Birdathon 2008

What:	Birdathon, 2008 - The most fun you ever had behind a pair of binoculars
Where:	Anywhere in Texas
When:	March 28 - May 4 Award Celebration - May 20 at the United Way Center. All HAS members, participants and donors are invited. 6:30 PM Social; 7:00 PM Awards Ceremony
Who:	Everyone who loves birds - beginners to pros - toddlers to seniors
Why:	Have fun; create community awareness; raise funds for HAS (let's aim to be the best Birdathon in the Country!)
How:	It's easy! Form a team of 2 or more; register your team; follow the Rules

Grand Prize: Trip for 4 in Ecuador sponsored by Tropical Birding. Every team bringing in $1,000 or more will have its name placed in a drawing for the Grand Prize. For the first $1,000 of a Birdathon Team's donations, that team is awarded one chance in the drawing, and for each additional $500 in donations, the team is awarded one additional chance to win. Prizes will be awarded on May 20 at a special ceremony at the United Way Community Resource Center at 50 Waugh Drive. All Birdathon participants and donors are invited.

New this year!: Donors Prize: All donors who are not businesses or Birdathon Team Members will be entered in a drawing for an $80 gift certificate for brunch or lunch at the Rainbow Lodge. So when you are collecting pledges for HAS, you are also giving the donors a chance to win a prize.
Multiple Prize Drawings: for teams who have not already won in any 2 of the other categories for Teams raising less than $1000 and more than $1000.

Your participation, as a team member or a financial supporter, is vitally important. No one is too young or too old to participate. As a senior birder, you might win the Pterodactyl Award; young adults are eligible for the Fledgling Award. Those of us slow to move can aim for the Sitting Duck Award - we don't have to move - the birds come to us! Youth teams are eligible for special awards, and the pleasure of introducing youngsters to birding is its own great reward.

Shy about asking for money? Don't assume people are reluctant to give; they just need to be asked. People know and appreciate Audubon. It is an easy ask because HOUSTON AUDUBON DOES GOOD WORK! No donation is too small. Those small donations add up to real money when we pool our efforts.

If Portland Audubon can raise $100,000 with its Birdathon, what's stopping Houston Audubon? We have the best sanctuaries, the best teams, the best donors, the best birds; let's have the best Birdathon!

Birdathon Committee: Leslie Calvert (Chair), Ginger Coleman, Denise Herzberg, Bill Saulmon, Laurie Sines, and Pam Smolen.