Stewardship News | Volume 9, Issue 4 | Late Summer 2006

Stewardship News A P U B L I C AT I O N O F A U D U B O N I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Volume 9, Issue 4 • July – August 2006

Oldfield Community Receives Neighborhood for Nature Award

BY JOELLEN ZEH

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t is not uncommon for people who achieve certification in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) to take their commitment to the environment to new heights. Oldfield Golf Course in Okatie, South Carolina, did just that as it propelled the entire 550-home residential community surrounding the course to take on environmental education and stewardship projects as part of a neighborhood pilot program offered by Audubon International.

Now, residents of Oldfield can take pride in being the first community to receive a Neighborhood for Nature Award for its outstanding participation in the program.

Selected Accomplishments • Native species of trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses are used in landscaping and a list is provided to homeowners to encourage them to do the same.

• New home construction must meet standards for protecting trees, controlling sediment, and minimizing environmental impacts. An Architectural Review Board reviews construction plans and enforces guidelines.

• A birdfeeding area and butterfly and hummingbird garden show homeowners possibilities for their own yards.

• Nature awareness and recreational programs educate residents, many of whom move to Oldfield from other areas of the country, about the local environment.

• Outreach activities include offering nature classes and field trips for schools and speaking with community organizations.

“People are drawn to the natural surroundings at Oldfield that provide scenic vistas, walking trails, and wildlife viewing,” says Marvin Bouknight, Oldfield’s staff naturalist. “Fortunately, the community has made a commitment to protect the natural resources that make this location a special place to live and work.”

From commitment to action Oldfield’s commitment to the environment was initially spearheaded by former Staff Naturalist, Dusty Durden.

Durden sought to inspire residents to engage in good environmental stewardship throughout the Oldfield community and to provide habitat for wildlife that would help preserve the nearby Okatie River. When Durden passed away unexpectedly in 2005, staff and residents at Oldfield and Crescent Resources, Oldfield’s developer, remained devoted to his vision.

His replacement, Marvin Bouknight, enthusiastically took the lead.

Bouknight spearheaded a Neighborhood Audubon Committee that conducted an environmental assessment of the 860-acre community and offered fun and educational programs to get residents involved.

From “how to” programs on butterfly gardening, composting, and saving water, to nature awareness and recreation programs on outdoor photography, star gazing, and fishing, Oldfield achieved its desired result of fostering a community that cares about its environment.

Living in a place where bald eagles can be seen on a regular basis is just one of the many benefits Oldfield residents enjoy.

“Audubon International and Crescent Resources are working hand-in-hand to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources, while creating a quality living experience for residents,” says Allen Harrington, Vice President of Crescent Resources. “This partnership benefits not only the natural environment, but also the people living here.”

“The natural beauty and protection of the environment are evident for all who visit, live, and work at Oldfield,” shares Bouknight. “Oldfield has and continues to show that community development and environmental responsibility don’t have to be mutually exclusive. It just takes commitment.”

We salute Oldfield for its many achievements and hope others follow its exemplary leadership. G

The Audubon Partners for the Environment–Program for Neighborhoods helps residential communities integrate wildlife habitat and foster community-wide stewardship of the environment. To find out more, call Joellen Zeh at (518) 767-9051, extension 14.

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Dear Members and Supporters, Audubon International is in the business of helping to develop a new breed of environmental change agents and environmental champions…people who not only care about the quality of our air, water, land, and wildlife, but also take action to protect and improve our environment where they live, work, and play. Through our programs, we provide tools, assistance, and advice to help people make a difference. And through certification and awards, we reward people and organizations for their outstanding results.

Every member and individual we profile in Stewardship News, on our website, in presentations and seminars, and in magazine and news articles is an environmental champion. Their stories offer inspiration and motivation for all of us to continue taking action. We encourage you to think of yourself as an environmental champion, too…keep up the great work, keep sharing your results with us and others, and, equally important, enjoy it!

Yours,

Kevin Fletcher, PhD Director of Programs and Administration

46 Rarick Road Selkirk, New York 12158 (518) 767-9051 www.auduboninternational.org You can reach our staff via e-mail by typing the person’s first initial, full last name @ auduboninternational.org. e.g., jmackay@auduboninternational.org ADMINISTRATION

Ronald Dodson, President R. Eric Dodson, Manager, Sustainable Communities Campaign Kevin Fletcher, PhD, Director of Programs and Administration Howard Jack, Vice President Mary Jack, Executive Assistant to the President Paula Realbuto, Executive Assistant for Operations AUDUBON COOPERATIVE SANCTUARY PROGRAMS

In this issue…

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Improving Environmental Performance: Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are gaining acceptance as a systematic way to improve environmental performance, as many ACSP members can attest. Find out more about EMSs and the results our members have achieved.

North American Birdwatching Open: Birds, not birdies, count on golf courses during the North American Birdwatching Open, hosted by Audubon International each May.

Jennifer Batza, Membership Coordinator Mereith Fink, Membership Secretary Peter Leuzinger, Great Lakes Field Office Jeremy Taylor, Staff Ecologist Shawn Williams, Staff Ecologist Joellen Zeh, Program Manager AUDUBON SIGNATURE PROGRAM

Nancy Richardson, Signature Program Director Linda Snow, Administrative Assistant, Signature Program AUDUBON SOCIETY OF NEW YORK STATE

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Fostering a Sense of Place through Education: Residents get an education

Fred Realbuto, Director

about the spectacular nature of the place where they live at Venetion Golf & River Club in Florida, a Certified Gold Audubon International Signature Sustainable Development.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

10 On the Road…for Stewardship: A trip

to Fairbanks, Alaska, spurs thoughts on climate change and sustainability for Audubon International President and CEO Ronald Dodson.

11 Membership News: Welcome to our A variety of fun and educational programs introduce residents to Venetian Golf & River Club’s natural areas and preserves. See story on page 8.

newest members and certified properties.

Jean Mackay, Director of Educational Services ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Sarah Anderson, Natural Resource Manager Natalie Archambault, Project Administrator Rich Henderson, Manager Alicia Oller, Director of Technical Services Charles Peacock, PhD, Senior Scientist Miles (Bud) Smart, PhD, Director of Environmental Planning Larry Woolbright, PhD, Director of Wildlife Conservation Services SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM

Peter Bronski, Coordinator

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Sustainable Communities Program News Program Expands To Meet Diverse Needs A growing demand for programs that focus on sustainability has led Audubon International to expand its Sustainable Communities Program.

In addition to working with government entities, such as towns and counties, the program now offers two new “tracks” to meet the needs of private developments and universities and colleges. More information is available at www.auduboninternational.org/programs.

Welcome To Our Newest Member: Spruce Peak at Stowe Spruce Peak at Stowe, a new slopeside community and renovated base area at Vermont’s famed Stowe Mountain Resort, recently became the newest member of the Sustainable Communities Program-Private Sector Track. Located on the slopes of Mount Mansfield, Spruce Peak will ultimately include mountain cabins and condos, hotels, a pedestrian village with locally-owned retail shops, community

centers, and a new golf course, built to Audubon Signature Program standards.

“Stewardship of the land is a Vermont tradition that has guided Spruce Peak at Stowe since the very beginning,” says the project’s Environmental Charter. We look forward to working with the staff and community at Stowe through the Sustainable Communities Program to make that charter a reality at Spruce Peak.

Town of Williamston, North Carolina, Wins Grant Award

IPM Symposium Promotes Improved Health and Environment

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oellen Zeh, Program Manager, represented Audubon International at the 5th National IPM Symposium, Delivering on a Promise. More than 650 people gathered in the Gateway City of St. Louis to share innovations that lead to a safer food supply, enhanced human health, and an improved environment. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can be applied to both agricultural and non-agricultural settings, such as homes, gardens, and schools. As part of the symposium, Zeh brought some very early rising participants to Eagle Springs Golf Course to showcase a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

Thank you to Kerry Gerber, Superintendent at Eagle Springs, and Joe Wachter, Superintendent at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course, for the informative tour. G

The Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program recently awarded the Town of Williamston a $25,000 grant to undertake a series of five projects at Williamston High School. The projects serve to help the town address its critical water needs by demonstrating techniques that conserve water and protect water quality. The projects include: a rainwater collection system that will capture rooftop runoff from the high school for use in irrigation and other non-potable needs; two bioretention ponds that will naturally filter runoff from the school’s parking lot areas; two rain gardens that will capture and filter runoff from the bus parking lot and adjacent agricultural fields; a vegetative buffer to be installed along a stream to protect water quality; and five parking stalls to be retrofitted with permeable pavement that lets water soak in rather than run off. Congratulations to Williamston on earning the grant and continuing its commitment to sustainability through the Sustainable Communities Program. G

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Improving Environmental Performance

BY KEVIN A. FLETCHER, PhD

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he environment is a key issue facing businesses of all types in the 21st Century. Reducing risks and liabilities and preventing pollution are part of the solution, but responsible environmental management no longer means simply doing no harm. Leading businesses are also increasing efficiency, reducing waste, and finding business value in improved environmental performance.

Getting the Job Done Any business can play a role in conserving resources, and some do so successfully on their own. But many business managers and owners have no environmental training. Access to educational resources, assessment and planning tools, and incentives are critical in helping businesses do a good job protecting and improving the environment.

An Environmental Management System—or EMS—is a voluntary approach to improving environmental performance that has begun to take center stage in the U.S. Widely used by companies in Europe, Japan, and a handful of other countries, EMSs provide structure for setting policies and goals, taking action, and measuring results.

An effective EMS follows a common sense formula: PLAN-DO-CHECK-ACT. Audubon International program members will recognize this approach, as many of our education and certification programs are built upon the basic tenets of an EMS. For instance, Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) members— including industrial plants, cemeteries, farms, resorts, and golf courses— begin by taking stock of their environmental resources, identifying any potential problems or liabilities, and developing a plan of action to improve environmental performance (PLAN).

They then implement the plan (DO), evaluate and document their efforts (CHECK), and make adjustments and improvements as needed (ACT).

Involvement in the ACSP starts with a site assessment and environmental plan to help companies improve overall environmental performance. Gro Horticultural Enterprises, a tree transplanting company and nursery in Union, IL, completed this first step last year.

Certification (as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary or Audubon Signature Sanctuary) serves as an incentive for action and a tool for continuous improvement. In a sense, the process of becoming certified formalizes the plan-do-check-act formula, and provides an independent external review and guidance for participants.

Good for the Environment, Good for Business An EMS, like the ACSP, is a continual cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing, and improving the ways that an organization meets its environmental goals. The results tend to be not only good for the environment, but also good for business. The benefits for a business typically include cost savings from more efficient operations, reduced risks, improved

community relations, and improved regulatory compliance.

After years of taking a regulatory approach to environmental policy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently come out in support of EMSs. The reason is simple: EMSs are proving to be an effective tool for managing the environment. The EPA is focused on having businesses comply with the environmental laws of the land, but the Agency is realizing that EMSs can help businesses meet, and even exceed, basic legal compliance. In contrast to regulation, which is imposed externally, EMSs tend to have greater employee and company buy-in and result in greater innovation and long-term change because they are adopted internally. Likewise, they allow for acting on environmental issues in a more comprehensive and effective way.

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How does an EMS add value?

Here are a few of the benefits that an EMS, like the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, can provide to you and your organization: • Improve overall environmental performance • Enhance existing compliance and pollution prevention efforts • Reduce or mitigate risks and liabilities

An organization-wide commitment to environmental quality can make all the difference.

Laurita Winery, LLC, owners Ray Shea and Randy Johnson joined the ACSP to make their entire facility environmentally sustainable. They are working to create a winery and an interpretive nature center on their 177-acre property in Ocean County, NJ.

Fostering a “Can Do” Attitude Instead of asking, “What does my company have to do to protect the environment?” we find that ACSP members ask “What can my company do to protect the environment?”

The former seeks the minimum, while the latter is motivated to accomplish the maximum. Perhaps that’s why more than 55% of ACSP members are working toward or have earned certification and are going well above and beyond what their peers are doing to protect the natural environment.

This type of environmental ethic is precisely what Audubon International, the EPA, and other organizations that promote EMSs hope to achieve. And it is precisely what our environment needs. In the U.S. and around the world, EMSs will soon be the norm, not the exception. And those of you who have been participating actively in our programs will find yourselves well ahead of the curve. G

An effective EMS has the following characteristics: • Upper management and organization-wide commitment • Organization-wide training • Environmental objectives and performance targets • Programs and projects to meet those targets • Ways to monitor and report the effectiveness of environmental efforts

• Improve employee awareness of environmental issues and responsibilities • Educate employees about conservation practices • Increase participation in environmental initiatives • Provide on-going technical information, support, and guidance • Connect personnel with local resource people and organizations that can help to support environmental stewardship efforts • Promote positive, pro-active environmental achievements— enhance image with public, regulators, lenders, investors, etc.

• Save money on landscape maintenance, energy, materials, etc.

• Improve job satisfaction

Resources •“Environmental Management Systems (EMS),” United States Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/ems/ •“The External Value Environmental Management System Voluntary Guidance: Gaining Value by Addressing Stakeholder Needs,” March 2004, Multi State Working Group, www.mswg.org/documents/guidance04.pdf • ISO 14000 Information Center, www.iso14000.com/ • NDEMS, National Database on Environmental Management Systems, http://ndems.cas.unc.edu/

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Investing in Environmental Performance Yields Savings Left: ACSP golf courses often serve as environmental demonstration sites. Golf superintendents from Spain and Japan toured Stone Mountain Golf Club in Georga last February to learn about environmental management practices implemented by Superintendent Anthony Williams (seventh from left).

Below: Saving money and resources are convincing reasons to practice good stewardship. Still, less tangible benefits, such as increased wildlife sightings and improved job satisfaction, are often more compelling motivators for ACSP members.

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SHADOW WOOD COUNTRY CLUB, FL

mproving environmental performance yields a strong return on investment, according to results documented by members of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP).

“If 15 years ago, anyone had told me that we could accomplish what has been done I wouldn’t have believed them,” says Frederic L. Yarrington, Audubon Committee Chair at Hole-in-the-Wall Golf Club, a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in Naples, Florida. The club has made steady gains in improving environmental performance, first by working toward certification and then through a continuing effort to follow ACSP principles.

Here are a few examples of how golf courses have saved money and conserved resources by implementing best management practices recommended by the ACSP. • Under the direction of its new superintendent Anthony Williams, Stone Mountain Golf Club in Stone Mountain, Georgia, reduced fertilizer costs by $2,100, pesticide costs by $4,500, and fuel use by 467 gallons in 2005, compared with 2004.

Williams came to Stone Mountain from Renaissance Pineisle Resort, where he achieved certification for its golf course and became an Audubon Steward.

• At Donald K. Gardner Memorial Golf Course in Marion, Iowa, Superintendent David Roe and his crew naturalized 20 acres of turfgrass and added two additional

acres of wildflowers. The project cost $500 and will save $1,000 per year in maintenance labor.

• State College Elks Country Club in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, now saves approximately 100,000 gallons of water per complete irrigation cycle.

David Williams, CGCS, achieved the savings by altering watering and turf management practices.

• Similarly, Superintendent Jeff Therrien at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster, Colorado, reported that changes in watering and turf management save three-to-four million gallons of water per year.

• Smock Golf Course in Indianapolis, Indiana, eliminated six-to-seven fungicide applications per year, saving $6,000, as a result of a compost tea program. The project cost just $900 to implement.

• Shadow Wood Country Club in Bonita Springs, Florida, has reduced pesticide applications by 32 percent since 2002. By increasing pest monitoring and defining “hot spots,” Director of Golf Course Operations Kyle Kenyon also reduced herbicide use from a pre-emergent treatment on 290 acres to the treatment of 13 to 75 acres once or twice a year as needed. Reducing wall-towall fertilizer applications further saved approximately $30,000 and 80 tons of fertilizer.

• Superintendent Chuck Manning calculated savings achieved by removing eight acres of turf at Quail Run Golf Course, in Sun City, Arizona. The course saved 16 million gallons of water and 800 gallons of fuel needed to maintain the area previously. G

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Birds, Not Birdies, Count on North American Golf Courses

TIERRA VERDE GOLF COURSE, TX

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ersevering through rain, storms, wind, and hail… no, not the postal service, but intrepid birdwatchers at 48 golf courses that participated in this year’s North American Birdwatching Open on May 13, 2006. In spite of foul weather for much of the country, birdwatchers counted 265 species during the 24-hour bird count on Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary and Audubon Signature golf courses.

To be fair, the persistence of the birdwatchers pales in comparison with the efforts of the migratory birds they seek to find, many of which travel thousands of miles on their twice yearly journeys between southern wintering areas and northern breeding grounds. By maintaining habitat in non-play areas, golf courses can offer a place for the birds to stop over or even stay for the summer.

Eighteen golf courses counted more than 50 species of birds and 75 percent saw at least 40 species. Forty sightings of species of conservation concern were reported, including: bald eagle, wood stork, brown pelican, and Florida scrub jay.

The Birdwatching Open coincides with International Migratory Bird Day and focuses attention on the wonder of migratory birds and the role golf courses can play in conserving habitats. Many thanks to all who participated in 2006! Final results are available online at www.auduboninternational/ projects/birdwatchopen. G

Best of the 2006 Birdwatching Open Many birds migrate along fairly predictable routes known as flyways. These follow major rivers, coastlines, and mountain ridges. We’ve divided our “Best of” list along these flyways to account for regional variation. The number following each golf course represents the number of species sighted.

Best Overall • Landings Club–Palmetto Course, Savannah, GA, (98) • Aspetuck Valley Country Club, Weston, CT, (74) • Olympia Fields Country Club, Olympia Fields, IL, (74) Best of the Atlantic Flyway • Landings Club–Palmetto Course, Savannah, GA, (98) • Aspetuck Valley Country Club, Weston, CT, (74) • Club at Seabrook Island, Seabrook Island, SC, (66) • Pine Valley Golf Course, Pine Valley, NJ, (66) Best of the Southern Zone • Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, FL, (72) • Venetian Golf and River Club, North Venice, FL, (60) • Indian River Club, Vero Beach, FL, (46)

Best of the Mississippi and Great Lakes Flyway • Olympia Fields Country Club, Olympia Fields, IL, (74) • Gull Lake View Golf Club, Augusta, MI, (63) • RiverBend Golf Club, London, ONT., Canada (61) Best of the Central Flyway • Lake Quivira Golf Course, Lake Quivira, KS, (67) • Prairie Dunes Country Club, Hutchinson, KS, (55) • Kingwood Country Club, Kingwood, TX, (49) Best of the Pacific Flyway • Spokane Country Club, Spokane, WA, (42) • Timber Creek & Sierra Pines Golf Course, Sun City, Roseville, CA, (40) • Widgi Creek Golf Course, Bend, OR (25) The North American Birdwatching Open is a friendly competition to tally birds on golf courses during the peak of migration. According to Ron Hill, Director of Golf Course Maintenance at Amelia Island Plantation, FL, the event is also “a tremendous stress buster” and fun day out on the course.

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Fostering a Sense of Place through Education

BY NANCY RICHARDSON

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hen a development project joins one of the Audubon Signature Programs (Gold, Silver, or Bronze), its commitment to environmental quality doesn’t end when the construction crews go home.

In fact, that’s when the fun begins.

During the design and development phases of a project, we work with developers, owners, and construction companies to ensure that the natural features of the property are protected, and even expanded when possible. But as the project prepares for its grand opening, we shift the focus to those who will be working at, living in, or using the property. We want to help them to appreciate and connect with the natural world around them and to understand their stewardship opportunities within the community.

Venetian Golf & River Club, a residential community and golf course developed by WCI Communities, Inc., in Venice, Florida, is a good example. Since its opening in 2003, Venetian staff has educated vendors, prospective residents, and guests about the many unique environmental aspects of the 1,100-acre property, as well as its designation as a Certified Gold Audubon International Signature Sustainable Development.

Venetion has a lot to say. Its model home, Geni-G, received the highest rating in the state by the Florida Green Building Association.

Fifty percent of the property remains natural open space, showcasing pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, open grassland, and forested areas along the Myakka River. WCI protected 108 acres of wetlands, and donated a 70-acre nature park along the river to the City of Venice.

Spreading the Word Education takes many forms at Venetian, as it does at all Signature sites. An education plan is tailored to

the audience and setting, and well integrated into everything from employee training to signage to outings. The result is that Venetian has become a dynamic place where the people who live and work in the community can enjoy and conserve a rich part of Florida’s natural heritage.

What follows are a few of their good ideas…feel free to borrow and make them your own where you live or work.

Field Trips and Events

Venetian offers a variety of presentations, outings, and passive recreational opportunities, which have been enhanced by the skills and interests of its residents. Avid birdwatchers Rett and Priscilla Oren were attracted to Venetian primarily because of its “Audubon Gold Signature” designation.

The couple wanted to retire in a place where they could actively pursue their main hobby. Shortly after moving in, they formed a bird watching club that visits natural areas both on and off-site. The group— many of whose members are not originally from Florida—enjoyed a first hand look at the Florida scrub jay during a recent outing.

The Myakka River Preserve

WCI developed three miles of selfguided nature trails that meander through the Myakka River Preserve on the eastern boundary of the Venetian property. The preserve offers excellent opportunities for people to learn about and enjoy the native plants and wildlife that live along the river, its floodplain, and associated wetlands. The river has been designated a “Florida Wild and Scenic River” and the preserve protects a critically-important continuous corridor of wildlife habitat.

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Bird Monitoring

Educational Signs and Displays

Wildlife Awareness

Like many Audubon Signature projects, Venetian used innovative environmental design and construction techniques. But many of these might go unnoticed if it weren’t for the signs Venetian uses to inform people of how or why they were done. Venetian placed signs to explain such things as the value of shoreline plantings, energy-saving landscaping, automatic pool sanitization, rainbarrel/cisterns that collect rainwater for irrigation, and green building materials. Signage also informs prospective residents about Venetian’s participation in the Gold Signature Program.

It’s easy to forget that we share the place we live with a whole host of wildlife species. An added challenge at Venetian is that many of its residents have moved to Florida from elsewhere in the country and are unfamiliar with its plants and wildlife species. Venetian promotes awareness by featuring a Wildlife of the Month display in its golf pro-shop. The display includes color photographs and text with information about the range, distribution, courtship, reproduction, and behavior of each species. Featured wildlife have included: the American alligator, great blue heron, common moorhen, bald eagle, and sandhill crane.

Bird surveys have been conducted annually at Venetian since its golf course was completed. Local bird expert George McBath conducts the survey, and also installs and maintains bird nesting boxes for purple martins and other songbirds. To date, McBath has identified 100 different species at Venetian, including least bittern, roseate spoonbill, wood stork, limpkin, swallow-tailed kite, bald eagle, osprey, American avocet, and savannah sparrow. G

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Fairbanks, Alaska

BY RONALD DODSON

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pring is in the air for much of the country as I write this while winging my way to Alaska.

Yet out my window, winter still has a strong grip on the vast stretch of northern wilderness between Anchorage and Fairbanks. I can see the awesome peak of Mt. McKinley poking above the clouds. In the far northern distance, I can see the Brooks Range in all its majesty, and, I know that just beyond it lies the North Slope—home to caribou, polar bears, and oil rigs.

The focus of my trip is to assist the University of Alaska Fairbanks on ways to promote sustainability.

But I also want to use this opportunity to see global warming first hand and to find ways to link the critically important issues of sustainability and climate change.

Mounting evidence Much of the ongoing research currently taking place in the Arctic— like melting permafrost and glaciers, changing migration patterns of northern species of wildlife, and the study of marine species never seen before in the arctic ocean—is being conducted or coordinated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In addition, housed within the walls of the University are fossil records of dinosaurs and palm trees that serve as evidence of a once warmer North Slope.

Some of the changes in the Earth’s climate have been building over a long period of time and others are accelerating due to human activities.

Regardless, the implications are disturbing. Extreme weather events, like hurricane Katrina, could be indicators of what is to come in the not so distant future. Beyond such “indicators,” we know that most of the glaciers in the Arctic have shrunk to levels well below any that have been recorded in modern times. The

Audubon International President Ronald Dodson got a first hand look at some of the effects of global warming while on a recent trip to Alaska.

permafrost is melting, and, as a result, large sinkholes in places like Fairbanks are causing houses to tilt dangerously close to complete collapse. Remember too that the Alaskan Oil Pipeline is built entirely on permafrost.

What does all of this mean and what are we to do about it?

What is curious about our human view of globally significant environmental issues is that we tend to see and feel only what we see and feel in our immediate reality. Our ability to notice and react to the small changes that occur over time is sometimes less than optimal. That’s the way it seems to be with global warming. The pieces to the puzzle are in front of us, but it’s hard to put them all together and see the big picture.

As the planet warms and climate patterns change, we must address important issues regarding the infrastructure that supports us. Now is the time to consider how we might answer some tough questions: “Have I built my home, my business, or my life with the flexibility, adaptability, and sustainability necessary to face the changes that are destined to come?”

“Has the community that I live in given serious consideration to transportation, energy, food, and other essential requirements that are critical parts of our community infrastructure?”

“Can my home or business weather the storms of change that may lie ahead?”

Audubon International is not an organization that cries, “The sky is falling!” We believe that each person has an opportunity to make a difference by becoming involved in positive environmental action where he or she lives, works, and recreates.

Our programs offer assistance to individuals, businesses, organizations, and communities to take steps toward a more sustainable future.

Through your membership, you have indicated your commitment to “walking the walk.” You can also help the environment by “talking the talk”—by talking to others in your community and through your professional affiliations. Encourage others to become interested and involved in environmental issues that impact us all. We appreciate your involvement and we know that you are making a valuable contribution. We hope you will take one more step and encourage others to join you in making a difference. G

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These listings include membership activity from April 1, 2006 through May 31, 2006.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM NEW MEMBERS

City of Coconut Creek, Coconut Creek, FL Spruce Peak at Stowe, Stowe, VT

AUDUBON COOPERATIVE SANCTUARY PROGRAMS NEW MEMBERS Golf Program International

Discovery Bay Golf Club, Hong Kong, China Glacier Greens Golf Course, Lazo, BC, Canada Kabi Golf Farm, Tewantin, Queensland, Australia Wyndance Golf Club, Gormley, ON, Canada California

Madera Municipal Golf Course, Madera, CA Monterey Peninsula Country Club, Pebble Beach, CA Poppy Ridge Golf Course, Livermore, CA Colorado

Highland Meadows Golf Course, Windsor, CO The Ironbridge Club, Glenwood Springs, CO Delaware

Bayside Resort Golf Club, Selbyville, DE Florida

Arlington Ridge Golf Club, Leesburg, FL Buffalo Creek Golf Course, Palmetto, FL Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma at Emerald Bay, Ft Lauderdale, FL Hawk’s Nest Golf Club, Vero Beach, FL Manatee County Golf Course, Bradenton, FL St. Stephens International CC, Tampa, FL Georgia

Green Island Country Club, Columbus, GA Illinois

Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa-South Course, Galena, IL Fox Valley Golf Club, North Aurora, IL Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club, Rockford, IL

EPA Recognizes Golf Course for Outreach The U.S. EPA has named Colonial Acres Golf Course in Glenmont, NY, as a winner of its Performance Track Outreach Award. Colonial Acres has been a member of Performance Track since 2004, and a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary since 1998.

The award recognizes current members of the agency’s Performance Track program who, in addition to being exemplary environmental stewards, make special efforts both internally and externally to inform employees and other organizational groups about the benefits of membership and participation in EPA’s most comprehensive partnership program.

Congratulations to Superintendent Patrick Blum and Colonial Acres!

RECENTLY CERTIFIED AUDUBON COOPERATIVE SANCTUARIES

Club Pelican Golf, Golden Beach, Queensland, Australia Fairway Hills Golf Club, Columbia, MD Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club, Bradenton, FL Stone Mountain Golf Club, Stone Mountain, GA RECERTIFIED AUDUBON COOPERATIVE SANCTUARIES Certified for 10 Years or more

Hillsdale Golf and Country Club, Mirabel, QC, Canada Hole-in-the-Wall Golf Club, Naples, FL, Prairie Dunes Country Club, Hutchinson, KS Royal Oaks Country Club, Vancouver, WA TPC at Southwind, Memphis, TN, Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY Certified for Five Years or more

Polo Fields Golf & Country Club, Ann Arbor, MI Wyandotte Shores Golf Course, Wyandotte, MI

Del Monte Golf Course, Pebble Beach, CA The Farm Golf Club, Rocky Face, GA Griffin Industries (Orlando), Orlando, FL Pine Valley Golf Club, Pine Valley, NJ Quivira Lake & Country Club, Lake Quivira, KS Reserva Conchal Golf Club, Playa Conchal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Pebble Beach, CA Tiburon Golf Course, Naples, FL TPC of the Twin Cities, Blaine, MN Warren Golf Course: Maintenance Bldg., Notre Dame, IN Wilderness Country Club, Naples, FL

New York

Certified for Two Years or more

Massachusetts

Woburn Country Club, Woburn, MA Maryland

Compass Pointe Golf Courses, Pasadena, MD Michigan

Rockland Lake State Park, Conger, NY Texas

Spanish Oaks Golf Club, Austin, TX

BlueSprings Golf Club, Acton, ON, Canada The Country Club of North Carolina, Pinehurst, NC

Diamondback Golf Club, Richmond Hill, ON, Canada Donald K. Gardner Memorial Golf Course, Marion, IA Lake Joseph Golf Club, Port Carling, ON, Canada Pelican Sound Golf & River Club, Estero, FL Rocky Crest Golf Club, MacTier, ON, Canada Shady Canyon Golf Club, Irvine, CA Thornhill Country Club, Thornhill, ON, Canada

AUDUBON PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT NEW MEMBERS

Endeavor Elementary School, Orlando, FL AUDUBON PARTNER AWARDS Hinckley Elementary School, Hinckley, OH Mountain View Elementary, Haymarket, VA Saint Michael the Archangel School, Leawood, KS Sanford Avenue Elementary, Eufaula, AL Seaside Neighborhood School, Santa Rosa Beach, FL T.C. Henderson Elementary, Lake Toxaway, NC Trinity Country Nursery School and Kindergarten, Audubon, PA Voorheesville Elementary, Voorheesville, NY

AUDUBON SIGNATURE PROGRAMS NEW SIGNATURE MEMBERS

Hidden River Ranches, Bushnell, FL Winding Cypress, Naples, FL

Stewardship News

R E S O U R C E S

Audubon International publishes Stewardship News six times a year.

Inquiries, contributions, or letters to the editor should be addressed to:

ATTN: ACSP Members Take advantage of on-site assistance and consultation with ACSP projects and certification Did you know that Audubon International offers fee-based, on-site services for ACSP members who need coaching, motivation, and a better understanding of how to implement wildlife management and conservation practices? Touring your property and getting on-site assistance from Audubon International staff or one of our contracted service-providers can make all the difference.

To learn more or to schedule a site visit, contact ACSP Program Manager Joellen Zeh at jzeh@auduboninternational.org or (518)767-9051, extension 14.

Peter Leuzinger (right) works with Audubon International as a contracted service-provider to members in the Great Lakes Region and Southwestern U.S. He brings 31 years of expertise in golf course management, along with a sense of humor and experience certifying two golf courses in ACSP. “Pete has a way of motivating me to get things done,” says Parin Schmidt (left), superintendent of Naperbrook Golf Course in Illinois, who recently took advantage of Leuzinger’s services.

“I want to fully certify Naperbrook Golf Course in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program and Pete has made suggestions that really helped the golf course get closer to this goal.”

Jean Mackay, Editor Audubon International 46 Rarick Road Selkirk, NY 12158

Or sent via e-mail to: jmackay@auduboninternational.org Layout and Design: 2k Design,

Clifton Park, NY Printing: Benchemark Printing,

Schenectady, NY Audubon International is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to fostering more sustainable human and natural communities through research, education, and conservation assistance. Programs seek to educate, assist, and inspire millions of people from all walks of life to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources around them. Funding is provided by memberships, donations, and program sponsorship. The ACSP Golf Program is sponsored by The United States Golf Association.

The newsletter is printed on recycled paper.

If you have a change of address or contact person, please let us know.

Call (518) 767-9051, ext. 12 or E-mail jbatza@auduboninternational.org

Help us to keep up to date!

Phone: (518) 767-9051 Web Page: http://www.auduboninternational.org e-mail: acss@auduboninternational.org Audubon International 46 Rarick Road Selkirk, New York 12158

Permit No. 55 Delmar, NY 12054

PAID Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage

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