Any members representing the club may wish to have this video loaded on their computer. The video quality is much better than that of YouTube. Submit your request on this password-protected page.
Author: Glenn Berry
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2025 Nature London Community Eco-Grants Program
The Nature London Eco-Grants Program is now open for applications until noon, March 1st, 2025. Grants will be between $500 and $5000. Full details and forms are available at Nature London’s Community Eco-Grants Program.
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YouTube Channel Updated with Eco-Grant Presentations
Soon after each Indoor Meeting or Birding Wing meeting, a recording of the Zoom session is added to the Nature London YouTube channel. These videos are unlisted and can be accessed only via their links. The links are included in the E-Newsletter and on this webpage. Note that you must used your member password to access this directory of links.
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Reminder for Hybrid Meeting
Create a Zoom meeting from 7 to 10 to allow for setup and overtime.
Zoom setup:
- No waiting room
- Allow participants to join at any time
- Mute participants on entry
- Recording on to Zoom’s cloud
- May have to delete some old recordings
- Note the link. Here is a sample
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81595464142?pwd=VNjgUbbsnWpNAu5ADVHEB2cdflAbNp.1
Edit the previous Registration Message for hybrid meetings:
- Change the title if necessary
- Change the text if necessary
- Replace the old Zoom link with the new link
Setup message in event
- Edit the event
- Add a New Scheduled Message 4 days and 2 days before the event
- Select the new version of the message from previous step
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Christmas Bird Count for 2024
Pete Read’s summary and results are now available as a PDF files. Scroll down to the section called “Bird Watching & Count Results”.
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Webmaster’s Annual Report 2024 09 to 2024 08
The webmaster is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the website. This means the webmaster is responsible for the appearance, usefulness, performance, availability, and security of the website. The most time-consuming duties are clerical – managing the online events, announcements, and new reports.
Website activity reports show the overwhelming importance to members of online event information and online registrations. Hundreds of members access each issue of The Cardinal online. Each year, hundreds join or renew memberships online. The website also provides an online source of information about the club and its activities.
As the club expands and more functions are added, website usage increases about 10% annually.
Two online input forms were added using the same software as the membership form. First, the Chimney Swift Monitoring Program’s monitors started submitting their observations to the website using a more user-friendly input form. Second, the Christmas Bird Count participants started submitting their observations to the website. This reduced the workload substantially for Pete Read, the coordinator.
The website was upgraded with new commercial grade email-handling software. It improves the reliability of emails sent from the website and alerts the webmaster of any failed deliveries. Up to 1000 emails per month include notifications, confirmations, and reminders to website users for events and online submission forms.
Submitted by Glenn Berry, Webmaster
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Call for Volunteers to staff the Nature London display table for 30 minutes before each night of Nature in the City
Nature in the City is back every Tuesday night (January 21 to February 25) from 7 to 8:30 PM at the Wolf Performance Hall in the Central Library. Members of the public may ask questions about the club and membership. Here is the NITC poster. Please email Kathleen Holland at hollandkm@hotmail.com along with your preferred dates.
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Trends and Roost Size Dynamics of Chimney Swifts in London, Ontario
While the Chimney Swift Monitoring Program prepares annual reports, this report covers an analysis of data from 2003 to 2023. It was prepared by Mackenzie Amlin and her academic supervisor, Yolanda E. Morbey. The report is available in the Chimney Swift section of the Resources page.
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Member Data Flows
Email or paper form received by Gail.
If email, Gail prints it to have hard copy.
Gail types data on each form into Hugh’s Microsoft Access database.
Gail deposits cheques. Who prepares the monthly report for Lesley of how much money is for each category (membership, tickets, donation, NAG, …)?
Lesley goes online to view PayPal receipts. Only the payee’s names and totals are visible.
Glenn produces a PayPal report on the first and fifteenth of each month by payee and category.
Orders for tickets are managed by Gail.
Orders for NAGs are forwarded to ???
Donations are acknowledged with a letter and receipt by ???
Hugh tracks the active memberships regulary.
- Hugh prints mailing labels for The Cardinal. Hugh informs ??? how many issues are needed for paid subscribers. Additional courtesy copies of The Cardinal are printed.
- Hugh sends membership list updates to Ric for MailChimp.
Suggestions
Retain the paper form for now. Allow people to phone in their details.
Don’t replicate the paper form online. Split it into separate forms:
- Natural Areas Guide – purchasing information only
- Donations (already available) – electronic receipts
- Ticket sales for the Awards Banquet – digital tickets
- Memberships – digital membership cards
- Home delivery of The Cardinal
Challenge, how to we overcome the need for home address without storing email addresses on the website?
Are physical tickets needed at the Awards Banquet?
Are paper renew notices really needed?
Are physical membership cards really needed?
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New membership class
Proposal to monetize the website with a new class of online memberships
Software required will cost US$49 to US$149 annually depending on the final set of user requirements. We can trial the less expensive software for 7 days for free. Start with Restrict Content Pro.
Use mcilwraith.ca as the domain name
Brand as a Nature London website
Require $10 annual paid memberships with user IDs and passwords to access the website with the following popular online content
- recent issues of The Cardinal
- recent videos of presentations
No physical membership cards. Instead of the member password on the back of their cards, they login with their email address and chosen password. They will prove their membership by showing the digital receipt that they received in the confirmation email.
To view the online calendar and register for events, these members must visit naturelondon.com.
Allow these members to
- register for meetings and walks,
- vote at the AGM
- visit Cedarcroft when it is open
- self-subscribe to the E-Newsletter
- self-subscribe to Conservation Action Alerts
Do not include
- a physical membership card
- discount offers
- mailed copies of The Cardinal
Memberships last one year from the date of payment and can be renewed at any time.
