2007 annual report potomac valley audubon society
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P.O. Box 578
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
www.potomacaudubon.org
2007 Annual Report
Potomac Valley Audubon Society
Celebrating25Years
1982 - 2007
CHILDRENS PROGRAMS
At the beginning of the year, we hired Ellen Murphyto be our first Director of Childrens Programs.Ellen has years of experience working with youngpeople, and shes been a terrific addition to the staff.
As youll see in the paragraphs that follow, shes
already spearheaded some significant improvementsand expansions of our program offerings for area kids.
Our Watershed Education Initiative continuesto grow in size and popularity. We launched this
fourth grade school program four years ago to helpgive area children a betterunderstanding of one ofthe Panhandles mostpressing environmentalissuesprotecting water
resources. This year, underEllens leadership, thisprogram reached more than550 fourth graders in fiveschools in Jefferson andBerkeley counties. Next
year, thanks to a major newgrant from the State of
West Virginia, well be able to expand the programto include more children at additional schools. Thisgrant, which was awarded by the states Project
FLOW (Future Leaders of Watersheds) Program, willalso allow us to provide follow-up instruction for fifthgraders in participating schools, through reinforcingactivities and a service-learning project.
Largely because of Ellens efforts, area schools arealso now beginning to sign up for our other school
programsthe environmental education programsweve developed for all the other elementary grades
from kindergarten through sixth grade. Theseprograms are designed to engage children in learningabout various aspects of the natural world, from
the way animals adapt to their surroundings to theway forests work. Each of them involves a field tripexperience at our Yankauer Nature Preserve. You candownload a brochure that describes these programs in
detail from our website at www.potomacaudubon.org
Also underEllens direction,this summers
Audubon
Discovery Campat the Yankauer
Nature Preservewas a smashingsuccess by any
standard. Foropeners, all our camp sessions were fully booked bymid-April and we wound up hiring an additional
instructor to increase weekly enrollments in an effortto meet the demand! For the first time, we offereda new camp for preschool children that involved 4-and 5-year-olds and their favorite adult in discoveringand exploring the natural world together. We alsooffered a full six weeks of our traditional day camp
for 6-12 year olds, with each week focusing on adifferent theme. Each day the four outstanding staff
led activities like hiking, playing games, keepingnature journals, and creating nature crafts, all thewhile learning about the environment. Specialguests during the summer included Scales and Tails
presenters from Cunningham Falls State Park andNellie Adkins, who shared her Native Americanheritage with campers. During two camp sessions,U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees from theNational Conservation Training Center (NCTC)
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Childrens Programs Cont.
came out to teach campers about using the GlobalPositioning System (GPS). Each camper had the useof a handheld GPS rover and learned the basicsof navigating with the use of satellites. The grandfinale of the summer was the family campout where
several camp families came to Yankauer to enjoy a
campfire and the stars. In the end, we filled a totalof 238 camp slots this year100 more than the yearbefore! Next year, our Audubon Discovery Campwill mark its sixth year, and were looking for waysto expand our camp programs so even more children
can participate.
PVAS annually uses the proceeds from its fallbirdseed sale to provide summer camp scholarshipsto area children. This year, we provided 20 childrenwith scholarships to three different camps. Two
children attended Trout Unlimiteds Conservationand Fishing Camp near Shenandoah National Parkin co-sponsorship with Trout Unlimited. Onechild attended the Burgundy Center for WildlifeStudies, near Capon Bridge, WV in partnership withCamp Burgundy. Seventeen children were granted
scholarships to our own Audubon Discovery Camp.
This summer,for the secondyear in a row, we
partnered withNCTC and thePatuxent National
Wildlife Refugeto offer a special
digital nature
photography
camp forteenagers. Thissummers campwas supported
by Nikon, Inc.through its
Spirit Initiative
program which
not only helped underwrite the costs of the camp
but also loaned each of the 13 students a state-of-
the-art camera. After learning the basics of aperture,
shutter speed, and composition, students began
shooting nature! Photos were downloaded to NCTC
computers and participants learned to manipulatethe images for optimum presentation. High pointsof the week included a chance to photograph birdsof prey at NCTC; a trip to the Patuxent Refuge in
Laurel, MD, to photograph diving ducks and screechowls and learn about the research underway at therefuge; and a trip to the Smithsonian InstitutionsNational Zoo Conservation and Research Center in
Front Royal, VA, to photograph rare and endangeredwildlife and learn more about the research underway
there. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regardsthis camp as an important new tool for encouragingteenagers to become more involved in nature, andits encouraging others to replicate it. To facilitatethis process, the Service videotaped this years camp,and a training video is being prepared that will be
offered to wildlife refuges and conservation educationorganizations nationwide. A photo display of studentwork was displayed at this falls Potomac Arts Festival
and will also be displayed at Patuxent Refuge and theSmithsonians Front Royal Center. Special thanksgo to Matt Poole who planned, coordinated and
instructed the program; to Bill Wallen, an officialNational Wildlife Refuge volunteer photographer whoalso represents Nikon; and to Nikon for all its helpand support.
This November, we teamed up with three arealibraries and Cacapon State Park to provide anexciting new nature-education opportunity for area
childrenNature Explorer backpacks that kidscan check out and use to explore the natural worldwith an adult. The backpacks include books, fieldguides, activity ideas, supplies, and a list of suggested
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Childrens Programs Cont.
natural areas where the packs can be used. Theyre
geared towards young children but their activities and
supplies can be easily adapted for older children as
well. Theyre an ideal resource for families who are
homeschooling their children. We developed these
packs with the assistance of a generous grant from the
Nora Roberts Foundation. The packs were designedand put together by Suzi Taylor, of Sharpsburg, MD,
whos a veteran Audubon Discovery Camp director,
and who has a degree in environmental education.
So far, two kinds of backpacks are available: one that
focuses on exploring the world of birds and another
that focuses on the world of insects. The packs are
available at the nature center at Cacapon State Park
and the childrens sections of the Shepherdstown
Public Library, the Martinsburg Public Library, and
the Morgan County Public Library. Over time,
we hope to expand the number of backpacks in
circulation and add new packs that focus on other
facets of the natural world.
Since 2001, PVAS has been an active partner in
the annual Spring Science Olympiad sponsored
by the Jefferson County Schools and NCTC. The
week-long Olympiad, which is held at NCTC,
involves all the sixth graders in the countys schools
in four different sets of science-related activities.
This spring we developed and presented two of theseactivity stations and trained volunteer instructors to
present them.
This spring, we also partnered with the Jefferson
County Parks and Recreation Commission to offer
some programs for preschoolers at Sam Michaels
Parkfor the first time. These programs, which
included sessions with titles like Birds of a Feather
and Incredible InsectsSplendid Spiders, were very
popular with this new audience.
Every year, both on our own and in partnership
with other organizations, PVAS also offers a variety
ofspecial events and activities for children.
Highlights this year included an Earth Day program
with the Martinsburg Public Library and numerous
school and scout tours through our Yankauer
Nature Preserve.
ADULT PROGRAMS
The local Master Naturalist Program chapter westarted this spring proved very popular. This yearstraining filled up rapidly, and people are alreadywaitlisted to take next years courses. The program,which is a project of the West Virginia Division ofNatural Resources, is patterned after the MasterGardners program but focuses on natural historytopics. After participants complete their training,theyre certified by the state as Master Naturalists andmust commit to substantial volunteer service eachyear to remain certified. PVAS sees this programas a good way to promote greater public knowledgeabout natural history and to train a strong cadre ofvolunteers for natural history education and research.
Our chapter is called the Potomac Valley MasterNaturalist Program. Each year, it will offer coursesmonthly from April through October, with thelocation of the courses roughly alternating betweenthe NCTC near Shepherdstown and Cacapon StatePark near Berkeley Springs. This year, Thomasand Sandra DOnofrio generously donated twoscholarships for the program.
Our Potomac Valley Nature Photographersgroup continued to thrive in 2007. Inspired by a
set of nature photography workshops we held in2005 with Wil and Donna Hershberger, this groupwas founded in 2006 under PVASs auspices. Itoffers a great opportunity for photographers of alllevels to get together on a regular basis and learnmore about nature photography from peers andprofessionals. This year the group hosted a seminarby internationally known nature photographer Art
Wolfe and continued their regular monthly meetings
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Adult Programs Cont.
Our always popular introductory birding course,
Birding 101, celebrated its 20th year in 2007! Once
again, the instructors were Bob Dean, Matt Orsie,and Wil Hershberger. This years course was offeredin April and 20 people participated. The courseincludes four classroom sessions at NCTC and four
trips to local birding hot spots.
Our monthly field trips were well attended thisyear, and included a wide variety of topics and sites.Especially popular were a new meteor-watching partywe sponsored in August, an early September Insect
Walk along the C&O Canal, and a late September
trip to the bird-banding station at the Dolly SodsScenic Area in Grant County, WV. Many thanksto Nancy Kirschbaum for coordinating the trips
and to the many trip leaders who make these fieldtrips possible.
As always, PVAS this winter is sponsoring an EasternPanhandle Christmas Bird Count in Jefferson andBerkeley counties as part of the National AudubonSocietys Christmas Bird Count program. Last winterPVAS volunteers also participated in other bird
surveys, including the Great Backyard Bird Countand the C&O Canal Midwinter Bird Survey.
PVASs regular monthly programs were alsowell-attended and varied this year. Topics coveredby presenters included fish kills in the Potomac and
its tributaries, green home construction, wildlifephotography, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, bird
songs, and reported declines in morel mushroom
populations along the C&O Canal. Starting in
September, we moved our monthly meeting location
from the U.S. Geological Surveys Leetown Science
Center to NCTC. PVAS thanks the Leetown Center
for its many years of hosting our meetings. And
of course were very grateful to NCTC for their
willingness to share their state-of-the-art facilities
with us.
This fall, we also began offering evening programsin Morgan Countyfor the first time to betterserve our growing number of members there. Sofar, weve offered two programs in the county: an
WILDLIFE RESCUE
PVAS continues to offer awildlife rescue andrehabilitation service, through which a speciallylicensed PVAS member, assisted by volunteers as
needed, takes calls and coordinates the transportof injured and orphaned wildlife to wildliferehabilitation facilities. In 2007, PVAS handledmore than 50 rehabilitation cases.
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October presentation on Songs of Insects, by WilHershberger, and a November presentation on greenhome construction, by Jeff Feldman. We look forwardto offering more such programming in the future.
Thanks to Cacapon State Park, and to Park NaturalistKelly Smith in particular, for providing us withexcellent meeting space at the Parks Lodge.
NATURE PRESERVES
Our new Eidolon Nature Preserve on Sideling
Hill in Morgan County is now up and running.
We spent last winter clearing and re-blazing the
preserves approximately four miles of trails and the
property was formally opened to the public on May
19. Since then there have been several other events
at Eidolon, including a Growing Native tree-seedgathering sponsored by The Potomac Conservancy
and another open house held in September as part of
the Morgan County Ecology Coalitions Ravishing
Raptor weekend. Were now in the process of
finalizing a land management plan for the preserve,
with technical assistance from Virginia Techs College
of Natural Resources. The West Virginia Division of
Natural Resources helped us establish a breeding bird
survey at Eidolon this spring, and next spring we hopeto survey the propertys plant species in preparationfor launching efforts to control the invasive speciesthere. The preserve now has a temporary kiosk with
trail maps and brochures, and plans are underway fora permanent interpretive sign to welcome visitors.Other near-term projects in the works include barriersto restrict ATV access to the property. The 354-
acre preserve was willed to The Nature Conservancy(TNC) by Mrs. Marguerite Zapoleon. TNC took title
to it in 2006, and enlisted PVAS to co-manage it thesame year. In the relatively near future, working withthe Morgan County community, we hope to constructa shelter and parking facilities on the property so wecan provide educational programming there.
OurYankauer Nature Preserve, which we alsoco-manage for TNC, has seen many improvements
this year thanks to incredible efforts by volunteers.The NCTC Employees Association and Eldon
Winston helped eradicate invasive Autumn Oliveplants from parts of the preserve. Members of the
Shepherdstown Presbyterian Churchs MissionCommittee also helped with invasive-plant removaland other projects. Young people from St. JamesSchool came to help with some spring cleaning atthe preserve. Later on, Shepherd University studentsdonated a Day of Service as part of freshman
orientation and the United Ways annual Day of
Caring turned out 90 volunteers in spite of heavyrain all that day. These groups weeded and expandedthe Gardening for Wildlife demonstration project,pulled Japanese stilt grass, mulched trails, repairedbenches, and completed many other projects. New
interpretive signs have been installed along theKingfisher Trail and additional benches have beeninstalled at the bird feeding station by Eagle ScoutThomas Neville. Thomas has also created raptor
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Old Cabin at Eidolon
Overlook at Yankauer Preserve
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Nature Preserves Cont.
silhouette cutouts for the pavilion ceiling to helpwith bird identification in our educational programs.
The pavilion now has electricity, thanks to volunteerWes Dilley of W.D. Maintenance. Wes has alreadyinstalled lights and outlets in the pavilions storagearea which makes an enormous difference. By next
summer, well have ceiling fans in the pavilion forthe comfort of our summer camp participants and
summer concert attendees. Well also be able to runLCD projectors for presentations and have coffeepots for special events. The delivery of electricityto the preserve also paves the way for the futureinstallation of a well and bathrooms, projects we hopeto undertake soon.
SPECIAL EVENTS
We held our third annual Wildflower Festival
and Earth Day Celebration at the Yankauer Nature
Preserve on April 21. More than 150 people came
to enjoy guided wildflower walks, artists works,
childrens activities, and displays by partnering
environmental groups. The weather and wildflowers
were perfect for visitors to explore the preserve
and learn about a variety of environmental
organizations in the area with which they can getinvolved. The event would not have been possible
without the help of dedicated volunteers leading the
walks and activities.
We held our sixth annual This Race is for the
Birds 5K trail run and walk at NCTC on April
28. Nearly 100 runners and walkers ages 4-65
participated. The event raised approximately
$5,000 for PVAS education programs.
As was noted previously, the formal opening of the
Eidolon Nature Preserve took place on May 19.
About 50 people attended a morning ribbon-cutting
ceremony and another 50 stopped by to visit during a
day-long open house that followed. Thomas Minney
of The Nature Conservancy presented a plaque thatwill be mounted at the preserve and Bill Belton
cut the ribbon. Representatives of many fellow
conservation organizations attended the opening
ceremony along with community leaders like Morgan
County Commissioner Brenda Hutchinson and Bath
Town Council member Nancy Harvey.
U.S. Representative Shelley Moore Capito sent a
letter of congratulations.
Eidolon Opening
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Special Events Cont.
PVASs 25th Anniversary Celebration was held atthe Yankauer Preserve over a picnic supper onJune 2. More than 70 PVAS members and friendsattended to celebrate the organizations very activelifetime. Susan Brookreson compiled a timeline ofPVASs historic highlights with the research help ofKeith Alexander, Wayne Braunstein, and Jean Neely.Members shared stories and memories of funny,favorite, and impressive activities, from hackingospreys to helping establish the Canaan ValleyNational Wildlife Refuge. Jean Neely was recognized
for founding PVAS, and for her tireless work onbehalf of the organization ever since. Bill Belton wasrecognized for his many years of dedicated serviceand his role in involving PVAS in the Eidolon NaturePreserve. Leetown Science Center director BillPalmisano was given a framed Wil Hershberger photoas a token of appreciation of the Centers willingnessto host PVASs meetings for so many years.
About 40 people attended aMorgan County PVAS picnic atCacapon State Park on June 24.The event helped us to boost ourMorgan County membership rollsand to recruit additional volunteersto help with the Eidolon Preserve.PVAS this year also participated in
the Morgan County Fair and theApple Butter Festival.
Our summertime Music in theCedars concerts at the YankauerNature Preserve continue to be apopular community event. Theconcerts were expanded this year toinclude Tuesdays in September inaddition to Tuesdays in August. Aspecial thank-you goes out to the
performers who donated their timeand talent to this summers concertseries: Satch Alwin, Daryl Bryarly,Steve Cifala, Michael DeLalla,The Dilletantes, Grigorio Lacerdaand friends, Betty Jo and ScottRockwell, and Steve Warner andthe Rolling Coyotes.
The Third Annual Potomac ArtsFestival: A Celebration of Nature and the Arts
was a hit again this year. The festival, which washeld November 2-4, featured more than 40extremely talented artists and craftspeople whosework is influenced by the natural world. About1,200 visitors attended. Everyone who attendedwas impressed with the level of talent present at thefestival. The National Conservation Training Centergenerously hosted the event again this year in their
spacious gymnasium.
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FINANCES
Last years annual appeal yielded a record-breaking$26,500twice as much as weve raised in previousappeals. Our ability to grow our programs in 2007was a direct result of this generous support frommembers and friends. The years budget was also
our largest ever, with income totaling $148,900 and
expenses totaling $121,907. The surplus was investedin short-term certificates of deposit at locally ownedbanks for future capital use.
The income breakdown was very balanced between
various funding sources this year. Special eventsaccounted for 29% of our income. Revenues fromprograms accounted for 26% due to more programofferings than ever before. Grants accounted for 21%,and donations accounted for 20%. The remainder ofour income came from membership dues (3%), earned
interest (0.6%), and a few miscellaneous areas.
The majority of the organizations expenses were forprograms (47%), a category that includes staff salaries.Another 14% went to support special events, manyof which are mission-related. Administrative costs,
which include payroll taxes and workers comp amongother administrative expenses, accounted for 11% ofexpenses, and preserve maintenance accounted for9%. Fundraising expenses accounted for only 1%of expenses, and miscellaneous expenses, including
inventory, accounted for 0.6%.
PVASs overall financial position is strong. We haveno debt and are able to maintain a cash reservethat meets the best-practice standards for nonprofitorganizations of our size. This reserve is prudentlyinvested in short-term certificates of deposit at
local banks.
The Potomac Valley Audubon Society Fund hasnow reached over $11,000. This endowment was
created in 2004 through the Eastern West VirginiaCommunity Foundations Spirit of the Panhandle
award program, in honor of PVAS founder JeanNeelys many contributions to the community. TheBank of Charles Town, which provided $5,000 inseed money for the endowment, has generouslyoffered to continue supporting it by matching futurecontributions of up to $500 annually. The endowment
is controlled by the Foundation and managed by
the Banks Trust Department. In addition to addingnew money to the endowment each year, PVAS isreinvesting all proceeds from it to facilitate its growth.
Because PVASs budget is continuing to growand becoming increasingly complex, we this yearhired on a part-time basis Elizabeth Lowe, a highlyexperienced bookkeeper. Elizabeth is assisting our
treasurer with disbursements, payroll, tax reports, andmonthly financial statements. This year weve also
commissioned our first professional audit to ensurethat our books are in order and our procedures are in
keeping with best-practice standards.
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GOVERNANCE
PVAS this year continued to implement thecomprehensive plan we adopted in 2006 forreorganizing our management structure, andour membership by mail ballot approved aset of constitution and by-laws changes that
formalized this reorganization. We greatlystrengthened our staff lineup by hiring anew Director of Childrens Programs andby promoting Kristin Alexander to be PVAS
Executive Director so she can focus herattention on the organization as a whole.
We have also further modernized andstrengthened our management practicesby adopting new policies concerningconflict of interest, document retentionand destruction, and whistle-blowerprotection. The conflict of interest policy
follows the recommendations of theInternal Revenue Service and the other twopolicies are based on models developed
by the National Council of NonprofitAssociations. We are also, in consultationwith a professional accountant, developing a
new Fiscal Operations Policy Manual. In allfacets of governance, we are committed totransparency and adherence to the highestbest-practice standards for nonprofits.
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LOOKING AHEAD
There are several projects that we are looking
forward to in the next year:
Continue to expand our education
programs for children and adults,
especially our school programs.
Finalize land management plans for the
Eidolon and Yankauer preserves and
begin facility improvements at both
properties such as drilling a well and
building bathrooms at Yankauer, and
finalizing a site plan for construction of
educational facilities at Eidolon.
Continue to expand our programs
and services to Morgan County both
at the Eidolon Preserve and in the
county at-large.
Continue to implement our reorganization
and complete a new 5-year strategic plan
to enhance our ability to deliver projects
and programs.
Program expenses $69,276(includes staff salaries)
Savings $26,993
Special event expenses $20, 623
Administrative costs $16,162(includes payroll taxes, workmen's comp, not salaries)
Preserve maintenance $13,470
Fundraising expenses $1,616
Misc. $860(includes inventory)
PVAS EXPENSESJuly 2006-June 2007
Special events $43,351
Program Income $38,671
Grants $31,007
Donations $29,302
Membership income $4,077
Earned interest $880
PVAS INCOMEJuly 2006-June 2007
OVERALLJuly 2006-June 2007
Overall income $148,900
Overall expense $121,907
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IN CONCLUSION
2007 proved to be the busiest program year in PVASs history with a full summer camp, an expanded slate ofschool programs, and a new Master Naturalist Program chapter. The staff was doubled to meet the demand forour programs and if this fall is any indication, next springs program season will likely be busier still. Even witha full-time Director of Childrens Programs, our challenge has beenand will continue to bemeeting theconstantly increasing demand for our programs. We continue to write grants to fund projects and programs
with some success. However, the most meaningful and reliable source of funding continues to be from our
members and friends in the communities we serve.
As has been the case during all of PVASs 25 years, the dedication and commitment of our volunteers is trulyremarkable. The organizations strength lies in our members and friends who support our efforts throughgenerous gifts of time. Without fail, they pull us through every program and project with great success and
without complaint.
Our efficacy is also the result of strong partners. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services National Conservation
Training Center continues to be a most supportive partner by contributing space, professional expertise,volunteers, and many other services. We are, of course, closely involved with The Nature Conservancythrough our co-management of the Yankauer and Eidolon nature preserves, which they own, and we are
grateful for all their help and support. This year, weve also received invaluabletechnical assistance fromVirginia Techs College of Natural Resources,which has assigned graduate students to help draft the land management plan forEidolon. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources was instrumentalin helping us establish our Master Naturalist Program chapter, and also helpedus set up a breeding bird survey at Eidolon. Cacapon State Parkgenerously
hosted several Master Naturalist courses and two evening programs this year. The
Conservation Funds Freshwater Institute partners with us on the WatershedEducation Initiatives rain gardens and lends their expertise on other projects as
questions arise. The Izaak Walton League of Berkeley County also consistently helps with the WatershedEducation Initiative as a host for the field trips as fourth graders test the health of the Potomac River, and the
Shepherdstown Wastewater Treatment Plant and Berkeley County Public Service Sewer District offerenlightening tours of their plants as part of the program as well. The United Way of the Eastern Panhandleoffers guidance in nonprofit administration, supports our efforts financially, and helps organize and recruitvolunteers and donations for their annual Day of Caring.
If you have any questions about this report or any of the activities outlined here, please contact us. We enjoyhearing from our members and friends.
Sincerely,
Peter Smith Kristin AlexanderPresident Executive [email protected] [email protected] 304-676-3397
Eidolon Preserve