebird conservation because its larger base and constituents span the entire range of all three bluebird species and continent, but also, the success of each bluebird species includes issues beyond the borders of each region.

Therefore, the long term success of bluebird conservation is dependent not only upon regional bluebird societies, but dependent also upon a strong continent wide bluebird society.

I ask that each of you join both your local bluebird society and the North American Bluebird Society to ensure the long term success of not only the Western, Eastern and Mountain Bluebirds which are dependent upon us for survival, but also to support the protection and propagation of other cavity nesting songbirds which are increasingly more dependent upon the long term success of bluebird societies.

Thank you,

Gary Springer
Executive Director,
North American Bluebird Society

PS At this time I want to share with each of you why, I decided to make a huge commitment of my time and resources to the North American Bluebird Society. To accomplish that, I have copied below portions of an earlier letter I wrote:

In 1976 Lawrence Zeleny wrote "The Bluebird: How You Can Help Its Fight For Survival". Two years later, he and other charter members founded the North American Bluebird Society to achieve the objective in the title of his book.

The North American Bluebird Society's published mission is to "promote the recovery of bluebirds and other native cavity nesting bird species".

In Zeleny's era, many people put up nest boxes and monitored them faithfully for years before seeing their first bluebird egg. My brother and I grew up in the sixties and though we were young naturalists romping through perfect bluebird habitat, we never saw a bluebird in Western Pennsylvania for more than 10 years.

Now that bluebirds often arrive at nest boxes within hours or even minutes of setting them up, and, now that they're common throughout most of their range, many people think Lawrence Zeleny has accomplished his objective. As a result, many may conclude that the North American Bluebird Society has little to do of any real significance.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Today, in my opinion, our work at NABS isn't as much about what we can do to bring back bluebirds as it is about what we can do to help bluebirds generate support for the conservation movement.

Lawrence Zeleny's success in making the bluebird common again has put the North American Bluebird Society and the bluebird in a position to make a huge contribution to conservation that rivals the National Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, the National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy and other such organizations.

The biggest impediment to the conservation movement's work of saving habitat and protecting the environment is the dangerous and pervasive belief in our society that man can live and prosper on the earth independently from the rest of the living world. This is the natural end result of a society that
gets all of its food by laying down cash at a grocery store. The vital
connection between us and the remainder of the plant and animal species of the world is severely obscured when cash is all that is needed to obtain your next meal.

Because the bluebird is beautiful and readily accepts the help of humans, and, because people love to nurture beautiful animals, especially those that are endearing, a strong natural bond is forged between man and the bluebird at the nest box. In many cases, that relationship not only lasts a lifetime but also grows into a greater awareness of the plight of all wild animals and the plant kingdom on which all animals depend.

When you realize it is the lack of any connection to the rest of the living world that causes society's insensitivity to the destruction of wildlife and the habitat upon which it depends, it becomes clear just how huge an event it is when one more person sees his or her first bluebird egg inside a nest box he or she provided.

In the twenty first century, it therefore seems The North American Bluebird Society's first goal is to rekindle the once strong respect man had for the rest of the living world, one nest box at a time.

We need to make as many people as possible the landlord of at least one nest box. If we do that, we will have made a huge contribution not only to bluebirds and other native cavity nesting birds, but also to habitat conservation and protection of the environment.

Ironically, that is exactly what our most active members have been doing from the beginning while focusing primarily upon bluebird recovery, and that is exactly the work we must continue.

I offer this perspective to demonstrate our goal is much larger and much more important than bringing back the bluebirds with the hope we will restore within the North American Bluebird Society the same vigor and conviction with which our founder and charter members approached their work.

Please join NABS to ensure our continued support of bluebirds, bluebirders, and the conservation of wildlife and the ecology.

Thank you.

Gary Springer

-
From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2005 1:17 PM
Subject: RE: NABS Director request

Well, Linda, you interpreted Gary's request entirely different than I did.
He talked about nestboxes that are sold in stores that come FAR from meeting standards fit for a bird to nest in. Read it again.

It is a well known fact that you and Gary have differences. I've had a scrap or two with him myself on the BB List. But, heck if you stay on here long enough, it will most likely happen.

I have had several conversations with Gary the last few days along with Mary Jane Shearer, Pauline, Keith and Jim McLochlin. Gary's heart and soul is to bring NABS to its fullest and those of us that keep in our hearts and mind of the wonderful work that Larry Zeleny started, cannot sit idly by and not help. I feel like we owe it to Mr. Zeleny and to the bluebirds and cavity nesters to do better than we've been doing.

In our world today, it is frightening to see what is happening to our young people and young adult's attention and interest in the outdoors and conservation. My son, Clayton, Jr. and I were talking about it yesterday. He sees it happening in his hunting organization. What will it be like in 20 years or so from now? Our cavity nesters depend on us, that is a fact!

How better can we keep the interest alive than to support our Bluebird and Cavity Nesters with our national and state organizations?

All organizations have high and low times. We should be thankful for those that feel the extra passion to jump in and do all they can.

The best way all of you can help is to join NABS and your state organization too.

Please try to attend the 2006 NABS Convention. They tell me that you forget any ill will and come away so rejuvenated it is unbelievable. I know that to be a fact because one of my dearest friends had this experience.

Do something to help, support us, we need it!!!!
Evelyn Cooper
Delhi, Louisiana

You made some excellent points, Evelyn. As you know, I've spoken with Gary at length several times about his goals and plans for NABS, and every time I've been impressed by his concerns about building the membership and bringing us back together with central leadership -- not control. He is keenly aware of the varying needs of bluebirds in different regions of the country.

Gary wrote:
> > 3) Not only are there three different species of BB's each with
> > varying needs, but also, the same species needs change from region
> > to region. And the same applies to other cavity nesting species.
> > Emphasis on different species changes from region to region.
> >

Anyone who has been on this list for any time knows that Gary and I have "locked horns" on numerous issues. Right now he needs help while he's trying to get NABS back on track, and Evelyn and I have offered to help him in any way we can. We'll never agree on everything, but if Gary and I can put our disagreements aside and work together, anybody can! :-)

Let's see if we can't make our recommendations for the future of NABS in a positive manner, putting our egos and personal differences aside, to enable the continuation of the bluebird restoration program. Nobody cares more about the survival of cavity nesters and other birds than bluebirders, so I know many of you will come forward to share your ideas and recommendation with Gary and members of the NABS board.

This job is too big for one person, but working together we can succeed in building a strong national organization capable of supporting its
affiliate groups.

While I'm at it... Pauline is working on a great NABS 2006 meeting.
I hope everyone will make an effort to enjoy a lot of TEXAS hospitality and get to know some of the nicest people in the world -- bluebirders!

MJ
(Mary Jane Shearer; Tucker, GA)

If you want to mail in a membership or donation, there's a NEW address:
North American Bluebird Society
P.O. Box 551
Carnesville, GA 30521

NABS recently moved from an unventilated back room storage closet in Ohio to an old farmhouse along a highway in the Georgia countryside - where one can hear bluebirds singing throughout the year.

And, NABS went from an Executive Director working 16 hours/week to an Executive Director working over 60 hours/week, through CPA Gary Springer's offer to work for a salary that equates to less than minimum wage.

Not only is Gary well-educated and passionate about bluebirds, he is a conservationist so devoted to the environment that he lives without airconditioning!!!!!!!!

Picture it in your mind. See a new day dawning for NABS !!!

...

Pauline Tom
Membership Chairperson, NABS
Chair, NABS 2006 Convention (hosted by Texas Bluebird Society) Mountain City (no mountains) TX

I would like to make a few more comments on this "control" issue.

When an organization is applying for its non-profit status, it has to clarify if it is under the umbrella of another organization. That means, that organization has control of its decision making, etc.

There are some organizations that you can apply to, to be under their umbrella and be classified as non-profit.

I think I am correct in saying that NABS does not extend this to Affiliates.

In the criteria for obtaining affiliate status with them, one thing NABS asks is that our organization cooperate with and support NABS continent-wide programs including the NABS Speakers Bureau, Transcontinental Bluebird Trail, and NABS nestbox approval process.

There was nothing about an agreement that we had to enter into that prohibits us from promoting any persons nestbox. However, we do make sure the box is what we expect to be suitable for the birds.

This is said to point out that NABS does not "CONTROL" us. We are not under their umbrella of non-profit status and we operate as we see fit.

I think there are a few Affiliates that have gone under some organizations like Audubon's umbrella (speaking from memory) and that meant they did not have to pay the non-profit fee and do the paper work, if I remember right.
It has been a while since we did all this, but think this is right. At any rate, they have to answer to the main organization and their hands are somewhat tied.

So, in a nutshell, we are not "controlled" by NABS, we work hand in hand with them. I will never forget the wonderful help from Joan Harmet when we first started as we had a most unique situation to deal with right off the bat. She was always there to answer my many questions. So was Dean Sheldon.

And, of course our affiliate neighbors, TBS and MS Bluebirds.

Evelyn Cooper, President
Delhi, LA
Louisiana Bayou Bluebird Society

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
Western Bluebirds cover a vast area of the Western USA and Canada. Although there are several groups of people who help this species they do not write or contribute as much to NABS Bluebird magazine as the Mountain or Eastern Bluebirders seem to do. In the east we see states with huge memberships that expand into many different counties with excellent growth and teaching workshops being conducted.

One of the things we need to do at NABS is getting the different affiliates to share their success and failures with fund raisers and how they get and keep new members. It takes LOTS of material to build bluebird trails but the hard part is getting and keeping monitors inspired to continue to maintain trails. If each group would contribute highlights of their various programs each quarter this would be 30 or 40 articles in each issue of the Bluebird.

...

Rob,
You ask if the New Hampshire Bluebird Conspiracy is a "real organization."
I can only answer: It is not an organization, but it is real..
It is a one-man operation, and I am its founder and sole member. I am not into organizations, really.
I do two things, basically:
1.) I mail out my free packets of information about Bluebird restoration. At last count, I've distributed just over 3000 packets over a 10-year period
2.) I maintain 72 Bluebird houses in Sunapee, NH. (36 pairs)

If my 3000 packets produce 300 active Bluebird landlords, then I'll be satisfied, and I'll feel "successful." Anything above that is gravy.

If there were a vote, I would have to pick Bruce's non-organization name as the best.

Bruce neglected to mention that "the conspiracy" is also a NABS affiliate
(http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/affiliates.nabluebirdsociety.org/affiliate.htm) - I think I heard they made an exception in his case (since it's a one man band), maybe because he must be such an exceptional guy.

Bet from CT

From: Keith & Sandy Kridler [mailto:txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 9:56 AM
Subject: NABS Parade article was: Re: Trails, home plots, couch potatoes and hammers

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
Parade Magazine article back in 1979 or '80: The North American Bluebird Society formed in 1978 and a concerned citizen wrote the article never even telling anyone at NABS that they had done this. It was a great plea for people to help the bluebirds and at the end of the article they were encouraged to write to NABS for more information....Not any information in the article as I recall about joining NABS or how much a membership cost but to write to NABS for information to help the bluebirds.

Well NABS was started with a handful of bluebird and Audubon people and at this time and for the next 20 years almost was operating out of Mary Janetatos house. (Read up on more of the start up info in The Bluebird Monitor's Guide.) The catalog items and nestbox kits originally filled her garage and her car was moved to the street or driveway. NABS hotline phone system was simply an extra telephone sitting beside her home phone at her desk. Once a week she had friends come by to help box and wrap items and carry them to the Post Office. (To give you an idea of the work involved in shipping nestboxes I gave one talk at a garden club and one of the ladies got excited and had her husband order 1,500 nestboxes for Pittsburg Texas.) During the nesting season EVERY concerned bluebirder in the USA would call frantic with a problem because there were NO state bluebird groups as this was before "Bluebirding" was cool. There was NO Bluebird-L to write to at 3 AM but you could call Mary!

It got so bad that Mary would have the NABS phone ring and she would go through her very professional spiel that You have reached the office of the North American Bluebird Society only to find she was speaking to one of her friends or relatives!!!!! WHY are you calling NABS phone she would ask!!!!!! The reply was, "Mary you NEVER answer your own phone and your personal phone recorder has been full for three days now!!!" Hey you KNOW bluebirders like to talk about bluebirds.....As NABS grew more stuff started creeping into a corner of a room and then most of a room and then NABS gobbled up another room of her house. By the tenth year she was living in a warehouse type setting with boxes stacked in every corner of the house.

Anyway this tiny sprite of a retired teacher was the center and soul of NABS. When she needed help she hit the phones and letter stuffers and order fillers and stamp lickers assembled in her living room and letters were answered and by night fall NABS was caught up again....Then out of the BLUE this article hit the Sunday edition of many major newspapers across the country.

It got so bad the post office quit delivering mail to Mary and she had to get friends to go down to the post office and pick up a truck load of mail bags. NABS had to call up and get the printer to print 100,000 color brochures of "WHERE HAVE ALL THE BLUEBIRDS GONE." Do you know how big a pile of legal size envelopes makes in your living room when you have 60,000 of them?

I talked with several of the volunteers and people did not just write asking for information they did what I do for a simple question they would write pages and pages telling about their bluebirds.......Then at the very end of three pages they might scribble a return address in all of three inches that was impossible to read!!!! Anyway they answered and mailed more than 60,000 information packets out at GREAT cost in manpower and money to people wanting to help the bluebirds. They brought in a couple of friends just to answer the phone almost around the clock as it rang non stop and the answering machine filled up every night.....or if you took a break and went to the bathroom.....

Unfortunately just like today people want information for free and I'll join later and send a check, well you had 60,000 people who wanted to help their bluebirds but they never picked up enough paying members to even cover the cost of the envelopes not to mention what 60,000 stamps cost or what a beautiful color brochure cost NABS. Mary had friends that stuck with her through this mass mailing and then politely told her to NEVER call them again to help with bluebirds.........

If you are NOT a member of NABS PLEASE join today. If you don't want the copy of the quarterly journal the Bluebird then just send them a check for $40 and this will pay for 102 stamps for the next batch of people who only want free information. A $70 check will pay for the envelopes and information sheets too for 100 people. While you are at it you can order the information packet for teachers and donate these to your elementary schools....Or you can wait and do this later:-))

Only bluebirds seem to motivate people to get up and write or call. Thousands of whales and dolphins have beached themselves this year and it hardly makes the news. Just let a Sparrow kill a bluebird and we all rush with information on how to stop this.....You just gotta love this little bluebird. Now you can help NABS help more people. KK

Announcement: Texas Bluebird Society is can now accept proxy bids on some of the items that will be auctioned during the North American Bluebird Society Convention, April 26 - 30, San Antonio Airport Hilton. Below is a "starter list" of proxy bid items. Watch www.NABS2006.com for updates to this list as we receive more unique items from across the continent.

PROXY ITEM # Item(s)
P.1002 Continental Airlines Gift Cert.
P.1003 BirdhouseSpyCam.com Spy cam
P.1004 "Lost Bayou" (Ivory-billed woodpeckers), signed and numbered print by Julie Zickefoose
P.1005 Lithograph of "Autumn Bluebirds" by Roger Tory Peterson; Plate 159(16x20 framed … no glass in the frame)
P.1006 5x5 matted "Bluebirds of a Feather Flock Together 1978" photo by Michael Smith (Signed front & Back)
P.1007 Vintage Numbered 2 of a series print of Eastern & Mountain Bluebird by Arthur Singer (9x12 unframed & unmatted)
P.1008 "Mountain Bluebirds" numbered, limited edition print; frame and matted by Edward Bierly
P.1009 "Eastern Bluebirds" numbered, limited edition print; frame and matted by Edward Bierly P.1010 Stay for 2 at the Hilton San Antonio Airport Hotel for 3 nights
P.1011 "Duet in Blue"Franklin Mint Plate limited edition
P.1012 "The Beautiful Bluebird" Franklin Mint Plate limited edition
P.1013 "The Road to Magdalena" mountain bluebirds limited edition of 300
10x14 print size; signed and numbered; double matted (artist: Julie
Zickefoose)
P.1014 "Swamp Angels" eastern bluebirds limited edition of 300 10x14 print size; signed and numbered; double matted (artist: Julie Zickefoose)

Bidding by Proxy for NABS 2006 Auction Items

Many items available at our auctions can be bid on by proxy (absentee).
Proxy bids can be entered on your behalf, in $10.00 increments, up to any
maximum amount you specify. A list will periodically be updated at
www.NABS2006.com/proxy
Here's how it works:
1. For each item, decide the maximum you're willing to pay (with a minimum of $25.00 for a proxy bid) and send a (secure) fax* to Anthony Sharp at
612.241.2003-with:
• The # and description of the item upon which you want to bid; • The maximum amount to be bid on your behalf, in a $5.00 increment, up to any maximum you specify (we will bid only as much as necessary if you're the high bidder); • Your billing information: Name on card, billing address, expiration, and last 3 digits on back of credit card; • Your shipping address and at least one phone #:
• A signed statement, "I read and agree to the SHIPPING POLICY" (Shipping
Policy: Credit card will be billed separately for packing and shipping through a UPS shipper unless the Proxy Bidder instructs in writing that TBS will send the item with an authorized registrant") 2. An NABS 2006 registrant recruited by Texas Bluebird Society will confidentially bid up to your maximum amount.
3. If other bidders outbid your maximum at the end of the auction, you don't get the item. But otherwise, you're the winner--and the final price might even be less than the maximum you had been willing to spend!
Remember: Texas Bluebird Society will use only as much of your maximum bid as is necessary to keep you in position as high bidder.
If duplicate high bids are submitted by proxy, the one with the earlier time stamp will win.

For more information, or to get an up-to-date auction-by-proxy listing,
contact: Anthony Sharp at 830.481.3351 (Central Daylight Savings Time)
* If you do not have access to a fax machine in order to submit your bid, discuss an alternate plan with Anthony.

Pauline Tom
President, Texas Bluebird Society

From: Pauline Tom [mailto:ptom"at"austin.rr.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 9:41 AM
Subject: Keith Kridler - Bluebird Tales of Texas / Express Registration

Just wait 'til you hear Keith Kridler's "Bluebird Tales of Texas" in the
Saturday morning session of the bluebird conference! He'll have people
rolling in the aisles. QUITE an experience to hear him in person and see
that grin of his and hear the contagious laugh.

....

YEEHAW!
Pauline Tom
President, Texas Bluebird Society (host of NABS 2006)

Congratulations to Pauline and TBS for a great NABS 2006!

What a pleasure meeting Maynard and so many others we knew only
by name or through the List! Having the opportunity to discuss bluebirds
with people like Keith Kridler, Ron Kingston, Floyd Van Ert, Kenny
Kleinpeter, and many others was a unique experience that I wouldn't
have missed. With so many great speakers on a variety of subjects --
David Luneau's Ivory-billed Woodpecker presentation, Dr. Gary McCracken's
keynote on bats, David Shiels on nest box heat shields, Keith's Bluebird Tales,
to name just a few -- it's hard to pick a favorite.

Everyone enjoyed the Texas hospitality for 2006, and Gary's already working
on a great program for next year when NABS will host 2007 convention in
Athens, GA near the new NABS Bluebird Center.

Y'all come! :-) !!

MJ
Mary Jane Shearer; Tucker, GA

From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net]
Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 2:11 PM
Subject: notes from the NABS 2006 conference

See photos at http://www.sialis.org/images/nabs2006/1wild2.html and notes at http://www.sialis.org/nabs2006notes.htm

Wow, what a week!

NABS 2006 in San Antonio was so much fun! Kudos to Pauline Tom and the Texas Bluebird Society for showing us all such a wonderful time.

With so many things to see and do, I find myself exhausted, but elated. It was so good to connect with old friends and make so many new ones. One of the best times at the convention was the Bluebird-L breakfast Saturday morning. So many of you have become dear friends through this forum, and it was great to finally meet "face to face". Can't wait for the pictures!

The convention was a fantastic opportunity for learning, not only about bluebirds, but bats, butterflies, the Ivory-billed, and a host of other native cavity nesters as well. One of the high points for me was when a Painted Bunting was spotted in the pool area. I like to think he just stopped in to say hello to that bunch of "bird nuts" gathered there!

Thank you to the Texas Bluebird Society for hosting NABS 2006. A big YEE-HAW! to Pauline and TBS. Can't wait for next year in Athens, GA! .... Tentative date is
September 20-23 in Athens, GA

Sheryl Bassi
Leland, MS

I'm sad to report that the membership of Mississippi Bluebirds voted to disband this past year. It's Mississippi's loss.

Hi everyone,

I'm catching up on sending photo CD's of the NABS banquet, Medina River bird watching trip, Wegman Ranch and Bracken Cave trip to those I've already promised to send them to. They will be on their way in the next few days.

If anyone else would like these, send me an email with your name and address and I'll mail them to you on CD's as soon as I can. They are large digital files taken with a 35mm SLR in "fine" mode, and unedited. There is a shorebird from Medina River we can't ID, several good summer tanager and female painted bunting photos, a few crested caracara shots and some cool prickly pears for your Yankee friends.

The bat photos are awesome and the banquet photos came out really nice .

Thanks,
Rob Barron

[Note from webmaster: some of the following discussion has been removed, as it is somewhat sensitive in nature]

From: Robert Barron [mailto:rebarron"at"gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006 10:47 PM
Subject: Statistics, NABS, etc

Hey group,

This may be somewhat off topic, and I'm not sure how to make sense of any responses I get. But I was wondering?

How many people here have Bluebird Trails? How many boxes does that add up to, and how does that compare to the people here (and not here) who have 2, 3, or 4 well monitoted boxes on their own property and have never found this List?

I've been putting up nest boxes all my life and just started participating here about 6 months ago. I've been involved with computers from the beginning but always associated places like this with "chat rooms" which I didn't know enough about to know if I wanted to participate or not. AND, for a long time I had dial up internet access and had to watch my minutes on-line.

Does anyone know what the North American Bluebird Society does? (or why it doesn't have a Spanish speaking option, everything else does?) Or is it just the north of Mexico North American Bluebird Society?

How many people here are NABS members? I am not, not for lack of respect or admiration for what NABS does, I've just been moving a lot. I support my county and State BB organizations and volunteer time and money to numerous BB organizations including NABS, but I never got around to joining.

How many people here, members or not, know what has been going on at the leadership level with the NABS? Why did all the officers resign and why is it such a big secret? Who are the Board of Directors and what are their diferences with all the elected officers who resigned "en masse". Does any of it matter as long as Keith Kridler keeps sharing his knowledge and experience here?

Does anyone here associate the value of this site with the NABS?

Would you know about the NABS without your interest in Bluebirds Googling you to this List?

Do you think the NABS should have authority over local, county or State Bluebird organizations? Should businesses that sell products with NABS "approval or certification" have to pay anything for that stamp of approval?

Does the average backyard Bluebird enthusiast even care about this?

If the NABS ceased to exist tomorrow, but this email community continued to thrive, would anything change as far as your interest in or ability to help with Bluebird conservation?

Just my questions for the day.

Rob Barron
Warrenton, Virginia

Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 6:27 AM
To: rebarron"at"gmail.com
Subject: RE: statistics, NABS, etc.
Rob asked questions and I'll put any contributions I think might
add to the discussion in CAPS...
~Paul in Baltimore
This may be somewhat off topic, and I'm not sure how to make sense of any responses I get. But I was wondering? How many people here have Bluebird Trails?
WE HAVE ABOUT 44 BOXES ON OUR TRAIL AT OREGON RIDGE PARK IN COCKEYSVILLE MD. AT LEAST TWO OTHER VOLUNTEERS ON THAT TRAIL ARE SUBSCRIBERS TO BLUEBIRD-L, THOUGH I THINK THEY OFTEN DON'T READ IT.... OF COURSE SOMETIMES I DON'T READ IT EITHER, BECAUSE OF TIME, ETC.
[SNIP]
Does anyone know what the North American Bluebird Society does? (or why it doesn't have a Spanish speaking option, everything else does?) Or is it just the north of Mexico North American Bluebird Society?
HE HE! GO ROB! I SUBSCRIBED FOR A WHILE BUT THEN HEARD SOME RUMORS ABOUT FUNDS AND BASICALLY LOST INTEREST IN NABS. ARE THERE BLUEBIRDS IN MEXICO? I'M NOT AWARE OF HAVING SEEN ANY POSTS FROM MEXICAN BLUEBIRDERS..... APPARENTLY THEY HAVE ONE HECK OF A CONVENTION. A CANDID DISCUSSION OF WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHY PEOPLE STILL WANT TO SUPPORT NABS MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN EITHER DOING AWAY WITH IT OR HELPING IT GET BACK ON ITS FEET...
[SNIP]
Does anyone here associate the value of this site with the NABS?
DON'T KNOW
Would you know about the NABS without your interest in Bluebirds Googling you to this List?
BEATS ME
Do you think the NABS should have authority over local, county or State Bluebird organizations?
NEVER THOUGHT OF IT, BUT I CAN'T SEE HOW THEY WOULD, UNLESS THEIR SANCTION WERE SOMEHOW NECESSARY, AND THEY COULD WITHDRAW IT UNLESS YOU OBEYED THEM.... I BELONG TO OUR NEW LOCAL BS, BUT EVEN BEFORE HELPING START IT I STARTED TO QUESTION WHETHER IT'S NECESSARY. I DID SEE SOMETHING ABOUT THE (I BELIEVE) NORTH CAROLINA BS WHICH SEEMS REALLY TO HAVE THEIR ACT TOGETHER - A COORDINATOR LISTED FOR EVERY COUNTY (A LOT OF COUNTIES COMPARED TO LITTLE MD'S 23!) AND A RESPONSE SYSTEM WHERE SOMEONE FROM THE BS WILL COME TO YOUR HOME IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION! I MEAN, DANG! YET I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN ANYONE FROM NC ON THIS LIST.... KIND OF MADE ME WONDER HOW THEY GET ALONG WITHOUT US. OR SHOULD IT BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND?
PAUL IN BALTIMORE

....

As for NABS having control over the Affiliates, well, we organized our organizations on our own. A few got a start up loan of $500.00 from NABS, but had to pay it back. LBBS did not get the start up loan. Texas paid for our state fees out of the goodness of their hearts (our is about three times higher than most) and we paid the federal fees for our non-profit status. We sweated blood and tears for months filling out the form for that status. I contacted two CPA's about doing it and they said it would cost from $1,200 to $2,000 to do it. My daughter and I rolled up our sleeves and did it. We got it right the first time, and believe me, we bragged about it because many organizations did not.

We are NOT a chapter of NABS because when you are a chapter of an organization, it means they have paid for your non-profit status and they control all your monies and everything else your organization does. You answer to the parent organization. This is not likely going to happen with LBBS.

...

NABS was first and was and is a wonderful organization that has in its time educated lots of people.

....

My heart was heavy about all this, but a few days ago a woman from NC called me needing information about her backyard bluebirds. She had seen the LBBS website. She did not get me on the first try and called the NC Bluebird Society. I urged her to join the NC Society. She said she printed out the form and also one for the NABS site and planned to join it too. That made me feel better.

...
Evelyn
www.labayoubluebirdsociety.org

Rob,
I have never thought of NABS as being in any way coercive,
or dictatorial, or dogmatic. I've thought of it merely as a source - a
clearinghouse - of useful information about cavity-nesting birds in general, and Bluebirds in particular. I welcome what I have learned from NABS, and I try to answer questions if I think I know the answers. I base my answers on my own experiences here in SW NH.

Bruce Burdett

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
There are actually quite a few past and present officers of NABS and past and present members of the Board of Directors of NABS on this list. ....I don't add it to my signature line but I was 2 VP for NABS and was ACTUALLY just re-elected officially on June 28 for another term and I am a lifetime member of NABS. I served a three year term on NABS board back in the early 80's. Dr. Larry Zeleny was the first life member and I believe John Rogers from New York was the second life member. I may be wrong but I think I was the third lifetime member of NABS. (Lifetime memberships were originally entered as a 20 year membership and I was notified several years ago that my membership had expired and I had to inform them that I was indeed still breathing:-))

There have been MASSIVE bluebird recovery efforts in many states dating back to the early 1900's. Missouri actually had more than 14,000 nestboxes criss crossing that state and being monitored in the 30's>40's. All types of programs/recovery efforts sprout from a small seed or idea, prosper,mature, age and then die out just like a crop of apples. Picture each nestbox landlord, local group, regional group or state group of bluebirds and they are in order; the tiny spur limb that holds or bears the fruit, which are supported by the branch, which are supported by the tree trunk which is supported by the deep roots of the tree. Each tree will only live so long until it dies out and unless you have a farmer to come back in and replant that seed and start another tree the land will cease to produce large amounts of fruit. There are many natural causes that can shorten the life of a tree, disease from within, more fruit than the tree can bear, violent storms or even a chainsaw if the tree quits bearing fruit.

NABS is the farmer offering hope and support to the overall bluebird crop they carry the seeds to replant fallow fields. Paul or someone mentioned how STRONG North Carolina is today but they don't know that the FIRST North Carolina Bluebird Society was strong too until they matured and died out completely.....North Carolina bluebirds survived for years before the first state group was formed and then for years before the second group was formed. Mississippi Bluebird Society died out this past year, I believe so did Maine? and one other state group. Bruce Burdett is the sole member of New Hampshire but he has helped THOUSANDS of bluebirders in that region with Bluebird information.

MANY local and regional groups die out when a single key member moves out of state, moves to the nursing home or cemetery.
NABS will hold another special board meeting on July 6. I truly hope they can re-group and re-build NABS as the bluebirds and bluebird groups need deep roots to fall back on sometimes. Besides I am still a lifetime member of NABS and hope to make it another 20 years:-)) Change is often good, maybe we were dead wood at the top of the tree that needed to be pruned out.
Sometimes when you are stuck climbing around in the middle of a trees'
branches it is hard to see how pretty the tree is from a distance.

EVERY one of you can help bluebirds by joining your state and local groups AND sending in a membership to NABS. You all need to offer to help do stuff for your groups and give some of the ones who do so much of the work a break once in a while. KK

Rob,

While I appreciate the history and dedication of those who built and maintained NABS, its survival or demise most likely will not impact Bluebirders in general unless it reinvents itself. Keith referenced the visual perspective of viewing NABS from inside the tree amongst the branches. As an outsider looking at the tree from a distance, my perspective is that of an old tree badly in need of visionary pruning if it is to complement the changing landscape.

Most of the nation has a diversity of cavity nesters and the next two decades is a small window available to organizations such as NABS to garner the energy of members to figure out how to maintain maximum diversity within city conditions. Backyard boxes won't be on acres of land, each nestbox will be impacted by a dozen neighbors. Trails will be in urban environments and they will be complex.

After NABS gathers itself up from recent events (thank you, Keith, for your
post) NABS could test its ability to survive the next 20 years by encouraging each of its officers to monitor or mentor 5 to 10 boxes installed on a busy high school sports field near them which is tightly surrounded homes. Problem boxes are left in place (as I do) so that solutions can be found.

NABS is so out of touch with urban trails that I tend to toss out the journals within minutes of their arrival. Even though the organization is of no value to me, personally, I hope it somehow reinvents itself to be part of the solution in tomorrow's altered conditions.

Linda Violett
Yorba Linda, Calif.

From: mrtony8 [mailto:philip.berry"at"mchsi.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 12:18 PM
Subject: Re: statistics, NABS, etc.

I have always felt that the people who put up a box or two in their yard produce many more bluebirds than those of us who have large trails. there are not that many of us who have the time/money to establish one. The logistics are way out there in most cases. Golf courses such as the one mine is on are not that easy going in most cases to allow establishment and carte blanche access to maintain a trail. And while not excessively expensive, it does cost around $10 for each box I put up, figuring the box, mountuing hardware, post, and Kingston guard on each one. And cement for the post hole. And I find they must be replaced every third year or every hurricane, whichever comes first. And when homeowners along the course see bluebirds thriving, they think it is real easy to just put up another box, often right close to one of mine. Or what the heck, if ONE box produces X number bluebirds, how many can we produce if we put up say, THREE boxes in our back yard.............oh, and the cute little brown jobs we produce are just too DARLING,
Phil Berry

Good news! There's opportunity NOW for input that will make a difference in the reinvented North American Bluebird Society!

Per the resolution overwhelmingly adopted by the NABS Board (10 - 4) on June 20th, a Work Group will look at reinventing NABS. In the course of events, everything can be new.

On June 2nd, 2006, the senior board members of NABS called for the special teleconference meeting in order to set NABS' course in a new direction.
With the resolution, we agreed on 8 points. Below are the two paragraphs
(#5 and #6) that relate to the Work Group. Other paragraphs relate to creating a "transparent" NABS (governed by the Board, per the by-laws), with Board decisions and other official documents posted on the website.

5. A Working Group comprising 7 - 12 outgoing, incoming, ongoing NABS Board members, or any other individual the board finds qualified be appointed (through the coordination of Brian Swanson) by the Board - not the President - within 10 days to review: the results of the May 2005 Strategic Planning discussion; the current state of NABS' infrastructure, programs and services; NABS' relationship to its affiliates and members; and other matters related to the planning and implementation of NABS' future

6. The Strategic Thinking Working Group will report back to the Board its recommendations within 4 months of its appointment by fellow Board members

I will serve as a member of the Work Group (subject to appointment by the NABS Board tomorrow night). So, I know Brian Swanson
(bcswanson"at"comcast.net) wants input from "bluebirders" across the continent as a plan for "NABS of the Future" is sketched on a blank canvas.

Pauline Tom
Mountain City TX

.... I'm going to JOIN NABS after I finish writing this email. The sincere and honest responses I've gotten to the questions I posed have inspired me to join NABS and try to make it work. People like Phil Berry, Kathy Clark, Pauline Tom, Keith Kridler, MJ Shearer, Linda Violet, Bruce Burdette, Judy Derry, Brian Swanson, Linda Violet, Evelyn Cooper, Steve Garr, Don Stiles, Tree Greenwood, Torrey Wenger, Dean Sheldon and too many others who I haven't met or whose names don't come to mind have have invested too much time to too worthy a cause to let this organization fall by the wayside.

I hope everyone here pays attention to Pauline's email and contributes ideas that they think will make the NABS a better organization. I know I'm going to give it a lot of time and effort. I think discussing ideas here, as long as they don't include personal attacks or digging up the past is appropriate.

My first thought is that we should be the North American Bluebird and Other Cavity Nesting Bird Society, but NABOCNBS doesn't roll off the tongue like NABS does.

Thanks,
Rob Barron

I forgot to thank Kenny Kleinpieter (forgive me Kenny if I spelled your last name wrong). AND John Schuster for raising awareness about Barn Owls, an elusive and amazing bird that most certainly needs more help than Bluebirds, now that we have so many people dedicated to Bluebird Conservation.

Evelyn, I admire you, respect you, and know that no one cares more about Bluebirds and getting new Bluebird enthusiasts set up properly....

Has anyone ever considered an NABS meting sponsored by the NABS and not an affiliate? Turn it into a Bluebird Aid like Farm Aid, and open it up to Barn Owls, Tree Swallows and other endangered and threatened birds. I bet anyone here a hundred bucks that Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, the Dixie Chicks and a bunch of Hollywood actors would show up and perform for free and the whole thing would be broadcast on CMT, MTV and MSNBC.

For the "supposedly" most evolutionary successful species, we sure can't seem to get along as well as Bluebirds. I hate the "corporate cliche" "thinking outside of the box", but that's what we need to do here. The U.S. population is almost at 300 million today. .... think of all the new people we could get interested and involved.

Just an idea,
Rob Barron

FYI: As long as I have been involved with NABS as a board member and life member, the stated mission of the organization has always been:

"The North American Bluebird Society is a non-profit conservation, education and research organization that promotes the recovery of bluebirds and other native cavity-nesting bird species."

Ann Wick
Black Earth, WI

YES! Not only has it been considered ... the first ever NABS-sponsored convention is calendared for September 20 - 23, 2007 in Athens GA (University of GA).

Dr. Patricia Gowaty (bluebird researcher and incoming NABS Board Member) is in the process of organizing a day long symposium of bluebird scientists to talk to registrants about their research, and what knowledge of bluebirds
tells us about global physical and biological processes. She hopes these
these scientists will help us understand just how powerful our contributions to fundamental science can be.

Now, Rob ... the thought of a Bluebird Aid with Willie Nelson, Neil Young, et al broadcast on CMT, MTV, and MSNBC .... I cannot recall hearing an idea like that. It needs to be passed on along to Helen Munro who is working on the details of the convention.

In the meantime, those with less vision than Rob could help raise money for NABS by taking him up on his $100 bet :-)

Pauline Tom
Mountain City (no mountains) TX

From: plkldf"at"comcast.net [mailto:plkldf"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 6:45 AMt
Subject: RE: statistics, NABS, etc.

....

I believe it should say "recovery of bluebirds and other native *secondary* cavity-nesting bird species." It is not a woodpecker society, nor an owl society, a wood duck society, or a purple martin society. Why should it describe itself as such?

Paul in Baltimore

Hey Ann,

LBBS mission is the same except we changed the wording of "other native cavity-nesting birds" to "ALL native cavity-nesting birds".

Evelyn

From: Bernie Daniel [mailto:bdaniel"at"cinci.rr.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 7:18 AM
Subject: Re: NABS resignations ....

There is still a NABS and we will move forward. We will try our best to make the next issue of Bluebird fly on time and the web site will continue. We are doing our best in a situation we did not create.

We will also try to make the mission of NABS, as the continental level organization be more complementary and less duplicative, of the state and provincial level societies.....

If you'd like to help with this adventure do not feel shy in asking.

Bernie Daniel
NABS Board

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
When Dean Sheldon was elected president of NABS one of his goals was to bring Mexico and their bluebirds into NABS. Pauline sent a note the other day about the southern most nesting pair of bluebirds in the USA way down in South Texas (they might nest further south in Florida or California I probably need to check to see which state has land/bluebirds further south) Bluebirds actually nest more than a 1,000 miles further south of the USA all the way down through Mexico and into Central America.

Mexico has a population of just over 106 million people. 31% of the population is now UNDER the age of 14, the average age of people living in Mexico is 24 but they have a life expectancy almost equal to the average American. Five Mexicans per 1,000 people immigrate from or leave Mexico each year. The average size of a corn field in Mexico is about 2.47 acres (just a little over a hectare) compared to about 2,000 acres for the average corn field in the USA. 40% of the population of Mexico live below the poverty level (the poverty level in Mexico is a whole lot different than the poverty level in America.)

I went to Monterey Mexico in 1973 my senior year in high school on a band trip. During the bus ride from the border to Monterey I saw several pairs of bluebirds. Most of the rural population were then and still are subsistence farmers with a flock of chickens, a few goats and vegetable gardens. This is ideal habitat for House Sparrows. I saw quite a few ceramic/pottery nestboxes in rural and urban settings. Scrap wood, twigs or boards in 1973 would be used for cooking fires in rural areas.

Scan the news headlines of Mexico today and you will probably read about riots/protests in Mexico City because of lack of water delivery (not enough tanker trucks to fill five gallon pails). Very little electricity in most areas of the country and even less access to the internet and NABS WebPages.
I believe you can convert any webpage to any language.

I give talks representing NABS/Cornell/Texas Master Gardeners all the time to all kinds of groups. July 11 I will furnish nestbox kits and gourds for a regional meeting of 4-H kids from the entire eastern half of Texas in the little city of Lone Star Texas. I found out yesterday that 111 4-H kids have already signed up to build one of my nestboxes. (Last year at this same camp I spoke on Bluebirds but another contractor furnished more than 165 nestbox kits and worked for two days helping the kids build nestboxes for a church
group.)

Most of these will be white children (many national groups are segregated on the local levels). July 12 I have another nestbox building day at Camp Shiloh where I was supposed to help 25 kids age 12-14 build nestboxes but also got a call from the camp yesterday saying 44 have signed up. Last year this was an exclusive Baptist church group with kids from New Jersey, Florida and California and many states in between building nestboxes and getting info from NABS. Again this was mostly a white group but all denominations/religions are welcome at this church camp south of Mt.
Pleasant.

I have bluebird nestbox building days already scheduled for other church camps on July 19, 26 and August 2. Shawn and I need to cut out more than 300 nestbox kits and get 600 gourds ready for this coming month. (We need to keep our gourd vines alive this month during this drought in order to harvest the 3,000 gourds or so for NEXT year!) This will be over a thousand board feet of lumber needed this month. In a round about way NABS is planting a seed in each one of these children. We won't know how these tiny seeds will turn out for about 30 years! Dr. Larry Zeleny planted a similar seed in my brain with a few letters to me back when I was in my late teens early 20's before NABS was formed. I am only carrying on one of the many torches he passed on to other "kids" with his vision/dream.

I have gotten posts complaining that NABS NEVER helped them with their group. But Sandy, Shawn and I have flown to Pennsylvania, driven to Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana to speak for state meetings in just the last couple of years on our nickel. Other NABS speakers have traveled thousands of miles annually going and visiting and speaking for other states and other groups.

Dean Sheldon had a dream/vision of bringing in the Latino population. In
1973 when I graduated in Mt. Pleasant there were NO Latino children in our county attending school. Today 57% of the entire population of my county is Latino, 67% of ALL of the students in the county are Latino. I sent photo's to Rob a couple of weeks ago where only one of the students building nestboxes at a local school were white the 50 + others were all Latino. They have as much fun building nestboxes and are as excited about getting bluebirds and nesting information as any other race of children. We don't have to go to Mexico to help them with their bluebirds.

Birding/conservation groups that I go and speak to are mostly white. I am curious what the percentage of ethnic mix is represented in your state birding/bluebird groups compared to the overall population in schools in your state. KK

From: BlueBirder2838 [mailto:bluebirder2838"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 9:19 AM
Subject: Requesting Open Debate

To The List,

I respectfully disagree with the opinion of those who say this List-serv is not the place to air the issues re: the NABS board.

....Folks, conflicts can be caused by a number of things and some of them need a forum to let the parties tell their sides. I can envision in this scenario that miscommunications and plenty of hurt feelings have occurred. Is there another forum in which both sides are held to a monitored code of behavior, during which communication can occur and hopefully positive change, while interested parties monitor the debates? If there is another forum, please let us know; if not, why not use this forum? Those of us who have been List-serv members for a while do know many of the NABS board members from their List-serv posts, and we would like the chance to watch the Board work on the issues and come to some resolutions. Growth occurs when all sides open their minds to others’ opinions and issues, while keeping their eyes firmly set on the goal: a better, stronger, fiscally sound NABS with a Board who can agree on a future vision for NABS.

Who knows, it might allow you to recruit more NABS members and possibly Board nominations from among some of the incredibly dedicated minds on the List-serv—many folks leap to my mind.

....-it is time to snap-to and work to support NABS. How can we decide if it is a cause worthy of supporting if we do not know what is going on in its Board?

If you agree, please post your agreement to the List-serv so that the Board may see your opinion.

Donna from Marlborough, CT

...

Are you a member of NABS? I think that members are the ones that are entitled to the information and as for as the other people, they should join if they are that interested.

My point I was making was that confidential board meetings are held for a reason. They are protected for good reason because of potential law suits. It states that in Robert's Rules. ...

Most organizations are set up for the Board to deal with this and to work it out and for them to release information when it is necessary. They are working for the good of the organization. However, when it is clear that it is not releasing all of the facts, I get concerned.

I hope you are right and don't hesitate to let the board know about your possible nominations as they sure need help.

AGAIN, CLOSED MEETINGS ARE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ORGANIZATION. IT IS LOOKED AT FROM THE PROSPECTIVE OF THE LAW.
IF SOME SOUL DECIDES TO SUE AFTER SEEING ALL THE INFO THAT IS SO EASY TO GLEAN, THAT WOULD BE THE END OF IT ALL, NO MORE NEED FOR DISCUSSION.

I don't think that Bluebird List is linked with the inner business of NABS and it can serve to influence for the good or bad, whichever the way the ball bounces on here on NABS. I think it would be a shame if it had a negative effect on it when those that are trying to put it together are working so hard.

Evelyn

I did just a bit of research on this transparency thing and it was talking about governmental organizations. There is a "Sunshine Law" that does apply to most of them that require they make all their business public knowledge. That stands to reason as it is the public that is included.

However, the public is not included in the business and inner workings of NABS.

....

I think the board needs to take another look at that Resolution and I also think they need to lay down some policies and rules for themselves to follow before making such a huge issue of making sure the president tows the line. They also need to amend the By-Laws to spell out the duties of the Executive Director.

Well, now you have my opinions and I will get on with other matters at hand.

Evelyn

....

One List member just wrote to me asking why NABS could not set up a chat room on its site with a password for members only where things like this could be discussed. So, any and all board members and officers, please read this and think about it. I thought it was an excellent suggestion. At least, it is something to look into.

Evelyn

Another suggestion would be for NABS to have "working groups". The Society for Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology (of which I'm a member) has working groups such as Ecological Risk Assessment, Contaminated Soils, Metals Advisory Group, Whole Effluent Toxicity, etc.

NABS may be more narrow in its mission/focus to have such broad groups such as these, but perhaps a NABS working group could be one that focuses on bluebird conservation/recovery in public parks, or bluebird conservation/recovery activities in schools, or pesticides/contaminants in
bluebirds, or... (By the way, where I say bluebirds, also include other
cavity nesting birds.) Or marketing to obtain new members for NABS.
Actually, the latter might be more appropriate as a "committee" and perhaps the NABS already has these set up. I'm not a member and therefore, not familiar with NABS. However, my attempt at the definition of a "working group" is that it is more attuned to striving to accomplish some aspect of the organization's mission rather than helping the organization run in the business sense. Perhaps a certain member or members of these working groups could report to the board at the board meeting - "at large members". And these at large members can then also report back to the working group. All within legal areas, of course.

Forgive my ignorance if this already takes place at NABS!

Jill
Westminster, CO

Hi ,
Is NABS still actively processing memberships ? I sent mine in more than a month ago thru my local
bluebird society and have not receive any confirmation of it .

Veronica,

richmond,va

Hi All,

I would to back Lynn on all she said. Back before Michigan Bluebird Society was up and running I did go to a number of NABS conference. Dean was the one that asked me to go back and try to get the Michigan Bluebird Society going. It was three or four years before we got it going. ...

Maynard Sumner
Flint, MI

-- "Lynn Ward" <lWard"at"pmai.org> wrote:
Dear Pauline & Brian,

I cannot help but give my two cents here. NABS MUST do everything it can to support its state affiliates. What better opportunity for a give-and-take relationship is there? ...

Okay, now with all that said, here is what I think you need to do in the future. You need to get affiliates on your side. Ask how you can help, and follow through right away, especially the new ones who are struggling. Give them anything you possibly can and ask them in return to support you and print NABS updates in their newsletters. Encourage membership in the state chapters and ask state chapters in return to encourage membership in NABS. This is what I meant when I said you have a perfect give-and-take opportunity.

I would even go further to somehow involve affiliate leaders in the governing body of NABS. I don't know exactly how that would work, but I think it's important. Maybe you have one affiliate president or director that serves a year on the board as the "Affiliate Representative" for example. Maybe the affiliate leaders would have a voice in the decision-making at NABS.

Another idea might be to subsidize affiliate presidents' expenses to attend the annual conference. Get them on your side and involved at the national level!

Establish sincere and regular contact and communication with the affiliates. There are a variety of ways to do this.

I think you get the drift of what I think needs to happen. By the way, I am still a member of NABS and will continue to send in my membership dues. I really want NABS to change and succeed, I really do. I read every word of the reports that came out of the May 2005 meetings. I was hopeful that maybe things were going to change. NABS was the original motivator in doing all I have done to get our state chapter organized - that, & Maynard Sumner who was the first one to get the ball rolling in our state.

Thank you for allowing me to give my input.

Sincerely,

Lynn Ward
President, Michigan Bluebird Society

I sent in a renewal of my NABS membership using the coupon on the back of the newsletter and haven't heard back from them either. The check hasn't cleared, although I mailed it the end of May. I've been a member for years and haven't had this happen before.

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

From: EHDerry"at"aol.com [mailto:EHDerry"at"aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 5:18 PM
Subject: NABS Membership Checks

Barbara and others: I sent in a check for our annual membership on May 9th. It has yet to clear. I emailed Pauline on this yesterday. Her response is below.

Judy Derry
Lockport NY

No one knows where all of the mail is with the memberships that arrived during the shuffle. The post office was supposed to forward mail from GA to a P O Box in MO. But, that hasn't happened smoothly. And, now, we'll need them to go to some other address.

Steve received one large batch from GA at the PO Box in MO. I don't know if he finished processing and depositing the checks or not.

So, if you're willing, please hang tight. In all probability, the check will surface. IMHO, no need to pay $25 to stop payment.

Hi, and welcome to bluebird-L.

While bluebird-l can feature hot debate on many issues from time to time, those issues are almost always bluebird related. There is a wealth of knowledge to be gleaned here, from bluebirding's formost authorities to novices who teach others as they learn.

Many of the members of this list are members of NABS, which is currently experiencing some problems. I agree that this is not the best forum for NABS debate, as bluebird-l is not NABS sponsored.

Hopefully, the NABS-related debate will die down soon, and bluebird-l will be once again devoted only to blues and other cavity nesters. Until that time, I would suggest using your delete key.

Happy Bluebirding!
Sheryl Bassi
Leland, MS

I'm with Pauline on this one. We all need to hang in there while this great organization rebuilds.

When it does, one idea to consider is outsourcing all the accounting functions to a check processing/accounting firm and use an instantaneous, secure transaction process like PayPal or one of the many others. I'm not on any side here, but no volunteer deserves the blame for this. Our leadership has better things to do than be accountants and couriers of checks to the bank. That would drive anyone crazy.

....

Thanks,
Rob Barron

I hesitate to venture into this topic, especially after being so silent for so long.

I will tell you as a 15 year NABS member and now a life member of NABS that I have never met a bluebirder that I didn't like. There was never a bluebirder involved with NABS that didn't have the best interests in NABS, bluebirds and all native cavity nesting birds at heart.

...

I do think it is important that all NABS members be allowed the privilege of knowing what is transpiring within their organization. Of course that information can and should be shared without resorting to derogatory statements about another. But then again we are dealing with humans at this point and not bluebirds. This information should include the financial status of the organization along with the good and bad (dirty laundry) news. I don't believe that information should be shared outside the organization itself. For certain the information should be presented by NABS before it finds it's way into the rumor mill where the truth will be turned into something less accurate.

....I have nothing but admiration for each and every president, officer, board member, and committee person that I have served with. I have even greater admiration for the founding members of NABS.

....I do hope that NABS can find a way of resolving it's issues and becoming the organization that it's members want. I also hope that leaders will step forward with the vision to take NABS in that direction and with the full support of it's members.

Jim McLochlin
Omaha, NE
41.279N -96.060W
The Audubon Society of Omaha = http://audubon-omaha.org/
The Bluebird Box = http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/index.htm
Omaha Web Solutions = http://www.omahawebsol.com

From: Michael Kean [mailto:beckettkean"at"worldnet.att.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 9:41 PM
Subject: Re: Requesting Open Debate

Donna,

I agree that there must be open discussion for all to present their thoughts (perhaps trying to limit the emotions). In any organization or corporation there will be periods of turmoil. My experience is that you can not hide the fire and hope for it to die, you must spread out the ashes and put it out. To do this you must discuss the events and then move on, rehashing the same events for too long solves nothing.

I am a member of NABS and at last count 23 other animal or environmental organizations. I will continue to support the NABS financially and in any other way I can. I will say though that my improvements in the world of Bluebird preservation have come solely from this List and from the writings of Keith and Evelyn in particular. The strength of the effort comes from the knowledge and dedication of those whose voices are most frequently heard. I am by nature a leader not a follower, but I recognize the logic in following the path of those people on the list who share their of themselves time and time again. I watch as new members post and the existing members patiently respond to the same questions with the same level of enthusiasm each time.

Politics and emotions fade away with time but I am certain that the core values of the dedicated enthusiasts on this List will not be diminished in the least. We are all humans and as such subject to emotion and debate, the Bluebirds will nest in our boxes regardless of our stance on the great debate or total lack of knowledge thereof. So to all who post any opinions or thoughts to this List I thank you because I know that I have and will continue to benefit most greatly from this source.

Mike

To the Bluebird-L List,

It was only a few days ago that we at Cornell heard of the troubling news regarding NABS. We have been contemplating whether or not this list is an appropriate forum for this discussion and we are concerned that people may be turned off by the politics involved. However, as long as posts are not derogatory and do not pose any personal attacks on individuals, Bluebird-L can continue to host these discussions. We suggest that the most productive conversations will focus on how to weather these difficulties and on solutions that will foster the same level of enthusiasm and effort towards conserving cavity nesting birds as NABS members have shown in the past. This is important work and we want to see it continue. NABS members are an integral part of Bluebird-L and it remains the most important link that exists between NABS, Cornell Lab of Ornithology (CLO) and The Birdhouse Network (TBN). Let's put it to good use!

Cornell has always maintained that the strength of NABS is its ability to educate people about bluebirds. CLO's strength lies in its ability to collect, analyze, and interpret scientific data regarding bluebirds and other cavity-nesting birds and to archive those data so that they will not be lost. It has always been our hope that together, NABS and TBN could pool their educational and scientific resources to be the leaders in conservation for all native cavity-nesting birds.

Sincerely,

Tina Phillips
The Birdhouse Network
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

I am a NABS member, but am not knowledgable on what has transpired. On the boards and councils I have served on over the years, we have always observed the Open Meeting Laws of our state. Any board action items are undertaken in an open public forum. We do not have closed meetings. However, we do sometimes have executive sessions during public meetings. Executive sessions exclude all public and they are not recorded. The purpose of the executive session is to discuss personnel issues or areas where litigation could ensue. I have dealt with some touchy situations over the years as a councilwoman for our municipality and as a board member on organizations that serve people with developmental disabilities. We have had some heated discussions in executive sessions, but when we return to the regular meeting, action is taken in a quick and professional manner. We are not allowed to discuss publicly what occurs in such a session and we do not do it. The public is privy to the action taken as a result of that discussion and that is all they are entitled to know.

I hope the recent shakeup of NABS will draw concerned Bluebirders to get involved and serve on the board if there are openings. New blood is often a good thing in an organization. In fact, all of the boards I serve on have term limits. NABS members need to step up to the plate and the NABS board needs to make some changes apparently. I think the overall discussion has provided some good suggestions to consider, but personal attacks will not further NABS' mission or move it forward.

My 2 cents.

Paula Z
Powell (Central) Ohio

Thank, you Mike, for the nice compliment.

What some still are not understanding about this is that in "closed" meetings, the board members are bound by confidentiality of the meeting by laws of the state (however it applies) and the By-Laws of the organization. A board member can have his membership revoked if he tells something in a closed board meeting that could hurt the organization in any way legally or otherwise until the board is ready to release what they deem necessary.

If people on the List want to talk about what they can do to help save NABS that is different. ....

I am of the understanding that NABS has adopted the "transparency" clause and
if you are patient, you can read to your heart's content on the website. I am not certain though, that you will get complete details of all sides of the issue, just what they voted on.

Evelyn

OPEN NABS BOARD MEETINGS:

It seems some think the meetings of the North American Bluebird Society
(NABS) Board of Directors are not open.

That is a misconception. (Some decisions in the past were made without Board involvement; but, that's a thing of the past.)

NABS Board Meetings are open meetings.

Take a look at the listing in the NABS 2006 Convention brochure:
"NABS Board Meeting. This is an open meeting. Seating is available for observers."

In the past 4 or 5 years (while I served on the Board, in an appointed term and an elected term), NABS had two meetings each year: one in conjunction with the NABS Convention and one in October/November. No NABS Board Meetings occured between these two meetings each year.

Attendance at the Board Meeting during each year's convention was "little to nothing". This year's audience (was it a dozen?) was the largest I've seen.

The fall Board Meeting each year was probably not announced - not for secrecy, but because "no one" knew of "anyone" who wanted to attend. ...
Perhaps some were willing to travel across the continent for a 1-day meeting and the Board did not know.

Now, the Board will regularly meet by telephone between face-to-face meetings. Those minutes will be available.

OPEN NABS POSITIONS OF SERVICE:
Some of you will remember that last year Keith Kridler, Nominating Committee Chair, urged Bluebird-L subscribers to volunteer as a nominee or submit names of potential nominees (for the NABS Board of Directors). Eventually, he had to submit a ballot with empty spaces.

Now, in the course of time, there's some interest. That's GREAT for bluebird conservation!

As NABS Membership Chair, I audited the teleconference Board Meeting last night. I can tell you that the Board wants you to know that NABS seeks new blood with a willingness to help rebuild NABS: Board Members, Committee Chairs and members (Journal Advisory Committee, Website Committee, Nominating Committee, etc.)

Board Terms are 3-year (per current by-laws). After that, a board member must take a break. (The exception is with an appointed term. After the appointed term, the individuals can be elected for his/her own term.)

Now, in the interval before a Nominating Committee is appointed, please send word of your willingness to help in a particular area to Bernie Daniel (Interim President, until the next election) ... bdaniel"at"cinci.rr.com

And, if you just have ideas for the Board, you can post them on Bluebird-L (per Cornell's gracious offer this morning through Tina Phillips) or send them to Bernie Daniel bdaniel"at"cinci.rr.com and/or send them to Strategic Planning Work Group Chair, Brian Swanson bcswanson"at"comcast.net.

Thank you.

Pauline Tom
Mountain City (no mountains) TX

Pauline, there was a Saturday morning board meeting that neither Sheryl nor I
was invited to attend. I don't know of anyone else that attended that meeting.
I assumed it was a closed meeting.

I did attend the one that was open to the public that you are talking about,
but this other one, I heard no invitation to attend.

Evelyn

Sheryl wrote: Many of the members of this list are members of NABS, which is currently experiencing some problems. I agree that this is not the best forum for NABS debate, as bluebird-l is not NABS sponsored.

Actually, from the Bluebird_L sign-up webpage at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/bluebirds/joinbblist.html "The Bluebird-L e-mail list has been developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Birdhouse Network (TBN) in partnership with the North American Bluebird Society [NABS]."

I don't know what that partnership entails - I'm guessing the funding to maintain it comes from Cornell.

The Audubon Society of Omaha (through Jim McLoughlin) volunteers to host the archives (Best of Bluebird_L Classifieds at http://www.bestofbbml.audubon-omaha.org), which is a pretty big website.

It seems like the Bluebird_L members should be able to discuss the national Bluebirding organization, although it may not be of interest to all listserv subscribers. Setting up another password protected forum on NABS for members would probably be a long term idea - as far as I can tell, the NABS website is not currently being maintained. It's hard for me to keep up with the three existing bluebird forums (this one, the Garden Web and The Bluebird Nut Café). I try because I don't want to miss any opportunities to learn more about bluebird conservation and solutions, but am not always successful (pesky work stuff keeps getting in the way :-)

With regard to open discussion of what is going on, I personally like open discussions instead of rumors, as long as they are civil (flaming is unacceptable, and I find lecturing/attempts at controlling tiresome.)

I actually did want to know what was happening with NABS, especially since I had been thinking of going into Lifetime mode. If we don't know what the problems are, how can we help with solutions if NABS does want broader input, which I think can benefit them?

I am glad NABS is working on a long term strategy. I hope they survive this challenge and evolve into a strong, more functional organization that continues to draw on the wealth of expertise out there, inspires the confidence of existing and prospective members, offers real benefits to affiliates, and delivers on Zeleny's dream.

Bet from CT (NABS member)

Brian,

I am a former member of NABS who stopped subscribing ...

They say that the most frequent cause of marital discord is money. I'm beginning to think that that's the case here too.

I would propose the following suggestions for the Strategic Thinking Group to consider:

1) Get rid of the increase from $500 to $1000 for lifetime membership. I think $500 is already too high. A thousand dollars is just silly, in my view.

2) No merchandise should be sold by NABS except exclusive-NABS purely promotional/educational items such as bumper stickers, coffee mugs... All the books, feeders, boxes, traps, etc., are available through other means. Does NABS need the money? All the more reason not to do it. Money creates the need for more money. The need for more money creates the need to find things to spend the money ON.... Pretty soon you've got trouble.

3) No vendors on the board. If you make nestboxes, traps, or feeders for sale, may the lord bless you, but you may not join the board of NABS. NABS should recommend and certify products uninfluenced by who is on the board. It's a conflict of interest, pure and simple. And that way lies trouble.

4) No corporate members, for the same reason. Companies spend money to get money -- that, as they say, is the "bottome line." If corporations spend $150 for a membership, they expect to get AT LEAST $150 back out of the deal.

5) Is there an alternative to moving the HQ around the country? Shouldn't there be a small office in one given place which houses the records, maybe with one person to do clerical stuff and one person to run it, such as a retired professor of ornithology or some such? I know this sounds like a film noir plot or something but this just seems crazy -- moving records and other assets around the country! In this case the model doesn't appear to be working.

6) You need a way to commnicate with the members and with the other board members. How about a listserv which can be read by any member but can be written to only by board members? Yahoogroups is down right now but I believe they offer that option....

Thank you!
Paul Kilduff, Baltimore

HURRAY! As of today, the online membership/renewal/donation form at www.nabluebirdsociety.org is back up and running. If you tried recently and it didn't work, please try again. If it doesn't work, kindly send word through the email link on the page.

Also, the North American Bluebird Society has a new address for memberships, renewals, donations, etc.!!!!!

North American Bluebird Society
P.O. Box 43
Miamiville, OH 45147

If you mailed a check or money order to Georgia or MO in the past couple months, those pieces of mail should eventually find their way through the system to the new P O Box. Please give it some time.

Thanks to all who sent word that they want to support NABS during this time of rebuilding. And, thanks to each person who encouraged NABS support through Bluebird-L.

Pauline Tom
Mountain City (no mountains) TX
NABS Membership Chair

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
Paul Kilduff ALWAYS has good ideas and thoughtful posts! I'll add a little information to his NABS post/ideas:

NABS phone line: I installed the new 800 NABS phone line in our house with ATT/SBC when Kenny Kleinpeter in Baton Rouge and Steve Garr in Missouri got higher bids from their phone providers and ATT/SBC gave the quickest install time of only a couple of days and the best assurances of being able to shift this new number to any other phone line that NABS would chose for a "permanent" office in just a week or so into any other phone system.

Calls coming in to the phone line are nearly ALL "emergencies" to the people calling in.

These people seldom leave messages if someone does not pick up the phone.
90% of the calls come in BEFORE 8 AM and after 6 PM. "Lunch hour" across the country is the busiest during the day. We have gotten "emergency" calls at 3 AM. July 4th was busy, people were grilling out in their yard watching their bluebirds, noticed they had emergencies! Saturday's are not as busy as Sunday's, again people are checking nestboxes, spending time in the yard and find "emergencies."

Last night it was feral cats raiding nestboxes in Bismarck N.D. on a 65 nestbox trail in a large 800 acre park, moving a nestbox with babies off a deck this morning in Cleveland, Ohio so they can repair and paint the deck, to saving a baby sparrow found on a sidewalk in Brooklyn NY (of course the lady only knew it was a baby bird) and ALL of them want to know about
mealworms:-))) I had NO idea that nearly every backyard bluebirder who calls NABS phone is feeding mealworms. NABS phone is like Bluebird-L, one problem to solve/help with after another.

At this time we are only receiving calls from those searching on the internet. MANY older bluebirders don't search the net. FEW of these callers are aware that there are local and state bluebird associations. I can get most to promise to send in a check to join NABS in less than 5 minutes. Some people have already called back three times in just over a month.

When returning phone calls you normally talk to an answering machine or voice mail.

To save NABS money I use my personal/business phone as I have unlimited long distance instead of paying 10 cents a minute for the 800 line. We are NOW getting a lot of NABS return calls to our home number as people saved this in their phones.

I did not get caller ID in the original package this was a mistake.

NABS office and staff:Silver Spring Maryland with Mary Janetatos, located mostly in her house and garage for about 20 years. Wisconsin with a pair of ED for several years. Not sure exactly who was providing NABS office space at that time. Pretty much a full time job for two people with volunteers.
Probably a lot of old paperwork was purged between Maryland and Wisconsin moves. Change of ED means a change in location because NABS does not pay enough for someone to relocate to new location.

Ohio office at the Wilderness Center a small office space I think about 10 feet by 12 or 16 feet. Much of the record storage was off site I believe.
....It is hard to have two people in a very small office. It is lonely for one person in a small office. If you have phones and business to run you need to make a fairly quick change in personnel and locations. ....

It is NOT realistic to expect NABS to EVER be able to find another person that will provide office, warehouse, storage, clerical and business skills and volunteers necessary to maintain a single P.O. Box or address for more than a few years. It should NOT be called a scandal when you have an abrupt or even a smooth calculated change and need to move on in a different direction/location. KK

From: Robert Barron [mailto:rebarron"at"gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2006 9:51 AM
Subject: Re: NABS phone line and office/moving

Hi Keith and group.

Has NABS ever looked into partnering with a nature center or possibly a university to establish a permanent location? I used to spend a lot of time at The Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne, NY.

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/education/rogrctr.html.

It had a beautiful building and over 500 acres of nature trails.
Another great place is Five Rivers Environmental Education Center

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/education/5river.html

Both places seemed to have abundant space and setting up a NABS office in a place like that would seem feasible. Some nature centers might even have housing available for an ED.

About the phones, this probably isn't a new idea, but have we discussed putting together a list of volunteers around the country willing to take NABS phone calls and publishing the list on the NABS web site. A recording on the NABS answering machine could refer callers to that and Bluebird-L so no one person would have to be tied to the phone. I realize that some people still don't have computers or internet access, but it would take some of the pressure off

Thanks,
Rob Barron

Paul,

I didn't see anyone publicly comment on your excellent suggestion to reinvent NABS with a board free of financial/vender connections. It is a very important and should have had a lively response. Decisions of NABS historically influenced what was generally accepted by monitors and what is
recommended on Bluebird-L. Therefore, the money/vendor connection is very
much on topic.

How many board/officers are making money off selling HOSP traps and who don't really want to see monitors come up with ways to have HOSP-free trails
*without* trapping? How many are connected with selling feeders and/or
seed which increase House Sparrow problems? Gary Springer sells a NABS size/style box that he markets as a "Springer Chalet"- how open would he be to approving innovative designs? He, in fact, stated on Bluebird-L that the box I use to solve problems on my urban trail should have CAPITALIZED warning signs stuck on them.

When NABS board members/officers post to Bluebird-L, they could add their titles and any avian items/associations with which they are financially connected.

It would be a courtesy for anyone posting to Bluebird-L to let readers know of any avian financial interests as well. This would let casual readers know that if a member owns a bird seed store and comments on seed feeders, for example, whether there might be a financial connection to consider.

Keith would be in a great position to provide a list of past and present NABS board/officers which have had financial connections to avian products sold or recommended through NABS.

Linda Violett
Yorba Linda, Calif.

Thanks for the kind words, Linda!

I have gotten several encouraging off-list messages from members of the strategic thinking group.

The only other comment I'd make is that one person asked me, referring to my somewhat fanciful suggestion about a secretary and a retired professor of ornithology, "what happens when the professor dies?" I answered, "hire another one. put an ad in the local paper: 'wanted:
retired person with knowldedge of birds to direct small conservation organization'." Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see this as being a "hired gun" type of position, with a wide-ranging talent search. IF and when you decide to make a given location your HQ, just recruit from that location....

Paul in Baltimore

Subject: Re: NABS
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 09:32:08 -0400
From: MJ Shearer <eshearer"at"comcast.net>

Hi all,

Excellent points, as usual, Phil.

I agree that NABS business should not be debated on this forum; however, since Linda raised the subject of "How many board/officers are making money ..." and mentioned Gary specifically, it's only fair to point out that Gary hasn't made or sold any of his "Chalet" nestboxes for a couple of years. His site "Real Bird Homes.com" is still up, but the phone # and e-mail address are incorrect, and there's a "Temporarily Out of Stock" message on the order page. During the past year, Gary stayed busy selling NABS nestboxes made by other NABS approved vendors for NABS. A couple of months ago he did sell one of his nestboxes to a NABS caller who had tried unsuccessfully to order one of his chalets, but he donated the proceeds from that sale to NABS.
Hope this clears up that question for you.

You can Google the names of other officers and board members to see who may have a financial conflict of interest.

MJ

Mary Jane Shearer; Tucker, GA

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
Right after NABS was up and running pretty good a lady wrote a really nice article in the Sunday edition of Parade magazine that inspired people all across the country to get excited about helping the bluebirds. In this one article in this one magazine insert she gave out the mailing address for NABS and told people to write and ask for free information on building and monitoring the nestboxes so "you" can begin helping the bluebirds.

Mary Janetatos and NABS friends nearly drown in a flood of 60,000 requests for "free information". Imagine you and a couple of friends start up a small mail order business and have 1,000 copies of this relatively expensive brochure printed to send out when people call or write over the first couple of years wanting a "sample" info kit before they decide to send you any money for your "product". (You HOPE to grow to 450 members in a few years when you sit around with your friends and future business partners and talk about how big this can get before you "start up" the business.)

Now also imagine that most of these letters will be hand written and barely legible. Many of these people also will write about two pages of experiences or more that you or your friends need to read before you also hand write a return address and stick on a stamp. MANY will forget to even give you the return address, MANY more are incomplete or there is no one in the group who can read the address. MANY want personal questions answered that are NOT in the brochure!

What if EVERY morning for a month your answering machine was maxed out with 30 minutes of callers wanting a free sample. If your friends did not show up you were talking on the business telephone while your personal phone was taking messages from your children. While you are helping the mailman drag in more bags of letters into the garage at noon, BOTH of your phones were ringing!

OK before you even get the first 300 paying members or customers you just spent/borrowed $30,000.00 for a stamp and 10 cents worth of mailed information (today's $ figure). Within 7 days you are getting a pickup truck full of mail bags a day and NOW some of these letters are bitchin'
because they have NOT gotten their "free information packet"
yet......Before computers you have NO IDEA which of your friends mailed out what to whom....By the time you and your friends read all of these and send out all of these brochures you DON'T have NEARLY as many friends as you thought. Your banker who loaned you and your friends money for stamps and your printer who loaned you 100,000 copies are now not too excited about bluebirds anymore.....You still have to LICK stamps at this time.

What IF you NEVER get enough money in orders from this "free sample/information" deluge to EVER cover the cost of printing the brochures (even when the printer donated them at cost) but now the phones really start ringing and friends and neighbors of the people who received the free information NOW start calling and wanting MORE free samples.

NABS (Mary Janatatos) and friends survived SEVERAL of these major events, regional articles were coming out all of the time. There was NO internet, NO credit card machine, NO Pay Pal to get money/members on the spot you HAD to write or call a single location.

They got a guy to build a few nestboxes for a cheap price and Mary kept a stack of them in her garage where she used to park her car. People would call wanting a "good" nestbox and Mary and friends would ship one out. I gave a Bluebird program promoting NABS in Pittsburg Texas at a garden club in the early 80's. You know one of those that the women/men could not care less about hearing, no questions, no interest, 20 minutes and a stale tuna fish/onion salad sandwich and you are out of there driving home wondering WHY you are going and trying to talk to people about helping the bluebirds and missing ANOTHER day of work......WELL one lady took the NABS information home to her husband and HE got excited and ordered 1,000 "cheap" nestboxes from NABS the next day......Of COURSE NABS did NOT have 1,000 nestboxes sitting in Mary's garage. Mary's nestbox builder guy did NOT intend to jump up and build 1,000 nestboxes for the price he had quoted for a "few" nestboxes basically at cost......This is a REALLY long "nestbox saga" story that I will spare you all but I just get tickled when today's NABS Board Members get all excited over really small problems compared to what NABS overcame in the first few years almost on a monthly basis.

The REAL problem with NABS today is that each of these friends of NABS don't have to answer a thousand calls or e-mails a month from potential members or those people just wanting to know what to do about flickers in their nestboxes or ants or mealworms because HECK you all read and answer all of these for them:-)) The internet is a wonderful tool but when we lose personal touch with people you lose the ability too inspire them to join and carry on the legacy and the stories that most have forgotten ever took place.

Special thanks to all of you taking the time to read and answer these posts to this ONE list. Larry Zeleny and many of his friends are looking down on you all and I know this is better than he EVER imagined the bluebird recovery could EVER hope to achieve. KK

Linda,
I for one have complemented Paul off list for his suggestions. I guess I am just old fashiioned. I don't belive NABS business should be spread across the list that belongs to another entity. Paul does have good ideas and I told him so.
I am a current board member and have NO affiliations with any products whatsoever. I have a bluebird trail and that is my ONLY connection. My only intent is to forward bluebird conservation. And this list is designed to share information on that topic, and that is what I use it for.
Phil Berry
Gulf Breeze, Florida

When this topic first began, I purposefully stayed out of it because I am not a member of NABS. (FYI - I never joined NABS because, quite frankly, I didn't really see the value or need in it.) However, after several sincere pleas from very well-intentioned members of this list, I recently decided that I should join to lend support to this exciting new reinvention effort ... so, I had just dropped my check in the mail ...
when I received Paul's e-mail (attached) and then it was closely followed by Linda's regarding the very same issues.

Well, I probably don't have to tell you that a huge red-flag went up in my mind and I raced to my mailbox to retrieve my check. I don't know if anyone else has a major problem with the idea of people in decision-making positions (i.e. NABS board members) potentially profiteering from decisions made in that capacity ... but, in my opinion, this is a HUGE problem! I also have major heartburn over this whole idea as to whether or not the operations and challenges of NABS should be completely "transparent" for everyone (i.e. members or not!) ... well, of course, they should! Outside of business matters related to personnel and/or real estate transactions, there is almost nothing that NABS should be conducting behind closed doors.

A significant part of my professional career has been involved in providing technical assistance and capacity building expertise for volunteer-based, community groups and organizations. The two most important items that I always tell prospective groups is that "Appearance is everything" and "You can't be too open as a volunteer-based and donation-supported organization." After some digging on my part, it appears that parts of both of these items are currently, real challenges for NABS.

I sincerely hope that both of these can be definitively addressed in the newly reinvented organization. After all, all of our native cavity-nesting species desperately need a group that is strongly dedicated and enthusiastically committed to promoting and educating our society on their current situation and challenges.

Have a great day,
David
North Central Texas

P.S. - There is no such thing as "dirty laundry" ... when a group is sincerely committed to the pursuit of positive growth and truth!

Subject: ENOUGH ALREADY!!
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 07:50:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: Daniel Prince <vibrationsofawareness"at"yahoo.com>

I know others might disagree, but I joined this list to learn about bluebirds and other related cavity nesters. I read up about the list before joining it said nothing about dealing with the organizational concerns of the NABS. I don't want to be too bold, but I would like to think that a majority of the members of this list are here because they want to learn how to better help these wonderful creatures in a very DIRECT way and NOT indirectly via NABS. Undoubtedly, the NABS has done wonderful things for the bluebirds, but with number of bluebirders out there today (still could be more), I believe if everyone made themselves available through this list, others and through their own personal websites like they already do, what more do you need? Anyways, I don't think all of this NABS stuff should be here. When you have a foundation/society or whatever you call it there will always be disagreements about the way things should be handled and done. It will never end. Start an NABS list for those who care or something. Please.
In fact, I even think this email is out of line and off-topic, but I've kept my mouth shut for weeks and couldn't hold it in any longer. Love and Light all-around! Happy Bluebirding!

Dan in TN

Bluebird Friends, rather than bring up a question of inpropriety to the entire List that might not be an issue, would it be possible to send a question to someone in a position to know? Just the implication (by asking a question or making a suggestion) can paint a picture in the mind of others.

Linda V. wondered why there had been no comment on Paul's suggestion to reinvent a NABS "free of financial/vendor implications." Some might have heard an implication of an issue with "money/vendor" regarding the NABS Board.

Until recently, I served as a NABS Board Member. So, I'm an individual with first-hand information. I feel compelled to speak.

The Code of Ethics prepared for the NABS Board states, "I will declare conflicts of interest between my personal life and my position on the board, and abstain from voting and participation in discussion when appropriate."
"I will not use NABS for my personal or business advantage or that of my friends or relatives."

Rather than financial gain, I observed financial sacrifice on behalf of NABS board members who serve/served. And, I heard no one complain. Rather, it was a pleasure to serve.

At one time, until revenue dropped to the point where it was not a possibility, NABS board members had the option of a $250 reimbursement towards travel to board meetings twice a year, in various spots across the continent. Even that stipend only began to cover the cost of travel, lodging and meals for an individual who (between the NABS Convention and Fall Board Meeting) gave a full week of vacation or time off without pay (and time away from their bluebird commitments) in order to serve.

I know of one board member who borrowed money from a friend in order to drive his car across several states and stay overnight for a board meeting ... until he waited weeks/months for the reimbursement.

For the all day Fall 2005 Board Meeting, board members brought along (or picked up at the grocery store after a flight) the items for a sandwich & chips lunch.

NABS does not even purchase coffee for the hotel conference room for the board meeting at the NABS Convention. (Nor did it purchase coffee for the Executive Committee meeting the day after the Board Meeting in San Antonio.)

And, I know of well-qualified individuals who declined service on the board because they manufacture a product related to bluebird conservation. Even though the could have declared a conflict of interest, they chose not to serve.

Too, Linda questioned Gary Springer's impartiality in approving nestboxes.
Gary, Former Executive Director, did not approve nestbox designs. A
committee performs NABS Nestbox Approval process.

Why do Board Members NOT sign their comments on Bluebird-L as a Board Member? That same Code of Ethics states, "I will not make unilateral public statements that can be construed as NABS policies or positions." When a Board Member or Committee Member speaks about bluebird-related topics, they speak as an individual.

Pauline Tom
Mountain City (no mountains) TX

Morning, All:

When this topic first began, I purposefully stayed out of it because I am not a member of NABS. (FYI - I never joined NABS because, quite frankly, I didn't really see the value or need in it.) However, after several sincere pleas from very well-intentioned members of this list, I recently decided that I should join to lend support to this exciting new reinvention effort ... so, I had just dropped my check in the mail ...
when I received Paul's e-mail (attached) and then it was closely followed by Linda's regarding the very same issues.

Well, I probably don't have to tell you that a huge red-flag went up in my mind and I raced to my mailbox to retrieve my check. I don't know if anyone else has a major problem with the idea of people in decision-making positions (i.e. NABS board members) potentially profiteering from decisions made in that capacity ... but, in my opinion, this is a HUGE problem! I also have major heartburn over this whole idea as to whether or not the operations and challenges of NABS should be completely "transparent" for everyone (i.e. members or not!) ... well, of course, they should! Outside of business matters related to personnel and/or real estate transactions, there is almost nothing that NABS should be conducting behind closed doors.

A significant part of my professional career has been involved in providing technical assistance and capacity building expertise for volunteer-based, community groups and organizations. The two most important items that I always tell prospective groups is that "Appearance is everything" and "You can't be too open as a volunteer-based and donation-supported organization." After some digging on my part, it appears that parts of both of these items are currently, real challenges for NABS.

I sincerely hope that both of these can be definitively addressed in the newly reinvented organization. After all, all of our native cavity-nesting species desperately need a group that is strongly dedicated and enthusiastically committed to promoting and educating our society on their current situation and challenges.

Have a great day,
David
North Central Texas

P.S. - There is no such thing as "dirty laundry" ... when a group is sincerely committed to the pursuit of positive growth and truth!

David, you also have to look at everything from a legal standpoint also.
While
you and myself included thinks everything should be "open", it is stated in Robert's Rules that board meetings are confidential unless state and organization By-Laws provide otherwise.

I think Paula explained about the public organization she worked with being governed by her state to put everything public, EXCEPT their Executive Meetings. She stated no minutes were taken and that information did not have to be made public. So, see, it is according to the state and type of organizations and also what an organization decides how they will operate on this type thing.

If NABS chose to go with the "transparency act", then that must be followed. It was not clear to me when this was decided.

Again, organizations that hold closed board meetings (except when they invite the membership) are not trying to hide anything, (most I know aren't), they are complying with the laws of their state and the By-Laws of their organization. I do know that Robert's Rules emphasizes that minutes do NOT have too much information. These can be subpenaed in court.

I personally will be glad when this thread is dead as I think even more so that it is not helping, only hurting.

Evelyn

NABS needs money to survive and grow. Many non-profits accept money from corporate sponsors. These sponsors don't necessarily need to have a bluebird connection (gosh, think what could be done with some of that Buffet/Gates funding!) However, those with bluebird connections ARE the ones most likely to be drawn to donate to NABS.

Even if these organizations don't directly influence what happens, there can be a sense of "obligation" that comes with accepting money/gifts, which could potentially end up indirectly affecting decisions. We all know that advertisers can affect media content (newspaper, magazine,
TV.) But even friendships can influence decisions. If someone helps you, you are inclined to help them.

I'm not sure how to solve this. Maybe what NABS needs is some criteria for accepting donations from commercial organizations.

A lot of bluebirders are creative and invent things to solve problems they have faced. I have no problem with people sharing their inventions with others (provided they really work :-), even if it means they sell them. The birds on my trails have benefited immensely from many of the shared inventions of others. At the NABS convention in S. Antonio, I liked having vendors there so I could do some one-stop shopping and comparison of products, and talk in person with the suppliers.

I think a lot of people who sell bluebird things they have invented are bluebird enthusiasts first.
I doubt many of them are getting rich off their merchandise. Of course, they probably believe in their products and are naturally going to be more prone to recommending them as opposed to other options. It's just like most people will recommend what they know, and what has worked for them.
Even though Linda doesn't sell two-holed hanging boxes (I do wish I could buy one somewhere! I'm not handy enough to make anything and I have already tapped my husband out :-), she is aware of what problems the design solves, has real-world experience with them, and thus will be more likely to recommend them as a solution than someone who hasn't tried them out.

With regard to the alternative, which is donations from individuals: I don't know how many bluebird lovers consider including NABS or a State or local bluebird society in their wills (with a bequest.) Maybe NABS could provide information on how to do this. People can also send memorial donations, and NABS could send a card to the individual that you would like notified of the gift (kind of like Heifer International), or they can ask family and friends to send a donation in their name rather than a birthday, holiday, or special occasion present, and the donor gets a tax deduction.

Bet from CT

Hi, Bet,

I recall long and bitter discussions on this list about cedar and non-cedar boxes - the two main arguers each represented a company which did or did not use cedar in their boxes. Unless I'm very much mistaken, both of these folks were also on the board of NABS.

I do think there should be on-point discussions about the virtures of particulars of nestbox construction on this list. But I don't think those folks should be directing NABS. (Quite agree that friendship also influences decisions.)

I don't have a good understanding of why NABS needs to grow. But one thing I know about money is that you can never have enough of it.

in haste,
Paul

Well intentioned promises to myself otherwise, I'll re-enter this debate as the thread has touched on my profession - fundraising for a nonprofit organization. While corporate sponsorships and gifts are a piece of a nonprofit organization's overall fundraising plan, in 2004 (no 2005 stats available yet), corporate, corporate foundation and foundation gifts to USA nonprofits totaled less than 20% of the BILLIONS of dollars donated to USA nonprofits. Over 80% of all the money donated to USA nonprofits in 2004 came from individuals who gave small to large gifts, but they gave often.
Why? Because somebody they knew and respected asked them to give. These
stats have changed by a few points up and down over the last few years, but they have remained constant in that the bulk of all giving comes form individuals. It's going to take more than annual dues, corporate, corporate foundation and foundation gifts, not just for NABS, but for every nonprofit in the country that wants to survive. Individuals in NABS must go to the people who give and ask them to give again and again. Another trade secret is that you can't raise money unless you give money yourself. Not only are our board members expected to financially contribute, but they are also expected to call on others in the community for the purpose of soliciting gifts. Most times, I go along on the call, and I do the actual "ask," but the board members "sell" the organization. I see that as a board member's most important role.

Trudy Pischer
Willard, MO

From: plkldf"at"comcast.net [mailto:plkldf"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 6:24 AM
Subject: Re: NABS

Paul Kilduff, Baltimore MD

Trudy brings a fundraiser's perspective to the discussion. For my own part, when an organization I contribute to comes back and asks again and again, I cut them off. The Nature Conservancy is one organization which gets no more $20 per year from me, the [unnamed political party] is another. The money I gave them for buying land or TV commercials they're using to ask me for more money! If you're going to mis-spend my money, I'm not going to give you any more.

You may say, "we can't survive on your $20 per year," in which case I'll say, "okay, I won't send it then." And I don't.

The purpose of fundraising, it seems to me, is fundraising. Quickly, the underlying purpose (raising money for the organization) disappears. A sociologist could talk about the tendency of bureaucracies to switch from their original purpose to the new purpose of growing bigger. I personally think this should be avoided.

Trudy, you scare me when you say: "It's going to take more than annual dues, corporate, corporate foundation and foundation gifts, not just for NABS, but for every nonprofit in the country that wants to survive. Individuals in NABS must go to the people who give and ask them to give again and again."

Trudy: "For every non-profit"? What I hear you saying is that in every case it's not possible to survive as a non-profit unless your budget exceeds your income from dues and gifts. That can't be right. Something's backwards. If you're starting from the assumption that in order to be a non-profit the money you budget for spending MUST exceed your income, then I guess what you're saying makes sense. But how about starting from the assumption that what NABS is here to do is so and so, and here's how many paid people we need to do that at x dollars per year, and here's a reasonable dues level, and therefore here's how many members we need? You could even share this with members and potential members. You could even let them know, "if we don't reach that level we're going to shut it down, and refund the unused portion of your dues."

It's the non-fundraiser's model. Maybe it wouldn't work....

Paul in Baltimore

In many ways I agree with both Dan and Evelyn... yet at the same time I also disagree.

We are all part of this list to help and to learn, not only about bluebirds but other cavity nesters as well. I have not replied to most postings because of the nature of the conversation and the topics... especially those directly referencing specific names, events, etc. It is very easy to get lost in these types of discussions and miss the point... the cavity nesters.

Historically NABS was known for educating and promoting cavity nesters, especially bluebirds. In the past things have led the organization to become, what many would say is at least, somewhat lost. Whether or not people here are members is moderately irrelevant b/c we are all stakeholders in the conservation of cavity nesters... that makes all of this pertenant in some way to each of us. If NABS is changing, growing, etc., then at the very least it is vital that people who are interested and involved with bb's and other cavity nesters have the opportunity to voice reasons and points about why they are not members and involved with NABS. It doesn't mean that every person's individual interests can be accommodated, but that doesn't warrant ignoring it.

I agree and emplore list people to refrain from rehashing all of the "he said, she said", and past shortcomings directly related to individuals. We are all human... sometimes that's good, sometimes that's bad. Instead look at the big picture... the birds. If NABS begins putting itself back in a the game as a major driving force for education and conservation of native cavity nesters, then how can anyone ignore the benefits to the big picture.

For added note... I am a current board member, recently elected, and life member with no financial benefit tied to any of what NABS does whatsoever.
I work for a major university in natural resources, and strictly on the board as a volunteer with my time, for what I believe could be a worthy effort in the longterm.

Some days I've gotten tired of reading these things myself, given the ranting that has occurred in the past few weeks. And there is definitely a solution... delete. But always remember the reason your interests started... the birds... and if you have something to contribute, do so.

That's my thought for the evening. --J

Jimmy Dodson
Asst Forest Manager -- NCSU Dept of Forestry & Environmental Resources

Pauline Tom Wrote:

"Why do Board Members NOT sign their comments on Bluebird-L as a Board
Member? That same Code of Ethics states, "I will not make unilateral public
statements that can be construed as NABS policies or positions." When a
Board Member or Committee Member speaks about bluebird-related topics, they
speak as an individual."

>
> Pauline Tom
> Mountain City (no mountains) TX

Would someone please tell me then, how do you sign your credentials at the end
of your post without it looking like you are making a statement for an
organization?

I see many people sign the name of their companies and giving their position and
I take it they are showing their credentials, not making a statement for their
company. What is the difference in an organization?

Evelyn
www.labayoubluebirdsociety.org
P.S. And this website does not stand for this post, I am just adding it for
information. I think credentials are very nice to know.

Can you imagine Rob Barron driving from Virginia to San Antonio to paint 40 10-foot EMT poles blue, by hand, and handcraft custom flag stands for those poles for the 2006 North American Bluebird Society Convention flag display?

All whose hearts were moved by the majesty of a stage full of flags representing NABS' vast bluebird conservation movement can join me in applauding Rob Barron who painstakingly created the poles and stands for the state and provincial flags that were contributed by individuals from throughout the continent.

And, yes, thanks to David Gwin for convincing Rob to make a 2-week+ trip to Texas to accomplish the flag pole & stand project .... when Rob didn't realize the value of visual effect at the time he was recruited - he was just willing to pitch in and help bluebirders who needed help.

(After the presentation of the national flags by a uniformed color guard) one by one, each state/province flag was taken to the front edge of the stage and dipped in honor by two TBS members dressed in 1800's Texian regalia in a ceremony choreographed and accompanied on the piano (with a majestic march that he composed) by Kenny Kleinpeter of LA.

Marty (Mrs. Floyd) Van Ert of Iowa sang the national anthem of Canada and the United States.

Bet Zimmerman of CT spent her 50th birthday week at NABS 2006 as a presenter of two break-out sessions ... PLUS, can you imagine this? with less than a week's notice she agreed to create a "Bluepardy" game show for Thursday night when another presentation fell through!. Her lively, thorough, interesting "House Sparrow Control" presentation was rated by many as "the best ever NABS Convention break-out session" and she had quite a crowd for "History of Bluebirds and Bluebirding."

Rob Barron and Jonathan Ridgeway (NY) pitched in to help by driving field trip vans when TBS ran short on volunteers.

Many from across the continent donated (and purchased) auction items that paid for the presentation of the convention.

In the early stages of convention planning, Cher (Bluebird Nut) wrote the words to our fun convention theme song, "Blues in the Heart of Texas."

The Summer issue of "Bluebird", the journal of NABS, shows photos of members of Texas Bluebird Society to whom applause of appreciation was given during the banquet.

That stage would be full if it included everyone from outside of Texas who helped with the planning and presentation of NABS 2006.

ALL of the incredible NABS 2006 volunteers from outside Texas deserve a standing ovation. My hat's off to all of you!

Thank you.

Pauline

Pauline Tom
Chairperson, NABS 2006
San Antonio, TX (April 26 - 30)

Continued in Part 2

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