Dedicated to increasing & protecting the bluebird population of Bella Vista, AR
1) The volunteers meeting was held at 9:00 AM at Mercy Clinic Community room. Forty Four (44) members were in attendance:
Kathy Allen, Jerry Argetsinger, Joe & Marge Bowen, John Bozarth, Jerry Butler, Laura Claggett, Bill Davis, Ken Fendler, Carmen Greenup, Paul Grissom, Randy Hamm, Joanne Hubbert, Jim & Gwen Janssen, Ling Ma, Ray Matkowski, Almus Melton, Jeri Meyer, Patrice Murphy, Charlie Murray, Ken Ness, Glena Pickens, Harrison Ramey, Shari Reed, Buzz Schoenhard, Troy Shaffer, Jim Sours, Lorna Sterrett, Gretchen Syverson, Michael Syverson, Bill & Rose Theiss, Grace Turley, Tom Turnbaugh, Deb Webber, Brian & Susan Woodruff, Myrlene Zimmerman, and Leon Wehmeyer. Also, guest Carolyn Dickson who now is a member.
2) Leon Wehmeyer presided over the meeting, with help from Jim & Gwen Janssen, Joe & Marge Bowen, and Lorna Sterrett. New volunteers were introduced, as shown on Attachment I.
3) Updated Rosters were handed out. They are attached as Attachment II.
4) Because of a good recruiting season, we have more volunteers than needed going into the 2017 season. All of the extras have agreed to serve as “Substitute Monitors” until such time that a trail comes open. Substitute Monitors has been added as Procedure 6 and is attached as Attachment III.
The extra monitors have been assigned as follows:
Jerry Butler----- Scotsdale & BV Country Club. Jerry is also a Trail Boss for the back 9 of BVCC. Backing up 8 Monitors.
Bill Davis ------- Dogwood Hills & Brittany. Backing up 5 onitors.
Bruce Price----- Berksdale & Lake Bella Vista. Backing up 7 Monitors.
Tom Turnbaugh ------Kingswood, Tanyard creek, Concordia, St. Bernard’s Church, Loch Lomond Park, Loch Lomond Marina, Presbyterian Church, & BV Cemetery. Backing up 10 Monitors.
5) One of these new volunteers, Ken Fendler, will serve as our photographer. Contact him if you want pictures taken regarding BVBBS & Bluebirds.
6) The new trail at St. Bernard Catholic Church is ready for the 2017 season. It has 10 boxes behind & around the parking lot in ideal Bluebird habitat. Dave Backer (TB at Highlands) will serve as Trail Boss for it, and Charlie Murray will be the monitor.
7) Our new website, bvbluebirds.com, is ready for use. It was set up & is being coordinated by Jerry Argetsinger (TB at Loch Lomond & Marina). Put “bvbluebirds.com” in your “Favorites” and visit it often. I think you will like it. Give feedback, news, or whatever to Jerry as you choose.
8) Procedure 3 has been revised to reflect the use of boxes with slotted entries in lieu of round as a deterrent to House Sparrows. These slotted boxes have given good results around the U.S. as well as the few boxes we had installed in 2016. The revised procedure is attached as Attachment IV.
9) Use of the existing Trail Boss’s for helping Jim Janssen install boxes sold to neighborhoods was accepted by all Trail Bosses present and will be the procedure henceforth. Jim or Leon will assign the installation to the TB nearest where the box goes. This will not require a lot of your time or efforts, and it is a very crucial function since the profits from installing boxes sold to neighborhoods is our only guaranteed source of income. A procedure for this function will be developed & sent soon.
10) If you haven’t already done so, please check your boxes for winter damage, etc. before March 1. Trail Bosses please take any new Monitors around their trail this first time so they can become familiar with where the boxes are, etc.
11) Monitor sheets for 2017 were distributed. For those not at the meeting, they will be e-mailed soon. Report instructions were covered and are included here as Attachment V. Sheets for field use (Portrait & Landscape style) are attached as Attachment VI &Attachment VII.
12) BVBBS is an affiliate of the North American Bluebird Society (NABS), and membership in NABS is encouraged. The 4 issues annually of “Bluebird” magazine alone is worth the annual membership of $20 for Singles or $30 for Household. NABS address is:
NABS Treasurer
P.O. Box 7844
Bloomington, IN 47407
Give your name, address, phone, and e-mail & include your check.
SUBMITTED BY
Leon Wehmeyer President BVBBS
Photo courtesy of Debbie Rasberry