Dear Members and Friends:

As I’m sure you are aware, the Altacal Audubon Society is a totally volunteer organization, run and financed by donations solely from our members.  We have no paid staff.  For many years our month-to- month expenses have been paid for from income we received from the National Audubon Society as people within our jurisdiction joined or renewed their membership.  Although this has never been a lot of money, it was enough to pay for the production and distribution of our newsletter the White-tailed Kite.  Unfortunately, over the last few years the National Audubon Society has steadily reduced their support to the local chapters.  Although Altacal Audubon is still financially sound, the board of directors has chosen to face this issue now rather than wait until we are in a real financial crisis.  This will mean some changes in production of the newsletter as well as the need for our members to directly support our local chapter.

First let us lay out the financial facts of life.  The cost for printing and mailing our newsletter is between 50 and 60 cents per copy.  We have traditionally produced nine issues per year which equates to a yearly cost of between $4.50 and $5.50 per member.  We also choose to send every issue to all National Audubon members who live in our area.  Altacal Audubon now receives back from National Audubon just two dollars of the yearly dues paid by each member living in our jurisdiction.  As you can see, we get from National Audubon less than half of what it costs just to produce and distribute the newsletter.   Another way of looking at this is that at this time, every National Audubon member in our area costs our local chapter approximately $3.00 per year.  Clearly, this is a situation that cannot continue.  To their credit, National Audubon in 2003 recognized that the local chapters were in need of more financing and authorized local chapters to offer Local Chapter Memberships.  This is separate from a membership in the National Audubon Society.  With an Altacal Audubon Society Local Chapter Membership, 100% of the dues goes directly to your local chapter.  Although many local Audubon chapters began offering chapter memberships years ago, Altacal has waited.  We now feel we must act to maintain our programs and services. 

Here are the necessary changes to come:

• Beginning with the June issue, the White-tailed Kite will be produced bi-monthly, six issues per year (Feb., Apr., Jun., Aug., Oct., and Dec.) instead of nine times per year.
• All National Audubon members will continue to receive a newsletter by mail (unless they have chosen email only) through the end of 2006.
• Beginning with the February issue 2007, only local chapter members will receive the newsletter by mail.  Those who choose not to be local chapter members will have access to the newsletter through our website only.
• All National Audubon members within our jurisdiction will be encouraged to also become local chapter members as a way of supporting the ongoing work of Altacal Audubon.

We know that change can be difficult, and asking our members and supporters for even more support is unpleasant.  But the numbers don’t lie and the facts are clear. Without increased local support all of the work of Altacal Audubon would eventually come to an end.  We, the Altacal Board of Directors, are very proud of our members and of the work our local chapter does within our community.   From our regularly scheduled field trips focused on birds and bird habitats, our own website, www.altacal.org/, our bi-monthly newsletter (White-tailed Kite), monthly membership meetings which include lectures and media presentations on birds and other natural-history-related topics, to our advocacy to protect and conserve local habitats, we are involved with things that are important to our members.  In addition, special projects and programs include:

·        sponsoring and participating in the annual Snow Goose Festival

·        sponsoring and participating in the annual Endangered Species Fair

·        founding and providing continued support to the Chico Creek Nature Center

·        owning and managing the Arneberg Sanctuary as a wildlife habitat and research area

·        helping to monitor the bird populations at the Del Rio Wildland Preserve near the Sacramento River

·        paying to maintain public access and a wildlife viewing blind at the Chico Oxidation Ponds

·        leading annual Christmas Bird Counts in Chico and Oroville for the past 50 years

Just to be clear, we need your help!  In order for Altacal Audubon to continue and to increase our level of service to the community, we need you to become a Local Chapter Member.  It is only $15 per year and you will get the satisfaction of knowing that all of the money is going toward our mission: To promote the awareness, appreciation, and protection of native birds and their habitats through education, research, and environmental activities.  Please join with us in making a difference.  Fill out and send in the Local Chapter Membership form now, while it is fresh on your mind, and let’s start the new season together with a commitment to continue and expand our work toward our goals. 

Sincerely yours,

Phil Johnson

President, Altacal Audubon Society

For:  The Altacal Audubon Society Board of Directors