A Message from President Rob Bate

The time has come . After four years as president of the Brooklyn Bird Club, I will be stepping down as President effective December 31.   Dennis Hrehowsik has graciously agreed to step up as President for the next two years, starting January first, and I know we can all count on him to bring new insights and ideas to the club and its activities.

During my tenure many people have stepped up to help with the activities of the club, making my job an easy one. Thanks go especially to all the chair-people who have pitched in to keep things running smoothly. Peter Dorosh puts all the trips together; Janet Schumacher has taken over the organization of the lecture series from Dennis; Ryan Goldberg, Angie Co and Tina Alleva have revitalized the Clapper Rail; Stanley Greenberg continues as our representative on the Community Committee of the Prospect Park Alliance; Janet Zinn has overseen the renovation of our website and continues to maintain the site as well as keeping track of membership; Heidi Steiner continues as treasurer; and I will keep on chairing the Conservation Committee.   Thanks also to the many trip and walk leaders as well as the volunteers helping maintain the Butterfly Meadow and elsewhere.

The BBC is a club built around our shared love of birding and wildlife and I invite all of our members to help out in any way you’d like, and to offer suggestions for ways we can improve and expand. Dennis is looking into the process of gaining 501(c)3 status for the club and we look forward to a more open, welcoming and inclusive BBC in the years ahead.

Thanks everyone, it has been a pleasure and an honor to be the President of the Brooklyn Bird Club these last four years. Happy Birding!

Rob Bate
President, Brooklyn Bird Club