Fifteen years ago this summer Richard Youel and the late Richard Lindstrom, had just completed my first “Butterflies of the Puget Sound Region” class and went on a butterflying trip with Dave Nunnallee & me. We were butterflying in eastern WA and decided that we needed to share this fun with more people. Thus the idea for WBA was sparked! We gathered together our first planning group and it was decided to put the Association together under the cover of NABA. One of our group, Vivian Gross of Bellevue, suggested that we have a state conference each year and was willing to coordinate it until 2003 when Joyce Bergen took over the coordinator role and has done so very capably ever since. Thus we had a statewide conference in Winthrop in 2000 and excellent conferences ever since.

Our first WBA membership meeting was held on July 14th, 1999 with more than 25 people attending.

(The following is the announcement sent out in 1999 by Idie Ulsh for WBA’s first meeting)

You are cordially invited to the founding meeting of the WASHINGTON BUTTERFLY ASSOCIATION (WBA), the

Washington State chapter of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA).

Please join with us on Wednesday, July 14, 1999 7:00 PM, at the Center for Urban Horticulture, NHS Hall, 36th Ave NE & NE 41st St (Mary Gates Blvd),

(adjacent to the Montlake Fill & the University of Washington), Seattle, Wa.

Our featured speaker will be well-known butterfly expert Mr. Jon Pelham, presenting an eclectic introduction to but- terfly biology and nomenclature.

There will be sign-ups for three upcoming field trips including Table Mountain near Blewett Pass, Kittitas Co, July 17, the foothills of Taneum Creek near Cle Elum, Kittitas Co, July 18, and Corral Pass near Mt. Rainier, Pierce Co, July 24. (1999)

For this year there will be no additional dues for WBA; all Washington State residents who are members of NABA are automatically charter members of WBA.

Selected as the first president I felt it would be nice to have a profile of a specific butterfly presented at each meeting to help us learn about the butterflies of WA. Dave Nunnallee agreed to put these together and has done so for each meeting since. He faithfully just completed his estimated 150th profile along with helping to coordinate field trips every year. Richard Youel took over as president in 2003 and now just completed his second term. Deepest thanks go to past presidents Richard Youel, Maureen Traxler and Al Wager for the excellent work they have done in keeping the organization together and growing into a healthy, fun organization.

As I take over the reins again, I am looking forward to expanding WBA to a truly statewide organization-thus the value of having our Vice President, John Baumann living in Spokane! John has been an outstanding WBA member, organizing many field trips in the Spokane area and developing an enthusiastic group of butterfliers. We are honored to have John as an officer of WBA. Please feel free to contact me with ideas you have to make WBA better and stronger. I would appreciate any input from our WBA members.

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