Special Subcommittee
Photo: Becky Martin
The ALAS Board is forming a special sub-committee to examine and gather feedback from membership about the name “Audubon” being part of our chapter’s name. There were 106 people who responded to our survey that was posted online and mailed to every member.
Why are we doing this? National Audubon Society did a thorough examination into the associate to John James Audubon. While there can be no doubt of the impact of his life’s work and passion for birds, he was also an enslaver, whose racism and harmful attitudes toward Black and Indigenous people are now well-understood. Today, more than 100 years later, we are called to re-examine John James Audubon’s legacy through a different lens. In the end, National Audubon Society decided to retain the name. At the same time, their process resulted into a deeper commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, Belonging. And as a result, National has committed $25 million dollars to fund the expansion of this work over the next five years. They also allow other chapters to take on the same or similar process.
In January 2024, at a board retreat we discussed this idea. Of the 12 board members who responded to the survey or were present for discussion, 9 felt we should examine this issue. We put out our commitment statement on diversity, equity, and inclusion. That was published in the April 2024 newsletter. Board members have identified over 20 chapters around the country that have examined this issue, and it resulted in a name change. At the same time, some chapters opted to keep the Audubon name in their chapter after exploring the issue.
So the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society will be starting the process to examine this issue and solicit feedback from its members in 2025.
The process will be this:
February: Solicitation for nominations to serve on the special subcommittee is announced. We will accept nominations for those who would like to be considered to serve on this subcommittee.
March: The ALAS Board of Directors will review and select subcommittee members.
Committee members are:
-
C. Scott Ahern
-
Brad Branwell
-
Bob Freckmann
-
Susan Schuller
-
Janet Smith
-
Sarah Wood
April: The subcommittee had their first meeting and hosted a guest speaker from the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, Matt Reetz, during Earth Week at UWSP. The recording is below in further and recommended readings. Each committee member is selecting a biography or reading on John James Audubon and bringing it to the next Subcommittee meeting. Titles of those texts are below to encourage all members to consider a similar study.
May: The subcommittee will discuss tasks for gathering input from membership. There will be a summer timeline established and announcement of the information sessions and process of information gathering. We will continue to post updates here and do our best to make this process as transparent as possible. After the May meeting, we will provide more details on the process. Please be patient as this group dedicate their extra hours of the day to this issue. Please know, we do not take this topic lightly. Thank you.
For now, we encourage all members to take a deeper dive into the resources shared below. If you don't know about John James Audubon and his life, there are some really good biographies to consider reading. Articles are below to help you better understand the more recent information learned about the early years of ornithology, the naming of various birds, and new information well documented and known specifically on John James Audubon that is being analyzed.
June - August: Information gathering, interviews with members, feedback forms provided to allow comments. Please be patient as we develop channels of communication and dialog.
September - October: Direct mailing to members and community groups.
November: This subcommittee will share their findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors.
This page contains important information about this issue. We encourage anyone who wishes to submit comments, first read about the more recent developments regarding James John Audubon. We do not take this issue lightly.
We recommend everyone learn about John James Audubon to learn the depth of his work and contribution he made to bird awareness and ornithology in the early to mid 1800's. He was truly an amazing artist, birder, and completely devoted to his mission to identify and discover the birds of North America. He kept detailed journals and was written about in numerous texts.
There has been recent studies that have revealed new information that is pertinent to all chapters of the Audubon Society nationwide. This subcommittee will be sharing more information about the life, legacy, and study of John James Audubon and how it relates to the chapter mission, members, and future. Below you can find more recommended readings on the topic.
UPDATE:
January 2026: At the board meeting, we heard from key members and their concerns over the potential name change. No motion on action was made at the meeting.
February 2026: The board discussed and a motion was made to remove the name "Audubon" from the chapter name. Board members voted in a 11-1 favor of the motion. Read the message from the president below.
March 2026:
Who was John James Audubon?
John James Audubon came to America as a dapper eighteen-year-old eager to make his fortune. He had a talent for drawing and an interest in birds, and he would spend the next thirty-five years traveling to the remotest regions of his new country-often alone and on foot-to render his avian subjects on paper. The works of art he created gave the world its idea of America. They gave America its idea of itself.
RECOMMENDED TEXTS:
At the April Subcommittee meeting, the group shared different books about John James Audubon. These are the books committee members have read or are reading as background information on John James Audubon. We encourage our members to learn more too:
John James Audubon: The Making of an American
By Richard Rhodes (2006)
John James Audubon
By John Burroughs (First Published in 1902)
_by_John_James_Audubon%2C_digitally_enhanced_.jpg)
Recent Presentation
During Earth Week at UWSP, ALAS partnered with the Office of Sustainability to host a special presentation titled "What's in a Name? Controversy and opportunity around the names of birds and the organizations that protect them" Presented by Matt Reetz, Executive Director of Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance
Description: Over the last few years, significant scrutiny has been paid to the namesakes of many conservation organizations (e.g., Audubon chapters) and the multiple animal, insect, and plant species bearing honorific common and scientific names. Matt Reetz, Executive Director of Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance will present information on the rationale and process behind his organization's decision to seek a name change and the review of common names for North American birds. Date: Wednesday, April 23rd
Suggested Reading Related to the Topic for Consideration.
We encourage you all to read the new discoveries and findings on the life of John James Audubon.
-
Audubon Magazine published The Myth of John James Audubon by historian and biographer Gregory Nobles, bringing to light Audubon’s history as a slave owner
-
In 2021, Audubon Magazine published J. Drew Lanham’s recent article What Do We Do About John James Audubon
-
The Birds That Audubon Missed: Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness Hardcover – May 7, 2024 by Kenn Kaufman (Author)
-
Karen Dostal's, ALAS President, Article in the April 2024 Newsletter
-
How National Audubon Society chose its name. Read Article Here.
Chapters Who Didn't Change Their Name
Some chapters have decided not to examine the issue further and are following Nation's lead. Many organizations have smaller chapters with a volunteer board, like ALAS. It has become a capacity thing. Do you know a chapter you wish to add to this least (on either side, then email
Voted and Decided - Change Name
The board made an official decision on February 11, 2026 to remove the name Audubon from its chapter name. Here is a message from the president, Susan Schuller, about this decision.
What is in a Name?
Changing the name of an organization can be both a symbolic and practical decision, often reflecting evolving values, missions, or community expectations. However, when there is disagreement with the change, the process becomes more complex, as it has been for the two-year journey ALAS has been on. ALAS’s journey started in January 2024 when we held a visioning meeting. This is the closest to a strategic planning meeting we have done since I joined the board 7 years ago. During this meeting it was asked “Should our chapter explore the possibility of a name change, similar to what national and other chapters have done?” Of the 12 people in attendance, 9 responded “yes.”
We know and acknowledge that Aldo Leopold Audubon Society’s name carries history, identity, and emotional significance. For long-standing members, the name may represent decades of shared experiences, accomplishments, and personal investment. It can serve as a link to founding principles and traditions that shaped ALAS’s culture. When a proposal to change the name was announced, some members expressed concern that something will be lost or the organization’s legacy will be diminished. And some members feel it is the wrong decision. These concerns are valid and often rooted in loyalty and sincere reverence for the name and organization.
At the same time, organizations do not exist in isolation from societal change. Names, such as Audubon, that once felt appropriate or neutral may, over time, no longer reflect current values or may unintentionally exclude or alienate certain groups. The idea of changing our name is driven by a desire to be more inclusive, relevant, and representative of the organization’s mission and the communities it serves today and in the future. For some, updating the name is an opportunity for growth, outreach, and long-term sustainability - the belief that a name change will engage more people in our organization and be an arm to grow membership.
The process is just as important as the decision, so let me share how the board came to this decision. After conversations at board meetings and informal discussions with some members from January 2024 to January 2025, it was decided the best approach would be to form a special subcommittee that would dedicate 6 months (which actually turned out to be 9 months) to gathering data and surveying members and the community. We solicited nominations and voted, as a board, on the subcommittee members. In the end, our subcommittee was made up of the most diverse representation of perspectives that we could, based on the nominations received.
Data collection consisted of meetings with other Audubon organizations who had already explored the issue. We researched National Audubon Society’s process for examining the issue, interviewed the BIPOC Birding Club, Southern WI Bird Alliance, Milwaukee Audubon, and Northeastern WI Bird Alliance. We held focus groups with high school students, college students, and long-term members of ALAS including former board members.
All along, a dedicated page on our website shared resources, text, and recommended readings on this topic. (www.aldoleopoldaudubon.org/subcommittee) We posted an online survey to the website and sent a hard copy to every ALAS member. Several articles were published in the newsletter to keep members updated on this process. The subcommittee wanted to create multiple opportunities for members and stakeholders to share their views, ask questions, and express concerns. It was important to be thorough when it came to such an important issue.
The work of the subcommittee resulted in over 50 pages of information, documents, and raw data. Mind you, they were all volunteers. The information gathered gave us insight as to how our membership and community feels about the name Audubon. It provided guidance on where we are as a chapter and where we should go. That information has guided the decision.
After thoughtful consideration and an open discussion by our board members, it was decided at the February 11th (2026) board meeting in a vote of 11 to 1 of those board members present to change the name.
We recognize this comes with opposition from some members. We feel that just because there is some disagreement, we do not need to create a divisive organization. These differing opinions show a deeply engaged membership that cares about the organization’s future.
Regardless of what our future name might be, I think we can all agree that we remain united on the mission and dedicated to the conservation and protection of birds and their environments. The ALAS board of directors appreciates everyone and all voices who provided input into this process. What started January 2024 leads us to this decision that sets the organization’s long-term mission in mind.
In the coming months, we will have opportunities for members to weigh in on a new name. Stay tuned for that.