Maple Leaf Golf and Country Club
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Fun fact of the day
Audubon
Natural Resources Committee – Audubon
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Audubon International
Mission
The mission is to deliver high-quality environmental education and facilitate the sustainable management of land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources in all places people live, work, and play.
History
Like other “Audubon” organizations, Audubon International takes its name from John James Audubon (1785-1851), the world-renowned ornithologist, naturalist, and artist.
In 1987, the Audubon Society of New York State was born, or perhaps more accurately, reborn. First established nearly 100 years earlier by conservation giants Theodore Roosevelt, Frank Chapman, and John Burroughs, this original Audubon group from New York ceased meeting by the mid-1930s. Nearly five decades later, Ronald G. Dodson re-instated the charter as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit under a broader banner of environmental education and sustainable resource management. Very quickly, the reach of the environmental education and certification programs designed to help further that mission expanded beyond New York.
As a result, in 1996, the organization began doing business as Audubon International to better reflect the true scope of its operations. Audubon International is still incorporated as the Audubon Society of New York State. Although we have no formal affiliation with the National Audubon Society or the other 500-plus Audubon organizations worldwide, we work with and partner with many of these groups to promote common goals.
Through education, technical assistance, certification, and recognition, Audubon International facilitates the implementation of environmental management practices that ensure natural resources are sustainably used and conserved. Several of the organization’s longstanding environmental education and certification programs have received national awards. Audubon International is able to positively impact environmental health at multiple geographic scales, including individual properties, communities, and ecoregions.
In fact, throughout its history, Audubon International has enrolled over 3,000 properties (including golf courses, cemeteries, ski areas, housing developments, hotels, and many others) and communities in its rigorous certification programs. The organization has been successful due in large part to its successful relationships with a wide range of interested partners, including small businesses, large corporations, academic institutions, fellow not-for-profits, community associations, local governments, and state and federal agencies. Since 1991, the United States Golf Association (USGA) has served as a strong supporter of Audubon International’s sustainability efforts in the golf industry, and this has included providing over $2 million in financial support to offset fees associated with administering the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.
Peace River Audubon Society
http://peaceriveraudubon.org/
The objectives and purposes of the Peace River Audubon Society are to engage in educational, scientific, investigative, literary, historical, philanthropic and charitable pursuits. These objectives fall into three primary areas: Birding, Conservation, and Education. In practice, it is not possible to neatly divide the objectives as stated in the PRAS bylaws into categories. As such, they are presented here in no specific order. For additional information on our past and present pursuits in these areas see our pages on Birding, Conservation, and Education.
1. to foster the protection and wise management of those aspects of man’s environment that will ensure his physical survival and his psychological well being;
2. to arouse through education, public recognition of the value of, and the need for protecting, native flora and fauna, soil, air, and water, as well as the interdependence of these several natural resources;
3. to study and conduct research with relation to the scientific facts, including but not limited to natural science and ecology, a knowledge of which is essential to the formulation of sound policies in the field of conservation;
4. to foster recognition of the need for preservation of such environmental conditions as ample food, water and cover upon which native plants and animals depend for survival;
5. to foster the preservation of an adequate stock of native animals and plants, so that no native species may become threatened with extinction;
6. to promote the protection and preservation of natural resources, including the encouragement, establishment, and maintenance of natural sanctuaries;
7. to foster environmental education and in furtherance thereof to encourage and promote the preservation of tracts of natural land, particularly in or near urban areas, and the establishment and maintenance thereof of facilities and programs which will bring about a better understanding by children and adults of the world of nature;
8. to publish and distribute documents, as means of disseminating information about the subjects mentioned above or related matters;
9. to accumulate and maintain such documents and records as will constitute a history of the movement to conserve natural resources in the State of Florida;
10. to hold meetings, lectures, and exhibitions, and to develop and maintain a library in the interest of the conservation of natural resources;
11. to establish and maintain such educational projects as nature trails, nature centers, exhibits, tours, and camps;
12. to encourage cooperation among affiliated groups and other organizations in sympathy with the stated aims of this corporation;
13. to cooperate, as the occasion permits, with national and state agencies, and with private and public associations and foundations devoted to the interests of conservation and to education in the field of natural resources;
14. to further by all means that are both wise and opportune, the objects included within or related to those listed in the foregoing subsections;
15. the Peace River Audubon Society is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
Audubon at Maple Leaf
Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf
ACSP for Golf is a widely recognized and highly-regarded education and certification program that helps protect our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf. Golf courses are guided through projects in the categories of Environmental Planning, Wildlife and Habitat Management, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, Water Quality Management, and Outreach and Education.
The golf course at Maple Leaf became a Certified Member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf Program in 2001.
Taken as a quote from the website:
“AUDUBON COOPERATIVE SANCTUARY PROGRAM FOR GOLF
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf is an award winning education and certification program that helps golf courses protect our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf. By helping people enhance the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, improve efficiency and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations, the program serves an important environmental role worldwide. Audubon International has developed Standard Environmental Management Practices that are generally applicable to all golf courses. These standards form the basis for ACSP for Golf certification guidelines.”
To become a certified member the staff conducted a Site Assessment to take stock of our environmental resources and potential liabilities in 6 categories. We developed an Environmental Plan that fits our unique setting and includes our goals, staff, budget and time. Every two years, we re-certify by reporting on progress made on the Environmental Plan plus updates and changes to the plan. Every four years, an Audubon representative visits our site to verify our progress.
Our 6 categories of certification are:
Environmental Planning
Wildlife and Habitat Management
Chemical Use Reduction and Safety
Water Conservation
Water Quality Management
Outreach and Education
Green Neighborhoods Program
The Audubon International Green Neighborhoods Program engages community groups in projects that protect and enhance the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources around them. This is not a certification program, but it is a good fit for neighborhood communities and residents who want to do something good for the environment and would like help and recognition along the way.
Great news, Maple Leaf is enrolled in the International Audubon Green Neighborhood Program. We want to thank the flea market for paying the 2017 enrollment fee. The Committee completed the Environmental Assessment and Planning documents and submitted five Projects on Wildlife, Water, Education, Resource Management and Community Awareness (see list of Projects below). The projects were approved and Maple Leaf Golf and Country Club will receive the Green Neighborhood Nature Award, the highest achievement possible. . We did it again. Maple Leaf was awarded a second Green Neighborhood Nature Award for our 2018-19 projects.
Mike Comba presents the Audubon International Green Neighborhood Award to Rick Hull on 8 Jan 2018
