Date: 1/28/26 8:39 am From: Debra Grim <dsgrim02...> Subject: Re: James Society for Arkansas Birds
How about Arkansas Avian Society?
On Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 10:35 AM Charles H Mills <
<00000218c727d931-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Assuming that a name change is inevitable, it appears that we’re moving
> towards a consensus of not using personal names. I can agree with that.
> That being said, the AAS has a long-standing tradition of solid
> contributions towards bird study/research, conservation awareness, and
> educational outreach. I think that, whatever name is chosen, it should
> emerge from and respect those contributions and not sound like a social
> media group.
>
> Charles Mills
> Texarkana TX
>
> On Jan 28, 2026, at 10:13 AM, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
>
> I also agree with not using a person’s name. Better do a thorough
> background check if you do.
>
> Sandy
>
> On Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 10:08 AM Allan Mueller <akcmueller...>
> wrote:
>
>> 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
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/20+Moseley+Lane,+Conway,+AR?entry=gmail&source=g> >> Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm
>> 501-339-8071
>> Pura Vida
>>
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