At the conference, I briefly asked attendees to consider focus questions intended to guide WBA’s pursuits over the next 5 years or so. On field trips, every car in the carpool wrangled with a large blue sheet of paper on which attendees answered questions. The blue sheets were then stuck all over the walls of our meeting room. Upon reading attendee comments, I was overwhelmed with the thoughtful and enthusiastic responses. It is more apparent to me than ever that folks really love this organization and are excited about all of the opportunities available to WBA. On behalf of WBA now and in the future, THANK YOU for your thorough participation in this process.
A brief summary of these responses follows. And more detail will arrive in the fall, when all the butterfliers have come home to roost, when the WBA board reconvenes, and when the next newsletter is available in October. Many of you indicated interest in volunteering at various levels, and specifics about opportunities will become more widely available in the fall. I’m shooting for October.
The first question asked of conference attendees was “what is your favorite thing about WBA?” A summary of most frequent responses indicates that attendees appreciate WBA as a social arena for similarly interested and like-minded individuals, as a forum for education and sharing of information by experts, and as a provider of field trips to beautiful areas. The second question was “what is your favorite interest related to butterflies?” Key areas of interest are field trips and exploration of new places, shooting and sharing photos, butterfly gardening, the science (identification, rearing, various research interests), and the well-stated bottom line: “watching them majestically fly around meadows.”
By far, most lengthy responses came to the third question: “what is your dream for WBA in the next 5 years?” Attendees offered the following hopes and dreams many times and in many ways: more statewide member interaction (new chapters, activities, field trips, programs), more classes offered statewide, stronger volunteer core with volunteer coordinator, more publicity (radio spots, social media), initiation of projects in which all members are free to participate in all parts of the state (research project, field guides, science team (“citizen scientists” surveying butterflies, for example), stronger voice for conservation, and consideration of becoming the PNWBA (to include at least Washington, Oregon, BC, and Northern Idaho). It is quite difficult in this summary to accurately and respectfully describe the impact of the truly thoughtful, careful responses I received to this question. But it makes me very excited for WBA’s future!
And I am still receiving responses to these three questions and additional thoughts, which I truly appreciate. If you could not attend the conference but desire to express your thoughts, please do not hesitate to contact me.
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By Brenda McCracken