*October 9, 2019* *Gull Celebration Weekend – November 30 – December 1* *Registration is now open for the Gull Celebration Weekend at ofo.ca/site/page/view/events.gull-celebration <http://ofo.ca/site/page/view/events.gull-celebration>* We have a full slate of events coming up at the Gull Celebrarion Weekend. On Saturday morning, Bob Highcock from the Peninsula Field Naturalists will be leading a field trip at Port Weller East. This gem of a hotspot has a varied habitat with passerines, marsh and water birds all possible. Registration is optional but preferred. This year we have a special guest -- Amar Ayyash, an eminent gull specialist from Chicago. Amar will be giving a hands-on Gull ID workshop on gull ID and speaking along with Justin Peter at the Gull Quiz on Saturday afternoon. The Gull ID workshop is open to OFO members only, costs $30.00 and is limited to 25 participants. Registration is also required for the Gull Quiz since seating in the room is limited. Last, but not least, please join Amar, Jeremy Bensette, Amanda Guercio and Marcie Jacklin on Sunday's Gull Field trip along the Niagara River. Will we find 10 species of gulls this year? Special rates are available until October 28th at the Ramada Hotel by the River in Niagara Falls. To reserve, phone 905-358-5555, press 0 and ask for the OFO block of rooms. *OFO is going Paperless!* OFO is launching several initiatives to reduce the amount of paper we use and streamline administration. This will reduce our costs and the time spent on processing memberships and registrations. It will also be more convenient and faster for you. *What is changing?* When you join, renew, donate or register online you will need to pay online via a secure credit card transaction. For those of you who are uncomfortable with paying online, we will provide links to the appropriate forms which you can mail in with your cheque. We do urge you to pay online - it's fast and secure. Starting next year, OFO News will be published electronically in addition to the paper version. We are using a "flipbook" format which will make reading OFO News online a similar experience to reading a magazine in your hands. We encourage all of you to select the online version when you renew your membership. You will have the option to switch back to paper at any time. OFO is going paperless slowly and we will provide options for those who are not comfortable with the electronic processes. We hope though, that you understand the need for and support the OFO paperless initiative. *Single-Use Plastic* We have received several questions about the single-use plastic wrapper used to protect OFO News and Ontario Birds in the mail. We value this feedback and are analyzing the cost of various alternatives. *Convention Appreciation* A lot of birders – 247 to be exact – alighted in Hamilton for the OFO Convention, September 27-29th. The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club shared their territory with great generosity. Highlight birds included a Cattle Egret and the jaeger display on Sunday. You’ll be able to read all about it in October’s OFO News which will be arriving in your mailbox later in October. A huge thank you to the convention team and everyone who participated! It was a fantastic weekend. Good birding, Lynne Freeman OFO President lynnef.to@gmail.com -- Lynne Freeman lynnef.to@gmail.com "Be bold, be brave, be amazing...." Simon de Pury, Work of Art