8 ILLINOIS AUDUBON BULLETIN 
A Quiet Island 
by CHARLES LAPPEN, 
Chairman, Sanctuary Committee 
As the world rushes on, the need becomes all the more vital that 
patches of land become preserved and protected so that wildlife, plant 
life, and yes, man himself can find sanctuary. 
Wildlife, in all its forms, needs the opportunity to develop in its 
predestined manner. 
Man, from time to time, needs the opportunity to find some seclusion 
and to re-establish himself with the world about him. 
For an organization such as the Illinois Audubon Society, a sanctu- 
ary gives living witness to some of its ideals and objectives. 
The Board of Directors adopted the following Statement of Policy 
when it established guidelines for property acquisition: “The acquisition 
of wildlife sanctuaries is one of the highest objectives of the Illinois 
Audubon Society. No other activity that we engage in will so directly 
affect the preservation of birds and other wildlife, and no other endeavor 
will so strongly influence the growth of our Society in membership and 
influence.” 
For us, ownership of land certainly cannot become an end in itself, 
but must be directly related to our formal purposes, as stated in Article 
One of our By-Laws: 
“To encourage the study, preservation and appreciation of the 
wildlife of the State, especially the birdlife. 
To promote the conservation and protection of all natural re- 
sources. 
To develop and implement a broad education program in the 
interpretation, appreciation, enjoyment, and preservation of 
our natural heritage.” 
The Sanctuary Committee, under the leadership of our Executive 
Director, Warren Dewalt, who made a detailed study of sanctuary 
programs of other Audubon groups, has established guidelines for prop- 
erty acquisition. 
It is not the essence of this article to list or review these guidelines 
but rather to bring to the attention of our members that we seek land 
appropriate for sanctuaries and funds to maintain them properly. 
From a financial viewpoint, the donor can gain some important tax 
advantages. 
From a personal viewpoint, the donor can perpetuate a living tribute 
in his name, or in the name of his loved ones, the grandeur of a sanctuary. 
