Proposed changes to the Connecticut Audubon Society’s By Laws, October 2024

Proposed Version

Mission Statement (Proposed)

Connecticut Audubon Society, Inc. (Society) protects Connecticut’s birds, other wildlife, and their habitats through conservation, education, and advocacy. 

Responsibilities (Proposed)

The Secretary keeps minutes of all Board meetings and meetings of members, and ensures that all Society records, other than financial records, are kept securely.  The Secretary is responsible for all official communications between the Society and its members.

Standing Committees (Proposed)

Standing Committees assist the Board in carrying out its work. Some of this work involves ensuring that current and proposed programs, services and other actions are aligned with the Society’s mission and evaluating the impact of those actions.

At the start of each fiscal year, Board members indicate their preferences for service on one or more Standing Committees. Except as otherwise provided below, Committee assignments are made by the Board Chair after consultation with the Vice Chair and Executive Director.  Each Committee meets from time to time on call by its Committee Chair or by a majority of its members.  The provisions set forth in Article IV C allowing virtual and telephone conferences apply to Committee meetings. At any such meeting, a majority of Committee members constitutes a quorum, and the Committee may take any action by the vote of a majority of those members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present.  Committees must include at least one professional staff member appointed by the Executive Director  and should include members representing one or more Regional Boards as well.  Committees may include at-large members of the community, provided that they are Society members.  Members of the Society’s professional staff serving on any Committee may not vote.  The Board Chair is an ex officio member of all Committees and he or she may designate another Officer to act on his or her behalf.  It is desirable that each Committee have at least three members plus the Committee Chair. Unless otherwise provided herein, each Committee is chaired by a Board member chosen  by joint decision of the Board Chair and Executive Director.

The Board Chair and the Executive Director may from time to time create temporary, ad-hoc Committees and appoint a Committee Chair as they deem appropriate. A Board Communications Advisory Group will support the Standing Committees to ensure internal and external communications are appropriate and consistent across the organization.

There are eight Standing Committees (three that serve governing/fiduciary roles and five that  provide oversight of key mission and value goals):

1. Finance/Investments/Audit Committee.  The Finance Committee is chaired by the Treasurer.  It has responsibility for developing recommendations for Board action in protecting the assets of the Society and ensuring adequate financial resources. It administers the Society’s funds subject to prior Board approval. The Committee reviews and approves the annual budget.  It directs the management of the Society’s investment, endowment and cash resources through the selection and oversight of a manager or managers or directing investments. It reviews and advances the annual audit for Board approval. The Committee may receive advisory and administrative help from whatever sources it chooses. 
2. Nominating and Governance Committee.  The Nominating and Governance Committee must include at least two members in addition to the Chair. It recommends to the Board a complete slate of nominees for Officers and Directors for consideration by the Society’s membership at the Annual Meeting.  The Committee is also be responsible for making recommendations for Board action  relating to policies and procedures that promote effective governance of the Society and that address ethical and legal matters. 
3. Development and Membership Committee.  The Development and Membership Committee develops recommendations, as needed, for Board action dealing with membership, fundraising and other development matters, and reviews the Donation Acceptance Policy annually. 
4. Public Policy/Advocacy Committee. The Public Policy/Advocacy Committee monitors strategic plan progress and develops recommendations, as needed, for Board action relating to policies and/or processes and the Society’s agenda for legislative and administrative action and grassroots advocacy in furtherance of the Society’s advocacy mission.
5. Education Committee.  The Education Committee monitors strategic plan progress and  develops recommendations, as needed, for Board action with respect to the achieving strategic goals for programming, program evaluation and strategic partnerships in furtherance of the Society’s education mission.
6.  Sanctuaries  Committee.  The Sanctuaries Committee monitors strategic plan progress and develops recommendations, as needed, for Board action in furtherance of the Society’s sanctuary stewardship and landholding objectives.
7. Conservation and Research Committee. The Conservation and Research Committee  monitors strategic plan progress and develops recommendations, as needed, for Board action in furtherance of the Society’s conservation mission, including partnerships that support research, data collection,  and community science objectives .
8. Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Committee. The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Committee (IDEA) Committee  reviews and ensures compliance with the Society’s Vision and Value statements and develops policy and outreach recommendations, as needed, for Board action to achieve inclusion, diversity and equity in the Society’s staff, Board, membership, volunteer pool and partners.