Girls!  Girls!  Girls!  an editorial by Brenda Bailey Little

Women have played a major role in the history of environmental activism and indeed the Audubon Society itself.  Women made up the demand side of the shortsighted business of killing birds for the millinery trade early in the last century.  The Audubon Society's origin came about because it was realized that eradication of species was taking place for their prized feathers then seen atop the heads of women who were just as much slaves to fashion as are young women today who try to look like Britney Spears.

The very name of our Society comes, not from John James Audubon, but instead from his long-suffering wife, Lucy.  Lucy was widowed in poverty and supported herself by teaching school.  One of her adoring students founded The Audubon Society and out of respect for Lucy chose the name.  In fact, when Don Boarman spoke to our club, he was asked for the title of a good book about Ole J. J. and he answered that probably the best read about the artist was to read Lucy's biography.

Another woman whose name is known and revered in the history of environmental awareness is Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring.  Along the lines of Ms. Carson's warnings, a new term came from my reading of an editorial last week, envirocide.  As the first to sound a printed alarm, Ms. Carson suffered all the slings and arrows that to this day are hurled at people who speak out in defense of a healthy environment and are kindly called Tree Huggers and Bird Nerds and not so kindly, Environazis.

On the West Coast, the name of recently deceased Hazel Wolfe is held in esteem and admiration.  This lady lived a life of love for the natural world and has left a changed world that continues with the education programs and projects that she served all her life.

At the same time as the historic efforts of women for the environment is discussed, it must also be realized that society has lost the talents of countless women as a result of social stereotypes and keeping women 'in their place'.  It has recently been realized that up until puberty, girls score as well as boys in science and math.  However, as girls enter their early teens, many drop drastically in subjects referred to as 'the sciences'.  As educators study ways to build girls' confidence and develop their natural talents, the future will benefit with hundreds of thousands of researchers, biologists, environmental lawyers and such.

And so I've come full circle, back to the pink and purple neon that tries to entice people to spend money for watching women cling to poles and writhe sans clothes.  Whether a girls falls prey to the idea that it is not cool to be brainy or that girls aren't suited for some occupations, a mind really is a terrible thing to waste.

Girls, past, present, and future have been, are, and will be precious for the world's well-being.  Thank heaven for little girls.

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Sunday the 10th
Greenbelt Park Bluebird Nestbox Work Project.  Meet at the Dairy Queen on U.S. 231 at 1 PM.  For more information phone Mike Henshaw 275-4250

Monday the 11th
Regular Monthly Meeting 7 PM at First Christian Church 7th and J.R. Miller Boulevard.  This will be an excellent program for the kids so round-up your children, grandchildren, neighbors' children, etc and bring 'em along

Sunday the 17th
Bird count and 2 hour campus walk at 2 PM.  Meet at the south parking lot at Owensboro Community College.

Wednesday the 20th
The day we've been waiting for, it's officially SPRING!

Saturday the 23rd
Kentucky Audubon Council Spring Meeting at Buckley Sanctuary near Versailles.  Delegates from each chapter will plan fundraising for a state office and hiring a state director.  11 AM to 3 PM EST.  Lunch will be provided.

Sunday the 31st
Easter Sunday

About a dozen of our members visited the Radzelovage Forest for a morning of hiking and birding last month.  Rob Rold had worked for a few weeks prior to the outing setting up feeders in order to bribe our feathered friends into making a Saturday morning appearance.  The trip to 'Rose Ann's Place' was the first in several years for our club and it was a welcomed homecoming.

The highlight of the morning was the excitement of watching three wild turkeys that took flight ahead on the path.  The extreme wind cut short the early spring hike, but lunch overlooking the Ohio River was, as usual, a fun way to party hearty after birding.

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I would like to remind all of you about our chapter's Endowment Fund.  Nobody likes to think about death, but when it occurs, people need to choose memorial expressions of sympathy and condolence.  A gift to this fund will help our chapter to have long-term fiscal health.  We do not use the Endowment Fund for ordinary operating expenses.  Rather, it is like a family's nest egg, children's college fund, or savings for a major construction project.  Audubon is here to stay and an Endowment Fund is necessary for longevity.  Please remember us when the time comes time to pay tribute to a life you love.

It is time for you to begin gathering suggestions for next year's programs and field trips.  A committee meets in June to go through ideas from our members.  All you need do is clip an aritcle or write a short description of your interest and give it to Brenda Little.  She types up each idea for committee review.

Get outside and play!  Mike Henshaw, DCAS Pres.

The Daviess County Audubon Society is perhaps the most active organization in the region when it comes to environmental education.  We have volunteers who teach Beginning Birding, explain the importance of forest stewardship, lead study hikes, present Earth Day programs, and other fun and meaningful topics for groups of all ages.  However, we have a soft spot in our hearts for kids.  We sponsor a half dozen classes subscriptions to Audubon Adventures, a nature newsletter for grades 3-6.  You can talk-up our activities if you have contact with an educator.  Tell them about April's program.

The Goldfinch February 2002