Bexar tracks : the newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, Vol. 09, No. 07

• Main Author: Bexar Audubon Society
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: San Antonio, Tex. : Bexar Audubon Society, 1991
• Subjects: Birds > Conservation > Texas > Periodicals.; Ornithology > Texas > Periodicals.; Nature conservation > Texas > Periodicals; Clubs and Organizations; Science and Technology; Arctic; Audrey; Austin; Blair; Hernandez; Rodriguez; Swann; Town Lake
• Online Access: http://digital.utsa.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15125coll10/id/8141

Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). ( VOLUME IX, NO. 7 512·822-4503 JULY 1991 BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY- CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY THE CHAPTER'S PRIMARY GOALS ARE TO PROMOTE SPECIES AND HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY J!esident's Letter We have passed the halfway mark for 1991 and are, at least temperature-wise, well into summer. I trust you are all having a good one and are thinking up cool places to enjoy the outdoors. Thelma Nungesser, Betty Minyard, and I will be attending the National Convention in Estes Park this month, July 21-17. Susan Hughes, a longtime member of our chapter, has 1olunteered to take over as newsletter editor. Our interim editor, Carl Bostek, was reassigned earlier than expected. We wish him well in his new home. We were grateful and relieved to find Susan willing and able to step in. A formal welcome is also in order for our new conserva­tion chairman, Richard Pipes. Richard has an environ­mental background and a great interest in preserving the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Congratulations to our Recycling Committee for their third place award in the Earth Day Proud Partners com­petition . Our entry was the Recycling Center List, updated in April 1991, which continues to be a valuable tool for our community in its recycling efforts. As a result of a coalition of environmental groups join­ing to express concern over the expansion of IH-10 at the Fiesta Texas site and its potential hazard to the Recharge Zone, some productive dialogue has begun with the State Highway Department. It is obvious a change in attitude has occurred, and it seems that future road repair or construction will probably be done with more environ­mental sensitivity. More good news - the Junior League has taken up Mitchell Lake as one of their projects. They will be orga­nizing interested individuals and groups to raise aware­ness in the community about Mitchell Lake and will work toward ensuring that it remains a sanctuary for wildlife, as set out in the Plan for Mitchell Lake adopted by the City. Let me remind you, be sure to see Blue Planet at the !MAX theater this summer. It is awesome. Marge Flandermeyer NOTE: Join us on Saturday, July 20, when a screening of Blue Planet at the !MAX theater will be our July Outing in air-conditioned comfort. Ranning Meeting Scheduled · The Annual Planning Meeting for BAS will be held Saturday, August 17, at the McNay Art Institute, 6000 N. New Braunfels. The meeting will begin at 9 am. This is an important meeting for our organization as this is the time we set our goals for the coming year. The meeting is, of course, open to all members, however, reservations will be necessary so appropriate arrange­ments can be made for refreshments and lunch. The meeting typically lasts until about 3 pm. We will enjoy the museum and grounds during the lunch break. Please call Betty Minyard, 344-6128, or Marge Flandermeyer, 684-2668, if you plan to attend. Rs Airs New Audubon Specials Four Tuesday evenings in July KLRN-TV (Channel 9/Cable 10) will air exciting Audubon Specials at 9 pm. Be sure to watch. July 9 "Danger at the Beach." Increasing dangers threaten coastal waters. July 16 "Wildfire." Fire as a shaper of the environment. The Yellowstone National Park fire of 1988. July 23 "Hope for the Tropics." Costa Rica's efforts on behalf of its tropical forests. July 29 "If Dolphins Could Talk." Research at Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Lab in Hawaii. •'" Printed on recycled paper. Please recycle in the interest of the present and the future. '-~ ~ BEXAR TRACKS, July 1991 BIRDATHON Nets Educational Funds BIRDATHON results are in. We collected $2,354.42, short of our $3,000 goal, but we had a good time and worked hard on getting pledges. Half of our total will be sent to the Regional office to be used toward statewide projects. The other half will fund the elementary school program, AUDUBON ADVENTURES. Just $30 per school room funds this worthwhile project. Prizes for exceptional achievement in BIRDATHON were awarded at the June general meeting. Marge Flandermeyer received a $15 gift certificate from the Broadway Deli for raising the most money. Leslie Linehan received two $10 coins from E-Z's for sighting the most species of birds. Susan Rust received one $10 E-Z's coin for raising the second highest amount of money. We are grateful to the businesses that provided gifts for excep­tional achievement. Let's continue to support them. Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's fund raiser. It takes many people and many hours of work to make the BIRD-ATHON a success. IF BY CHANCE you have not made your donation to our BIRDATHON, it is not too late. While the national contest is closed, we can still use donations to fund additional classrooms. Every member of AUDUBON ought to help on this program. It reaches hundreds of young people each year and can help make a difference for the future. Please consider giving. Contact Betty Minyard, 344-6128, for information. Conservation Committee Monitors Local, Larger Issues Richard Pipes, Conservation Committee Chair, reports a successful organizational meeting on June 27 with eleven members in attendance. Mary Kennedy, Friends of Friedrich Park, reported on the Resolution Trust Corporation's plans for the San Antonio Ranch property. She requested that BAS closely monitor the sales and proposed uses of these properties and what, if any, restrictions will be applied. In addition, she provided an update on unresolved issues regarding the Woodland Hills Hotel/Friedrich Park easement. Ruth Lofgren of the League of Women Voters reports that planning efforts for Mitchell Lake are going forward , but no action items at present. Pipes distributed questionnaires on member interests and priorities. Any new issues will be addressed within the context of issues and activities to which BAS has ongoing commitments. Two issues of national concern were dis­cussed: the proposal to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Ancient Forests Alliance, formed to bring attention to bills currently put forward by the forest products industry. Pipes distributed "Kick the Oil Habit" petitions and provided information for letter writers regarding the Arctic Refuge drilling. The Ancient Forests Alliance Page2 asks for citizen comments on HB2463 and SB1156, described as wish lists for the timber industry, guarantee­ing logging at present levels - even within ancient forests. The bills further seek to restrict future judicial action to overturn or restrict the decision. The next committee meeting is TENTATIVELY scheduled for August 1. Contact Richard Pipes for more information at 1-512-569-2452. How You Can Help BAS . Membership -A Dynamic Committee BAS membership is dynamic. In April 1,466 copies of our newsletter, Bexar Tracks, were mailed - most to mem­bers . The number of members fluctuates each month. New members join, some members drop, and people move to different geographic areas, transferring into and out of the BAS chapter. For example, from March 29 t(\ May 2,1991, we received 120 new memberships; from M 3 to May 30, there were 77 new members. The BAS Membership Committee keeps track of all these members and coordinates providing mailing labels for the newsletter. The committee members also greet people at the monthly meetings, getting names and addresses and providing name tags and introductions. They also perform other member services as the Board requests. Volunteers' Volunteer Needed BAS has received great response to the new member questionnaires. The Membership Committee now needs a volunteer to coordinate volunteer assignments. If you can help with this project - putting the right people with the right jobs-we need to hear from you. Looking Ahead . Looking Back The BAS also needs a Finance Committee Chair to help us plan for the future and manage our resources wisely, as well as an Historian to chronicle the events of the Society and maintain the Society's scrapbook. You Can Make a Difference If you can volunteer a small to moderate amount of time each month to help with any of th e se duties , t! President, the Board, and your fellow members would ~ come your participation. For more information, or to vol­unteer your assistance, please call Thelma Nungesser, 824-8199, or Marge Flandermeyer, 684-2668. Page3 ( Your Bexar County . lected Representatives - How to Contact Them District Name Austin Phone State Senators 19 FrankTejeda 1-512-463-0119 21 Judith Zaffirini 1-512-463-0121 26 Cyndi Krier 1-512-463-0126 State Senate, POBox 12068Capitol Station, Austin,TX 78711 State Representatives 115 Leticia Van de putte 1-512-463-0532 116 Greg Luna 1-512-463-0616 117 Frank Madia 1-512-463-0618 118 Ciro Rodriguez 1-512-463-0714 119 Robert Puente 1-512-463-0452 120 Karyne Conley 1-512-463-0708 121 Alan Schoolcraft 1-512-463-0686 122 George Pierce 1-512-463-0658 123 Jeff Wentworth 1-512-463-0646 124 Christine Hernandez 1-512-463-0634 Texas House of Representatives, POBox 2910, Austin,TX 78768-2910 ( ~9xpedition Institute Molds Leaders The National Audubon Society Expedition Institute (AEJ), a non-profit education program now in its fourteenth year, provides an ecologically and socially affirmative learning environment. Audubon has developed an accelerated, hands-on master's/bachelor's degree program sensitive to America's need for knowledgeable, skilled leaders and cit­izens who, regardless of their occupations or interests, are able to relate to the natural world. Coursework is interwoven with outdoor and travel expe­riences, which include hiking, backpacking, canoeing, and ranger-naturalist walks, as well as visits to museums, observatories, archeological sites, national parks, Audubon sanctuaries, education centers, and political offices. Students learn skills necessary to understanding systems and, thereby, increase their versatility and pre­pare themselves for occupations in a variety of environ­mental settings. If you are interested in learning more about this pro-gram, write: NAS Expedition Institute P.O. Box 170, Readfield, Maine 04355. The next institute starts in September. Congratulations Are in Order /Congratulations to BAS member Allen Perry, awarded first place as a 1990 Earth Day Proud Partner for his indi­vidual volunteer efforts in conservation education for San Antonio and Bexar County. BEXAR TRACKS, July 1991 fij ''A .1-l Vision for 2020"-Plan Early Plan now to attend the Southwest Regional Conference of the National Audubon Society to be held September 19- 22, 1991. Conferees at "A Vision for 2020: Population and the Environment" will enjoy internationally known speak­ers, bird- and bat-watching walks, workshops, and exciting field trips. To register, send the form above with your check to Audubon Population Conference, 2525 Wallingwood, Suite 1505, Austin, TX 78746. For more information, call 1-512-327-1943 or FAX [phone]. Headquarters for the conference is the Crest Hotel, Town Lake, Austin, TX, phone: [phone] or 1-800.225- 5843. r--AUf>Tiif6N-POPTn:At1oN"coNFERENCE-l 2525 Wallingwood, Suite 1505 Austin, TX 787 46 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone] Enclosed is my registration fee: 0 Early Bird $35 (before August 1 0 Regular $42 (on or after August 1) NAME __________________________ __ ADDRESS ________________________ _ CITY /STATE/ZIP __________ _ AREA CODE & TELEPHONE (_) ___ _ Make checks payable to: NAS Population Conference --- ~ National Audubon Society Chapter Membership Application Yes, I'd like to join. Please enroll me as a member of the National Audubon Society and of my local chapter. Please send AUDUBON maga­zine and my membership card to the address below. 0 My $20 check for the introductory membership is enclosed. NAME __________________________ _ ADDRESS ________________________ _ CITY /STATE/ZIP _________ _ Mal?e all chechs payable to the Nationa1 Audubon Society. Send this application and your check to: Bexar Audubon Society P.O.Box 6084 San Antonio, TX 78209 WI9 Local Chapter Code 7XCHA ~ BEXAR TRACKS, July 1991 Calendar 11 July No board meeting this month. 13 July Second Saturday, "Stargazing in the Park," Friedrich Wilderness Park, 8 to 9 pm. 18 July BAS General Meeting: Kelly Bryan, Park Superintendent at Kickapoo Caverns State Natural Area is the featured speaker. Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, 7 pm. Call Nathan Ratner for further information, 826-4462. 20 July 21-27 July 15 August 17 August 19-22 Sept Outing to IMAX Theater for Blue Planet, 11 am. Phone [phone]. National Audubon Society National Convention, Estes Park. No BAS General Meeting in Aug. BAS Annual Planning Meeting, McNay Art Institute, 9 am, for information, call 684-2668. A Vision for 2020: Population and the Environment, Southwest Regional Audubon Population Conference, Crest Hotel, Austin. See registration information on page 3 of this issue. Call 512-327-1943 for more information. BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY P.O. BOX 6084 SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209 Address Correction Requested OffiCERS AND BOARD Marge Flandenneyer, President . 684-2668 Betty Minyard, Vice President . 344-Sl28 Walter Barfield, Treasurer . . 736~355 Caryl Swann, Secretary . . . 653-2860 Audrey Cooper, Board Member. . 651-S054 Ronald "Rusty" Guyer, Board Member . 226-S808 Nathan Ratner, Board Member . 826-4462 Thelma Nungesser, Board Member . . 824.Sl99 Blair Richter, Board Member . . 824-8251 COMMmEE CHAIRMEN Conservation, Richard Pipes . l-512-569-2452 Education, Betty Minyard . 344-Sl28 Finance . . Membership, Thelma Nungesser . 824.Sl99 Newsletter Editor, Susan K. Hughes . . . 696-S868 Outings, Caryl Swann . 653-2860 Programs, Nathan Ratner . . 826-4462 Publicity, Blair Richter . 824.S251 Page 4 'Kteo Acquisitions Focus on Local and Global Interests Two new videos have been added to the BAS Library: The Edwards Aquifer: A Texas Treasure (20 min/color). Describes the Edwards Aquifer and how it works, and discusses endangered species, water quality, and conservation. (From Witte Museum.) • Save the Earth (60 min/color). A "how to" video that demonstrates ways to make a difference to the earth. Covers acid rain, ozone depletion, rain forests, water conservation, recycling, toxic waste, and the green­house effect. Call Betty Minyard, 344-6128, to reserve these or other videos or to receive a copy of the complete list, which appeared in the March and April issues of Bexar Tracks. NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Permit No. 590 (