Present: Doug Miller, Jim Gast, Greg Leonard, Lottie Bushmann, John Besser, Allison Vaughn, Nancy Bedan, Eric Seaman, Jean Neely, Bill Mees

Time called to order: 6:04pm

Approve Minutes of the May Meeting

Bill Mees moves we accept the minutes of the May board meeting as written. Nancy Bedan seconds the motion. The motion carries.

Treasurer’s Report

John Besser moves we accept the Treasurer’s report. Bill Mees seconds the motion. The motion carries.

Committee Reports

Nature Areas

• Bill Mees reports that one of the white oaks at Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary is already being listed as a point of interest, as part of the City of Columbia’s Bicentennial tree program. We have not yet received the plaque that goes along with the designation.
• There was another incident of vandalism at Wild Haven: a heavy chain, lock and bolts were taken from the entry gate. Doug Miller enquires about the amount of the cumulative damage and losses over the years and asks if that warrants additional action. The Nature Areas board will come up with proposals to remedy the situation.
• A different boy scout has taken up the project of constructing kiosk posts at Wild Haven. He has a year to complete the project.
• The CANS prairie restoration project continues. After May rains caused heavy plant germination, additional herbicide was applied to the expansion unit in July. Bill is asking for advice regarding seed selection; he’s suggesting this planning should be done now.
• Mike Szydlowski, science coordinator for Columbia Public Schools, is interested in Bill and Jan Mees’s idea of an October pumpkin walk at CANS and/or Bonnie View. He’s proposing events such as: a bat station; a bone yard (animal bones to examine); an owl station to dissect pellets; a cat station explaining the Halloween association of black cats; and something involving spiders and snakes. Mike has spoken to a farmer who could offer 100+ free pumpkins for the children to carve. Mike is targeting Thursday October 28 and/or Friday October 29 since there’s no school those days; also this would be directly after Band With Nature, so the porta-potties could still be in place for no additional expense.
• Band With Nature, the field trip for Columbia Public Schools second-graders, is scheduled for October 25–27. This year, Andrew Kinslow would conduct the bird banding, not the Missouri River Bird Observatory, although MRBO might conduct an activity involving bird calls. Bill has been unable to get in touch with Raptor Rehab, who has operated a station with owls and hawks in previous years.
• Bill asks whether we would like to continue participating in the city’s Adopt A Trail program. We currently maintain a 1/2-mile section spanning CANS and Bonnie View. We will continue in the program.

Programs

• Nancy Bedan reports she has sent out a proposal outlining this season’s upcoming programs. Given the continuing COVID pandemic, we will conduct more programs outside during the warmer months, and then conduct online meetings during the winter.
• Nancy and the board worked out details of the September picnic at Wild Haven.
• CAS will share a table with the Missouri Birding Society at the Noah Strycker talk in October at the Mizzou Botanic Garden. Noah will be visting with Columbia Public Schools students the morning of the talk. CAS is also trying to schedule an opportunity for members to go birding with Noah on Saturday, October 16th.

Field Trips

• John Besser reports that no field trips are scheduled other than leading trips at the Wild Haven picnic, possibly birding with Noah Strycker in October, and a Songbird Station anniversary event.

Outreach and Education

• Lottie Bushmann reports that all 4 teachers who received CAS scholarships attended Educator’s Week at Hog Island. We have requested write-ups about their experience and how they will employ what they’ve learned in their classrooms.
• Lottie helped conduct two children’s events with Missouri River Relief: a bird booth at Cooper’s Landing, and an event in the Devil’s Icebox parking lot at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.

Membership

• Shelby Thomas reported via Jim Gast that the membership renewal reminders have gone out and that many people have alrady responded.
• Doug Miller reports that secure HTTPS connections have been added to the CAS website, so member information will be encrypted when they renew online.

Communications

• Allison Vaughn reports that the deadline for Chat newsletter articles is August 26.
• Jim Gast will go on Paul Pepper’s show with Donna Puleo of the Mizzou Botanic Garden to talk about the Noah Strycker talk in October.

Conservation

• The board reviewed Brooke Widmar’s response on behalf of Columbia Audubon Society to the proposed management plans at the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
• Eric Seaman moves we accept and forward Brooke’s response. Nancy Bedan seconds the motion. The motion carries.

Business

By-Laws

• Since the membership meeting in April was cancelled, Jim Gast has amended the last sentence to make the new bylaws effective on October 1, pending approval of the membership at the Wild Haven picnic in September.
• Jim Gast moves we accept the amendment to the bylaws. Lottie Bushmann seconds the motion. The motion carries.

Canton Subdivision

• Jim Gast reports the developer of the Canton Subdivision has withdrawn their proposal.

Other Business

• Jan Mees reports via Jim Gast that CAS’s entry on the CoMoGives fundraiser website has been posted. Annual reports have gone out to previous donors.

Adjournment

John Besser moves the meeting be adjourned. Nancy Bedan seconds the motion. The motion carries and the meeting is adjourned at 7:23pm.