National Audubon Establishes New Endowment
to Pay for Management and Upkeep of Bobelaine Sanctuary
SAS Board Proposes to Rededicate Previously Earmarked Funds
to Conservation and Education.
Audubon’s Bobelaine preserve, located at the confluence of the Bear and Feather rivers in Sutter County, was established under a joint agreement between National Audubon Society and Sacramento Audubon. The sanctuary’s purpose is to preserve and protect rare remnants of the riparian forests that once blanketed the Great Valley of California. Under their joint agreement, Bobelaine is owned by National Audubon, but is managed and maintained by the Sacramento chapter.
Prior to 2009, Sacramento Audubon Society was solely responsible for funding management and upkeep of the sanctuary. Several years ago, in recognition of the need for secured funding, the chapter’s Board of Directors elected to establish an endowment fund to cover such costs. At present, this Board-established fund now has an accumulated balance of approximately $7,000.
In 2008, National Audubon Society received a substantial bequest from the estate of Bob and Elaine Crandall (for whom Bobelaine is named). National has placed the Crandall bequest into a new endowment fund, which now covers the chapter’s ongoing maintenance and upkeep costs for the sanctuary.
With National’s establishment of the Crandall endowment to fund Bobelaine’s maintenance and upkeep, there is no longer a need for the chapter to maintain a separate endowment for identical purposes. Accordingly, the Sacramento Audubon Society’s Board of Directors has determined that the funds now sitting idle in the chapter’s Bobelaine endowment should be moved to the chapter’s Conservation and Education account. Once transferred, these funds can actually be used by the chapter to support its many, ongoing conservation and education programs and activities.
At the chapter’s May 21, 2009 general meeting, the chapter’s membership will be asked to ratify the Board’s decision to transfer the chapter’s Bobelaine endowment fund to the chapter’s Conservation and Education account.
If you have any questions prior to the meeting, please email Keith Wagner, at president@sacramentoaudubon.org, putting “Bobelaine Endowment” in the subject line.
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