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  DUNES-CALUMET AUDUBON
  • Home
  • About
  • Membership & Volunteerism
    • Membership
    • Volunteer Projects
    • Upcoming Elections
  • Events and Trips
    • Field Trip Registration
    • Past Events and Trips
  • Conservation
    • Action Alerts
    • Native Plants Fundraiser
    • Climate Watch Surveys
    • Grand Calumet Area of Concern
    • Christmas Bird Count (Coming Soon)
  • Birding Locations
  • Contact
  • Finding Birds

Our Story

National Audubon History
Protecting waterbird populations has been part of Audubon’s mission even before the official establishment of the National Audubon Society. Outrage over the slaughter of millions of waterbirds, for the millinery trade led to the foundation, by Harriet Hemenway and Mina Hall, of the Massachusetts Audubon Society in 1896. In 1905, the National Audubon Society was founded, with the protection of gulls, terns, egrets, herons, and other waterbirds high on its conservation priority list.​
Dunes-Calumet Audubon History
The Dunes- Calumet Audubon Society exists as a stand alone 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 1979.  It is considered a chapter of the National Audubon through a cooperative agreement.  The chapter's mission is to promote birding through education, conservation, and scientific research for the betterment of Northwest Indiana natural habitats.  The DCAS is operated by a board of directors, serving three year terms and led by officers serving two year terms.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS


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President- Kim Ehn (2027)
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Vice-President- Matt Kalwasinski (2026)
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Treasurer- Angela Clark (2027)
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Secretary- Cookie Ferguson (2026)
 
BOARD MEMBERS
 
Barbara Endoy (2026)
Sarah Janiga (2028) ​
Julie Bonnema (2027)
Greg Hejnar (2026)
Vacant (2028) ​
Dan Barriball (2027)
 
CHAIRS & COORDINATORS
 
Advocacy Coordinator - Sarah Janiga 
Email Coordinator - Matt Kalwasinski
Field Trip Coordinator - Julie Bonnema
Membership Coordinator - Brianna Joyce
Native Plant Sale Coordinator - Barbara Endoy
Outreach Coordinator - Dan Barriball
Program Coordinator - Matt Kalwasinski
Science Coordinator - Cookie Ferguson
Social Media Coordinator - Matt Kalwasinski
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Website Coordinator - Kristofer Komenda
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OUR AUDUBON STORIES!

Meet some of the DCAS board members and their stories!
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"I have enjoyed the outdoors all my life, from the weeds and Blue Jays while growing up in Chicago, to the Bald Eagle and Herring Gulls I saw on the lakeshore just this morning. Birding is my hobby and my passion. I really like hearing the stories from new birders and I enjoy looking for birds with other people. I believe in the vision and mission of this Chapter and I will continue to help as long as I can."​
​Kim Ehn - DCAS President

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"Birding connects me more intimately with nature. I enjoy watching birds and learning their habits and how they navigate the challenges nature presents. I like observing the cycles of migration. I delight in learning deeply about a species, such as the woodcock. Birding helps refresh me and keep me grounded in nature’s creation. The word I used to describe birding was intriguing, and I think that expresses what attracts me to birds.  Perhaps my most surprising birding experience came out of my personal woodcock project. I started putting those observations on ebird so that I could get a sense of the habits and activities of the bird. What surprised me is that people occasionally show up to watch the timberdoodles with me because they had seen my reports. I had a couple of women from Germany show up once because they wanted to compare the European and American woodcocks. I had no idea that such a thing would happen.  I see my membership on the DCAS board as a way to draw other people into that connection with birds and with the wide natural world. I hope to elicit that same love of nature and its ability to refresh and restore the human soul that I have experienced."  ​​Dan Barriball- DCAS Board Member


Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

Dunes Calumet Audubon Society believes that birding and the outdoors should be safe and accessible for everyone. We respect the individuality of each person, and we are committed to building a better birding community free of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, national or ethnic origin, politics, or veteran status. Protecting and conserving nature and the environment transcends political, cultural, and social boundaries. Respect, inclusion, and opportunity for people of all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives is essential for the future of birding. We pledge to support those with these shared values, and continue efforts towards a more safe and equitable outdoors experience.

Bylaws & Standing Rules Proposed Amendments Notice

dcas_bylaws_2024.docx
File Size: 27 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

dcas_standing_rules_2024.docx
File Size: 37 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

2023 Annual Report
File Size: 1697 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

  • Home
  • About
  • Membership & Volunteerism
    • Membership
    • Volunteer Projects
    • Upcoming Elections
  • Events and Trips
    • Field Trip Registration
    • Past Events and Trips
  • Conservation
    • Action Alerts
    • Native Plants Fundraiser
    • Climate Watch Surveys
    • Grand Calumet Area of Concern
    • Christmas Bird Count (Coming Soon)
  • Birding Locations
  • Contact
  • Finding Birds