HomeMy WebLinkAboutOshkosh Bird City renewal letter
BIRD CITY WISCONSIN:
Making our communities healthy for birds ... and people
March 20, 2012
Robin Leslie
Principal Planner
City of Oshkosh
215 Church Ave., PO Box 1130
Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130
Dear Robin,
On behalf of the Steering Committee for Bird City Wisconsin, our congratulations on
successfully renewing your recognition as a Bird City for 2012 at the High Flyer level. It is an
accomplishment that again puts Oshkosh in the forefront of efforts to forge a statewide coalition
of citizens and public officials who know that birds are more than beautiful -- they are
significant. We recognize and appreciate both the work that went into meeting Bird City's criteria
and in submitting your application.
Local governments are proving that they not only can implement sound conservation
practices on their own, but that they can educate their residents to play an increased role in
making our communities healthy for birds... and people.
We also believe that this recognition can make a strong contribution to community pride.
It helps trumpet your current conservation successes while promoting strategies for coordinated,
far-reaching, bird-centered conservation activities. And it presents the kind of image that most
citizens want to have for the place they live, conduct their business or ask people to come visit.
Our review panel judged Oshkosh "exceptionally well-qualified for the High Flyer
award and specifically commended the work undertaken as part of the city's Sustainability Plan,
the positive role played by Scouting projects and installation of a Peregrine Falcon Cam.
Moreover, in just two years, the Oshkosh Bird Fest appears to have become one of the
state's premier celebrations of International Migratory Bird Day. Its range of interesting and
engaging activities is being held up by BCW as a model for other communities and has drawn
international attention from Environment for the Americas, coordinator of the IMBD observance.
Public announcement of your renewed recognition is being made statewide this week,
even as we also announce the addition of 11 new communities that are being recognized for the
first time. This brings Bird City Wisconsin's statewide ranks to 50 communities.
A copy of that release is enclosed. I always urge communities to share the news with
their local media contacts, which we realize you know best.
Also enclosed are:
A replacement insert for your official Bird City plaque, updating it for the current
year, which runs through March 31, 2013
All-weather reflective decals for updating your street signs.
An instruction sheet showing the correct positioning and application for the
decals.
1111 E. Brown Deer Road / Bayside WI 53217 / www.birdcitywisconsin.org / cschwartz3@wi.rr.com / (414) 416-3272
BIRD CITY WISCONSIN:
Making our communities healthy for birds ... and people
To make it easier to share news of your recognition and to allow other communities to be
aware of "best practices" statewide, we will be using the electronic copy of your renewal
application to update the page on our web site devoted to your community at
www.birdcity.wisconsin.org/BirdCities.
BCW is an annual recognition project, much like Tree City USA, and we look forward to
your renewal again next year. We celebrate your initiative in improving the quality of life for
your fellow citizens and thank you again for helping to make our communities healthy for birds...
and people.
Best regards,
Carl Schwartz
Carl Schwartz
E-mail cc: Mark Rohloff citymgr@ci.oshkosh.wi.us
Robin Leslie rleslie@ci.oshkosh.wi.us
Bettie R. Harriman, Oshkosh Bird Club bettie@new.rr.com
Janet Wissink, Winnebago Audubon wiss@centurytel.net
1111 E. Brown Deer Road / Bayside WI 53217 / www.birdcitywisconsin.org / cschwartz3@wi.rr.com / (414) 416-3272