The bravest thing I ever did...
Norm Saunders (osprey@ARI.Net)
Sat, 21 Feb 1998 19:52:36 -0500
...was to walk up to Phil Davis's door this morning and knock on it.
Especially when I glimpsed Barbara standing just inside the door with
her rolling pin and an evil gleem in her eyes!
JUST KIDDING, Barbara!
All teasing aside, I was privileged today to attend the annual
meeting of the MD/DC Records Committee as an (almost) silent
observer. I learned a lot about the structure of the RC, I learned
about how much hard work is involved on the part of every member of
the RC, and I learned that the RC members themselves are growing
increasingly concerned about the disaffection between themselves and
the birding community in Maryland.
A lot of the time today was spent talking about reaching out and I
certainly left the meeting excited about some of the things that had
been discussed. Hopefully in the coming year, everyone will be
finding out a lot more about how the RC operates. I truly hope this
works out, because birders around the nation often judge the
reliability, integrity, and quality of the birders in a given
state by the most publically apparent evidence of that--the
deliberations of the local Records Committee.
Among RC's around the country, the MD/DC RC has a very high
reputation. I've been as guilty as some and more than others of
snapping at the RC when I should have directed a lot of my concern
elsewhere. Now, perhaps, is the time for us to listen to what the RC
has to tell us about themselves, and for us to lighten up a bit and
let them do that telling.
Now that we've got the kissy-face out of the way, I want to say that
I invited Harvey Mudd To contribute a regular column to the
Yellowthroat so that all of us birding here in Maryland will get a
more regular look into the deliberations and into the intriguing
findings of the RC as they follow up their research and evaluation
work.
I thought we might want to hold a little contest to help Harvey come
up with a name for the column.
My vote is for "The Bird Police".........wait, no, Barbara, put that
rolling pin down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best,
Norm
P.S. Harvey, I'm kidding, honest, really, I am! But I still like my
suggestion for a title..... grin.
===============
Norm Saunders
Colesville, MD
osprey@ari.net