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AN INVITATION TO JOIN NCAC 
What does the acronym NCAC mean to you? Perhaps, little unless you are one of the handful of |.A.S. 
members who belong to the North Central Audubon Council. This Organization consists of Audubon 
Societies and individual members from a five state area in the Mid-West: Minnesota, Michigan, lowa, 
Wisconsin, and Illinois with one lone member from Kentucky. It was formed five years ago at the 
instigation of Paul Romig of Green Bay, Wisconsin, who felt the need of a stronger Audubon force in this 
area. 
In its brief history, NCAC has proved itself: it is not merely a passive organization with positive 
philosophies but one of action. Its first major project was an Osprey Survey which studied the gradual 
decline of the number of nesting birds in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan and sought to determine the 
reason. A second project surveyed pole-trapping in every county in Wisconsin and ended with a court 
hearing at which time pole-trapping was restricted. In addition to hawks, the great horned owl, the 
cormorant, and the great blue heron were put on the protected list. At present, there is a struggle to have 
the mourning dove included. The NCAC hopes to continue work of this kind in other member states, as 
Wisconsin is not the only state where poor practices exist. A current project has a committee fighting to 
save the Keokuk Pool area on the Mississippi River. The California Ortho Chemical Company and the Army 
Corp of Engineers have proposed dredging a channel which would destroy this prime waterfowl feeding area 
on the Mississippi flyway where 368,000 ducks were counted in one day alone. 
The Council held two annual meetings a year, the spring session being the PRESIDENT’S Conference to 
be held in a centrally located spot such as Madison or Williams Bay, Wisconsin, and the fall meeting a two 
day session on a rotating basis with the various states playing host. Last fall’s conference was held at Camp 
Duncan at Volo with Illinois Audubon host and Ray Mostek, chairman. This year, the Northeastern 
Wisconsin Audubon will sponsor the meeting on October 3 - 4 at Green Lake with the theme “Organizing 
for Environmental Quality’’. These conferences are worth attending. Excellent speakers talk on timely 
topics and there are usually field trips, too. 
Illinois is represented by Preston Davies who is second vice-president and Alice Clark, treasurer and also 
by Darlene Fiske, Terry Ingram, and Dr. Bill Lunt who are directors. A survey of member organizations 
shows that Illinois ranks third with Wisconsin and Minnesota topping the list. Illinois is represented first of 
all by our state association |AS and then by the DuPage, Kishwaukee, Park Ridge, and Champaign County 
Audubon Societies. In a five state area, if individual membership were prorated evenly, each state would 
furnish 20% of the total. At present, Illinois has 16%. Surely, our state has enough conservation-minded 
people to make our quota. 
Why not plan to join NCAC? The dues are $5.00 per year for organizations and only $2.00 for 
individuals. They may be sent to me at the address given below. 
Alice M. Clark 
8815 Route 120 
Woodstock, Illinois 60098 

