TLAS Home Page

History:

TLAS was founded in 1986 with 37 members and Stan Casto, who had been the driving force behind starting the chapter, as president. Other presidents have been: Grant Critchfield. Past presidents: Joye Johnson, Corky Johnson, Tom Robbins, Charles Pekins, Woody Taylor, OK Smith, and Scott Summers. For a number of years the chapter maintained the Owl Creek Nature Area on Lake Belton. Our chapter bylaws can be seen here. The chapter has participated in the Christmas Bird Count since its beginnings. The Spring Bird Count (BBS - Breeding Birds Survey) was added in 1990. Participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count in February is encouraged by individuals. For about 10 years we have sponsored Audubon Adventures for classrooms in Central Texas as part of nature education for children.

The chapter was invited by the State Director in 2005, and sent an officer (Scott Summers) to lobby Congress on behalf of the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition, for State Wildlife Grants. State wildlife grants are appropriated by federal offshore oil lease money and are the direct result of the CARA Act (Conservation and Reinvestment Act, which practically turned into the CARA lite, which is the same CARA Act, but dependant on annual appropriations by all states collective lobbying efforts). The intention of CARA LITE is to keep species of concern out of endangered status listing, by procuring funds now, before it is too late, to save habitat for those species not otherwise protected by ESA, or managed by game laws.

	ABOUT TLAS Our mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.
	Meetings 7:00 p.m., second Tuesday of the month (No meetings June, July or August) in Room 117, York Science Center, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton (see map)
	History: TLAS was founded in 1986 with 37 members and Stan Casto, who had been the driving force behind starting the chapter, as president. Other presidents have been: Grant Critchfield. Past presidents: Joye Johnson, Corky Johnson, Tom Robbins, Charles Pekins, Woody Taylor, OK Smith, and Scott Summers. For a number of years the chapter maintained the Owl Creek Nature Area on Lake Belton. Our chapter bylaws can be seen here. The chapter has participated in the Christmas Bird Count since its beginnings. The Spring Bird Count (BBS - Breeding Birds Survey) was added in 1990. Participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count in February is encouraged by individuals. For about 10 years we have sponsored Audubon Adventures for classrooms in Central Texas as part of nature education for children. The chapter was invited by the State Director in 2005, and sent an officer (Scott Summers) to lobby Congress on behalf of the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition, for State Wildlife Grants. State wildlife grants are appropriated by federal offshore oil lease money and are the direct result of the CARA Act (Conservation and Reinvestment Act, which practically turned into the CARA lite, which is the same CARA Act, but dependant on annual appropriations by all states collective lobbying efforts). The intention of CARA LITE is to keep species of concern out of endangered status listing, by procuring funds now, before it is too late, to save habitat for those species not otherwise protected by ESA, or managed by game laws.
	TLAS Newsletter The chapter publishes a newsletter for each month in which there is a meeting. For the current newsletter, click here.
	Current Chapter Officers and Chairs President: Tom Robbins thos.robbins@sbcglobal.net Home Phone: 254-770-0875 Vice President: Gil Eckrich Secretary: Theresa Erven Treasurer: Sabrina Nicholson Membership: Carol Ann Wadley Publicity: Jonnie Summers Newsletter/Webmaster: Gil Eckrich gil.eckrich@att.com Hospitality: Shirley Beyer Finance: Jack Williams Directors: Joye Johnson Randy Pinkston Carol Ann Wadley Chapter Reps: Joye & Corky Johnson