Subject: RE: Binoc donations (was Young birders, which was Sunday birding trip)
Date: Jan 17 13:49:34 1997
From: "Michael Seamans (Write Stuff)" - a-mikese at microsoft.com


I fully support encouraging young birders, but I think if folks have
binoculars they want to donate, they should donate them to organizations
in developing countries that run environmental education programs. The
woman who runs the Belize Zoo runs programs like this, as does ProNatura
in Mexico. These organizations often run on budgets smaller than many
American households. Donating binocs to suburban American kids or to
American school systems (even with their tightening budgets) seems a bit
much to me. The average kid could give up a pair or two of new Air
Nikes if he or she wants some binocs. I can get some addresses from
organizations that would be excited to receive your old binocs or scopes
if you need them.

Mike Seamans
Seattle, WA
a-mikese at microsoft.com

>--------
>From: Peggi & Ben Rodgers[SMTP:woodduck at cruzio.com]
>At 11:01 AM 1/17/97 -0800, you wrote:
>>
>> ummmm... more mature age groups,
>>and was there a way to encourage younger birders? Perhaps SAS or
>>even Tweeters could start a fund specifically to supply binos and
>>field guides for schools.
>>
>That's a great idea, Kelly! Perhaps when some of us upgrade we could donate
>the old bins to the kids?
>
>"A bird does not sing because it has an answer,
> It sings because it has a song"
>
>