2024 Victor Emanuel Conservation Award Celebration Honoring Virginia Rose
View Live Auction Items Place a bid in our Silent Auction
Purchase Individual Tickets View our Sponsorship Opportunities
Can’t Attend? Support Virginia Rose with a Donation
The Board of Directors of Travis Audubon is honored to announce that the 2024 Victor Emanuel Conservation Award Hero is former Travis Audubon Board Member, Virginia Rose.
Virginia Rose, a passionate advocate for birding accessibility and inclusivity, is the driving force behind Birdability, an initiative dedicated to introducing people with access challenges to birding, making birding sites and festivals more accessible, and ensuring that birding communities are welcoming and inclusive for everybody. With a background in education and a love for nature, Virginia recognized the need for greater accessibility in outdoor activities, particularly birding. Through Birdability, she has worked tirelessly to create resources, raise awareness, and foster community engagement to ensure that everyone, regardless of accessibility challenges, can enjoy the wonders of birding. Her dedication and leadership have earned her recognition and honors, including from Audubon Texas, for her outstanding contributions to the birding community. Virginia’s commitment to equity and inclusion inspires others to join her in making nature accessible for all.
In 2003, Virginia joined Travis Audubon and was welcomed with open arms and can-do spirits. In 2010, Virginia started co-leading beginner bird walks and in 2017, Virginia accepted a position on the Travis Audubon Board of Directors where she served until 2024. Before founding Birdability in 2018, Virginia taught English for 28 years, and she credits her students for teaching her how to do Birdability.
We will host our 15th annual Victor Emanuel Conservation Award Celebration on the evening of Thursday, October 3, 2024, at the Austin Country Club. Reception begins at 5:30 pm and dinner will be served at 6:30 pm. Individual Tickets will be available on August 19th. The dress code is business casual. We hope you will join us for the festivities.
About Travis Audubon:
As an independent chapter of the National Audubon Society, Travis Audubon promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and conservation of native birds through inclusive environmental education, habitat protection, restoration, and management, and conservation advocacy. Travis Audubon manages four wildlife sanctuaries in the Austin area, including protected habitat for the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler. Since 1952, Travis Audubon and its members have recognized the importance of preserving the ecological balance necessary for healthy, sustainable, and habitable communities, both for people and wildlife. Get involved and learn more at www.travisaudubon.org and follow on Facebook @TravisAudubon and Instagram @TravisAudubonSociety.
Committee Honorary Chairs
Victor Emanuel & Karen Bartoletti
Committee Chairs
Frances Cerbins & Nona Sansom
Thank you to our sponsors!
Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher:
e
Black-capped Vireo:
Peggy and Matt Winkler
Painted Bunting:
Jordan & Lyn Weingarten
e
Cedar Waxwing:
Meta Butler Hunt and Trent Miller
Karen Bartoletti
Friends of Blair Woods
Mary Neuburger, Jeff Patterson and Friends
Shannon Davies & Nona and Dr. Andrew Sansom
Maura Powers and Scott McCown
Travis Audubon Master Birders
Former Recipients
2023
George Bristol
Texas Parks and Conservation Advocate
2022
Camp El Ranchito
Nature-immersion Summer Camp & Education Program
2021
Greg Lasley
Photographer & Naturalist
2020
Shelia Hargis
Conservationist
2019
Chris Harte
Conservationist
2018
George Cofer
Founding Chief Executive Officer, Hill Country Conservancy
2017
Mickey Burleson
Prairie Conservationist
2016
Valarie Bristol
Former Travis County Commissioner
2015
Bob Ayres
Trustee, Shield-Ayres Foundation
2014
Georgean Kyle and Paul Kyle
Chaetura Canyon Stewards
2013
David Bamberger
President, Bamberger Ranch Preserve
2012
Carter Smith
Executive Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
2011
Andrew Sansom
Executive Director, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University-San Marcos
2010
Victor Emanuel
President, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
Your Membership contribution will make you a partner in Travis Audubon’s mission to promote the enjoyment, understanding and conservation of native birds & their habitats.