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A rainy weekend didn’t dampen spirits as 150 bluebirders from Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, and Minnesota met at Ponca State Park for BAN’s 12th Annual Bluebird Conference. The speakers were informative, educational, and entertaining; the generous number of donated silent auction and raffle items made for lots of “winners” throughout the day; the numerous cookies and goodies brought by members for the breaks were a real treat; the deli buffet lunch prepared by our hardworking volunteers Phyllis Niebuhr, Julie Milota, and Pat Postma was plentiful and delicious; and the camaraderie shared on a rainy Saturday in a beautiful room overlooking the Missouri River made for a wonderful day. A big thank you to all who attended this year and an invitation to ALL members and friends to join us next year in Nebraska City for another great conference.
Photos, clockwise from top left: 1. Harlan Hamernik, owner of Bluebird Nursery of Clarkson, who spoke on plantings for wildlife received an honorary lifetime membership from Bill Seibert. 2. Membership was promoted by Ron Eaton and Gordon Hopp and 1 new members and renewals were signed up. Pictured (from left) Bob Hyland, Ron Eaton, Gordon Hopp, and Bill Helmer. 3. Cheryl Eno joined her husband Steve as an inductee into BAN’s “Bluebirder Hall of Fame.” . Keith Radel (far right) who spoke on beginning and advanced bluebirding was joined at the end of the day by (from left) Loren “Murph” Murphy, Lawrence Fuchs and Tony Dohmen to answer questions from those attending. 5. A big thank you to Park Superintendent Jeff Fields and his staff for all of their very accommodating help in putting on the conference in such a beautiful facility. 6. With a bluebird on his shoulder, MC Bill Seibert welcomed everyone and got the day off to a good start. . Thanks to Vi Titsworth (r) (and husband George), the BAN sales table was a big success! . Darrel Stave, Minnesota bluebirder, bird rehabilitator and humorist shared some of his experiences with pictures and bird stories (with some great jokes thrown in for good measure). . Assistant Ponca State Park Superintendent Les Ernst told stories of Lewis and Clark’s explorations in the Ponca area. 10. The officers for 2006 were elected: Sandy Seibert, president; Denny Cradick, vice president; Joanie Cradick, Secretary; and Elva Osten, Treasurer.
All Photos courtesy Leland Osten |
