by Vickie Park

Columbia Audubon Society Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday February 26, 2026

Boone County Electric Building

Present:  Lottie Bushmann, Vickie Park, Reed Gerdes, Eric Seaman, Greg Leonard, Shelby Thomas, Bill Mees, Lori Turner, Eric Wood, Allison Vaughn

Meeting called to order: 6:02 pm

Previous minutes:  Lori Turner moved to accept the January minutes as written. Bill Mees seconded it.  Motion carried.

Treasurer report:  Report reviewed.

Programs:  Annual spring picnic is scheduled for Sunday, May 10 at Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary. There will be a field trip prior to the picnic at CANS.

Lottie recommended creating a subcommittee for program ideas.  Everyone agreed this to be a good idea.

Education: 3 teachers are registered to attend Hog Island this summer.

A set of 20 binoculars has been purchased from Songbird Station to use for educational purposes. Songbird Station has also agreed to manage repairs.

Communications:  Allison recommended that submissions to the Chat be given to her by tomorrow Feb. 27.

Dark Sky Missouri: A preapplication to make Rock Bridge Memorial State Park a designated Urban Night Sky Place was submitted by Allison this week.

Field Trips:  Ben is doing an excellent job planning field trips. Attendance has been strong.

Nature Areas:  John Besser absent.  A workday is scheduled for Saturday February 28 to install firelines at CANS.

Membership:  Bill Mees recommended sending reminder postcards to people who have not renewed their membership.  It was suggested that we wait a bit longer to allow time for money processing before sending out reminders. Currently there are 93 members.

Conservation: Bill Mees represented CAS at the Climate Action Adaptation Plan meeting.  This plan will help guide the city council’s policy making for the next five years.

Kevin Roberson, the president of Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, joined us at the end of the meeting to make a request of the board.  That organization along with other concerned citizen groups have come together as the Gans Creek Area Protector Group with a mission to protect that delicate ecosystem from the development of mountain bike trails.  Parks and Recreation has delayed making a final decision regarding the development of bike trails until at least 2027.  The Gans Creek Area Protection Group wants to use this time to be proactive.   If the area is designated off limits to bicycle trails, they want to be in a strong position to recommend that a nature trail be created, that Invasive plants be removed and that interpretive signage be made.  They want to be able to offer up to $5000.00 to implement this plan.  They ask that CAS pledge to contribute money for this cause.   Lottie responded that the board would discuss this idea and get back to him next month.

New Business:

The Bylaws state that there be at least 3 At Large board members. There are currently 3, but there have been 4 in the past. Bill Mees recommended adding a 4^th At Large board member with the intent of creating more diversity and energy.  Eric Wood moved that a 4^th spot be created.  Lori seconded the proposal.  Motion was unanimously approved.

Meeting Adjourned:  6:54 pm