Casa Avian Support Alliance, LLC, NGO, San Ignacio, Belize
An ex-situ conservation facility dedicated to bio-diversity conservation
CASA's 2007 Achievements and 2008 Goals
2008 Goals Established
and
2007 Achievements Acknowledged
January 26 , 2008 San Ignacio, Belize, Central America
Casa Avian Support Alliance LLC, NGO, convened its Annual Executive Board and Advisory Board/General Membership Meetings at La Sala, on the grounds of Casa del Caballo Blanco, San Ignacio, Belize, on January 26, 2008.
In addition to the routine order's of business the meeeting addressed the progress and accomplishments of 2007. Fourteen goals were adopted at the Executive Board Meeting held in April of 2007. Those goals were evaluated and then assigned to one of three groups on the basis of immediacy of need, available funding, and resources. Tier 1 goals represented imminently achievable actions that are underway or need to be completed by the end of the second quarter. Projects and actions assigned to Tier 2 were viewed as essential to the growth and development of CASA, but required capital investment, along with substantial time and input from participants. Tier 3 projects represented a combination of ‘second phase’ actions related to development of the naturalist trail in the habitat restoration area and administrative and outreach goals consistent with the mission of CASA.
Completion and/or progress relative to those goals is present to the right.
Casa Avian Support Alliance LLC, NGO, convened its Annual Executive Board and Advisory Board/General Membership Meetings at La Sala, on the grounds of Casa del Caballo Blanco, San Ignacio, Belize, on January 26, 2008.
In addition to the routine order's of business the meeeting addressed the progress and accomplishments of 2007. Fourteen goals were adopted at the Executive Board Meeting held in April of 2007. Those goals were evaluated and then assigned to one of three groups on the basis of immediacy of need, available funding, and resources. Tier 1 goals represented imminently achievable actions that are underway or need to be completed by the end of the second quarter. Projects and actions assigned to Tier 2 were viewed as essential to the growth and development of CASA, but required capital investment, along with substantial time and input from participants. Tier 3 projects represented a combination of ‘second phase’ actions related to development of the naturalist trail in the habitat restoration area and administrative and outreach goals consistent with the mission of CASA.
Completion and/or progress relative to those goals is present to the right.
Incorporation and Application
to be Recognized as a
Tax Exempt Organization (501(c)(3)) Completed and Submitted
On October 17, 2007 Casa Avian Support Alliance was incorporated in the State of California as a C Corp; a requirement to request recognition from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a tax-exempt organization (EO), also known as a non-profit.
The substantial paperwork required for review by the IRS to become an EO was submitted on December 15, 2007, and on January 17, CASA received a letter dated January 10, 2008, formally acknowledging receipt of the application. As of January 22, the IRS was reviewing applications received in October 2007.
The substantial paperwork required for review by the IRS to become an EO was submitted on December 15, 2007, and on January 17, CASA received a letter dated January 10, 2008, formally acknowledging receipt of the application. As of January 22, the IRS was reviewing applications received in October 2007.
2008 Goals Established at
January Meeting
With the primary construction substantially complete the Goals for 2008 focused on acquiring capital for the acquisiton of necessary equipment and the improvement of the existing operation, those goals are grouped accordingly and shown below:
Public Outreach/Advertising and
– Financial Support
- Identify Grant Opportunities and prepare 2008 revenue goals following review of 2007 Grant Projections. (Jodi Bente, Carole Manganaro, Wildcare representatives, and Ms. Rita Dufour), Ms. Dufour and Wildcare will provide examples of successful grant proposals to model future efforts.
- Investigate public speaking opportunities for Jodi Bente, Shenny and Ricky Manzanero and Carole Manganaro, to include educational outreach to schools, etc.
- Encourage visits by Advisory Board Members; work with CDCB to develop Advisory Board Member Packages and booking opportunities, (Jodi and Vance Bente and Carole Manganaro).
- Schedule presentations to the community and local lodges by Ricky Manzanero and Carole Manganaro to further communicate the role and mission of CASA to the interested public.
Site Improvements and Continued Development
- Locate food source for raptors, i.e., Tony Garel, (Ricky Manzanero and Carole Manganaro).
-Consider establishing egg production on-site, (Ricky Manzanero, Domingo Mesh and Carole Manganaro); Issues: focus on creating a clean environment that does not attract vermin that can threaten rehabilitating wildlife. Conduct a cost benefit analysis as part of preliminary development planning.
- Expand garden and create a formal nursery plan. Consider obtaining grant support to obtain trees, tools, etc, (Carole Manganaro, Ricky Manzanero, and Domingo Mesh).
- Track progress of habitat restoration; report on a routine basis the progress and actions undertaken in the restoration area. Call on biologists to update their reporting. Develop a trail segment dedicated to Orchids. Reintroduction of indigenous flora species. (Ricky Manzanero, Mr. Julio Hob, Carole Manganaro).
- Review security options of BIB and BRB, i.e., fencing, building access, etc) and prepare plans to establish security (Vance Bente, Ricky and Ronnell Manzanero and Julio Hob, Contractor)
- Complete designs and have individual cages built for birds in restricted care, (Vance Bente, Carole Manganaro, Ricky Manzanero).
Public Outreach/Advertising and
– Financial Support
- Identify Grant Opportunities and prepare 2008 revenue goals following review of 2007 Grant Projections. (Jodi Bente, Carole Manganaro, Wildcare representatives, and Ms. Rita Dufour), Ms. Dufour and Wildcare will provide examples of successful grant proposals to model future efforts.
- Investigate public speaking opportunities for Jodi Bente, Shenny and Ricky Manzanero and Carole Manganaro, to include educational outreach to schools, etc.
- Encourage visits by Advisory Board Members; work with CDCB to develop Advisory Board Member Packages and booking opportunities, (Jodi and Vance Bente and Carole Manganaro).
- Schedule presentations to the community and local lodges by Ricky Manzanero and Carole Manganaro to further communicate the role and mission of CASA to the interested public.
Site Improvements and Continued Development
- Locate food source for raptors, i.e., Tony Garel, (Ricky Manzanero and Carole Manganaro).
-Consider establishing egg production on-site, (Ricky Manzanero, Domingo Mesh and Carole Manganaro); Issues: focus on creating a clean environment that does not attract vermin that can threaten rehabilitating wildlife. Conduct a cost benefit analysis as part of preliminary development planning.
- Expand garden and create a formal nursery plan. Consider obtaining grant support to obtain trees, tools, etc, (Carole Manganaro, Ricky Manzanero, and Domingo Mesh).
- Track progress of habitat restoration; report on a routine basis the progress and actions undertaken in the restoration area. Call on biologists to update their reporting. Develop a trail segment dedicated to Orchids. Reintroduction of indigenous flora species. (Ricky Manzanero, Mr. Julio Hob, Carole Manganaro).
- Review security options of BIB and BRB, i.e., fencing, building access, etc) and prepare plans to establish security (Vance Bente, Ricky and Ronnell Manzanero and Julio Hob, Contractor)
- Complete designs and have individual cages built for birds in restricted care, (Vance Bente, Carole Manganaro, Ricky Manzanero).
Interested Professionals and Volunteers are Welcome!
Interested in participating in the CASA initiatives? Current projects include construction of caging, further development of the habitat restoration area (trail building, signing, construction of feed and watering stations), and nest box construction and placement for owls and bats. Please contact us at the email address below, we are situated on the grounds of Casa del Caballo Blanco, and we would be pleased to make arrangements for your stay.
Please send you questions or inquiries to : info@casaavian.org
Tier 1
Create a web page to disseminate information pertinent to the goals and mission of CASA, the ongoing actions and accomplishments, and provide a means to increase membership and solicit donations.
This goal is substantially complete, improvements and additions are on-going.
Develop a naturalist trail that links the points established and used by the biologists for their twice-annual observations of the habitat rebound.
Complete - as reported in the September 2007 Newsletter, improvements continue.
Publish the initial report prepared by the biologists documenting the habitat rebound over the first year of observations in the 1st quarter newsletter for 2007.
Complete and presented in the Janaury 2007 Newsletter.
Prepare and sign a long-term lease with Casa del Caballo Blanco for use of the Avian Rehabilitation Structure and the Intake/Evaluation Facility.
Complete.
Create a web page to disseminate information pertinent to the goals and mission of CASA, the ongoing actions and accomplishments, and provide a means to increase membership and solicit donations.
This goal is substantially complete, improvements and additions are on-going.
Develop a naturalist trail that links the points established and used by the biologists for their twice-annual observations of the habitat rebound.
Complete - as reported in the September 2007 Newsletter, improvements continue.
Publish the initial report prepared by the biologists documenting the habitat rebound over the first year of observations in the 1st quarter newsletter for 2007.
Complete and presented in the Janaury 2007 Newsletter.
Prepare and sign a long-term lease with Casa del Caballo Blanco for use of the Avian Rehabilitation Structure and the Intake/Evaluation Facility.
Complete.
Tier 2
Identify a grant writing team to prepare one or more grant applications to support the efforts to create caging in the Avian Rehabilitation Structure and to develop the Intake/Evaluation Facility.
In Process - The current grant writing team, established at the 2008 meeting consists of Jodi Bente, Carole Manganaro, Lee Richter, WildCare, and Cornerstone Foundation. Members interested in participating in this effort should contact Jodi Bente at 707-974-4942, or through the email link on this web site.
Identify a team to assist in the design, preparation of drawings and budgets, for caging in the Avian Rehabilitation Structure.
Complete - Designs were adopted and construction initiated by late fall 2007, as reported on in the December 2007 Newsletter.
Join no fewer than two organizations that will promote CASA and CDCB as destinations for eco-tourism and volun-tourism, in order to establish a revenue stream to support the on-going development and maintenance of CASA.
Complete - CASA and CDCB have formed a cooperative relationship with Cornerstone Foundation of San Ignacio, Belize, and are currently listed with Whole Travel, California, Belize and Costa Rica Travel Points, Colorado, Eco-tropical Resorts, California
Locate plans, build and install nest boxes on the property to accommodate owls and bats, as a means to increase the resident population of both groups, which in turn will respectively assist in the reduction in rodents that pose a threat to caged birds, and pollination of the plantains and apple-banana plantation.
In process - plans have been located, materials are being accumulated and construction and installation is anticipated in the near future.
Tier 3
Create interpretive signage of the flora found along the naturalist trail. Design ‘Donor Benches’ for placement on the naturalist trail and throughout the property.
In process - Signs have been designed, built, and a portion have been installed (see the Habitat Restoration page on this web site for details, and the September 2007 Newsletter). Various designs for the donor benches have been created and are being considered.
Identify and donate bird supplies to a local parrot rescue group/foundation.
Complete - Donated through the Indonesian Parrot Project
Select six passport program participants and consider visits to each by the In-country Director of CASA.
In process - Organizations being identified and evaluated, anticipate preliminary selection and inquries in the first half of 2008.
Design and develop a trail map that can be published in a tri-fold handout to be used by visitors to the naturalist trail.
Complete - Pleas see the Habitat Restoration page on this web site.
Undertake the preparation and paperwork necessary to achieve non-profit status for CASA in the United States.
Complete - Package was submitted in December of 2007. See discussion at left.
Identify a grant writing team to prepare one or more grant applications to support the efforts to create caging in the Avian Rehabilitation Structure and to develop the Intake/Evaluation Facility.
In Process - The current grant writing team, established at the 2008 meeting consists of Jodi Bente, Carole Manganaro, Lee Richter, WildCare, and Cornerstone Foundation. Members interested in participating in this effort should contact Jodi Bente at 707-974-4942, or through the email link on this web site.
Identify a team to assist in the design, preparation of drawings and budgets, for caging in the Avian Rehabilitation Structure.
Complete - Designs were adopted and construction initiated by late fall 2007, as reported on in the December 2007 Newsletter.
Join no fewer than two organizations that will promote CASA and CDCB as destinations for eco-tourism and volun-tourism, in order to establish a revenue stream to support the on-going development and maintenance of CASA.
Complete - CASA and CDCB have formed a cooperative relationship with Cornerstone Foundation of San Ignacio, Belize, and are currently listed with Whole Travel, California, Belize and Costa Rica Travel Points, Colorado, Eco-tropical Resorts, California
Locate plans, build and install nest boxes on the property to accommodate owls and bats, as a means to increase the resident population of both groups, which in turn will respectively assist in the reduction in rodents that pose a threat to caged birds, and pollination of the plantains and apple-banana plantation.
In process - plans have been located, materials are being accumulated and construction and installation is anticipated in the near future.
Tier 3
Create interpretive signage of the flora found along the naturalist trail. Design ‘Donor Benches’ for placement on the naturalist trail and throughout the property.
In process - Signs have been designed, built, and a portion have been installed (see the Habitat Restoration page on this web site for details, and the September 2007 Newsletter). Various designs for the donor benches have been created and are being considered.
Identify and donate bird supplies to a local parrot rescue group/foundation.
Complete - Donated through the Indonesian Parrot Project
Select six passport program participants and consider visits to each by the In-country Director of CASA.
In process - Organizations being identified and evaluated, anticipate preliminary selection and inquries in the first half of 2008.
Design and develop a trail map that can be published in a tri-fold handout to be used by visitors to the naturalist trail.
Complete - Pleas see the Habitat Restoration page on this web site.
Undertake the preparation and paperwork necessary to achieve non-profit status for CASA in the United States.
Complete - Package was submitted in December of 2007. See discussion at left.
