OFFICIAL MINUTES

Annual Business Meeting of the Florida Ornithological Society

March 12, 2005

Venice Audubon Center

Englewood, Florida

President Fran James called the Annual Business Meeting of the Florida Ornithological Society (FOS) to order at 2:04 p.m.  She welcomed members and announced the election of officers and directors would be held during the meeting. 

Pam Bowen announced the fall 2005 FOS meeting will be October 14-16, 2005, in the Lake Apopka\Mount Dora area.  Hotel accommodations will be provided at the Hampton Inn, Mount Dora, Florida.  The flocking, scientific paper session, and banquet will be held at Lake Receptions, a professional meeting facility in Mount Dora.  Arrangements are being made for field trips to the Lake Apopka North Shore Restoration Area, Emeralda Marsh, and other local birding sites. 

Dean Jue, treasurer, announced FOS has $131,000 in the treasury.  In the past, funds have been held in certificates of deposit (CDs).  However, FOS has diversified its investments and now has $55,000 in a Fidelity Growth Portfolio Fund.  The fund will be rebalanced every six months and its performance will be reviewed after one year. 

President James announced that Jerry Jackson, editor of the Florida Field Naturalist (FFN), reported all issues of the publication are now up to date. 

Tom Palmer, newsletter editor, announced FOS is looking for possible names for the newsletter.  He also announced the newsletter is now being posted on the FOS web site (http://www.fosbirds.org).

President James  announced the winners of the Helen G. and Alan D. Cruickshank Research Award:

·        $1,500 was awarded to Jeremy Batten, University of Nevada, for his study entitled “Phylogenetic relationships among populations of Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)”

·        $1,500 was awarded to Jason Martin, University of Florida, for his study on “Numerical and functional consequences of managing Barn Owls (Tyto alba) at artificially high densities”

President James reported Jon Greenlaw is the new secretary of the FOS Records Committee. 

President James presented the Nominating Committee’s slate of officers and directors to the membership and asked for additional nominations.  No additional nominations were made and the society elected the following members to office:

·        Jack Hailman, President, 2005 – 2007

·        Soo Whiting, Vice President, 2005 – 2007

·        Pam Bowen, Secretary, 2005 – 2007

·        Dean Jue, Treasurer, 2005 – 2007

·        David Freeland, Director, 2005 – 2008

·        Joyce King, Director, 2005 - 2008

Ernie Cowan informed the members the skin quiz was set up in the adjoining room.  He encouraged members to take part in it. 

Pam Bowen announced that Ernie Cowan had agreed to be the new FOS Event Photographer.

President James adjourned the meeting at 2:21 p.m.