Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of Birdlife Tasmania Held at the Life Sciences Lecture

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of BirdLife Tasmania held at the Life Sciences Lecture Theatre 1, University of Tasmania on Thursday, 10 March 2016

Meeting opened at 7.30 pm.

Members Present: Dr Eric Woehler (Convenor), Denis Abbott, Rick Boyle, Barbara Boyle, Andrew Browne (Vic) Dr Mick Brown, Chris Burridge, Bill Chestnut, Margaret Chestnut, Andrew Darby (Committee Member), Sue Drake (Secretary), Maureen Duffy (Committee Member),Jason Graham, Christine Harris, Bob Holderness-Roddam, Andrew Hingston, Judith Holmes,Don Knowler, Anicee Lombal, Mona Loofs-Samorzewski, Bruce Longmore, Maggie McKerracher, Dr Mike Newman, Allan Patman (Treasurer), Loris Patman (Committee Member), James Pay, John Reid,Graeme Riddoch, Heather Scandrett, Dr Rosemary Sandford (Committee Member), Heather Scandrett, Peter Tischler, Els Wakefield, Wynne Webber (Editor, Yellow Throat and TBR).

Non members:Dr DejanStojanovic (Guest speaker), Donald Coventry (CEO NRM South), Carolyn Loxton, Keith Loxton, Elizabeth Sheldon.

Apologies: Linley Grant, Margaret and Alan Morgan, Dr Vali Ruoppolo, John & Shirley Tongue, Michael and George Vaughan, Andrew Walter (Committee Member).

The Convenor welcomed all present and outlined the agenda for the evening.

• Convenor’s Report. The annual report summarised BirdLife Tasmania’s activities over the 2015/16 period under two broad headings: (i) communication and education, and (ii) science-based advocacy and conservation.

Dr Woehler made special mention of the high quality production of Yellow Throat and the Tasmanian Bird Report by Wynne Webber, the development of our Twitter feed and media releases by Andrew Darby and the organisation and leading of excursions by Maureen Duffy.

The regional group continues to undertake surveys and research around Tasmania and to work with government departments, councils, industry and the general community to enhance the conservation of birds and their habitat.

The report listed the aims of the group for 2016/17 as:

• Increasing influence in the planning, conservation and management of Tasmania’s birds and their habitats,
• Ongoing survey effort, and
• Increased community engagement.

Dr Woehleroutlined the involvement of committee members and others in the many BirdLife Tasmania projects and community events. He thanked the Committee members, scientists and general membership for their support throughout the year.

In answer to a question from the floor, he reassured members that the data base was securely backed-up and that members could request reports on specific birds etc from the database

• Treasurer’s Report: Allan Patman reported that BirdLife Tasmania’s finances were in a healthy position an opening balance of $44,746on 1 January 2015 and a closing balance of $45,559 at 31 December 2015. The $6,000 deficit reflects the very active involvement in a number of projects, the large Tasmanian Bird Report, a number of attendances at conferences and seminars and the Bruny Island Bird Festival.A total of$7,200 was received from BirdLife Australia, which was approximately25% of the Tasmanian membership fees paid to BA.Expenditure included donations of $2000 to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and $1000 to the Environmental Defenders Office.

A debit card had been issued for the Convenor, reducing the need for cheque refunds for expenses.The financial report and associated documentationwas available for viewing.

The reports will be published on the BirdLife Tasmania page of the BirdLife Australia web site and in the next Yellow Throat.

Moved:Allan Patman seconded Andrew Darby that the Treasurers report be accepted. The motion was carried.

Minutes of the AGM of 12 March2015

Moved:Loris Patmanseconded Wynne Webber that the minutes be accepted as being an accurate record of the meeting. Motion was carried.

• Election of Office Bearers

Chair / Convenor:

The Chair explained to the meeting that a person cannot be a member of the Executive Committee for more than six consecutive years unless their nomination is approved by an ordinary resolution at the AGM before the election of officers.

Motion: that the nominations of Dr Eric Woehler as Convenor,Allan Patman as Treasurer, Sue Drake as Secretary, and Rosemary Sandford, Maureen Duffy, Loris Patman, and Andrew Darby as Committee members be accepted by the meeting.

Moved: Denis Abbott seconded Bob Holderness-Roddam

The motion was carried.

As there was only one nomination for the role of Convenor, Dr Eric Woehler was declared re-elected.

Similarly:

Treasurer - Allan Patman as declared Treasurer unopposed.

SecretarySue Drake was declared Secretary unopposed.

Executive Committee - The Secretary had received nominations for Andrew Darby, Maureen Duffy, Loris Patman, Dr Rosemary Sandford, Geoff Shannon, Andrew Walter and Wynne Webber as members of the Executive Committee. As the Executive Committee can comprise up to eight members, these persons were declared elected.

• Twitchathon

Mona Loofs-Samorzewski had organised the Tasmanian Twitchathon in 2015 and raised $1482.47 in support of the conservation of Forty-Spotted Pardalotes; Mona handed the cheque to Dr Dejan Stojanovicas a contribution towardsthe ANU nest box project.

Vote of thanks for the Convenor

Sue Drake thanked Dr Eric Woehler for his on-going efforts, energy and commitment to the aims of the group.Those present joined her in applause for his work for the group.

Meeting Closed at 8:15pmand was followed by a presentation by Dr Dejan Stojanovic on Threats to Swift Parrots and Forty-spotted Pardalotes.

Minutes – BirdLife Tasmania Annual General Meeting 10 March 2016Page 1