Gerry agreed to act as Secretary of the Steering Committee.

Treasurer's Report: Janet handed out Treasurer's Report 3/19/03-12/11/03: Balance $198.50.

Trip Committee: Karsten Hartel, chair

Karsten has been the sole member of the Trip Committee this season, but he worked with Marj extensively. He asks for volunteers to help by contacting potential trip leaders, following up by phone, and writing trip descriptions to be submitted to Marj for the web site. Oakes and Janet volunteered. A list of potential leaders will be made available to Trip Committee members.

Winter 2003-2004 trip possibilities discussed:
* Oakes has volunteered to organize a January shore trip to Winthrop.
* A late February blackbird trip to find the first returnees would be good.
* Betsy Kernan has proposed a New Year's Day trip.

Program Committee: Stephen Baker (Chair), Lew Bushnell, Oakes Plimpton

Winter/Spring programs are already set:
 

January	Marj Rines, "Finding Owls"
February	David Sibley, "The Evolution of a Field Guide"
March	Lew Bushnell, "History of birding in Massachusetts"
April	Susan Smith, "The secret life of birds"
May	Nell Walker and Gerry Kaye, "Gardening is for the birds"

The Program Committee discussed several possibilities for next season, and other Steering Committee members added to the list.

Stephen suggested that it would be valuable to have a woman on the Program Committee to add a feminine point of view. 

Officers and Dues

A formal club structure was discussed including the need for officers, dues, an annual meeting with elections (might involve a nominating committee), a charter/mission statement, and/or bylaws. Officers could be elected by membership at an Annual Meeting. Dues would produce income and allow us to pay speakers and/or give out small scholarships.

Formalizing the club structure could help clarify member status though it would involve a lot of extra work. The steering committee is already overextended on commitments to the club. We are not even through our first full year of existence; it seems premature.

Consensus: 
* Defer organizational decisions to April or May, with a view to implementing them in next 12 months.
* Have a dedicated organizational meeting, indoors, with no other agenda.
* Future annual meetings, if needed, could be in summer, with get-together or potluck; or before a winter program.