pile: We coder? ¢- Message 
With the I1.A.S. Annual Meeting in Peoria over and done I have 
been your President for one year. I would like to reflect on this past 
year and share with you some of the accomplishments of my first 
term in office. It was during this past year that the idea of a Pooled 
Income program for the1.A.S. was conceived and given its first push 
in hopes that it would provide a larger financial base for our 
operations in future years (details in the President’s Message, Illinois 
Audubon Bulletin, Winter, 1975-76, or from the I.A.S. office). 
In 1975 the Society was offered another sanctuary in the town 
of Willow Springs, IL. It was this offer and a few problems that we 
were experiencing with our sanctuary near Wayne, IL. that led to the 
formulation of “The Sanctuary Guidelines” — a set of conditions set 
down in writing to help determine under what circumstances 1.A.S. 
would accept new sanctuaries. We felt it to be imperative that 1.A.S. 
not get into any legally binding agreements which could in any way 
seriously deplete the finances of the Society. It is our belief that by 
following these guidelines 1.A.S. will not become involved with 
something beyond its means. 
An updated Board Manual was developed detailing the duties of 
the various officers, committee chairpersons and board members. 
While this publication is not available to the general membership, a 
copy was given to each board member providing them with an 
outline of what is expected of them during their tenure of office. If 
still current, the manuals are returned to the 1.A.S. office or passed 
on to a successor when a board member leaves ofiice. 
During the past year an extremely successful fund-raising drive 
was initiated by 1.A.S. along with the Illinois Department of Conser- 
vation, the Illinois Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the 
Illinois Office of Education. The goal was to be able to purchase a 
significant parcel of land for winter use by the Bald Eagle, our 
National Emblem. This plea was put to the students of the grammar 
schools and the high schools of the state. The response was most 
gratifying when over $50,000 was donated for the purchase of the 
refuge. Even though at this writing the exact disposition of the funds 
has not been decided we are studying several areas in order to be 
sure of the best choice. Although the deadline for the contest is past, 
money is still coming in and of course, will be applied to the fund. 
The deadline as stated was more directed to that point in time when 
I.A.S. had to determine the winners among the schools sending in the 
largest contributions as well as the winner of the contest to name the 
(Cont. page 36) 
