APPALACHIAN AUDUBON SOCIETY Information

AAS developed a slide show for senior citizens that was taken into the community. To aid the schools, films were purchased on the environment and placed in the Audio-Visual Center of Capital Area Intermediate Unit. From the beginnings of AAS, Ralph was a popular and knowledgeable field trip leader and writer for the newsletter. His column, "In the Field" started in 1987 and continued until 2001. In 1986 Warren Hoffman took over the leadership, and his enthusiasm for bluebirds was apparent in the programs. During his term, with the support of Frank Masland Jr. and Craig Dunn, as Boiling Springs property and a parcel of the Appalachian Trail were acquired. In 1988 Cindy Dunn took office and immediately placed emphasis upon conservation efforts, particularly against raising the height of the dam at Harrisburg. One of her first moves was to send Ralph Kinter to a national meeting on Wetlands. Ralph's concept of preventive medicine, i.e. guarding wetlands from development rather than trying to solve problems after the damage was done impressed the authorities, and a Wetlands Alliance was formed. Cindy then put together the first Pennsylvania Conference on Wetlands at Penn State Harrisburg. It was so successful that the Department of Environmental Protection took it over and held annual conferences at Shippensburg University for many years. AAS also opposed commercialization of the state parks. Cindy Dunn had been developing her influence in the environmental community. She was the Pennsylvania Director of the Chesapeake Bay Alliance. She was active in the Pennsylvania Audubon Society, and she was elected as a Director of the National Audubon Society. She then became an aide to John Oliver, Secretary of DCNR. When National Audubon initiated state offices instead of regional direction, Cindy became the first Director of the Pennsylvania Audubon Office. Jane Earle took office in the last decade of the 20 th century. She worked for the Department of Environmental Protection in mine reclamation. Her strong interests in ...