Date: 1/28/26 8:08 am From: Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> Subject: Re: James Society for Arkansas Birds
I agree with Kenny and Francie about not using any person's name.
Allan Mueller
On Tue, Jan 27, 2026 at 1:08 PM Robert Day <rhday52...> wrote:
> Or, to avoid confusion with ABA (American Birding Association), maybe the
> Arkansas Birding Alliance could be shortened to ArBA?
>
> RHD
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Jan 27, 2026, at 12:17 PM, Francie Bolter <franciebolter...>
> wrote:
>
> I’m for moving away from naming our group after a person.
>
> I like the notion of being in an *alliance* with birds, the word having
> evolved to mean a person or group coming together for mutual support. While
> it’s an old word, I think it’s particularly appropriate for birding in the
> 21st Century.
>
>
> We know how being outside can support human’s mental health, and birding
> invites us not only to be out in nature but also to engage with it. This
> focus sets to firing so much wonderful—and wonderfully various—brain
> activity. Birds get something out of it too. Birding can’t help but make us
> think about where the birds we’re seeing live and what they eat and how
> humans are affecting these things. Birding helps elevate our consciousness
> for supporting environmental choices that help birds thrive.
>
>
> Birding isn’t something we do to birds, it’s something we do with birds
> and, I’d like to think, for our mutual benefit. I lean towards Arkansas
> Birding Alliance.
>
>
> Maybe we could go with ARBA?
>
>
> Francie Bolter
>
> Near Palarm Station on the Arkansas River
>
> On Jan 27, 2026, at 10:59 AM, Jacob Wessels <jacoblwessels...>
> wrote:
>
> With regard to Arkansas Bird Alliance, would it be a problem to have the
> same acronym as the American Birding Association?
>
> Good birding,
>
>
> Jacob Wessels
>
> Starkville, MS
>
> On Tue, Jan 27, 2026 at 10:55 AM Robin Buff <robinbuff...> wrote:
>
>> I prefer Arkansas Bird Alliance over Arkansas Bird Club. AAS focuses on
>> research, education, conservation, and fellowship, per our Mission
>> Statement. I wouldn't object to the Arkansas Ornithological Society,
>> although I am concerned that some individuals would be confused by the term
>> Ornithology.
>>
>> Robin Buff
>>
>> On Tue, Jan 27, 2026 at 9:58 AM Ed Laster <elaster523...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I agree. That conveys what we are and do.
>>>
>>> Ed Laster
>>> Little Rock
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jan 26, 2026, at 10:56 AM, Kenny Nichols <kingbird101...>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Nothing against Dr. James and his well-known and unmatched contributions
>>> to Arkansas ornithology, but I don't think our organization should be named
>>> after *anyone.*
>>>
>>> I think Dr. Day's '*Arkansas Bird Club*' is a good suggestion.
>>> Something with "bird" in the name would give meaning to both birders and
>>> non-birders.
>>>
>>>
>>> My two cents.
>>>
>>> Kenny Nichols
>>> Dardanelle, AR
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 03:05:52 PM CST, Robert Day <
>>> <rhday52...> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> I'm not sure my comments will help, but here goes:
>>>
>>> If the issue is one of being focused on bird conservation in Arkansas
>>> but not the Audubon Society itself, the name should change. A name
>>> somewhere along the lines of 'Arkansas Bird Conservation", "Arkansas Bird
>>> Club" (both abbreviated as ABC), or some similar name would be more
>>> appropriate to me. It sounds as though there is a lot of confusion because
>>> of the inclusion of Audubon in the name. I do worry, however, that having
>>> the official name staying put but changing the way it would be referenced
>>> to the public would simply beg for more confusion.
>>>
>>> In Fairbanks, we had the Fairbanks Bird Club, which was associated with
>>> the University and held meetings once a month. It was a loose thing that
>>> focused on birds, so the monthly meetings had talks on birds in an area
>>> they visited or studied. However, it was a low-key thing that was more
>>> information-oriented than conservation-oriented. So, it seems to me that
>>> "Club" may not be a good moniker.
>>>
>>> Whatever name is selected, I think that we should bite the bullet and
>>> redo all of the paperwork to match the official name. It will be a pain in
>>> the butt in the short term but will be better in the long run, methinks.
>>>
>>> Bob
>>>
>>> Robert H. Day, Ph.D.
>>> SW Bentonville
>>> cell: 907-460-7061; <rhday52...>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Jan 24, 2026 at 10:39 PM Barry Haas <bhaas...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Dear ARBIRDers,
>>>
>>> Every member of the Arkansas Audubon Society should have received an
>>> e-mail from AAS President Lynn Foster on January 15. It explains in detail
>>> why an ad hoc Insight Committee recommended AAS change its publicly facing
>>> name, the name AAS would be generally known by to the general public. In a
>>> legal sense AAS would still be the same- same IRS tax number, same Bylaws,
>>> same “Arkansas Birds” newsletter, Halberg Ecology Camp, Iola Rea Fund and
>>> Ruth Thomas Scholarship Fund. No change to any of that.
>>>
>>> Lynn’s e-mail includes the following snip which some seem to have
>>> overlooked:
>>>
>>> "The Insight Committee seemed to suggest that AAS retain its legal name
>>> but adopt a fictitious or "doing business as" name for branding purposes. *This
>>> is easily done by filling out a form for the Arkansas Secretary of State
>>> and a form for the IRS *[emphasis added].”
>>>
>>> Barry Haas
>>>
>>>
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--
Allan Mueller (It)
20 Moseley Lane, Conway, AR
Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm
501-339-8071
Pura Vida
