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.
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:
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C. Scott Ahern
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Brad Branwell
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Bob Freckmann
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Susan Schuller
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Janet Smith
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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: This subcommittee will share their 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.
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)
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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
The video is not posted to YouTube. To request access to the recording, please email Aldo.Leopold.Audbuon@gmail.com.
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.
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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
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In 2021, Audubon Magazine published J. Drew Lanham’s recent article What Do We Do About John James Audubon
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The Birds That Audubon Missed: Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness Hardcover – May 7, 2024 by Kenn Kaufman (Author)
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Karen Dostal's, ALAS President, Article in the April 2024 Newsletter
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How National Audubon Society chose its name. Read Article Here.
Chapters Who Changed Their Name
Chapters Who Didn't Change Their Name
Some chapters have decided not to examine the issue further and is following Nation's lead. Many organizations are smaller chapters with a volunteer board, like ALAS. It becomes a capacity thing. Do you know a chapter you wish to add to this least (on either side, then email Aldo.Leopold.Audubon@gmail.com.