Minutes of the October 18, 2018 Meeting Carol Mainwaring presiding 55 members and 2 guests in attendance

Transcription

1 Minutes of the October 18, 2018 Meeting Carol Mainwaring presiding 55 members and 2 guests in attendance Prior to today's meeting, our tree dedication honoring David Burch was held at Moor Downs Golf Club. David recently retired as the Design and Enterprise Operations Manager of Parks and Land for Waukesha County after 25 years of service. He is credited with starting the Legacy Forest program along with the help of one of our own members, Evie Vrakas. David completed more than 150 projects during his tenure, touching everything from dog exercise areas to mountain bike trails, and everything in between. The tree planted on the course is a New Horizon Elm. David wanted to match our tree so he will be funding a tree which will be planted along with our club tree in the spring of "You Need Bats in Your Belfry": DNR Conservation Biologist, Jennifer Redell educated our group on the importance of bats. She even brought two of her bat friends along for an up close and personal look. These mammals are an essential part of our environment. The loss of our bats could cause a ripple effect with potentially far-reaching consequences. They eat thousands of insects, pollinate plants and spread seeds. Eating more than half their body weight in insects each night, they are the primary predators of night-flying insects. Losing our bats could cost billions of dollars in increased pesticide use and agricultural damage each year! Jennifer holding a fruit bat near Joanne Pilch and Nancy Makouske Caves in the Midwest are used for bat hibernation. Wisconsin has eight different bat species; four go south for the winter and four hibernate in caves. The most common bats are the Little Brown and the Big Brown. The female bat gives birth to only one "pup" at a time. The bats that live in bat houses return to the same house each spring. The longest living bat in the world was 35 years old. The main threat to bats is "White-Nose Syndrome" which killed six million bats in the first six years of the outbreak and millions more are in danger. The first case was documented in a single cave in New York in Since then, bats with white-nose syndrome have been found in 29 states and five Canadian provinces and it continues to spread. If you are interested in installing a bat house, visit the DNR website at DNR.wi.gov and search "bat houses." These houses need full sun and should face southeast or southwest. Planners/Hostesses/Greeters: Thank you to today's planners, Nancy Makouske, JoAnn Zeilhofer and Midge McDermott. Thank you to our hostesses, Co-Chairs Grace Howaniec and Mary Fortier, Patty Mudler, Kathy Morrell, Rosann Mlodzik, Rosalia Burns and Barb Osmon. Today's greeters were Carol Koty and Kathy Jensen. October Birthdays: Happy birthday to Donna Stehling, JoAnn Zeilhofer, Bernie Grubb, Cindy Hum and Faye Wilinski.

2 Guests: Today's guests were Joanne Pilch, a friend of Nancy Makouske, and Kelly Oremus, a former member. Both ladies joined the club today! September Minutes: The September minutes were approved as written. Treasurer s Report: Jenny Powers presented the following report: Accounts: Sept. 20 Oct. 18 Savings 8, , Checking 10, , Total 19, , Restricted Fund: Living Gift Deposit: $400 Dues; $6 Plant Sale Expenses: $50 E.B.Shurts room deposit for 2019; $600 Potted Plants at Shady Lane; $6 Binders; $100 Oct. speaker fee; $200 Wauk. Co. Parks tree Jenny also stated that 18 current members have not yet paid their dues for The deadline is November 1. Please send your $25 check to Jenny if you wish to continue as a club member. Sunshine Secretary: Gwen Zerull stated she sent a card to Elaine Powers (knee surgery), Judie Parworth (death of her daughter), and Sandy Hering (death of her brother) Sign-Up Sheets: The sign-up sheets were made available again at today's meeting. The only Committee opening is a Chair for "Shabby Chic." There are still openings for hostesses in some months. Plant Tips: Chris Linder brought in samples of the following ornamental grasses: ' Feather Reed Grass 'Shenandoah' Switch Grass 'All Gold' (Calamagrostis 'Overdam') (Panicum virgatum) Hakonechloa macra Early Bloomer Mid-Summer Bloomer Late-Summer Bloomer Miscanthus sinensis Miscanthus gracillimus Pennisetum setaceum 'Zebrinus' Zebra Grass Fall Bloomer Fall Bloomer Fall Bloomer

3 NEW BUSINESS Downtown Planters: Midge McDermott stated that the city of Waukesha will be removing the plants from the planters this year. The club will again be adding winter interest in the form of evergreens and red twig dogwood branches to the planters. On Wednesday, November 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. the members will be at the Waukesha Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department (1900 Aviation Drive) bundling the pine boughs. On Thursday, November 15 immediately after the club meeting, the members will place the branches in the planters. The members planning to participate should bring gloves, pruners and old clothes (the sap from the boughs can get on your clothes). Please Midge at jjamcd1@aol.com if you plan to help with this project. Christmas Party: Midge McDermott stated there is a sign-up sheet for those making items for the raffle. Each member should make only one item. Midge is limiting the number of members to 20. The items for the Salvation Army will be collected at the November meeting NOT the Christmas party. Items needed are men's socks, underwear, hats, gloves and personal items (especially disposable razors for shaving and toothbrushes). Speaking of the Salvation Army, Chris Linder stated that they are in need of bell ringers for the coming holiday season. Call the Salvation Army for more specific details, how to sign up, and if you want to ring at a particular spot. Program Committee: Judy Pequet stated that the Program Committee has been working on the events for 2019 which possibly include four or five "road trips." The months of January, March and September need planners. The topics are as follows: DNR speaker, Bernie Williams, is scheduled for January "Seed Exchange and Heirloom Vegetable Plants" will be presented by Carole Kincaid in March Jung Seed Co. will discuss planting bulbs at the September meeting A rock painting class has been suggested for November. If any of our artistic members are interested in getting involved with the rock painting, please let Judy know. July Trip: Leigh Lanigan-Stanisch stated that we will be going to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grand Rapids was once known as the "Furniture City" in the 1900's. The city is comprised of many historic homes representing more than 60 architectural styles. These homes reflect the excess of the lavish times of the lumber and furniture industries. There are many gardens located in this city. There is a hotel downtown and various types of specialty bars (i.e., The Pyramid Scheme, Le Petite Chateau, Bistro Belle Vita, Steel Cat Bar). We may possibly take the ferry across Lake Michigan instead of a Motorcoach. This trip will be the same week as our July meeting, but the exact days have not been determined as yet. March 2019 Meeting: Carol Mainwaring stated that we will have a seed exchange at the March meeting. Autumn is a good time to start saving the seeds from your plants. You can also purchased seeds from a catalog and bring those to the March meeting. Website Consultant Presentation: Carol Mainwaring stated that Cheryl Bushman's brother will no longer be handling the club website. He had been handling our website for the past seven years at no cost which was much appreciated by the club. All we had to pay for each year was approximately $150 for the website domain. Carol's PowerPoint presentation described the features of a new website that was presented to her and Cheryl during their meeting with Steve, a possible

4 new IT consultant. At the end of the presentation, Carol stated that it would cost the club between $1,000 and $1,500 each year. After extensive discussion from the membership in attendance at today's meeting, Carol suggested the members submit their questions and concerns to her via . There will be further discussion at the November meeting. (Please see Carol's website summary at the end of these minutes.) Club Logo: Carol Mainwaring stated the club could design a new logo to match the wording on the main page of our website. The IT consultant suggested that the wording be identifical on the website, brochure, t-shirts/sweatshirts, minutes, etc. Chris Linder stated that Barb Reinicker designed the current logo years ago, but there was never an official acceptance of her design as the club logo. There are currently two versions of Barb's design: the one shown here (all capital letters) that is printed on the club t-shirts and sweatshirts, and on the cover page of the club Handbook. The second design is used at the beginning of these minutes (upper and lower case letters), which the secretary has been using for the past 10 years, as a suggestion from Barb Reinicker. Carol Mainwaring suggested that the members think about the possibility of designing two or three new logos and, along with the current logo, could be voted on by the membership. Philanthropy Committee: Mary Spiering stated that the Philanthropy Committee is getting ready to donate the $2,000 to worthy causes and would like input from the members. Please send your suggestions to Mary via . Jumping Worms/Plant Sale: Mary Spiering said any members who are planning to donate plants from their yards for next year's plant sale need to be checked for Jumping Worms. Contact Mary and she will set up a time to visit your yard yet this year. Also, we are in need of 4 inch tall and 5 inch pots for the plant sale. Next Meeting: The next meeting will be held on November 15 at Citizens Bank located at 2109 Corporate Dr. (Hwy. 59 and Center Road) in Waukesha. Mona Bauer will present "History and Future of Gardens in the City of Waukesha." The planner is Sue Dregne. The hostesses are Chair Nan Stechschulte, Pat Heisdorf, Joan Giglia, Marcia Singer and Susan Apker. The greeters are Cheryl Bushman and Anna Flury. Respecfully submitted, Carol Koty, Secretary Housekeeping Items: Please add the following new member information to your copy of the club Roster: Walder, Cindy Sept 2018 W253 S4612 Meadow View Dr waldercindy@yahoo.com c: Waukesha WI December bd Oremus, Kelly Oct W Beeheim Rd Rick.Oremus@gmail.com New Berlin WI March bd Pilch, Joanne Oct 2018 W232 N3181 Greenbriar Rd Jmpilch1@yahoo.com c: Pewaukee WI October bd

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