The Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society
Welcome to the Asheville Area's own chapter of the Audubon Society. If you live in this area, we hope you'll join us, and if you don't we hope you enjoy your stay.
Our mission is to promote an awareness and appreciation of nature, to preserve and protect wildlife and natural ecosystems, and to encourage responsible environmental stewardship.
OUR HISTORY
The Elisha Mitchell chapter of the Audubon Society was formed in 1986. After contacting the Southeast regional office, then located in Charleston, SC a representative met in Asheville to evaluate the need and to determine the willingness to form a chapter. After organizing an exploratory committee comprised of about a dozen NAS local members, a meeting was held with the SE regional vice-president to discuss formation of the chapter. To form a chapter, we had to to recruit fifty new members, publish a newsletter, hold public meetings and form a Board of Directors. The initial board was made up of retirees, government employees, private business people and students. All with the common goal of forming a local conservation group.
After four months we were officially chartered as the Elisha Mitchell chapter of the National Audubon Society, taking our name from Dr. Elisha Mitchell. Dr. Mitchell was a North Carolina native, a doctor of Divinity and an early conservationist. Our membership grew and included both Buncombe and Henderson counties.
One stipulation for forming a chapter was the participation in a "major conservation project". Shortly after receiving our charter, we were asked to participate in the preservation of a parcel of land adjacent to Beaver Lake in Asheville, North Carolina. The land was scheduled to be developed as a strip mall. The chapter spearheaded the effort to preserve the property and now own and manage it as the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary.
The focus and willingness of that original group of organizers to bring a credible, activist-oriented conservation group to Asheville has been instrumental to the ongoing success of the chapter.
JOINING THE ELISHA MITCHELL AUDUBON SOCIETY:
If you live in the Buncombe County area, and wish to help us and help yourself be informed of our events, an introductory $20 membership is available. You will receive a copy of our publication the Raven's Nest 10 times a year (soon to be electronic), a subscription to Audubon Magazine, a chance to foray into the wilds of Western North Carolina with us on trips, and our unflagging friendship. If you want just a copy of our Raven's Nest for $10.00 send a note and check to our P.O. Box below. Make your check payable to National Audubon Society and include complete name, address, and zip code. Then send this to:
Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society
PO Box 18711
Asheville, NC 28814-0711
EMAS membership is now available on-line through the National Audubon Society web site. Using the National Audubon Society site allows you to make your payment using a credit card. The transaction is secure. At the top of the National membership form is an area that asks for the Chapter Code. Our Chapter Code is R58. Be sure to write down the code now so you'll have it to enter in the on-line application form. This is very important. Click on this application form link and it will take you to the National Audubon Society site where you may complete your application. (Please link to the EMAS website to do this) -http://www.main.nc.us/emas/index.html
If you prefer filling out the application form by printing our application and mailing it to us with your membership dues, click on this link - http://www.main.nc.us/emas/application.html . We look forward to you joining us.
General Meetings are usually held the third Tuesday of the month in September thru November and March thru June. There are no meetings in July or August.
There's also a page for you to report your local bird sightings and to see what birds others may have seen. http://www.main.nc.us/emas/birding.html
You can soon (alas, not yet) download the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary Birdlist here: BLBS Birdlist
You can also contact Simon at the Asheville WBU for further details.
