Presidents Message – July/August 2025

by Joe Abraham, Ph. D

Greetings GSBAS Members and Friends:

Your Board of Directors has met a couple of times since their induction at the May Annual Dinner. I am pleased to say that their work is heading in a strong and beneficial direction for the GSBAS. Our new Vice President Suzanne Wittenberg is working with memberships and assisting me with issues that need to be dealt with. Glenn Reed, our Treasurer has taken on banking issues as well as organizing our financial accounts. Karen Andres is our Director of Brookside Park. She recently organized a visit by the Sayville Library where about 20 library members visited Brookside to walk through the park and visit our organization’s building. She also had a booth set up at the Bayard Arboretum’s plant sale.

Jeanne Halton, our Editor put out a wonderful newsletter this past month. I encourage you to visit our website and view it. Heather Gallagher -Publicity – and Amanda Wilson – Corresponding Secretary– have been working on our publishing issues as well as setting up the agenda of our meetings. Mike Maler has been working with Seatuck to address the issue of lack of heat and outdoor lighting during the winter months. This will be resolved so that more members feel comfortable coming to our meetings. Mary Rasmussen, Recording Secretary takes minutes for each board meeting. Jody Banazak, our former President has been participating in meetings, helping to liaison between the past and present Board.

I want to personally thank all of our Board for their contributions.

As President, I have been visiting with different organizations to help create bonds with the larger community. This morning, I visited Pinelawn Cemetery which has been certified as a Signature Sanctuary Gold Level Arboretum. A meeting was first addressed by our County Supervisor, Edward Romaine and the Pinelawn President, Justin Locke. We then took a trolley ride around their grounds. The host pointed out many interesting species of trees. They encourage people to come visit and walk the grounds and immerse themselves in the beauty of nature and wildlife.

I want to thank our Walk Leaders Ken Thompson, Jack Carlson and John Gluth for their informative and interesting walks.

I look forward to seeing our members, old and new, on the coming walks and at monthly meetings beginning this September.

– Joe Abraham, Ph.D.