Saguaro News Newsletter of the SKP Saguaro Co-op Benson, Arizona April 2015 One View from the Board As I sit to write this article, my mind is on all of the activities for Silver Selabration! I just know it will be a wonderful time and appreciate all the work that is going into this. By the time you get the newsletter, we will be reminiscing. If it sounds like I am not sure what to say this month, that has been going through my head for two weeks. I ran out of topics! Never fear though, a few days ago I was working on the Board bulletin board and a new committee chair asked me what a liaison is supposed to do. With several new committee chairs and four new Board members, it seems like a perfect topic. Merriam-Webster defines liaison as a person who helps organizations or groups to work together and provide information to each other. In our Co-op, the Board assigns a director as the committee liaison, and another director as an alternate if the liaison is not available. It is the responsibility of the liaison to attend committee meetings, listen, and report what is happening at the next Board meeting. As long as all is going well, the liaison may say nothing during the meeting except, hello, job well done and goodbye. If the committee has questions, the liaison is there to answer, if possible, or bring the questions back to the Board. If your committee is working on a project that needs to be on the agenda, the committee liaison is the person you need. Work together to be sure what you want on the agenda is ready to present. If there are documents involved, make sure they are in order. Your liaison can get the documents to me to copy for the directors. The deadline to get on the agenda according to our bylaws, is 72 hours (See One View on Page 7) Sixteen of the original founders of the Co-op at the Founders Park dedication party in March. Front row (left to right): Tom Firlott, Laverne Firlott, Terry Braatz, Jerry Johnson, Maryellen Barcala, Lillie Gaul, Joe Gaul. Back row (left to right): Toe Takenaka, Guy Bourgon, Frances Pratt, Marliss Johnson, Ann Guerrini, Marilyn Contisano, Martin Contisano, Jean Walsh, Frankie De Mercado. For more photos of the SKP Saguaro Silver Selebration, see pages 6 and 7.
A grand congratulations to the wonderful Spring Chorus show 2015 Co-Op Cabaret. Marian Binder, Bruce Bryant and Linda Quistad-Berg did a fine job directing and producing this show, and the chorus all seemed to have a fun time. It is wonderful to see the tradition continue. Chorus has been present since the beginning of the Co-Op. Gwen Pacholik was the first director, and had a short tenure. Sue Moore, a retired music teacher, spent 14 years as Chorus director and was beloved by all. She did four shows a year: Hoedown in the fall; a Christmas show in December; love songs around Valentine's Day in February and St. Patrick's Day music in March. She did her own accompanying and practiced piano religiously every morning at 6 a.m. She retired in 2004, and left the park to move to Florida. She is presently in Tallahassee in a nursing home near her veterinarian son. Louise Strong took over from Sue in 2004 and did her own accompanying. Louise had worked with Sue for a year or two with Strong/Moore productions. She initiated doing themed shows like Benson to Broadway and Benson to Broadway and Back, Jukebox Saturday Night, and An Evening with Gershwin. Louise had a background in theatre performance and production and brought that change to the park. She started jam sessions in her casita. After the jam became too big for the casita, it moved to the Clubhouse where it continues very successfully today. Sound Of Music Now the Chorus is led by Marian Binder, Bruce Bryant, and Linda Quistad-Berg. Look forward to a change of format as these three combine their talents. The music continues for SKPs that enjoy singing together. Helping Hands Norma Taylor Facts about the 2015 Helping Hands Food Auction on Feb 21, a fund raiser for Cactus Wrens: $6,602 brought in by food auction $520 brought in by Sloppy Joes 190 food items donated The Golden Spoon, plus $50, was awarded to Frankie De Mercado who donated 39 items that brought in $871. The $50 award for bringing in the highest amount for a single food item went to Donna Struble whose pineapple upside down cake sold for $94. The Progressive Dinner, which brought in $1,030, was presented by Ann and Mick Meilicke, Mary and Court Nighswander, Jane Pauli and Stan Aursund, and Jo and Ken Bloedel. Our hats are off to Kelly Edwards for her superb job of organizing this event. She will be looking to train a co-chair for next year. Summer may be around the corner but Helping Hands is here with the same services we provide throughout the year which includes short term visitations, meals, laundry, shopping, light housekeeping and pet care. All services are confidential. Anyone in need should call the monthly coordinator listed on Channel 5. Norma Taylor took on Chorus from Louise in the fall of 2010. She also did 2007-2008, when Louise took a sabbatical. Norma continued the themed Spring programs, We are in need of volunteers this summer Irving Berlin, The 20's, The 50's, and to provide meals if needed. Contact the Rodgers and Hammerstein evenings. A monthly coordinator or call Norma major change was using an accompanist, Faye Schwarting at 608-963-2446 between now and Bragg. These two teamed until both retired at May 15. Have a great summer. the end of 2014. The Chorus began switching from all-unison singing to using some partsinging (with great success I might add). Helping Hands Co-Chairs Norma Schwarting & Bonnie Berglund, April 2015 Page 2 Saguaro News
The season is coming to an end, and we want to thank so many volunteers for making this another great SKP Saguaro season. Last October, Pam Sanor and Susan Phelps hosted the Annual Yard Sale which is, and always has been, a big fundraiser for the Cactus Wrens. We can't thank them and their crew enough for taking on this task. These ladies also hosted the Annual Christmas Auction and, again, we thank you. A big event was the Polar Bear Party in January given by Chapter 21. In February, we had a wonderful Souperbowl party. We thank all the ladies for providing the soup which was thoroughly enjoyed by many. Also in February, we welcomed twenty plus new leaseholders. We say thank you, Kelly Edwards and crew for chairing the Annual Food Auction which raised an incredible amount of money for the Cactus Wrens. In February we also celebrated wedding anniversaries for couples who had been married 25, 50, 55, 60 and 60+ years. Twelve couples celebrated a total of over 500 years of wedded bliss. Thank you, Brian Tratner, for being such a great master of ceremonies. By the time you read this newsletter, we will have celebrated the Coop's 25th Anniversary and there wouldn't be enough pages to list the hundreds of volunteers who helped put on a week of great events. We want you to know, though, that we appreciate everyone's input and the hard work you have done. From The Clubhouse Thank you, thank you, thank you! Linda Rubin and I wish everyone a safe trip wherever it may take you, and we both look forward to serving you in the fall. Ingrid Kluegel & Linda Rubin, Clubhouse Co-Chairs Spring Fling 2016 For many of us it s time to leave behind our old and new winter friends and hit the road or head for home. It s been a very busy and exciting 25 th anniversary year! But it is never too soon to think about the 2015-2016 season here in the park. A theme has been selected for the 2016 Spring Fling fundraiser: Old Mexico Days. After all, it hasn t been that long ago that this land was in Mexican territory. Let s embrace our history and celebrate the food, music and fun of old Mexico. Bring your ideas, clothing and decorations with you when you return to the park in the Fall. Linda Rubin & Dodie Schleiger, 2016 Spring Fling Co-Chairs Ice Cream Social Our next Ice Cream Social is Sunday, April 5 at 7 p.m. We will be celebrating those who have birthdays and/or anniversaries in April and October. Those people will receive free ice cream while others pay 50 per generous scoop. To reduce our trash, please bring your own bowl and spoon. See you in the Clubhouse. Jan Petring Saguaro News Page 3 April 2015
What if you had to vote on which of our natural attractions was the best? You could choose from the colorful skies at sunrise and sunset against the silhouetted mountains or the sparkling formations of Kartchner Caverns, or perhaps the cacti and wildflowers that decorate the valley in spring, or perhaps you would prefer the colorful flying gems that live here or migrate through on their yearly flights. Of course, I mean the hummingbirds. At this time of the year, I would have to cast my vote for the jewels that visit my red yuccas. There are so many things to learn if you are fortunate enough to get close to these creatures. It is hard to describe the thrill of holding an exhausted hummingbird in your hand, feeling its warmth and heartbeat as its bright little eyes watch you. It might allow you to take it to a feeder where it can regain energy, then whir rapidly away to resume its insect and nectar gathering. Looking at hummers we see brilliant reds, purples, and greens. However, they do not have colored feathers, but iridescent colors are produced when light is reflected or absorbed by the structure of the feathers. Also, they can get covered with pollen as they flit from flower to flower and appear to be bright yellow. It is often difficult to tell the females apart but the brightly colored males are much easier to identify. If you see a hummingbird east of the Rockies it is almost certain to be a Rubythroat because nearly 100% of the hummers there belong to that species. In our valley, Blackthroated and Rufous are quite common. On the Pacific coast, Anna s are the most numerous. Most of our common hummer species are 3 ½ to 4 inches from bill tip to tail tip. If you see one that is quite different, you just might be seeing an unusual visitor. There are sightings of visiting birds from Mexico from time to time. Our Valley The females get the whole job of laying, hatching, and feeding the babies. That happens after she builds the nest! The nest will measure about two inches across and be composed of spider webs, plant fibers, and even animal hair. They are hard to see unless you observe the actions of the female as she brings insects and nectar to the babies. She will be extraordinarily busy for three or four weeks and then the young are on their own. In a few short weeks, they must figure out how to find food and then how to migrate. The latter task is not fully understood but the act of hitching a ride on a larger bird is just a myth that has been bandied about. Another oddity is the hummingbird moth which drinks nectar and flits about resembling a bird. If you look closely, you will see that it has antennae and birds definitely do not. As hummers are often seen fighting over feeders, it is easier to understand when you know that their energy needs cause them to consume food equal to their body weight each day, whereas we consume food equal to about one percent of our weight daily. Rufous humming birds are often the most pugnacious, perching near a food source and swooping down to chase intruders away. San Pedro House on Highway 90 just west of the river has plenty of observation structures for watching the many species of birds which live by the river or visit as they pass through. Banding of the hummingbirds will begin this year on March 28, and continues every Saturday in April and May. The public is welcome to watch from 4 to 6 p.m. It is fascinating to watch the experts as they place the tiny bands on fragile legs. If you look around there, you will see giant cottonwood trees, and many other birds such as flickers, finches, and flocks of blackbirds. Have a happy, healthy summer down the road. Jean Holloway-Burkhart April 2015 Page 4 Saguaro News
The Perils of Prickly Pear Pruning Since our article Gardening in Welder s Gloves back in January Sharon and I have learned a few things about gardening here in the SKP Saguaro Co-op. We enjoy working outdoors and chatting about the desert plants with our fellow Landscaping Committee members. The mornings are warmer than when we wrote our first article but we still cover up during work parties. The air maybe less chilly but the plants are still spiky and a layer of denim is useful in protecting us against scrapes and scratches. Since January, we ve learned how to trim bushes and cactus so that they don t provide homes for snakes, mice and pack rates. Trimming the foliage so that it s no closer to the ground than six inches keeps pests from finding shelter at the base of the plants. Trimming the bottom of the plants often requires us to get down on ours knees to reach under the branches. Using knee pads or kneeling pads make this important operation much more comfortable and we ve added these items to our equipment. the plant or if the plant is shaken. Glochids can irritate skin, eyes, nose and throat so it s important to handle prickly pear carefully. When cutting these cactus we avoid using power tool like Sawzalls or chainsaws. Power tools vibrate the plant and can release glochids into the air. We use loopers, pole saws and even shovel blades to remove parts of these plants. Spraying the cactus pads with water before working is helpful in preventing the glochids from becoming airborne. Even when a piece of prickly pear cactus has been cut off, just picking it up can be difficult. The flesh of the prickly pear is dense, slippery and covered in spines. The welder s gloves we wear do not provide enough protection to handle prickly pear pieces. Some of the large spines can directly penetrate the gloves. Glochids don t penetrate the gloves directly but they do seem to work their way through the fabric nonetheless and eventually end up in your fingers. We ve tried using kitchen tongs to pick up prickly pear pads but they could grip only relatively small ones. Heavy fireplace tongs, used to move small logs in a hearth, work much better. One set of fireplace tongs has been donated already and works well. If anyone has an additional set of fireplace tongs they would like to donate, the Landscaping Committee would be happy to have them. Prickly pear spines. Photo by Sharon Pearson When prickly pear cactus grow close to the ground they need to be trimmed like any other plant. However, we ve learned that pruning prickly pear cactus can be tricky. Prickly pear cactus are unique in that they often have two types of spines. They have the large obvious spines like other cactus and tiny, stealth spines called glochids. These tiny, hair like spines come lose when you brush up against Since our last article we have learned to handle prickly pear cactus, trim pyracantha bushes into an umbrella shape and refurbish foot paths through gardens. We ve enjoyed working on the Landscape Committee as it spruced up the park s common area in anticipation of the Silver Anniversary. We will be leaving for the summer soon, along with some other member of the committee. If you would like to learn more about working with desert plants and contribute to park maintenance, the committee could use your help. In the meantime, have a good spring and summer and we ll see you next fall. Rick and Sharon Pearson Saguaro News Page 5 April 2015
SKP Saguaro Silver Selebration March 16-21, 2015 Photos by Dodie Schleiger Frank Downey escorts founder Terry Braatz. Jo Bloedel works on a Jenga tower during the Silver Haired Olympics. Jill Mohr and Susan Phelps go off course driving the Golf Cart Blind Man s Bluff. Misdeal Betty Lenneman at Blast From The Past. Bruce Bryant, Dick Johnson, Bruce Williamson, Tank Lucas, Mike Lenney and Doug Miller erect the Founders Park sign carved by Bruce and Dick. Parade costume winners Doug Miller, Valerie Miller, Diane Zaugg, and Morgan. Keystone Cops Mike Lenney and Stan Aarsund escort Tank Lucas back to jail during the Celebration of the Stars parade. April 2015 Page 6 Saguaro News
Silver Selebration The U.S. Olympic Swim Team performed at Blast From The Past. Left to right: Nick Pergasis, Spencer Kluegel, Rex Porter, Cosmo Baraona, Ken Bloedel, Ed Yurs. Another view of the swim team. Jerry Yecny at work in the kitchen. Meals included a St. Patrick s Day dinner, a hot dog roast, Saturday morning breakfast, and the Silver Anniversary Reception. One View... (continued from Page 1) (9 a.m.) the Saturday morning before a Board meeting. There is a way to make exceptions but this should be used for emergency items only. Your committee liaison may handle a motion that needs to be made for the committee. If that is going to happen, please present the motion in writing to make it easier for the Recording Secretary or Secretary. It is difficult to get the motion in the minutes correctly when the wording keeps changing mid-sentence. Your liaison does not run your committee or take part in discussions unless asked to speak or to correct some misinformation. They are there to listen, help when needed, and report back to the Board and the Co-op. If the liaison has concerns, he/she will talk to the chair privately. Since we are all learning, the liaison may just need some clarification. As our projects get more complicated, I am starting to hear from Directors that two days are not enough to read, analyze, and get ready to vote on something. If it is possible to get items to me before Saturday, that would be great. To sum it all up, the liaison is the go between for the committee and Board and the facilitator to make it easier to see projects to completion. Last but not least, this is a learning experience for all of us. The birds are nesting, the cactus are starting to bloom, and soon many of our friends will be on the road again. Safe travels to all and I look forward to seeing you back in our wonderful Co-op in the fall. Carole Melander, Board Secretary To download a copy of Saguaro News with the Anniversary photos in color, go to the Co-op s web site (skpsaguaro.org) and click on Publications/Newsletter, or enter this address in your browser: http://www.skpsaguaro.org/newsletter.html Saguaro News Page 7 April 2015
Editor s Note This is the final issue of Saguaro News for the season. SKP Saguaro Co-op 600 East Saguaro Drive Benson, Arizona 85602 Phone: 520-586-7343 FAX: 520-586-4683 SkpSaguaro@gmail.com www.skpsaguaro.org Office Manager Tisha Luzadder 520-586-7343 Facilities Manager Doug Miller 520-686-0009 Lot 222 Saguaro News Editor Jeannine Wainwright Send newsletter submissions to: SaguaroNews@gmail.com Published October through April Deadline is the 15th of the previous month Read Saguaro News on the web at http://www.skpsaguaro.org/newsletter.html I want to thank all of the contributors who have submitted articles and photos. You make this a lively and interesting newsletter. My thanks also goes to my chief proofreader, Dan Wainwright, who keeps me from making some embarrassing mistakes. Have a great summer. The newsletter will resume in October. Jeannine Wainwright, Editor Landscaping Thanks to all the leaseholders and renters for sprucing up your lots for the celebration. The three chairs of Landscaping, plus Kay Trudo and Jerry Yecny (who drove his pickup) went on a plant buying trip to Civano and B&B nurseries to buy plants and cacti for the park. Most of them will be planted around the parking area at the Clubhouse. We desperately need someone to water these new plants after the middle of May until the monsoons arrive. It would take about one hour once a week. Please see one of us if you would be willing to do this. Jane Pauli, Rita Kingma, Linda Lightborn Landscape Co-Chairs Welcome Committee The Welcome Committee has had another busy month. We visited a total of 66 guests between February 15 and March 14. Twenty eight of them used coupons and four signed onto the hotlist. We are trying to welcome everyone now, including returning SKPs (not just the guests). Hopefully, they will enjoy our warm welcome and want to become leaseholders. Carol Kemp, Welcome Chair April 2015 Page 8 Saguaro News