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Common Raven by Dow Lambert OPAS News and NotesBig thanks to our outgoing and incoming OPAS team! by Ken Wiersema February was an active month for the leadership of OPAS. We offer our BIG thanks and appreciation to folks who have been the face and behind-the-seen toilers on behalf of OPAS for many years: Rob Hutchison, who edited our newsletter, also a past president and Harlequin awardee. His health suffered setbacks which caused him to step back. We can’t thank Rob enough for his many years of dedication and service to OPAS! Skip Perkins, our valued treasurer, stepped up to serve in a time of need. He carried a valuable load for the past 2 years by picking up our mail, paying bills, budgeting, and counseling other board members with his savvy and smile. Well done and thanks Skip! Sara Ellen Peterson, our longtime Publicity Chair and board member. Many thanks Sara Ellen, we’ll long remember your generosity, sense of style, and flower arranging skills. Clare Hatler, our Hospitality Chair, board member, and Harlequin awardee. She stood up with a key vote essential to move us forward at difficult times. She did much, much more than make coffee! February also saw us grow. Welcome to our new treasurer and board members. Karen Cwirla has generously agreed to be our treasurer. She brings new energy and a career in banking and financial management to our team, plus a keen interest in learning our local birds. Melonie Ramsey, Ben Hannah, and Matt McCoy also agreed to join our Board this February. Each brings new personal backgrounds, interest in birds, and a willingness to help. Many thanks, and we look forward to getting to know and work with you. OPAS annual report Each year we prepare a report to National Audubon on our programs, partnerships, accomplishments, as well as set goals for the coming year. Our report is required for OPAS to sustain our National Charter and remain a member of the Audubon network. On 24 February, Bob Boekelheide, Sue Dryden, and new board members Melonie Ramsey, and Karen Cwirla, worked through the multi-page format and pulled together one of the best submissions we have produced in several years. A big thanks to that team! Box cutters I’d be remiss to not offer my thanks and appreciation to Len Zeoli, and Dow Lambert for cutting and packaging the 25 nest box kits, which were assembled by an energetic class of builders on 22 February. Full class, full morning, fun! Well done! And Thanks to each of you, our members, who participated in programs, field trips, bird counts, classes, donations, and conservation actions this past year. Huzza!
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