As a non-RI resident, I do not have a personal investment one way or the
other in the RI Audubon's policy (although I am close to RI & will likely
venture down there for LBing at some point). Their hearts are clearly in the
right place; however, I do think the decision is unfortunate. Letterboxers
often (probably more often than not) work discreetly, not seeking
permission, but taking the "risk" and hoping for the best. Don't ask, don't
tell, hope not to be discovered. Thus, letterboxers will plant. Whether in
spite of the policy (in every group of humans this big, there are "bad
apples") or in ignorance of the policy. If, however, the Audubon Society
openly & "loudly" sanctioned letterboxing on it's properties, but maintained
supervisory control, then they can approve locations (and conversely reject
some locations), so they can keep boxes out of those sensitive areas (which
staff is much more likely to know of than random letterboxers). Although
nothing ever works perfectly, I believe this would be a far more effective
way to manage LBs on properties. The Sudbury Valley Trustees do this with
their properties.

I'm a newbie, and this hadn't occurred to me initially, but I was talking
with a Mass Audubon staff member & asked about LBing. (She said that one of
their staff members had just taken a Questing course, and they were making
plans to do a Quest on MA Audobon property; cool--I'm looking forward to
that!). She indicated that they really want LBers to consult with them about
planting boxes, b/c a box was planted on MA Audubon property in a place that
was a rattlesnake breeding area, posing threat to both the rattlesnakes and
the LBers. If the planter had consulted with the park management, this would
have been avoided.

Just a different perspective on the same concern. Knowing now that RI
Audubon prohibits LBing, I would not, as a seeker, look for a box on their
properties. Perhaps this type of benefit outweighs the one I described
above.

~zess~
I

On 12/17/06, Kimberly Calcagno wrote:
>
> Hi all!
>
> I just want to bring the lists up to date regarding letterboxing on
> Audubon
> Society of Rhode Island properties.
>
> We brought up the request by JAMO to place a box here at ASRI at the
> Caratunk refuge, and the organization is upholding the policy prohibiting
> letterboxing on our properties. Our properties are maintained for habitat
> protection and possess a lot fragile habitats and species, and there is a
> real concern about mitigating human impact and the ability to protect
> sensitive areas .which is why the policy was put in place (nothing against
> the hobby itself).
>
> So, I'd like to ask folks to adhere to this policy and let other 'boxers
> who
> may not monitor the list know about this policy.
>
> Many thanks!
>
> -Kim (Rustypuff)
>
> _____
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


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