We are excited to announce that the Yolo Audubon Society Board of Directors voted at the March board meeting to recommend to our members that the name of our chapter be changed to “Yolo Bird Alliance.” This action follows a year of discussions, both internally and with other local Audubon chapters in California, and input received from our members through the email survey in January and February. Over 61% of members responding to the survey questionnaire strongly supported a name change, and the name receiving the most favorable responses was “Yolo Bird Alliance.” The board believes that Yolo Bird Alliance is an excellent name choice for several reasons:
- Yolo: Yolo County is where most of our members live, and the home territory we serve.
- Bird: We are committed to birds – to protecting them and conserving their habitats, watching and enjoying them, and inspiring greater appreciation for birds and wildlife. Over 82% of members responding to the survey also felt it was important that the word bird be in our name.
- Alliance: We are part of a larger network of bird-dedicated organizations, including other local Audubon chapters, conservation groups and individuals. The success of our conservation efforts depends on collaboration and community partnerships. We are stronger together.
Our affiliation as the Yolo chapter of the National Audubon Society will not change. Our place within the allied network of local Audubon chapters will also be reinforced as a number of other local chapters have, or are in the process of, adopting similar names. Most importantly, we depend on our own membership to grow and diversify in order to accomplish our mission, which we hope this name change will help us to achieve.
Formal approval of the name change requires a vote of the membership to amend the articles of incorporation. The specific motion we will be voting on is to amend the articles of incorporation to change the name of the organization from Yolo Audubon Society to Yolo Bird Alliance. This vote will be taken at the annual membership meeting on May 15, 2024. We will also be voting at that meeting on the board of directors and officers for the following year. All current YAS members are encouraged to attend the meeting and vote, and virtual attendance and voting over Zoom will also be available. We hope to see you there.
— Board of Directors