Master Birder Program
2008 Volunteer Opportunities
The March 2008 edition
Master Birders, the weather’s still cold; we’ve had a bit of rain,
but not nearly enough; and the birds are stirring around in anticipation
of spring. We hope you’ll stir around also and volunteer for any of the
many fun and interesting Atlanta Audubon Society activities scheduled
for 2008. Here are a few of the most important volunteer opportunities
you can help fulfill. Please take a look at the listings below and let
us know if you are interested in volunteering for these very important
programs! The birds need you; we need you!
Wannabe A Playwright?
Here’s your chance. LEARNING ABOUT BIRDS seeks to create a MIGRATION
SKIT! No experience necessary! Absolutely anyone who loves/knows
migrating birds can do this one! Volunteer needed -- work by yourself or
with somebody -- to create a skit for kids (2nd through 5th graders) to
perform, showing the needs and challenges facing migrating birds as they
make the big trip back up north in the spring to their breeding grounds.
It should last only about 5 minutes’ playing time. We need this pronto!
In time for kids to do in their LEARNING ABOUT BIRDS groups in spring!
I’ll provide some guidelines to help you along. Interested? Let Marcia
Klenbort or Marilyn Harris know.
marcia.klenbort@comcast.net
or marilynh@mindspring.com
Focus Group Project
Coordinator
We are looking for a volunteer who has some experience conducting
focus groups to help us put together and conduct two focus groups in
2008. The focus groups would explore members’ opinions on options for
growth and the future of Atlanta Audubon Society. We will assist the
volunteer in securing members of the groups and outlining the content,
and the volunteer will conduct the focus groups, as well as provide an
informal follow-up report and analysis of findings. If interested,
please contact Catharine B. Kuchar at
Catharine.Kuchar@atlantaaudubon.org
Volunteer Opportunities
In A Festival Mood: Festivals and Events this Spring!
Please contact Nancy Hamilton at
nlhamilton@bellsouth.net
if you are interested in representing AAS at any or more of these
happenings. All are looking for AAS participation! We will provide an
AAS display and appropriate handouts, details and directions for the
festivals listed below.
March 22: Saturday--Bluebirds and Bluegrass Festival at Dauset Trails Nature Center, Jackson, Georgia. Set up: 8:30 a.m.--Breakdown: 4 p.m.--two meal tickets provided.
April 12: Saturday--Fayette County Earth Day celebration, Fayetteville, GA. Set up: 9:30 a.m. - Breakdown: 3:30 p.m.
April 19: Saturday--Captain Planet Foundation's Earth Day Kids Fest, Chattahoochee Nature Center. Set up: 9 a.m. - Breakdown: 3 p.m. Focus is on hands-on kids activities.
May 1: Thursday--Horticultural Expo at Shepherd Center next to Piedmont Hospital, 6-8 p.m.
May 10: Saturday--Birds in the Park! AAS, National Wildlife Federation, Piedmont Park Conservancy host International Migratory Bird Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Piedmont Park. Need volunteers to lead walks, talks, and interactive sessions for adults and kids on birds, birding basics, habitat, migration, bird-friendly plants, and more. For this event, contact: Sue Sturges at sturgess@nwf.org or Marge Igyarto at igyar@earthlink.net
AUDUBON ADVENTURES
Coordinator
Coordinator needed to contact metro area teachers to solicit requests
for National Audubon Society-created quarterly newsletters designed for
use in elementary classrooms, then follow up to see how the material is
used. All supplies, instructions are provided. Contact Marcia Klenbort,
marcia.klenbort@comcast.net
Armchair Activists
Coordinator
Are you interested in public policy and protecting bird friendly
habitat? Do you like to mobilize people around critical issues? Do you
like to use the Internet to communicate? We need an Armchair Activists
Coordinator. Armchair Activists are a critical component of our
grassroots program. The coordinator will research critical issues that
affect birds and will send summary information to the Armchair Activists
listserv on what action to take, e.g., sending a letter to your
congressman, calling your senator, etc. An example of a recent critical
issue is maintaining public access to Jekyll Island beaches - we needed
folks to attend an Economic Development Committee meeting down at the
capitol to support three senate bills that would have ensured public
beach access. This is an ongoing role. There is more activity in the
beginning of the year when the legislature is in session. Expect to
dedicate at least 6 hours a month on this role. If you are interested,
contact Kelly Hopkins at
hopkins_kelly@bellsouth.net
or 404-660-3166. This is a critical role for us!
Rain Barrel Workshop
Coordinator
On Feb 24, Jennifer McLaurin, Environmental Education Coordinator with
the Fulton County Department of Public Works, talked about water
conservation as part of our Speakers Series. She offered to conduct a
workshop for us over the summer where participants would learn how to
assemble a rain barrel. The workshop would take place at Island Ford
Park. A volunteer is needed to coordinate logistics for this workshop,
interface with Jennifer, schedule the Island Ford Park facility, promote
the workshop in Wingbars & on our website, and sign up workshop
participants. A fee will be charged to cover the assembly costs of the
rain barrels. This opportunity will require between 15-25 hours over the
course of several months. If you are interested, contact Kelly Hopkins
at
hopkins_kelly@bellsouth.net or 404-660-3166.
Douglasville Clean-up Day
Coordinator
Did you know that Atlanta Audubon Society owns 184 acres of greenspace
in Douglasville? We often refer to it as the Geltner property. We want
to organize a clean up day on the property sometime this spring or
summer. Hunters have set up a few deer stands on the property that need
to be removed. We need someone to organize the event, e.g., coordinate
logistics, promote the event, etc. This opportunity will require between
15-25 hours over the course of several months. If you are interested,
contact Kelly Hopkins at
hopkins_kelly@bellsouth.net
or 404-660-3166. There are several folks who live in Douglasville who
help monitor the property for us. We would like to formalize this group.
If you are interested in being involved with this property on an
on-going basis, contact Kelly as well. We need your help!
BeltLine Project
Coordinator
Are you interested in the BeltLine and its plans for greenspace? Do you
like being on the front end of an project where you can help shape the
objectives and outcomes? If you answered yes to both questions - here is
an opportunity for you! We would like to work with Trees Atlanta, a
BeltLine partner, to ensure bird friendly trees are planted in and
around the BeltLine. Catharine Brockman Kuchar has had an initial
meeting with Valarie Wilson, Executive Director of the BeltLine
Partnership. We would like a volunteer to help us structure a meaningful
BeltLine project for our members. This volunteer will interface with
staff from AAS, the BeltLine and Trees Atlanta to implement the project.
Since project planning is in the very early stages, the volunteer hour
requirement is unknown at this point. If you are interested, contact
Kelly Hopkins at
hopkins_kelly@bellsouth.net or 404-660-3166 or Catharine
Brockman Kuchar at
kucharc@charter.net
Spend some time in the
Freedom Park Bird and Butterfly Garden
Volunteers are needed to help weed and water the garden as well as help
with the spring planting. Hours are flexible. Volunteers would be asked
to commit to 2 hours per month. Contact Carol Vanderschaaf via email at
carovan@mindspring.com
LEARNING ABOUT BIRDS
Resources Page Compiler
One volunteer is needed to assemble the "MORE RESOURCES" page for the
LEARNING ABOUT BIRDS notebook. This is the last topic in the 67-page
notebook of instructions for the LAB activities for teachers and leaders
of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. What we want to do is develop an annotated
list of some useful books, videos (DVDs), CDs and websites for the
LEARNING ABOUT BIRDS teachers and leaders. You may have this info just
from your MB class! It doesn't have to be an exhaustive list. Finished
product (2 or 3 pages) needed sometime early in 2008. Contact Marcia
Klenbort, Education chair, at 404 874 9826 or at
marcia.klenbort@comcast.net
for more details or to volunteer for this fun job.
Speaker Series Manager
Typically, AAS puts on about five speaker series programs each year. We
are looking for someone to help with the speaker series programs in 2008
by working to help us come up with ideas for speakers and to line them
up. The manager will not have to coordinate with the function site,
publicize the event, etc. We are simply looking for someone who will
help us schedule our five speakers. If interested, please contact
Catharine Kuchar at
Catharine.Kuchar@atlantaaudubon.org
Ticket and Sales Manager
for the 2008 Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Tour
This volunteer opportunity involves contacting nature and garden centers
to sell tickets in advance of the tour which is usually in early
September, create ticket and money boxes for the backyard sites on tour,
count the receipts from all sales, and analyze the sales and attendance
data. The volunteer will be working closely with the Tour team. Please
contact Nancy Hamilton at
nlhamilton@bellsouth.net
Plan Ahead: Wildlife
Sanctuary Tour
AAS’s backyard wildlife sanctuary tour will take place in September
2008, continuing an annual tradition. It’s not a moment too soon to
check your schedule: We need knowledgeable master birders to staff the
tables for 2.5 hour shifts during the tour. More information to follow!
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