Birding group seeks volunteer ambassadors

American Birding Association recently launched an effort to help enthusiastic birders share the organization's mission with like-minded folks. The ABA Ambassador Program seeks volunteers initially from certain provinces, states and regions: British Columbia, Oregon & Washington, Northern California, Southern California, Arizona, Texas, Northern Great Plains (ND, SD & eastern MT), Arkansas & Louisiana, Illinois & Indiana, Eastern Highlands & Upper Ohio River Valley (OH, WV & PA), Florida, Southern Atlantic (GA, SC & NC), Middle Atlantic (VA, MD & DC), Hudson-Delaware (NY, NJ & DE) and New England (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT & RI).

With the Ambassador program, ABA is reaching back to our beginning as a grassroots organization for birders. Many members are passionate about ABA and are already serving as Ambassadors in many meaningful ways. We want to give them the tools to effectively educate and inspire people to enjoy and protect wild birds.

The program will be launched in stages with Ambassadors chosen by geographic regions of greatest need through an application and reference process. The idea is to deputize qualified volunteers to represent ABA at local bird festivals, bird clubs, state ornithology meetings, etc., and to lead bird walks and mentor young birders in the name of ABA, YOUR membership organization for birders.

ABA will initially provide logowear, name tags, business cards, and a portable display and will support the Ambassadors’ outreach efforts by shipping collateral materials, including brochures and sample publications, to each Ambassador as needed. We hope that interested parties are willing to donate their time and travel expenses in the beginning, with the understanding that festival booth fees and the like will be paid for or reimbursed by ABA. As the program grows and shows promise, we hope more compensation will be possible.

Contact Chip Clouse with questions.