Hard to believe that it has been four years serving as President. Every moment I have spent in support of this organization was deeply worth my efforts.
By-Law Amendment
We held a vote at our May General Meeting to amend our by-laws to allow both online and mail-in voting. Prior to this amendment our by-laws required that any amendments be voted on by those present at our General Meeting, and did not allow for either online or mail-in voting. Legitimate concerns have been raised that these restrictions effectively exclude those members who could not physically attend a General Meeting to cast their vote. Per our by-laws a 2/3 (67%) in-favor vote is required for any amendments. A total of 21 ballots were cast, with 20 approving the changes, and one not approving. Therefore the proposed amendments passed.
—Paul Miller, Sacramento Audubon Society President
Name Change Voting - May 23 through May 31
About a year ago, the Sacramento Audubon Board decided to pursue a membership vote on a name change and chose the name Sacramento Bird Alliance should the membership approve a name change. Our first step was to update our by-laws to allow electronic voting. This has been completed, and we are now ready to put it before the membership for a vote.
For reference, in March of 2023, despite increasing evidence that John James Audubon was both a slave holder and racist, the National Audubon Society Board of Directors voted against changing the organization’s name to something that did not include the name Audubon. Since April of 2023, the Sacramento Audubon Society Board has been actively involved with evaluating the need for a name change. We have published articles in the Observer and conducted a survey of our members that indicated the majority were in favor of a name change.
Since 2023, nearly one third of all the 500+ local Audubon organizations, along with college chapters, have changed their name. The most common name change has been to use “Bird Alliance”, instead of “Audubon Society”. Name recognition is very important, and we feel using this will best achieve our mission.
Voting will be conducted using a professional online voting website and will take place May 23-31. You will receive an email with directions on how to vote. For our members who do not use the internet we will be sending out a hard copy ballot with a return envelope.
This is a very important vote, and we would greatly appreciate you taking the time to cast your ballot. We are committed to our mission of bird conservation and believe the organization’s name can either foster or hinder the organization’s ability to achieve its mission.
If you are not currently a member of the Sacramento Audubon Society you will need to join in order to vote. Once you join you will receive a separate email with directions. Paying dues (donation) to the National Audubon Society does not automatically make you a member of the Sacramento Audubon Society. You can become a member by visiting our website here: https://www.sacramentoaudubon.org/join-renew-donate
If you have any questions or concerns about this vote, please reach out to me directly at sacaudubonconservation@gmail.com.
- Cliff Feldheim
Name Change Online Voting Information
Current members with email addresses will receive an email from ElectionBuddy Elections. In the email will be a link to the ballot where members will vote either yes or no on the following question: “Do you support changing the organization’s name from “Sacramento Audubon Society” to “Sacramento Bird Alliance”? Voting will be open May 23 through May 31. You may only vote once.
Name Change Update
In March of 2023, the National Audubon Board of Directors voted on changing the organization’s name to something that did not include the name Audubon. Despite increasing evidence that John James Audubon was both a slave holder and racist, as well as producing some questionable science (see the book, The Birds That Audubon Missed), National Audubon decided that the name Audubon was so tightly linked with successful conservation that changing the name would hurt the organization’s ability to achieve its mission, and they voted to keep the name.
Since 2023, nearly one third of all the 500+ local Audubon Community and College Chapters have changed their name. The most common name change includes “Bird Alliance.” The Sacramento Audubon Board of Directors has been discussing a name change since April 2023, publishing articles in The Observer and providing links on our webpage to inform our members about the status of a potential name change.
About a year ago, the Sacramento Audubon Board decided to pursue a name change and ultimately put it before the membership for a vote. The first step in that process included changing the bylaws to allow electronic voting as well as in person voting (this bylaw change was made in June 2025).
How could a name change, or lack of a name change, have an impact on the ability of Sacramento Audubon to achieve its mission?
The mission of Sacramento Audubon is to:
Promote the protection and scientific study of wild birds.
Foster the enjoyment and appreciation of wild birds through community outreach.
Encourage, support, and provide environmental educational opportunities.
Advocate for the conservation of open space in the Sacramento region.
Similar to National Audubon’s concern, the biggest impact from a name change could be the lack of organizational recognition, and include people not being able to contact us, and/or confusion as to why there is no longer a Sacramento Audubon. This could negatively impact all four aspects of the Sacramento Audubon mission. However, the impacts would likely be short term as people become more aware of the organization’s name change over time and with an active campaign to get that new name publicized.
Keeping the Audubon name could have a negative impact on the organization’s ability to achieve all four aspects of its mission. However, the organization’s ability to effectively conduct community outreach and education (as well as recruit new members and younger members) might be impacted the most. Whether one believes John James Audubon was a racist or not, or whether the topic is even important in today’s world, a simple google search asking that question “was John James Audubon a racist” provides a lot of information to support the view that he was both racist and actively involved in degenerating black people. While I know not everything one reads on the internet is true, it is likely that someone that has heard that Audubon may have been racist may take this action to learn more.
One could argue that the discussion of Audubon’s racist views distracts from our mission and may discourage someone from joining or supporting the organization. This may be especially true for young people. A name change to remove Audubon is also consistent with the American Ornithologists Union decision to remove people’s names from the names of birds.
If the membership approves a name change, the Board has approved using the name Sacramento Bird Alliance. In a society that is increasingly disconnected from nature, including the word Bird in the organization’s name could increasingly benefit the organization. Calling out the word Bird in the name identifies that we work with birds. Most of the Sacramento Audubon Board has experienced someone asking, “what’s an Audubon” after hearing our name, or saying “oh Audubon, you must be in to cars.”
The Sacramento Audubon Board recognizes that there are people on both sides of this issue that are very passionate about changing or keeping the name. While we recognize the societal and potentially political arguments about a name change, our focus is on our mission and how the name impacts our ability to best achieve our mission and serve our members. We would benefit from hearing your opinion on the name change, and most importantly the organization would benefit from your vote on the name change.
Please feel free to contact me directly at sacaudubonconservation@gmail.com about the name change, and look for information on our website and through email about when the name change voting opens and closes (coming in April).
—Cliff Feldheim, Conservation Chair
Changing our Name
The wheels of non-profits grind slowly! We started the process of changing our name more than two years ago. Now the Board is ready to hold a meeting to obtain a vote from our members. Our by-laws require an in-person meeting to adopt changes. As stated in the by-laws, alterations or amendments require a vote by, “…two-thirds (2/3) of SAS’s voting members present at a membership meeting.” This meeting will be held on Thursday, May 15 at 7 p.m. at Effie Yeaw Nature Center.
The Board has chosen “Sacramento Bird Alliance” as our proposed new name. The term “bird alliance” has become the most prevalent name for chapters across the Country. Name recognition is critical to our continued conservation efforts. In the interim we will also add the term “formally known as the Sacramento Audubon Society,” until the new name is common knowledge. We are also committed to reaching out to our nonprofit and agency partners to ensure our name change is well known and does not hinder our ability to achieve local and regional bird conservation.
Changing our name is more than symbolic. Our desire is focused on inclusion, and removing any barriers, perceived or real, especially during these difficult political times. To enact these changes we have formed the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) Committee, which currently has nine members! The world of birding can be intimidating to newcomers. The Committee’s goal is to promote activities that are welcoming to a wide spectrum of people, and make these events a safe place by creating a sense of belonging. These events will be birding related, but people centric. We will reach out to various communities within the Sacramento region that have been, or might feel marginalized. If you, or someone you know, is interested in getting involved with the EDIB Committee, or simply has some ideas to share, please contact Paul Miller at sacaudubonedib@gmail.com. If you have information regarding any local community groups that might benefit from these events, also please pass that along.
Status of Name Change
Over the past year we have explored the idea of changing the organization’s name to remove reference to John James Audubon. We conducted a survey of our members with sixty percent of those responding in favor of a name change. Currently twelve other local Audubon chapters have changed their name using the words “Bird Alliance”. Name recognition is critical for advocacy and the Board is in favor of changing our name to the Sacramento Bird Alliance.
However, we have decided to wait for a while to start the formal process and obtain a vote from our members. Sacramento Audubon is 100% volunteer based, and changing our name would take a significant amount of effort, so we are taking it slowly. In addition, with more and more chapters deciding to change their names there is always the possibility that National Audubon would revisit the issue. The last thing we want is having to change our name twice! SAS strongly supports an eventual name change and are working on steps to accomplish that in the best way, and at the best time.
- Sacramento Audubon Society Board of Directors
Birds Connect
As you may be aware, our Board has begun the process of considering changing the name of the organization. It is long and complicated, and will require a vote from our members.
Recently I attended a Zoom meeting with representatives from the majority of Audubon chapters within California to discuss this issue. Several chapters are actively engaged in the process, and many more are considering a name change. The consensus was that a common name would provide greater recognition of who we are affiliated with, both statewide and national.
Each chapter is a wholly separate organization from the National Audubon Society (or Audubon California which is simply a state office of the national organization). We are affiliated with the National Audubon Society through a mutual agreement spelled out in the National Audubon Society Chapter Policy document. Changing our name would not sever this agreement, and our relationship with National would remain unchanged. We receive both financial and strategic support from National, and it’s critical we maintain this relationship.
Light in the Darkness, American Robin Torch Bearer by Stephanie Brown
During the State chapters Zoom meeting, one of the representatives spoke up about the name Seattle has chosen for their chapter, “Birds Connect Seattle.” She spoke about the power and truth in associating birds as a connection. This really resonated with me, and in my own experience I have found this to be so true.
Ed Harper’s “Birds of Winter” initially connected me to my deep love of birds. Not being able to use binoculars to see birds connected me to Birdability. Birds connected me to Maureen Geiger, who connected me with Bill Bianco, who connected me to becoming a Board member. My work creating and chairing the Accessibility Committee connected me to others with mobility challenges. Birds connected me to Cosumnes River Preserve, UC Davis Arboretum, and our magical Bobelaine Sanctuary. And, birds also connected me to becoming President. Birds have also connected me to so, so many amazing and dedicated people, who themselves are connected by birds. And most recently birds have connected me to photography.
Birds also connect all of us with nature, which is such a profound interconnection. Recent studies have proven that time spent in nature is healing, not only for our bodies but also our minds. At this time in our world the healing reprieve of being with our sacred birds in their natural world is so needed, and they provide this connection.
As we track forward on this journey of changing our name, “Birds Connect Sacramento” is really finding purchase in my heart. If National and State Audubon followed, we would be associated with “Birds Connect America,” or “Birds Connect the World,” and “Birds Connect California.” In truth our sacred birds already do connect the world, and us all!
Note: The artwork was created by Stephanie Brown and is entitled “Light in the Darkness, American Robin Torch Bearer”. It hangs on my studio wall and reminds me that our sacred birds light the way.
—Paul Miller, President
Ensuring an Inclusive Future - Part II
In the May 2023 Observer we discussed exploring whether to change the name of the Sacramento Audubon Society. Many local chapters have already dropped the name “Audubon” to ensure an inclusive future. We want to take an incremental approach and solicited your feedback on changing the society’s name. We received overwhelming support for removing the name Audubon from the society. With this support the Board of Directors intends to remove the name Audubon from the society.
We do not intend to identify a replacement name soon. Any decision on a replacement would be based on significant input from our community and the goals of inclusion and preserving the brand recognition that comes with our large network of birders. We want to hear your suggestions for replacement names, and we want to see whether other local chapters cohere around another replacement name. As more and more chapters retire the Audubon name, we hope the national society also will revisit its decision. Regardless, any replacement name may be temporary until the national society or a majority of local chapters form a consensus. We will have to see. Please email our President at sacaudubonpresident@gmail.com, with both your name change suggestions and comments.
Thank you for your feedback. Please keep it coming as we work together to identify a new name that represents who we are, who we want to be, and how much we love birds.
Ensuring an Inclusive Future
Names have meaning. For some, the name “Audubon” means Christmas bird counts, sharing lifer pies, and fighting for habitat. For others, Audubon means they are not welcome. John James Audubon may be synonymous with bird paintings, and the society itself has built a name in birding and conservation. But there is no dismissing the fact that John James Audubon’s name also means selling Black people as slaves, promoting white supremacy, opposing abolition, and appropriating Black and Indigenous observations on birds. John James Audubon was not an ambivalent product of his time, but a champion of causes considered immoral to most even then. Whatever the name Audubon means to some cannot change what it means to others.
As Seattle, Chicago, New York, Portland, and other Audubon chapters have already declared, we want to ensure our door is open to all, and that goal is more important than preserving a name. This is an independent member organization, and, if we decide to, are empowered to change the Sacramento Audubon Society name without losing any network or benefits from the California and National societies. We want to hear your input on removing the name Audubon from our society. We believe in taking an incremental approach. At this time we are not considering any replacement names; only whether to remove the Audubon name from our society. Any decision on a replacement would be based on significant input from our community and the goals of inclusion and preserving the brand recognition that comes with our large network of birders.
We encourage you to research this issue. It has gained considerable traction in the national press. The Seattle chapter’s website includes a large body of work on this subject. If you feel inclined, please reach out to our Board of Directors to express how you feel about this issue. By any other name, a rose would still smell just as sweet. The same is true for us. We intend to preserve all the good this society represents no matter our name.
The Board of Directors
Sacramento Audubon Society