News from the Noteworthy from Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society
Finding Hope in the Next Generation
Young people who care deeply about conservation give me profound hope for the future. This past summer, I attended the National Audubon Leadership Conference in Montreal, presenting on a unique two-state collaborative program focused on bird-window collision prevention and “Lights Out” initiatives. The program, which provided resources to 28 Audubon Chapters in New York and Connecticut, has since made its materials available nationally. The conference hosted about 450 people from the U.S., Canada, and Central/South America—a truly diverse audience, many of whom were the engaged young leaders who give me such hope.
Since returning, I have been contacted by chapter leaders from about 10 states seeking information and guidance for similar programs. Crucially, many of these leaders are young—in the 25-35 age range. They are engaged and actively working in the conservation world, asking important questions and looking for measurable results.
I recently spoke with a leader from Washington State who confessed to having a hard time finding hope, citing new information about climate change—specifically, that we are careening towards 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming at a much more accelerated pace than anticipated.
My response was direct: “I’ve been where you are, but I’ve found my way to the other side of it.”
I learned that there are people all over the globe who are working diligently to make a difference, who are never going to give up trying. They care deeply about our environment and our future, as do I. The young people in the environmental conservation field that I have met are passionate, knowledgeable, articulate and creative. They are bringing environmental ethics into the conversation, grounded not only in science but also in equity, diversity and inclusion.
On Friday, January 16 (7:30 p.m. on Zoom), Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society will host one such young leader: Kyle Dudgeon, an environmental sciences graduate from SUNY Oneonta who worked with the organization during his student years. Kyle will present “Stories from Greater Yellowstone: A deep dive into the heart of the Rockies, and how to defend this threatened wilderness.” He shares conservation stories through award-winning film and nature photography, and his passion is apparent in every program he delivers. He is an example of a young person that gives me hope for our future.
I hope you will join us in attending this program so you can see for yourself. Pre-registration is required at https://tinyurl.com/bdeuz2ec.
There is so much hope.
Susan O’Handley is the newly elected board chair for the Audubon Council of NY & CT (32 chapters), and serves as the NY Chapter representative and interim policy committee chair on the National Audubon Regional Advisory Board for NY/CT. She has served on the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society board since 2010. Susan is based in Hartwick, New York, where she operates a small digital marketing business.
