NEWSLETTER. The IKEs Update

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1 NEWSLETTER As I walk around our property with new members, I see it through new eyes. It is such a lovely place, and the last time I saw it, full of blooming wildflowers. In one little square yard next to the pond were Blue Vervain, Boneset, Swamp Milkweed, and Monkeyflower. Hopniss was there, too, not blooming, but growing its underground tubers. Other names include Apios americana, Groundnut, and Makwa opiniig or Bear Potatoes. The official Native Plant Garden is in its golden glory this month. If you go down by the creek to the east bridge, you may see the American Hornbeam growing at the edge of the stream. This small tree is also called Ironwood, Musclewood, or The IKEs Update Carpinus carolniana. It has a dangling cluster of leafy bracts that hold the seeds. The smooth grey bark is heavily ridged, looking like sinewy muscles. The strong wood has been used for tool handles, and many birds eat the fruit. Our dinner get-together in August included a nice Monarch presentation by Tam Bagby, followed by a pleasant campfire. We had some new members sign up, and a fun group of kids played around, making s mores. Still time to enjoy a campfire! Any time you want, or maybe after the Oktoberfest dinner on September 13. In September I turn again to art, and in honor of GR s ArtPrize, September 2017 I ll offer a cut-paper workshop at the IKEs on Monday, September 25. Any age that can handle scissors is fine. I use a nature theme, flowers, animals, etc., and show how it s all connected to create a design by folding and cutting. It s fun and relaxing, and I ll provide the materials. I ll be there at 6:30 if you want to go for a walk first, and then we ll make stuff from 7:00 to 8 or 8:30. I ve taught this at schools and Drummond Island, and will have some paper-art in ArtPrize. It ll be free for members, $10 nonmembers. RSVP to: georgiadonovanart@gmail.com. See you soon at your extra backyard! Georgia Donovan

2 page 2 About 35 IKEs and friends enjoyed the annual BBQ Chicken & Ribs dinner on August 10. We even got two new family memberships that night. Welcome to the IKEs! The Kitchen Krew included Tam Bagby, Darva Boot, Georgia Donovan, Barry Gilbertson, Len Kizer, Sue McMaster and me. The Klean Up Krew were the BBQ Chicken & Ribs Dinner Tom Watson photos by Darva Boot and Tam Bagby afore mentioned, Tammy Lundeen and Tom Salmon. Ron Waybrant tended the door and I think the bar was self serve this time. Naturally, if I have forgotten anyone, blame it on the flurry that happens preparing dinner and during the ensuing clean up. Thanks to all for your hard work that made the evening a success. Following dinner Tam gave a presentation on Monarch butterflies. See related article on page 8. Though I did get some compliments on the ribs, I must say that they were not my best effort. I guarantee next year the ribs will be superb. Make your reservations early!

3 BBQ Chicken & Ribs Dinner photos by Darva Boot and Tam Bagby page 3

4 page 4 Fifty-Four Founders Award Bob Stegmier I want to say THANKS! to my fellow IKEs for first thinking I was worthy of getting this prestigious IWLA award and then following through by putting my name in for it. The rest, as is often said, is history. Believe it or not, I am certainly humbled by the experience. I am even more humbled when I look over the past recipients, many of whom I never met because they came long before me. They are not all people but organizations such as Maytag Corporation 1960, National Resources Task Force of the Hoover Commission, Resources of the Future Inc., Muskingum Watershed Conservancy Dist. of Ohio. Then there are some well-known individuals who likely were not IWLA members, Lawrence S. Rockefeller and Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson. Then a number of IWLA members: James Madsen, Herb and Charlotte Read, Chuck Clayton, Ray Zehler, Paul Hansen and 37 IKEs in total. Even some of our legislators over the years did the right thing in our eyes and received the award: Senator John C. Colver, Congressman John P. Saylor, Hon. Paul H. Douglas, Congressman Wayne N. Aspinall and Hon. Stewart L. Udall. This award is a rather heavy piece of glass, 6 ¼ inches left to right and 6 inches from top to bottom. It is one inch thick. It is jagged across the top, probably representing mountaintops and frosted at the bottom maybe representing hills or forests. Here is what is etched in the glass because you may not be able to read it. In recognition of a lifetime of contributions to natural resource conservation and the protection and restoration of America s outdoors, This award now rests in the window over the kitchen sink at our family cottage where it can be observed by whoever is getting dinner, doing the dishes or just peering out over Gifford Lake. Could even be me! A huge THANKS again fellow IKEs and friends who said a few words supporting me. Who from our DLC will be next? Some of you have a great start! In the picture of me receiving the award is Jodie Arndt Labs, Executive Board Chair and Jeff Deschamps, IWLA National President.

5 Report on the National Convention, July 2017 The conference was held in Sandusky and was quite interesting this year. Bob Stegmier, John Trimberger and Ruth and Ron Waybrant attended the convention. A key point for the Dwight Lydell Chapter was that our 60+ year member, Robert Stegmeir was presented the 54 Founders Award. This is awarded to only one person a year and some years no award is given. The award is given for a lifetime of work for the IWLA and conservation. Steg received a standing applause when it was announced. It was a very rewarding experience. Tom Watson and Tam Bagby should also be commended for Ron Waybrant their work on our DLC newsletter, as they won the Best Chapter/ Division Newsletter award. Only one award was given this year and folks said the making the decision on who deserved the award was easy. [Since we began doing the newsletter in 2005 we have won this award four times out of five eligible years -Tom Watson]. page 5 At this year s convention, we heard a lot about water. Last year s convention membership voted to adopt a Clean Water Challenge (The IWLA is unique among conservation organizations in that members are responsible for its conservation policies). It was a fortunate decision given the challenges that are currently proposed for the Clean Water Act. Most of the convention focus was on key elements of the IWLA s Clean Water Challenge, including stream monitoring, communications, and clean water partnership building. One can keep up with where this is going in the IWLA s Outdoor America magazine. Key programs will be the SOS stream monitoring program and something called Stream Selfies where one takes a selfie of themselves with a stream in the background and is sent to the IWLA. IWLA staff expect to gather photo information for as many streams as possible to indicate how many and how important streams are to clean water.

6 page 6 Newsletter Award September 3 Ethan A. Anderson rental September 12 Board Meeting 7pm October 7 Veronica Antel Girl Lodge October 10 Board Meeting 7pm October 14 Ethan A. Anderson rental October John Grostick Cub Scout Pack 3228 Rockford

7 DWIGHT LYDELL CHAPTER - IWLA Fiscal Year Draft Budget ( Data as of ) page 7 CATEGORY / REVENUE % Budget This Year ( ) Item Description Last Year ( ) Proposed Proposed Approved Actual Fund Raisers 44% $11,850 $11,650 $12,491 Annual Banquet $9,600 Same as Income $9,600 $10,552 Sport Show $1, $7 Each $800 $1,025 Other Fund Raisers $250 Same as Budget $250 $76 Contributions $1,000 End of Year & Memorials $1,000 $838 Member Activities & Facilities 12% $3,350 $2,550 $9,558 Education/Outreach Events $250 Same as Income $250 $228 Facility Rentals $1, Rentals x $75 & Deposits $1,100 $1,175 Social Events $1,900 Same as Income $1,200 $1,903 Membership Support & Services 17% $4,500 $4,500 $6,252 Membership Dues $4,500 Matches Income $4,500 $6,252 Other Income 0% $100 $1,800 $1,902 Interest $0 No Interest On Checking $0 $0 Miscellaneous $100 Typical Income $100 $202 Grants 0% $0 Possible Grant $0 $0 Trust Income 6% $1,700 $1,700 Matches Income $1,700 $1,700 From Savings 21% $5,600 None For the 4 Years Previous $6,600 $2,000 Total 100% $27,100 Same as Budget $27,100 $25,967 CATEGORY / EXPENSES % Budget Budget Budget Member Activities & Facilities 30% $8,100 $8,200 $8,254 Social Events $1,400 Matches Expenses $1,500 $1,368 Property Maintenance/Improvement $3,000 Less Up-Keep Needed $3,000 $3,603 Property and Liability Insurance $2,000 Matches Expenses $2,000 $1,975 Utilities $1,500 $900 Propane & $600 Electricity $1,500 $1,108 Rental Deposit Returns $200 Matches Expenses $200 $200 Membership Support & Services 23% $6,300 $5,700 $6,201 National Support (Dues) $4,100 Matches Expenses $4,000 $4,025 Publications and Mailings $2,000 Matches Expenses $1,600 $2,001 Solicitations, Renewals and Key Mailing $200 Matches Expenses $100 $174 Mission Related Programs 25% $6,650 $7,150 $3,760 Conservation Advocacy $500 Same As Budget $500 $492 Conservation Contributions/Memberships $650 Same As Budget $650 $0 Education/Outreach $2,000 Same As Budget $2,000 $921 National Convention $1,500 Same As Budget $1,500 $1,348 Scholarships & Grants $2,000 $500 Less Than Budget $2,500 $1,000 Fund Raisers 20% $5,400 $5,500 $4,779 Annual Banquet $4,600 Approx Expenses $4,600 $4,487 Sport Show $300 Approx Expenses $400 $293 Other Fund Raisers $500 Same As Budget $500 $0 Administration 2% $650 $550 $314 Miscellaneous $300 Approx Expenses $200 $314 Stationery & Postage $350 Same As Budget $350 $0 Project Renew 0% $0 $0 $0 Conservation Projects $0 No Projects Envisioned $0 $0 Alternate Energy Project $0 No Projects Envisioned $0 $0 Grant 0% $0 Possible Grant Project $0 $0 Total 100% $27,100 $27,100 $23,308

8 page 8 The Monarch butterflies that emerge in August will be leaving for Mexico soon. Make sure you have plenty of nectaring flowers to feed them! Much of my presentation went like last year s. I learned a few new things this year which I shared with the audience. We have found 30 very young caterpillars in the past week. Mid-August is the time they hatch. The female Monarch butterfly will look for plants that are easy for the caterpillars to eat and safe from predators. So look for eggs or caterpillars underneath leaves from young stalks of milkweed away from other plants. I never could get eggs to hatch before but I have a new method that works and another I am trying. The 1st way is to pull up the whole milkweed plant and put it in a vase. Pull up the plant and cut the stem. Place it in a vase of water with flower preservative in it. When the caterpillar gets big put it in a jar. The 2nd way I am trying is to place a piece of leaf with the egg on it into a tupperware tray with holes in the top. Put a paper towel or napkin on the bottom,. Lay the leaf on top Mist it every day until the egg hatches. Milkweed for the Jar Get flower vials from your nearest florist. Find some milkweed for the caterpillar to eat Cut the top off a clean milkweed plant making sure you have a stem to stick in the vial. Clean all the debris off the leaves and stick it in the vial. Place it into the jar, making sure not to spill any water in the jar. If the milkweed still has lots of leaves but looks droopy, get a new vial of water, take out the plant and caterpillar and cut the stem and put it into the new vial. I also use a website to find out when other people are finding eggs and caterpillars. Journey North has maps you can use to search your area. Go to Monarch Presentation Tam Bagby

9 I never noticed but my native flower headline has been June for the last 2 months. What s wrong with these editors? No, my editor is amazing! Roselle Park is mostly wetlands and prairie and the flowers are mainly Queen Anne s Lace and Asters. The Native Flowers in September Tam Bagby Photographs by Georgia Donovan and Tam Bagby page 9 Goldenrod will be blooming along with late August flowers. Luton Park prairie will still have pockets of August flowers especially on top of the hills. The shaded woods has flowers like Blue Cardinal Flower and Mountain Mint. Blue Cardinal Flower (lobelia sihpilitica) Blue Vervain (verbena hastata) Stiff Goldenrod Teardrop Island will have many flowers in bloom, including American Hornbeam, Asters, Ironweed, Cup Plant, Quinine and Blue Vervain. Ironweed Seeds on American Hornbeam Aster Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

10 page 10 Purple Loosestrife Bob Stegmier A wetland nonnative invasive plant in full bloom now! Plan ahead for next April when we, you and I, can collect a beetle whose larvae eats and therefore controls this plant. Waht you need to do now is to note where these are and mark a map along make some clear description of location. Next April let s plan to collect beetles to move to these places. Bill Kirk Tom Watson Bill Kirk, long time board director resigned from the board. Bill headed the Kids Fishing in May program for many years. Let s hope he still continues to contribute to the IKEs as much as he can. Thanks, Bill. Have fun now that you have retired from the board. officers President Ron Waybrant rcwaybrant@gmail.com Vice President Georgia Donovan... georgiadonovanart@gmail.com Secretary Jim Schneider jim-ms@comcast.net Treasurer Fred Eyer fseyer@gmail.com Board Members Barry Gilbertson... Gilby40@MSN.com Maurie Houseman mhouseman@grar.com Len Kizer len12sc4mi@yahoo.com Chad Morton...chadmorton4@gmail.com Drew Nelson... drew@drewnelson.net Conservation Chair John Stegmeier...fishysteg@msn.com Grounds/Maintenance Chair C. J. Tasma handicapsign@gmail.com Membership Secretary Tom Watson twwatson@comcast.net Lodge Rental Jim Schneider jim-ms@comcast.net

11 page 7 DWIGHT LYDELL CHAPTER of the IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE of AMERICA Core Event Schedule 2017 NOTE: This is a draft schedule. Especially for late year events you can check for updates in our newsletters and on our website along with notice of special events that come up on short notice and are not listed on this Event Schedule. Also additional information about these listed events can be found in the newsletter and on the website. Schedule Event & Location January 28, Saturday 10am-3pm... Winterfest Family IKEs March 3, Friday...Conservation-Awards-Fund Raiser Banquet March 16 through 19...Ultimate Sport Show-Grand Rapids April 20, Thursday...Fish & Game Dinner & Program May 6, 13,20, 27 - Saturdays... Kids Fishing & Native IKEs, 9AM-Noon May 11, Thursday... Steak Dinner, Annual Meeting & Short Program June 10, Saturday... Fix up/clean up Day 9AM-?, work, eat, play, campfire June 24, Saturday, 10am-3pm...Summerfest Community Family IKEs June IKE s National Convention, Sandusky IN July 15, Saturday... Native Plants for Everyone, Tear Drop IKEs August 17, Thursday... Ribs & Chicken Dinner & Short IKEs September 13, IKEs September 16, Saturday... Fix Up/Clean Up Day IKEs October 4, Wednesday... Chili IKEs November 9, Thursday...Game IKEs December 7, Thursday...Holiday Celebration Website: www. michiganikes.org IKEs Property located at 5641 Myers Lake Avenue, Belmont MI Mailing address is Izaak Walton League, PO Box 541, Belmont MI Conservation Needs a Friend.. Ask a friend to join the IKEs! NAME Home Phone Business Phone SPOUSE CHILDREN & AGES ADDRESS City STATE ZIP DATE address Sponsor Individual - $52 (62*), Family - $72 (87*), Student (18-21) - $24 (34*), Youth (under 18) - $12 (22*) * Cost includes increase by IWLA. Please pay increase if you can. If you cannot afford the higher amount, the chapter will fund the increase for 2017 renewals only. Mail to Izaak Walton League Membrship, PO Box 541, Belmont MI Checks payable to Izaak Walton League Tom Watson at twwatson@comcast.net for more information. A gate key is available upon receipt of membership fee. You can pick up a key at the next dinner at the lodge. Please enjoy the 39 acres. Indicate which of these important committees you're interested in working on: Natural Features Stewardship Finance Membership Building & Grounds Conservation Programs Every Member Dinners The Izaak Walton League of America a non-profit conservation organization is recognized as a Section 501(c)(3) public charity under the Internal Revenue Code.

12 Dwight Lydell Chapter of the Izaak Walton League PO Box 541 Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Rockford, MI Permit No. 208 Belmont MI Please don t throw this newsletter away - pass it on to a friend. Defenders of Soil, Air, Woods, Waters and Wildlife Return Service Requested Upcoming Events: