Et cetera : Vinton Garden Club learns more about Old Creamery Nature Trail

The Vinton Garden club held their monthly meeting January 29, 2014 at the Vinton Pizza Palace for lunch with Connie McClintock as hostess. Our speakers, Randy Scheel and Ben Bonar spoke after lunch. Randy told us the history of the Old Creamery Nature Trail, listed some of the current uses of the trail, and highlighted the loyal volunteers that keep the trail in good condition. He shared the exciting news of recently receiving a Federal grant to restore the limestone base of the trail from Vinton to Dysart. He also promoted the current local fund raising campaign to generate the local dollars required for the project. Ben Bonar explained Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management and the county's goals in establishing native vegetation to our secondary road ditches.

President, Fran Stueck, called the business meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. Members recited the Pledge of Allegiance and the conservation pledge. Seven members answered roll call “Do you have any native plants in our garden?” One guest, Jeanne Mann, was also present.

Secretary-protem, Rita Glime, read the minutes, they were approved as read. Treasurer, Joyce Bratten, gave the treasurer report and it will be filed for audit.

Correspondence – Fran received the transcript and spring 2014 class schedule for Daniel Ervin our scholarship winner. Joyce has sent the $250 to Iowa State to be deposited in his college account. Fran received a letter from Vinton Shellsburg High School on the scholarship we give each spring. We decided to continue the scholarship and ask all applicants to include a photo. A thank-you for our donation from the Harmony House in Waterloo was read.

Committee reports – Garden Therapy – good participation in December at the Vinton Lutheran Home.

Photography – Rita Glime will take pictures at each meeting for the Historian book, if absent Fran will take pictures.

Program –Cindy Pattee, Rita Glime and Fran Stueck will get together in February to line up the 2014 programs.

Flower Show – plans will be made in March with the Van Horne Floralia Club.

Unfinished Business – Therapy with the Vinton Lutheran Home residents making designs out of evergreens and red mini carnations after our December meeting was well attended by the residents making 38 designs, one for each resident. A good time was had by residents and members. Fran Stueck delivered hats, mittens and sweat pants for Tilford Elementary children to the nurses office after the December meeting.

Four members, Joyce Bratten, Sharen Stueck, Susie Hansen, and Fran Stueck met at the library and judged the Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl posters. There were 198 posters. Grade winners: 1st grade Kira Jacobs, 2nd grade Sophia Vasquez, 3rd grade Tori Schoch, 4th grade Emma Miller, and 5th grade Chloe Tharp. Fran presented $5 palace bucks to the top 3 in each grade and everyone that made a poster got a gift from the forestry department.

New Business – Our new yearbooks will be handed out February 26 at our regular meeting with Joyce Bratten as hostess. Please remember to RSVP to the hostess. Happy Birthday to Michelle Foshe-Gibson, Rita Glime and Ted Stueck. Fran adjourned the meeting.