Date: 11/23/25 7:42 am From: mdpethke via groups.io <mdpethke...> Subject: Re: [labird] Kenn Kaufman “The Birds that Audubon Missed: Louisiana Edition”
Thanks Debra.
This is a more complex meeting than LOS typically arranges. LSU-Shreveport
has been a tremendous partner. We are sponsored by the Department of Arts
and Sciences, which has resulted in a tremendously reduced fee for renting
facilities. It has not been publicly announced yet, but LSUS faculty,
staff, and students may attend the evening presentations without charge.
The LSUS Bookstore has also been very helpful in arranging the book
signing. The campus is excited to have Kenn Kaufman present and is willing
to assist us in promoting the talk, including airing announcements on its
NPR station to reach local birders and anyone else within the range of its
signal.
This is obviously more "commercial," for lack of a better term, than
anything LOS has attempted in recent years. Kaufman represents a unique
opportunity to expand LOS's reach and inform more people about the joys of
birdwatching. The LOS Board has thought carefully about and worked hard to
balance LOS's traditions with the need to reach additional potential
members. It has not been without controversy, but know that your board has
soberly weighed a number of competing interests in reaching its
conclusions. Some of them are outlined in prior posts. Criticism is
inevitable, and welcome, but we only ask that persons disappointed in our
conclusions make themselves aware of all the facts.
On Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 8:47 AM <debra.b...> <debra.b...> wrote:
> Mark,
>
> I think it's a nice gesture to let people attend a portion of the winter
> meeting, at a reduced price.
>
> A friend of mine attended a single talk at a meeting several years ago and
> I think he paid $10. The speaker was an ornithology student.
>
> ---Debra
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of William Brown
> via groups.io <joanhbrown47...>
> *Sent:* Sunday, November 23, 2025 7:50 AM
> *To:* Mark Pethke <mdpethke...>
> *Cc:* LABIRD NEW <labird...>
> *Subject:* Re: [labird] Kenn Kaufman “The Birds that Audubon Missed:
> Louisiana Edition”
>
> Mark,
> The $10 fee doesn't bother me. I'm paying to attend this meeting.....more
> than $10. I pay to attend other meetings where books are sometimes sold. I
> agree that free tickets could overload the capacity of the room. Anyone who
> wants to hear Ken Kaufmann shouldn't mind paying a small fee, especially
> since it is going to the Dittman/Cardiff scholorship fund. Just my
> thoughts.
>
> On Sat, Nov 22, 2025, 2:45 PM mdpethke via groups.io <mdpethke=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> > Charging a nominal fee is, among other things, a matter of managing
> demand,
> > as the theater has a capacity of 438 persons, and I have spent the
> morning
> > sending notices to birding organizations all across Arkansas and Texas.
> We
> > have discovered in BRAS that free tickets tend to be too easy to not use,
> > which means that you think people will attend who opt out, meaning other
> > people who would have attended are disappointed. There is no perfect
> > solution, but I think it's a stretch to label this one in the manner
> > described.
> >
> > On Sat, Nov 22, 2025, 2:19 PM Rosemary Seidler <rseidler...>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Charging $10 for the event is not a great recruiting tool. Having the
> > > event free and open to the public is a great idea. Charging for it
> lacks
> > > class.
> > >
> > > Rosemary Seidler
> > > Shreveport
> > > ------------------------------
> > > *From:* <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of Paul Klerks
> via
> > > groups.io <paul.klerks...>
> > > *Sent:* Saturday, November 22, 2025 9:50 AM
> > > *To:* <budogmacm...> <budogmacm...>
> > > *Cc:* <mdpethke...> <mdpethke...>; <labird...> <
> > > <labird...>
> > > *Subject:* Re: [labird] Kenn Kaufman “The Birds that Audubon Missed:
> > > Louisiana Edition”
> > >
> > > [You don't often get email from <paul.klerks...> Learn
> > > why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification > ]
> > >
> > > CAUTION: This email originates from an external email address. DO NOT
> > > click links or provide personal information. Verify the sender by other
> > > means before taking action.
> > >
> > > On the other hand, Mac, allowing a wider audience to come to the talk
> is
> > > likely to bring in new LOS members
> > >
> > > Paul
> > >
> > > On Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 5:49 PM Mac Myers via groups.io <budogmacm=
> > > <gmail.com...> wrote:
> > >
> > > > I have to say that I am thoroughly repulsed by this. I have nothing
> > > > against Kenn Kaufmann, but the LOS should not be involved in, dare I
> > say,
> > > > "pimping" for his books, to the extent of selling tickets to his
> > > > presentation. I realize I may be a dinosaur, but this is simply
> > > disgusting.
> > > > We have plenty of interesting and knowledgeable people who are
> willing
> > to
> > > > present to LOS meetings, and we should pay their costs at least, and
> if
> > > > they have books, certainly they can mention/promote them. That is a
> far
> > > cry
> > > > from this blatant commercialism.
> > > >
> > > > Mac, admitted cormudgeon
> > > >
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail > > > > >
> > > > Virus-free.www.avast.com
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail > > > > >
> > > > <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
> > > >
> > > > On Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 4:25 PM mdpethke via groups.io <mdpethke=
> > > > <gmail.com...> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Kenn Kaufman will speak at the Louisiana Ornithological Society
> > Winter
> > > > > Meeting on the evening of Saturday ,January 24, 2026, at the
> > > > LSU-Shreveport
> > > > > University Center Theater. Kenn will talk about his recent book,
> The
> > > > Birds
> > > > > that Audubon Missed, with a particular emphasis on his time in
> > > Louisiana.
> > > > > Members of the general public are invited to purchase tickets for
> the
> > > > event
> > > > > beginning tomorrow for $10.00 plus taxes and fees at Eventbrite.
> > > > >
> > > > > This link is for the general public only.
> > > > >
> > > > > LOS members who have registered for the Winter Meeting DO NOT have
> to
> > > > also
> > > > > register at Eventbrite to hear Kaufman.
> > > > >
> > > > > There will be a book signing from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, followed by
> the
> > > > > presentation in the University Center Theater at 7:00 pm.
> > > > >
> > > > > https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1975134021026?aff=oddtdtcreator > > > > >
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