History of Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society

 Here are the people who have served as presidents of WCAS:

Following is a bulletized history of WCAS, taken from Annual Reports, chapter newsletters, and minutes of board meetings and membership meetings:

•  August 15, 1975: Concerned citizens hold an organizational meeting at the home of Mac and Carol Ball in Berea.  WCAS publishes the first edition of the chapter newsletter with Carol Ball as editor, a position she will hold until 2002.

•  September 23, 1975: WCAS holds its first membership meeting at Lechner School in Berea.

•  December 1975: WCAS conducts its first Christmas Bird Count, a tradition that continues to the present.

•  February 1976: WCAS’s first logo appears on the chapter newsletter – the head of a Red-tailed Hawk, designed by Jon Bailey.

•  October 1, 1976: WCAS receives its charter from the National Audubon Society.

• October 5, 1976: WCAS changes the day of its monthly membership meetings from the last Thursday of the month to the first Tuesday of the month.

• May 10, 1977: WCAS changes the start time of its monthly membership meetings from 8:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• November 29, 1977: WCAS board advocates saving Lake Abrams from development.

• February 1978: WCAS approves a patch bearing the head of a Pileated Woodpecker, designed by Don Altemus.

•  September 2, 1980: The WCAS membership votes to amend its constitution to eliminate the restriction on officers serving in the same office for no more than three years.

• October 11, 1980 WCAS is incorporated in the State of Ohio

• January 1981: WCAS completes a four-month sales campaign of 100 copies of Roger Tory Peterson’s book, A Field Guide to the Birds, Eastern Edition.

• March 3, 1981: The WCAS membership rejects consideration of participation in the National Audubon Society’s annual bird-a-thon.

•  Sometime in 1982: Past President Jim Hamilton and John Edwards, Conservation Chair, present testimony to U.S. Congressman Dennis Eckhart in Cleveland on the Clean Air Act (Congress did not amend the Clean Air Act until 1990 in part because President Reagan's administration placed economic goals ahead of environmental goals).

•  January 1982: WCAS lists a phone number in the Cleveland phone directory to offer chapter information to the public.

• October 1982: President Steve Bowell dies and is replaced by Tony Hess, who serves the second year of Steve’s term and the following two years.  Tony begins the process of attaining non-profit status.

• 1982-1983: WCAS participates in the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas I.

• March 6, 1984: WCAS begins holding its membership meetings at the Rocky River Interpretive Center, which a month later is renamed the Rocky River Nature Center.

• January 1985: The National Audubon Society launches Audubon Adventures.  WCAS begins to participate with Paula Lozano as Education Chair.

• June 1985: WCAS holds its first annual picnic and plant exchange at Mastick picnic area.

• 1989: WCAS begins five-year study of Eastern Screech Owl, spearheaded by Lee Cavano.

•  May 18, 1990: WCAS receives IRS's determination letter recognizing Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society as exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3).

• 1989-1990: WCAS works with City of Parma to install a nature trail at Stearn’s Homestead.  WCAS also works with ODNR, City of Cleveland, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop a land use plan for Dike 14.

• August 28, 1989: The WCAS board makes organizational changes.  It implements sign-in sheets, name tags, and refreshments at membership meetings, as well as a business meeting and a treasurer’s report.  The board applies for a bonded treasurer and liability insurance.  President Lee Cavano notes a greater emphasis by WCAS on education rather than conservation.

•   January 27, 1990: WCAS receives an IRS letter of determination designating the chapter a non-profit 501c(3) organization.

• May 1990: Past President Dave LeGallee is elected treasurer of WCAS, a position he will hold until 2003.

•  October 16, 1990: WCAS implements an Armchair Activist program to advocate for environmental issues.

• November 1990: Representatives from WCAS attend a public meeting held by the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss a plan to raise the height of the steel wall surrounding Dike 14 and add more dredge, in opposition to Cleveland Lakefront State Park’s master plan.

• March 24, 1992: WCAS again decides not to participate in the bird-a-thon.

•  August 1992: WCAS’s logo of a Pileated Woodpecker first appears on the chapter newsletter.

• October 1993: WCAS adopts Donald Gray Gardens as part of Cleveland’s Adopt-a-Park program.  Conservation Chair Mary Jo Lakner-Segal spearheads the effort to clean up the site, repair stonework, and prepare the soil for a natural garden.

•  November 13-14, 1993: WCAS holds a work party at Donald Gray Gardens, augmented by the Ohio National Guard 112^th Engineer Battalion.

• 1994: Steve Sadam, National Audubon Society’s Great Lakes Regional Vice President, commends WCAS for work on Donald Gray Gardens, Audubon Adventures classrooms, and regional endangered species campaign.

• May 14, 1994; WCAS holds its second work party at Donald Gray Gardens, planting shrubs and perennials purchased with a $2,000 gift from the City of Cleveland.

• October 18, 1994: WCAS holds its third work party at Donald Gray Gardens.

• October 14, 1995: Another work party cleans up Donald Gray Gardens.

• April 28, 1996: WCAS conducts its last work party at Donald Gray Gardens.  Ward 13 Councilman Gary Paulenske proposes a resolution that the City of Cleveland preserve Donald Gray Gardens no matter what happens to Municipal Stadium.

• May 1996: President Mary Jo Lakner-Segal’s term ends and Vice President Mel Kindelberger resigns as vice president due to health reasons.  The WCAS Board of Directors begins to govern the chapter.

• January 1997: Donald Gray Gardens preservation project ends with demolition of Municipal Stadium and destruction of Donald Gray Gardens.

• February 1997: WCAS begins fund-raising for plantings at city properties to create wildlife habitat, under the leadership of Mary Jo Lakner-Segal.

• August 23, 1998: WCAS sponsors a fund-raiser with the Northeast Ohio Jazz Society at Kirtland Park and raises $600 for plantings.  The Kirtland Bird Club donates $500 to WCAS for plantings.

• October 1998: WCAS representatives plant at Kirtland Park and Cleveland Public Power.

• February 1999: WCAS personnel participate for the first time in Cleveland State University’s Science Olympiad, a tradition they will continue to the present.

• April 1999: WCAS again plant at Kirtland Park and Cleveland Public Power.

•  June 1999: City of Cleveland mows down the plantings at Kirtland Park.

• August 1999: WCAS officers announce an interest in having a website and ask for a volunteer to become webmaster.  Chapter meetings move to Lake Erie Science and Nature Center while Rocky River Nature Center undergoes renovation.

• December 1999: Mary Jo Lakner-Segal crafts an agreement with the City of Cleveland to protect plantings at city parks.  The City gives WCAS $500 to replace destroyed plantings.

•  September 2000: WCAS resumes meeting at Rocky River Nature Center following completion of renovation.

• January 2001: National Audubon Society eliminates chapters’ annual dues share as a cost-saving measure.

• January 2001:  Mary Jo Lakner-Segal and Mary Anne Romito represent WCAS on the Dike 14 Committee, a grassroots organization advocating the preservation of Dike 14.

•  June 2001: National Audubon Society launches the Important Bird Area (IBA) program.  Audubon Ohio designates 71 locations as IBAs.

• October 2001: National Audubon Society launches a campaign to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from drilling for oil.

• December 2002: WCAS institutes chapter memberships, whereby dues stay with WCAS and are not apportioned to National Audubon Society.  Members can join at Basic or Enhanced level.

• May 2003: WCAS participate in first Rocky River Watershed Festival.

• Summer 2003: Ralph Seigenthaler volunteers to publish chapter newsletter.

• October 28, 2003: WCAS receives safety net payment of $2,500 from National Audubon Society and decides not to support Take Back Audubon, an initiative launched by some chapter leaders in the state unhappy with NAS eliminating the dues share.  Board begins publishing the chapter newsletter using Publisher software.  Board contemplates promoting Dike 14 as a natural preserve, but decides to support West Creek and Stearns Farm instead.

•  November 2003: WCAS board launches web site with private contractor serving as host and producer of the site.  Board also experiments with Passport initiative for members to earn points for participation in programs.  Board begins sending newsletter by U.S. mail only to chapter members.

• December 2003: WCAS names newsletter “The Feathered Flyer” in contest won by WCAS member Ed Innocenzi, who submitted the name.

•   January 2004: WCAS begins producing website and posting newsletter on the web page.  Mary Anne Romito volunteers to serve as webmaster and performs this service to the present.

• April 2004: WCAS participates in first Rocky River Nature Festival.  Board begins Weeders in the Wild program with Terri Martincic as organizer.

•  March 2, 2004: Board decides to participate in three educational outreach activities in 2004; Science Olympiad, Dike 14 Wildlife Festival, and School Days at Edgewater.

•  April 6, 2004: WCAS board, spearheaded by Kit Birch, promotes Audubon shade-grown coffee as fund-raiser and refreshment at chapter meetings.

• September 8, 2004: Board decides to fully fund all teachers who want to use Audubon Adventures classroom packets and allocates $500 for this purpose.

• October 10, 2004; WCAS participates in Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s IBA dedication program by conducting Big Sit at Beaver Marsh.  Mary Anne Romito appears on National Public Radio to promote this event.

• March 1, 2005: Board decides WCAS should join Ohio Ornithological Society.

• May 3, 2005: Tom Romito steps down from presidency of WCAS to focus on Rocky River IBA as chapter conservation project.  Board decides to rotate chair from month to month.

•  July 5, 2005: Board increases Audubon Adventure allocation to $600 to pay for teachers who want to put materials in classrooms.

• August 20, 2005: WCAS conducts planning meeting to adopt the Rocky River IBA and conduct five-year bird monitoring project in partnership with Cleveland Metroparks.

• August 2005:  Tom Romito is elected to Audubon Ohio Board of Directors.

•  January 29, 2006: WCAS launches Armchair Activist program, spearheaded by Kit Birch, and puts Take Action page on website.

• February 7, 2006: Tom Romito addresses Cleveland Metroparks Board of Commissioners on IBA project.

• March 5, 2006: IBA Kick-off at RRNC attended by 200 people.

• March 26, 2006: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Cleveland Museum of Natural History each donate $500 to WCAS for IBA project.  WCAS wins $1,500 grant from Audubon Ohio for IBA.

• April 2, 2006: Fifty people attend IBA testing and training at RRNC.

•  April 25, 2006: Board launches Audubon At Home initiative with pocket card identifying native and invasive plants, spearheaded by Terri Martincic.

•  May 2, 2006: Tom Romito resumes presidency of WCAS.

• May 18, 2006: WCAS board hires Diane Sigler as IBA Coordinator.

•  June-July 2006: WCAS conducts first Rocky River IBA forest breeding bird survey.

• June 25, 2006: Board drops Enhanced category of chapter membership and adds “additional” line.

• July 15, 2006: Audubon Ohio participates in Glenville Heritage Festival.  Tom Romito represents WCAS at the festival.

• August 29, 2006: WCAS holds appreciation dinner, donated by Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, for 50 IBA volunteers.

• October 29, 2006: Board decides to participate in educational outreach project run by Dike 14 Environmental Education Collaborative to build nature learning kits (Dike 14 Nature Preserve Discovery Packs) for children to use in preparation for visits to Dike 14 Nature Preserve.

• November 12, 2006: Tom Romito and Diane Sigler give presentation at Audubon Ohio Assembly in Columbus on IBA survey.

• January 6, 2007: Board conducts strategic planning workshop, facilitated by Jerry Tinianow, Executive Director of Audubon Ohio.  Result is four overarching goals with action plan.  Click here to see action plan on web site.

• February 18, 2007: WCAS annexes Brunswick and Hinckley townships to chapter area.  Also launches fund-raising program that includes bird-a-thon (spearheaded by board member Penny O’Connor), sale of bird photographs take by chapter member Dave Lewis, shade-grown coffee sales, sale of Eastern Backyard Bird Flyers, and grant-seeking.

•  March 6, 2007: President Tom Romito presents check for $5,000 from the George Gund Foundation to Treasurer Nancy Howell at chapter membership meeting.  Grant will defray expenses of IBA project.

• April 1, 2007: Second annual IBA training day conducted at RRNC.

• April 2007: Eight volunteers participate in training to locate IBA survey points using GPS.  Training takes place on two days, both of which are winter “white-outs.”  IBA partner Dan Petit leaves Cleveland Metroparks; his position will remain vacant for six months.

• April 15, 2007: WCAS staffs a table at NASA Combined Federal Campaign.

• May, 2007: WCAS holds a Month-long Bird-a-thon in the Rocky River IBA, spearheaded by WCAS secretary Penny O'Connor.

•  May 29, 2007: Stan Searles, Curator of Birds at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and ardent WCAS supporter, conducts 31-mile walk through Rocky River IBA.  Tom Romito and Katie Geneviso (Stan’s daughter), accompany him.

•  June 22, 2007: Tom Romito and Diane Sigler present IBA story at workshop organized by Cleveland Metroparks Natural Resources department and attended by six researchers in Rocky River Reservation.

• June-September 2007: WCAS conducts second IBA survey.  Survey features vegetation component, spearheaded by Terri Martincic.

•  July 9-August 10, 2007: Audubon Ohio conducts nature camp at Cleveland Greenhouse for 25 Glenville-area children.  Tom Romito serves as adult guide for camp’s field trip to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

• August 11, 2007: Audubon Ohio again participates in Glenville Heritage Festival with kids from nature camp.  Tom Romito represents WCAS.

• August 29, 2007: WCAS gives second potluck appreciation dinner to 30 IBA volunteers.

• September 25, 2007: Board members represent WCAS in Combined Federal Campaign Fair at NASA Glenn Research Center to promote payroll deduction contribution by federal employees to WCAS.  Organizational code for federal workers to use for payroll deduction contribution is 33722.

•  September 29, 2007: WCAS participates in Rocky River Watershed Festival.

• February 1, 2008: WCAS publishes Progress Report on IBA.

• March 3, 2008: Tom Romito addresses North Olmsted Kiwanis Club about IBA.

• April 8, 2008: Tom Romito addresses Berea Kiwanis Club about IBA.

• April 9, 2008: Tom Romito and Stan Searles address North Royalton Rotary Club about IBA.

• April 9, 2008: Tom Romito addresses Broadview Heights Lions Club about IBA.

• April 15, 2008: WCAS staffs a table at NASA Combined Federal Campaign for second year in a row.

• May-July 2008: WCAS conducts third year of IBA survey, including  second Ultrawalk on May 24.

• July 12, 2008: WCAS participates in Fairview Park Home Days, staffing a table to provide education to public on birds for Fairview Park Garden Club.

• October 8, 2008: Tom Romito addresses Middleburg Heights Planning Commission regarding wind turbine project at Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds; offers to have WCAS conduct survey of impact of turbine on birds once it is in operation.

• October 16, 2008: WCAS conducts third annual appreciation dinner for IBA volunteers, again at Rocky River Nature Center.

• October 18, 2008: Tom Romito addresses Audubon Ohio Assembly on Rocky River IBA, speaking to about 20 scientists, naturalists, and volunteers on project.

• November 14, 2008: Tom Romito addresses Westlake Community Center Seniors Group on IBA.

• March 1, 2009: WCAS conducts bird survey at River Road and Rt. 303 on behalf of Hinckley Township.

• March 15, 2009: Tom Romito staffs table at Buzzard Day event at Hinckley Elementary School on behalf of WCAS.

• March 23, 2009: Tom Romito addresses Rocky River Kiwanis Club about Rocky River IBA.

• March 31, 2009: WCAS conducts testing for volunteers who will be observers in this year's IBA survey.

• April 1, 2009: Tom Romito addresses Parma Heights Kiwanis Club on Rocky River IBA.

• April 5, 2009: WCAS conducts bird survey at River Road and Rt. 303 on behalf of Hinckley Township.

• April 15, 2009: WCAS staffs a table at NASA Combined Federal Campaign for third year in a row.

• May 4, 2009: WCAS conducts bird survey at River Road and Rt. 303 on behalf of Hinckley Township.

• May 11, 2009: Tom Romito addresses Independence Kiwanis Club about Rocky River IBA.

• May 24, 2009: WCAS conducts bird survey at River Road and Rt. 303 on behalf of Hinckley Township.

• May through July, 2009: WCAS conducts fourth annual IBA survey, including third annual Ultrawalk.

• July 5, 2009: WCAS conducts bird survey at River Road and Rt. 303 on behalf of Hinckley Township.

• July 11, 2009: Cleveland Metroparks celebrates opening of Lake-to-Lake Trail with ceremonies.  Executive Director Vern Hartenburg gives special recognition to WCAS for conducting bird surveys there.

• August 20, 2009: WCAS conducts fourth annual appreciation dinner for IBA volunteers, this time at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

• August 30, 2009: WCAS conducts bird survey at River Road and Rt. 303 on behalf of Hinckley Township.

• November 16, 2009: WCAS sponsors planning meeting of stakeholders for future of Rocky River IBA (Vision 2020).

• October 2, 2009: The 2009 Northeast Ohio Environmental Awards program recognizes and honors the outstanding achievements of organizations, businesses, schools, and individuals in a wide range of environmental initiatives the region and pays tribute to those who have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence, leadership, and accomplishment in their respective fields.  This award is sponsored by Dominion the Biodiversity Alliance of Greater Cleveland.
  
  Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society won this award in the Community category by making the transition from serving as a local chapter of the National Audubon Society to becoming one of the most active citizen-based environmental groups in northeastern Ohio and a model program for other Audubon chapters.  They expanded their activities from public education programs to biological surveys and the adoption of an Important Bird Area in the Rocky River watershed, for which they have completed their fourth year of data collection.  In addition to these programs, they have also provided volunteer services to Cleveland Metroparks Department of Planning, Design, and Natural Resources, and have assisted in describing avian communities in three Cleveland Metroparks reservations.  Member also participate in “on-call” services to document bird species, an annual program to assess volunteers’ ability to recognized bird species through song and sight, and an annual Rocky River IBA Walk to raise awareness and funds.

• March 2, 2010: WCAS staffs table at global warming symposium at B-W.

• March 10, 2010: Stan Searles addresses Middleburg Heights Planning Council; advocates for construction of wind turbine at fairgrounds, based on evidence that there is minimal impact of wind turbines on birds.

• March 21, 2010: WCAS staffs table at Buzzard Day at Hinckley Elementary School.

• March 22, 2010: WCAS identifies locations for bird boxes at CMP Zoo to support project to educate public about nesting birds.

• March 30, 2010: Tom Romito addresses Lakewood Kiwanis Club about Rocky River IBA.

• April 13, 2010: Tom Romito and Stan Searles address Westlake Kiwanis Club about Rocky River IBA.

• April 15, 2010: WCAS staffs a table at NASA Combined Federal Campaign for fourth year in a row.

• April 19, 2010: WCAS conducts testing for volunteers who will be observers in this year's IBA survey.

• April 28, 2010: WCAS sponsors second meeting of IBA stakeholders to develop Vision 2020.

• May 19, 2010: Stan and Tom address Young at Heart Seniors Group at Bethany English Church about Rocky River IBA.

• June 22, 2010: Tom addresses Olmsted Kiwanis Club about Rocky River IBA.

• May through July, 2010: WCAS conducts fifth annual Rocky River IBA Breeding Bird Survey, including third annual Ultrawalk.

• May 26, 2012: WCAS receives Congressional Recognition for UltraBird/Ultrawalk see here

• June 23, 2012, Penny O'Connor made a presentation about Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society to an adult Sunday School group led by WCAS board member Barry Wolfe.  About 20 people attended.  Several are already members of the National Audubon Society, or active in other conservation organizations.  Members of the group come from all over Northeast Ohio
• September 13, 2012 WCAS was represented at the NASA Combined Federal Campaign Festival, as well as at the Sustainability event that day.  Diane Sigler, Penny O'Connor, Barry Wolfe, and Nancy Beheim attended

• September 18, 2013 Nancy Beheim, Diane Sigler and Penny O’Connor set up a table at the NASA Sustainability Fair and talked with 75 people.    The weather was very nice.  We also had a chance to visit the many other exhibits, got some good ideas.  We had music by the NASA Jam Band, and lunch at food trucks.  All of the "whistle birds" were adopted.