While many of you have probably heard this news by now, I'm truly sorry to relate that the Vermont birding and conservation community lost one if its dearest friends today. Julie Nicholson, an active birder and Woodstock resident for > 35 years, passed away this morning after a brief illness. She was surrounded by several of those closest to her and departed quietly, without great pain or struggle. Julie was a fixture on the Vermont birding scene from the very beginning of VINS in the early 1970s. She defined the term 'volunteerism', giving generously and graciously of her energy in innumerable ways -- busting blocks during both the first and second Breeding Bird Atlases, shepherding the Records of Vermont Birds for 30+ years, serving as a member and de facto coordinator of the Vermont Bird Records Committee for longer than anyone can remember, conducting countless Birdathons that raised thousands of dollars for bird conservation groups..... the list goes on. Julie did all this with a quiet, self-effacing grace and good humor. She will be missed by all of us who knew her, as a friend, fellow birder, and ardent conservationist, but most of all as a friend. As of now, no formal plans have been announced for a memorial service or special gathering to honor and celebrate Julie's life. If such plans materialize (and we hope they will), they will be made public so that Julie's many friends and admirers can gather to pay her tribute. Many of us attempted to inform in person today those who of you who were closest to Julie about her death. We apologize to any of you that we missed, and we realize that a listserv announcement substitutes poorly for personal contact. However, knowing how extensive and deep Julie's influence was on the Vermont birding community, we felt that this news should be made public as soon as possible. I know you all join us in in honoring Julie as a remarkable human being who cared deeply about the natural world and its avian inhabitants. She left us a rich legacy, and we are lucky for having known her. Chris Rimmer Kent McFarland Julie Hart Roz Renfrew Steve Faccio Eric Hanson Melissa Mackenzie -- **************** Chris Rimmer Vermont Center for Ecostudies P.O. Box 420 Norwich, VT 05055 802-649-1431 ext. 1 www.vtecostudies.org **************************************************************** To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html ****************************************************************