Minutes from February 18, 2015

Present: Darryl Speicher president, Jackie Speicher, Lisa Schreffler, Mildred Bernstein , John Leiser , Diane Wong
Absent: John Styk
1.      Call to order on February 18.
2.      Accounts balanced at $12779.94.
3.      BOARD ACTION:  Budget Vote: On a motion by Diane, second by Lisa, the budget is approved. 
4.      BOARD ACTION: Board Positions Vote: On a motion by Diane, second by Mildred, the board positions are approved. 
5.      Director Report: Happy New Year 2015!!  This is our fifteenth year in operation and we were able to celebrate that with a wonderful champagne toast provided by Mildred Bernstein at the annual dinner.  Our guests were entertained by a short birding game and a short recap of the events of the year.  We also displayed the award we received from the Pocono Environmental Council and a certificate for our intern Melissa Shafer.  Bekah Snyder has agreed to work on the manual as well.  Upcoming programs and projects include: 2015 Waterwaze, the annual snipe hunt, a series of Barrett Township birding walks, and the Promised Land Eagle Watch, bluebird monitoring at Buck Hill Falls and evaluation of the sound files from Lisa's PhD work in Maryland.
6.      Education Committee: We have already been invited to do programs for Pocono Environmental Education Center again in 2015. Darryl always does a great Birding weekend with them and another hike later in the spring.
7.      Research Committee: Feeder Fidelity banding went well in November and December.  We should begin to write about our findings.  We are looking for student interns for MAPS season.
8.      Grants Committee: As always, we are actively searching for grant opportunities for this year and next.  Diane has provided us with a few environmental education grant opportunities to apply for this spring.
9.      Audit Committee: Last year’s budget is completed.  Please take a look at our numbers. We had a surplus of $1563.73.  This is the fourth year in a row that we have ended with a surplus.  We have been able to keep our expenses down, and bring in good research and education income throughout the year. 
10.  New Business:  Lisa commented with congratulations to PARC for fifteen years of research and education programs.  Mildred is excited about the custom shop and ability to purchase PARC gear.
11.  Meeting adjourned on May 22, 2015.  Next meeting will be in May.