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As someone who
has been on Birds Australia Council for seven years but is no longer centrally
involved I would like to respond to Don Ripper's attempt to damage the
organisation.
Whilst I can
understand Don feels frustrated at the closure of RIBO after his many years on
the management committee, I think everyone should face reality. All the
Observatories have struggled to maintain their operations for many years.
It is only by the selfless service of people like Don that they have
survived. However, they compete in a professional marketplace of
ecotourism and education and neither field provides easy income. Birds
Australia has to constantly review its business operation, otherwise it really
would face "demise". The Observatories cannot escape this
scrutiny"., because they have the potential to run up debts that the rest
of we members have to meet if THEY turn turtle. In fact there have been
some big debts in Observatory accounts in recent months.
There is
absolutely no danger of the "demise" of Birds Australia , whilst
management is prepared to take the hard decisions. It has adequate
resources and a large cash flow.It is an ambitious organisation, which achieves
enormously for the conservation and study of birds in Australia. It has a
very diverse membership, and we do not all hold the same priorities , but our
personal sacred cows do have to be financially viable or really worth
subsidising.
For my money, the
decision on RIBO (whilst regrettable) is evidence of active management and as
such gives me confidence for the future of Newhaven and Gluepot, not the reverse
as Don suggests.
Graham
Harrington
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