News and Events

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December Program: A “Gone Solar” Story: St. John United Church of Christ

Tuesday, December 1, 2020
7 p.m.
Virtual Program with Zoom
 

Our speaker will be Pastor Hank Fairman, Senior Pastor at St. John United Church of Christ and he will share the story of their solar project.

In the summer of 2019, the members and friends at St. John United Church of Christ made a bold choice. “Putting their faith into action,” the congregation embarked on a major project in creation care and environmental justice by going solar with the installation of solar panels to provide electricity for the church.

The solar panels have been installed at the church and are producing enough renewable electric energy to provide the power needed to operate the church campus. The goal of the project is to make St. John UCC the first 100% self-generated solar powered faith community in Illinois, and the first 100% renewable electric powered business in Freeport and Stephenson County.

For all individuals who want to join the program, please email nwilaudubon@gmail.com to receive the link and password to join this Zoom program.

We will begin at 7:00 pm, first with any chapter announcements from the president and board members. The program will follow with time for questions and discussions at the end.
Open to the public!

Christmas Bird Count

Saturday, December 19, 2020
Contact: Richard Benning, 815-865-5279

It’s time once again for the Northwest Illinois Audubon Society to participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count. This will be the 45th time that our chapter has taken part in this endeavor to take one-day snapshots of types of bird species and numbers of each in approximately 2500 count circles throughout the Western Hemisphere. Our local count day is planned for December 19, 2020.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will cause this year’s CBC to be carried out with safety measures in place. All state and local guidelines must be adhered to. The typical pre-count breakfast, mid-day lunch and post-count pizza will not take place. Field counters will only be allowed to be with other “in-house” family members while doing the count. The local compiler will assign territories to certain individuals and family units.

The pandemic should not affect participating in the CBC as a feeder counter as long as you stay in your house with only other family members. To be a feeder counter you must be within our official count circle which extends seven and one-half miles out from its center in Read Park in Freeport. The information below tells about being a feeder counter and includes a form to fill in with your observations.

Anyone who wishes to be a feeder counter, or has questions about this year’s Christmas Bird Count, should call the local compiler, Richard Benning at 815-865-5279.

NIAS Newsletter Deadline

Monday, December 28, 2020