It seems to me that MOS and the Audubon chapters, as well as ANS, should all work together for state and local issues. Many of the SMAS members also belong to MOS and can participate in MOS direction etc. SMAS is also much more oriented to birds and field trips for birding than many Audubon chapters. Cheers, Kathy Klimkiewicz ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: A response to the South.... Author: mdosprey@ARI.Net at NBS-Internet-Gateway Date: 10/22/97 6:52 PM Dear Southern Neighbors, I've read the responses from Jack Leighty, Carol Ghebelian, and Tyler Bell very carefully and I want to thank all of you for taking the time to respond so thoughtfully to my question. I was certainly aware of the existence of the Southern Maryland Audubon Society, but other than that I knew very little of how many people, how active the organization was, etc. I'm quite impressed by all that I've heard! If all a Southern Maryland Chapter of MOS could offer is field trips and meeting opportunities, then I would agree with all of you. Why on earth would you want yet another organization when you already have such an obviously well-organized, active group of folks interested in both birds and conservation issues? The problem though is that the NAS speaks at a National and an International level on conservation issues and I presume that SMAS speaks at a local level on the same kinds of topics. The Maryland Ornithological Society, on the other hand, is rapidly becoming more involved in issues affecting birds and birding throughout the State. As an organization we are taking an increasingly proactive role in initiatives such as MD Partners in Flight, the ABC's Important Bird Areas Program, the Maryland Coalition for Teaming With Wildlife, and the Environmental Fund for Maryland. Our members and Chapters also get involved with numerous issues at a local level, such as the Belt Woods preservation efforts and the recent work to restore the C&O Canal towpath. I understand that the SMAS is involved in many these same issues too, so don't get me wrong. The point is, the MOS is being called on increasingly to speak to bird conservation issues for the State as a whole. If there were a Southern Maryland Chapter of MOS, you would be better able to participate in helping shape the direction MOS goes in the coming decade through participation in State-level board meetings and perhaps even having members of your chapter elected to higher office in the State organization. Other Counties in Maryland, such as Carroll, Howard, Talbot, Prince-George's, and Montgomery, have successful MOS Chapters coexisting with successful Audubon organizations. Why is that? I think the people who just want to bird will turn to the MOS Chapter as the obvious organization to join. People who are concerned with the broad gamut of environmental threats facing us each and every day in Maryland turn naturally to the Audubon organizations. Then there is the group who wish to become involved in depth in bird issues. These too will turn more naturally to the MOS Chapter. I suppose what I'm saying is that it would seem there's room for both types of organizations in any given area. Some people will join one or the other organization, while many will choose to join both. For some of us, paying dues in all these organizations becomes a financial burden after awhile and I'm the first to appreciate that reality. Then there's the issue of personal time. Most all of us have to work for a living and we have only so much free time to divide up among family, friends, and recreational pursuits. Nonetheless, I belong to both the MOS and the ANS (and I work too.grin) and I know a lot of others who do the same and who seem able to make both organizations a viable part of their lives. Clearly, the prospect of a Southern Maryland Chapter would be of benefit to the overall MOS organization. We would broaden our membership base somewhat, always a desirable thing these days. We could say that we now truly speak for all areas of the State on bird issues (we say that anyway, but it would be a lot more true if we had a Chapter in Southern Maryland--smile). We would have the benefit of your obvious skills at keeping a large organization viable over an extended period of time and also the unique perspectives folks from your part of Maryland could bring to our deliberations. Finally, we would build better connections among the Maryland birding community. Now, having said all that, let's get down to the important stuff! Birding! When Fran and I heard that MOS was planning the 1999 Annual Meeting for Solomon's, we looked at our county lists and realized that we had been just as guilty as a lot of others in not coming into Southern Maryland to bird. We came down for a quick pass-through of Charles and Calvert Counties in June and then we spent an extended 4th of July weekend birding in St. Mary's and Calvert Counties as well. This fall and winter we plan to be back, to build up our waterfowl lists. I agree with all of the sentiments expressed here about birding in Southern Maryland---you have many wonderful birding opportunities and almost no word of any of these great opportunities seems to leak out. No fair!!! You've been hoarding all these great bird sites! Now is your chance to atone though..smile. Fran and I are planning to be in Solomons over the three days following Thanksgiving and we would love to get an idea from you folks on the spot, as it were, how you bird three different areas: Flag Ponds, Point Lookout and surroundings, and Allens Fresh. Any of you prepared to make us true believers??? Best regards, Norm Saunders ============= Norm Saunders Vice-President, MD Ornithological Society Editor, The Maryland Yellowthroat Sysop, The Osprey's Nest (301-989-9036) Colesville, MD osprey@ari.net