In the last issue of this newsletter, I outlined some of the questions and issue the members of the board and committees are tackling as we set our course ahead.

 

So have we come to any conclusions?  Well, firstly, we think that there are a few, overriding principles, values and beliefs that our members share.  We think that these philosophies, listed below, should guide most everything that we do:-

�        Birds are a joy to behold. 

�        We delight in passing on this joy to all generations, present and future, through active educational experiences.

�        We speak for the birds � they cannot speak for themselves.

�        While our advocacy is non-political, it is proactive and vigorous.

�        Our interest in birds and the protection and conservation of their habitat are inextricably linked � you can�t have one without the other.

�        Birds are sentinels, a visible harbinger of the health of our planet.  They accurately reflect what is likely to happen in our own backyard.

�        We believe that our efforts are best focused on our own area of Virginia.

�        We further believe, that these efforts will contribute substantially to sharing and preserving the unique natural treasure that is the Northern Neck

 

We�ve also outlined some of the things we have done well thanks to good leadership in the past, as well as listed ideas for projects and priorities we might consider in the future.

 

To put this all together, and finalize more specific plans, we need to be sure that we are on the right track for our members.  Our October meeting  (see next page) will include a short work session, where we will seek your help to decide what is really important.  I hope to see you all there.

 

Thanks for listening.

 

Peter Saam