Message from the President

Message from the President

It is an honor to be the incoming President of GNPA. Over the last several years of being a member of GNPA and on the board for the last few, I have had a chance to work with some absolutely great people. A few of these great people who will no longer be serving on the board are Eric Bowles (Past President), Bill Hatherley (Treasurer), and Travis Rhoads (Member at Large). Bill White will take on the role of Past President. Both Bill White and Eric Bowles have committed to carrying on a tradition of meet with the new president on a regular basis to provide ongoing guidance. For that, I am, and will be, in their debt. They both know so many people and so much about the organization that they will be a great asset to helping me fulfill my duties.

Last Sunday, the GNPA Board met to cover several business items and to ratify the recent elections. As many of you remember, we had two persons who had been nominated for one position that was being vacated. Bill White and I had discussed shortly before the ballot was posted for everyone to vote that it might be a good idea to add another person to the Board. Chris Dekle has also been selected by the board to continue as Webmaster.

As such, when the Board met, Bill White brought forth a recommendation to add one more person to the board. The vote was unanimously in favor and so we were able to bring both Tammy Cash and Lisa Westberry onto the Board as Members at Large.

I am also looking forward to working with Anna DeStefano as Vice President. She has a good background in working with non-profits and boards. As such, her contribution and willingness to serve will be very helpful as we look into what we will be doing as an organization over the next year. We have already had a few meetings in preparation and are mapping out a strategic plan.

We also are welcoming a new Treasurer, Denise Duplinski, who has graciously agreed to serve. She comes to us with a good background in accounting and non-profit financial accounting.

Below is the new composition of the Board beginning on April 1, 2023. Please join me in welcoming the new and current standing members.

  • President: Doug Flor
  • Vice President: Anna DeStefano
  • Secretary: Ken Dunwoody
  • Treasurer: Denise Duplinski
  • Past President: Bill White
  • Board of Directors Member at Large: Marcia Brandes
  • Board of Directors Member at Large: Jenny Burdette
  • Board of Directors Member at Large: Tammy Cash
  • Board of Directors Member at Large: Lee Friedman
  • Board of Directors Member at Large: Trisha Lynch
  • Board of Directors Member at Large: Janet Newton
  • Board of Directors Member at Large: Ray Silva
  • Board of Directors Member at Large: Lisa Westberry
  • WebMaster: Chris Dekle

Best Always,

Doug

Sweep the Hooch! March 25th 2023

Sweep the Hooch! March 25th 2023

Article and Image By Tom Wilson

One of the most amazing conservation events in our community happens every year and the GNPA is a part of it. The event is called Sweep the Hooch and it will be happening on March 25th of 2023 in a large variety of venues all along the Chattahoochee River and in other locations in the vicinity of the Chattahoochee.  Last year approximately 2,300 volunteers collected 60 tons of garbage across the Chattahoochee. GNPA has supported this event for 6 years now providing volunteers who donate their time and the use of their photographs to document and promote the event. Photographers are needed to capture pictures in as many venues as possible. These images help tell the story of this wonderful event and generate community support which is vital to its success. This is a voluntary opportunity, our time is volunteer and the photos are donated for the use of publicizing this and future Sweep the Hooch events. We receive a T-shirt and the knowledge that we part of a very important volunteer effort. Please email Tom Wilson at trwbsa@bellsouth.net if you would like to volunteer as a photographer for the 2023 Sweep the Hooch event. You must be a dues paying member of GNPA to volunteer and while you do not need to be registered as one of our Conservation Photographer Team, you are certainly welcomed to join if you would like to. This can also be done by contacting Tom Wilson by the above email address.

The Great Backyard Bird Count – Coming Soon to a Backyard Near You

The Great Backyard Bird Count – Coming Soon to a Backyard Near You

Article and images provided by Jenny Burdette.

 

Save the date – February 17-20, 2023, is the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), a citizen
science project sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada.

Each February, for four days, the birdwatching world counts birds and reports those counts.
These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their
annual migrations.

Participation is simple and easy – just pick a spot and count the birds you see for at least 15
minutes on one of the four days, or for as long as you like on each the four days. You also have
several options for how to report your data: through Merlin, eBird Mobile, or manually counting
and uploading to the site from your computer. Whether you count one bird or hundreds, join
thousands of other birdwatchers and count birds for science.

Launched in 1998 by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, and joined by
Birds Canada in 2009, the GBBC was the first online citizen science project to collect data on
wild birds and to display the results in near real time. The project went global in 2013 when data
was entered into eBird, the world’s largest community science project.

Detailed directions on how to identify, count, and submit are available on the website at
https://www.birdcount.org/. This site also has information about an upcoming webinar on
February 15 at 1:00PM with tips on birdwatching and a Q&A session.
Mark your calendar and be a part of a global citizen science event where the world comes
together for the love of birds!

CALL FOR ENTRIES!  Members’ Best: Nature, Wildlife & Legacy Locations!

CALL FOR ENTRIES! Members’ Best: Nature, Wildlife & Legacy Locations!

Call for Entries! Now until DEADLINE Friday, Feb 10, 2023 @ 10:00pm!

A Special Exhibition of Members’ Best: Nature, Wildlife & Legacy Locations photography; color or black & white, all subjects. Landscapes, wildlife, waterfalls, macro, old barns, mills, covered bridges….ALL NATURE SUBJECTS.

This is NOT a competition, just an exhibition! No fees! This one is for our Members to shine and show off their wonderful and varied work.

Just a great way to exhibit your BEST work and have an opportunity to sell it. No need to print and have framed a new photo. Go through all those framed photographs we all have at home!

KEY DATE & INFORMATION

Exhibit Venue & Space: The Hudgens Center for Art & Learning will be our exhibit venue. The address is 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Building 300, Duluth, GA 30097. Space is limited for about 134+/- pieces.

DON’T TRUST YOUR GPS! It is part of the Gas South District complex of buildings. IMPORTANT! BEST ACCESS is from Satellite Blvd west of the intersection with Sugarloaf Parkway. Enter just west of the Embassy Suites on Satellite Blvd.  Parking immediately on your left.                      

Exhibit Duration (8-weeks): Feb 25 – Apr 22, 2023.

Categories: Exhibition includes Landscapes, Wildlife, Birds, Seascapes, Waterfalls, Butterflies, Macro, Astro/Night Sky, Dragonflies, Weather, even Old Barns, Gristmills, Covered Bridges….you get the idea. No restrictions on geographic location or when photograph was taken. Any questions on categories, please ask for help. Any questions, do not understand…ask for help. Contact GNPA.Gwinnett.Chapter@gmail.com.

Framing: Must be framed photograph or ready for hanging. No framing or matting requirements. Canvas Wrap will be accepted. Frame and mat size, color, texture these are all open to you. NOTE: Overall frame dimensions must not exceed more than 120″ for all sides. For example, a 24″ x 36″ (outside dimensions) frame is 120″ on all sides. Glass or acrylic glazing is acceptable.

Watermarks: Photographer watermarks or identification is OK.

Awards: Not a competition, no awards other than participation.

Fees: No entry fees.

Identification Labels: A small label should be attached on the back. Must include 6 items:

  1. Member full name, such as Bill Jones.
  2. Contact information, email and phone number. Needed should your work sell or be damaged in any way.
  3. Chapter, Primary, i.e., Gwinnett.
  4. Title of Photograph, i.e., Majestic Elk.
  5. Insurance Value of Photograph. The Hudgens needs a dollar value for insurance coverage. Does not need to be the same as the For-Sale Value but more than $0.00.
  6. For Sale $xxx or NFS (Not for Sale). Hudgens allows you to sell your work.

Sales Opportunity: You will have the opportunity to sell your work. Hudgens will handle the sales and deduct a 30% commission. Any photographs sold will remain on exhibit until the end of the exhibition.

Submit Digital Images: Submit a digital image of your photograph to GNPA.Gwinnett.Chapter@gmail.com for consideration by Friday, Feb 10, 2023. Digital images should be JPG format and no larger than 1200 pixels on the longest side. If you need, photograph your framed image to submit.

Deadline to Submit Digital Images: Friday, Feb 10, 2023 @ 10:00 pm. Maximum total of 7 entries. Include your name ‘Last name, first name – ‘ in front of your original photograph filename. Very important to help communicate with you about a specific photograph. If we have a question or to identify the correct photograph being accepted into the exhibit with the proper member’s name.

Acceptance Notification into Exhibition: Acceptance via Email notification for the Exhibition is Monday, Feb 13, 2023 @ 10:00 pm.

Artist Statement/CV, Insurance Value & Sale Amount: Must accompany your work with delivery to The Hudgens to be accepted for exhibition.

Delivery to Hudgens: Almost 2 weeks from Tuesday, Feb 14 until Friday, Feb 24, 2023 (10am – 4:30pm). The Hudgens will place and hang for Exhibition Opening.

Pickup at Hudgens: Tuesday, Apr 25 – Saturday, Apr 29, 2023 (10am – 4:30pm). It’s your responsibility to deliver your work and PICK UP at The Hudgens when the exhibition closes. Work NOT picked up in 60-days becomes property of The Hudgens to be part of The Hudgens permanent collection, to donate, sell or dispose of as necessary.

Members’ Best: Nature, Wildlife & Legacy Locations is only open to current GNPA Members. Not a GNPA member, go to www.GNPA.org and join. The ONLY way for you to join GNPA and participate in any activities.

Any questions, do not understand…ask for help. Contact GNPA.Gwinnett.Chapter@gmail.com