Meeting Minutes

August CAS Board Member Meeting Minutes

Columbia Audubon Society

Board of Directors Meeting

Wednesday August 20, 2025

Columbia Public Library

Present:  Lottie Bushmann, Vickie Park, Reed Gerdes, John Besser, Eric Seaman, Eric Woods, Allison Vaughn

Meeting called to order: 6:06 pm

Previous minutes:     Reed Gerdes moves to accept the June 2025 minutes as written.     Eric Woods seconds the motion.  Motion carries.

Treasurer’s report:  Eric Seaman reports that Greg and Lori are working on an audit.

Field Trips:

August 26-  Logboat Social event, 5-6:30 pm.    Other Logboat events have been successful.

September 5- First Friday birding at 3M with Lottie, 8-11 am

October 3- First Friday birding at 3M with Lottie, 8-11am

October 5- Moss hike at Wildhaven

November 7- First Friday birding at 3M with Lottie, 8-11 am

November 28- Blackbird Roost visit on Black Friday

A swift watch is being planned.

CAS still needs a Field Trip Coordinator and volunteers to lead Second Saturday bird hikes.

Conservation: Gans Creek Trail/Rookery concerns were discussed.   2 trails on the north side have been approved.   A third (south side) is still being considered.

Bow hunting of deer is allowed at Bonnie View, but there is a $125.00 processing fee for each donated deer.  The board discussed the possibility of covering the cost of does (not bucks) donated to Share the Harvest.  Allison moved that $1000.00 be earmarked for potential processing fees for the 2025 deer hunting season .   Eric Wood seconded the motion.  The board voted unanimously to approve.

Dark Sky Missouri:  Allison and a volunteer have been measuring sky quality at Rock Bridge State Park.  The current metrics are surprisingly good.  A lighting inventory to facilitate improvement is underway.  Allison continues to work with city officials on becoming a designated Bird City.   Dark Sky Missouri is a piece of that.

Programs:  Detailed discussion was tabled because Emma was absent.  The annual fall picnic will be planned for a date in September at  Wildhaven.

Education:  Lottie and Lisa will assist with the CPS  2nd grade program  October 20,21 and 23.

CoMo Gives: Lisa Schenker and Eric Seaman have nothing to report

Nature Areas:  John Besser met with Davyn Orcutt and some volunteers to make a master schedule for work days at the nature areas for the coming fiscal year.  They recommend that the 3rd Saturday of every month be designated a work day.  Work will include invasive species control, prescribed burnings, trail maintenance, seedling plantings and structural maintenance.

John will post schedule details and volunteer opportunities in the Chat.

Bill Mees is awaiting an estimate from a professional burn crew for CANS.

The Missouri Invasive Plant Council (MoIP) has honored the Columbia Audubon Society with the 2025 Individual Organization Invasive Plant Action Award for outstanding contributions to the long-term management of invasive plant species.  Thank you, Bill Mees for nominating CAS for this prestigious award.  The board authorizes the formal receipt of a framed certificate to take place at the fall picnic.

Eric Seaman moves forward with negotiations to share access to the Albert Children’s Area.

Communications:  Allison recommends that submissions to the Chat be submitted by August 31.

Archived Minutes:

    2022

    2021

    2020

    2019

    2018

    2017