Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2002 10:11:44 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Denise Ryan Subject: Re: What's happening at National Audubon? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Since the economic down-turn before 9-11 and combined with the economic problems associated with 9-11, many of the conservation groups have been struggling. They won't admit this publicly, but some have had to go as far as laying off staff. I work for a conservation group that has been able to hang on to all of the staff - fortunately. The economic problems are especially difficult at a time when environmental groups are facing some of the toughest battles they have seen in years. The money that is required to wage war against those who would drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is astronomical. There are many other programs that are currently in play like protecting National Monuments, Parks and other public lands from drilling for oil in our most precious places, keeping ATVs out of wilderness and habitat, and simply fighting more damming on the Missouri River. Organizations like Audubon do depend on small and middle level donors to give regularly. They can plan their regular campaigns around the dues of normal members and develop a solid budget. If you can cut them an extra check for $20 on top of your normal membership that is money that they did not have before. Many groups also depend on very high level donors. There are some very wealthy environmental donors that were hit hard in the economic downturn as well. Consequently, they can't donate at levels (we are talking 100s of thousands to millions) that they have in the past. Fortunately, cutting back on the magazine is probably a way that Audubon will cut a huge expenditure, while keeping them going and funding the programs on the ground that make the difference between protection and exploitation. Renew your conservation memberships promptly and good birding to all. Denise Ryan League of Conservation Voters - Vote to Protect the Environment (www.lcv.org) League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (www.voteenvironment.org) Washington, DC -----Original Message----- From: Laura M. Appelbaum [mailto:l-appelbaum@MINDSPRING.COM] Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2002 11:43 PM To: MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM Subject: [MDOSPREY] What's happening at National Audubon? I wondered if anyone on this list has any behind-the-scenes info that might shed light on the postcard I (and probably most of the rest of you) got from National Audubon today saying that they were cutting back Audubon Magazine from bimonthly to a mere four issues a year. It's certainly a disappointment to me as I've long considered Audubon to be one of the best of the remaining environmental magazines, and I was surprised to hear about it. Does this mean that National is having financial problems or something? Anyone have a clue? Laura Appelbaum Colesville, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================