Luke Barnett introduced today’s speaker, Dr. Janet Salzwedel, Biology Professor for the past 25 years at Adrian College, who spoke about the various plants along the Kiwanis Trail. She had spent a fair amount of time prior to today researching plants, trees and shrubs along this this “very picturesque” 7 mile long trail.
“There are many micro habitats along this trail”, she said. In fact, there are over 200 different plants between Curtis and Valley roads alone! The problem was, she said, of those there are native plants (those growing here before European colonization) and also non-native (invasive) plants. Among the invasive plants along the trail include: Japanese Hedge Parsley, Garlic Mustard, Oriental Bittersweet known to have very woody stems and wind around trees and nine others. Native plants that are trees include oaks, maples and aspens.
Among the invasive trees there are: the Tree of Heaven and Black Locust that are spreading very quickly due to their many seeds. In addition to theses, there are various shrubs and vines and herbs (the smallest plants) growing along the trail. Some are native while others are invasive (Autumn Olive, Honeysuckles, and Dame’s Rocket).
Native also along the trail, Janet said, were ferns and horsetails, grasses and rushes right on the edge of the Kiwanis Trail. Some 45 of her students went out in groups she said this past summer to remove a number of the invasive shrubs. The City of Adrian Forrester donated some tolls they could use to clear some of the area, she said.
When clearing land of invasive plants, Janet said, there is always the chance to mistaken them for native ones. The example she cited was the Tree of Heaven which looks very similar to Staghorn Sumac. Both have compound pointed leaves. When you look on the edge of each leaf, however, Sumac has serrated (very fine teeth all the way around) margins. On the Tree of Heaven (shown in photo), the teeth are more “swollen” which are actually glands, Janet said, that distinguish it from the Tree of Heaven.
Important to maintaining the trail, she suggested, would be to have a number of volunteers next spring pull out as much Mustard Garlic plants as they could. Janet offered to train some leaders in being able to identify a number of invasive plants so they could instruct other who would remove them. In an effort to tag and identify trees along the Trail, Janet suggested we start with the largest and older ones first like the Sycamores and Cottonwoods. The next step would be to create a list of things that bloom in the spring, and in the summer and in the fall.
Janet closed by describing the process for removing trees that are invasive along the trail. For trees like Woody Buckhorn types, she suggested they be lopped and treated with herbicides so they don’t spread. Garlic Mustard can easily be pulled, she said.
District Conference – President Nate and PE Kathye as well as the Olsaver's are headed to Mackinac as we speak for the weekend. Hope they have an awesome conference!
New Member Orientation and Club Social - Thanks to everyone who participated especially to Susan and Kathye for organizing and setting things up and to Mark and Mary for opening up the beautiful Adrian Armory for last week's event.
Next Board Meeting - Thursday, May 10 at 1pm.
Tree Planting - Thanks to all who participated at Adrian HS and Michener Elementary last week. Don't forget that we will need volunteers on Thursday, May 10th at Prairie Elementary to plant more trees with members of the Morning Club beginning at 1:30. Hope to see you there.
Onion Sales – REMEMBER that money must be in by May 7th and will be delivered a couple of weeks after that. All members are asked to sell at least 6 bags or make an equivalent donation. Please be sure and send Kathye an email to let her know how many bags you have sold if you haven't already.
New T-Shirts – Susan had more T-shirts on hand at today’s meeting. Should you wish to purchase one, please see Susan. They will be $10 each depending on the size. Be sure and get yours. They look great!
Meals on Wheels - They are in critical need of volunteers between May 21 and June I. Gerry Burg said that even if you can do it one day would be great. It takes about an hour and a half and you get paid mileage. Please see routes below:
Junior Rotarians for May - Aidan French (L) and Nick Gregg (R) from AHS.
Upcoming Programs:
May 10 - TBA
May 17 - TBA
May 24 - TBA
May 31 - TBA
DATES TO REMEMBER
Pathways Engagement Center Worker BeeSchedule - with Morning Club members. Volunteers are needed. A sign-up sheet was passed around and will continue to be at subsequent meetings. Here is the schedule:
May 5 - Lenawee Humane Society "Empty The Shelters Adoption Event" - Patty announced that the BISSELL Pet Foundation is covering the adoption fee for every pet adopted from over 111 shelters and rescues all over the country, including Lenawee Humane Society! Each pet adopted during Empty The Shelters will be spayed/neutered and up-to-date on age-appropriate vaccinations.
May 5 - E-Purity’s Graduation – REMEMBER: Purity will graduate from Siena Heights University and that should anyone wish to attend Purity could secure the necessary tickets. Just let Patty know if you can attend.
May 6 – Great Lakes Woodworking Festival - Luke will be looking for the club to assist again this year from 12pm – 6pm. The GLWF is bringing together the best woodworkers from the Great Lakes region, ranging from several different woodworking disciplines and will showcase over 35 woodworking artists who will be selling their homemade goods. Susan will be in charge of the raffle tickets for prizes throughout the day. The event will also feature free classes, demonstrations, and prizes. It is 100% free to the public. Luke distributed full-color posters and asked members to post them at their businesses.
May 7 – Deadline for Onion Sale – This was the drop-dead dead to submit orders and money. Please contact her by e-mail if you will not see her at a regular meeting relative to the number of bags you need.
May 18 – Fluency Friends – Remember that this will be the last day of the program. If you are a member volunteer, this will be the last day for tutoring kids from Michener Elementary. Thanks to all Rotary volunteers!
May 19 - Celebrate Neighbors of Hope Fundraiser - Kathy Williams said that everyone was invited tom this event beginning at 5:30pm (Dinner and Silent Auction)
May 20 - E-RaceStigma5k Run– The event that will take place again this year. Our club will help with the Kid’s Fun Run event first thing the morning (8:30am-9:30am) of the race. We’ll need 10 volunteers and a sign-up sheet will be passed around at future meetings. More info coming. Visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Adrian/ERaceStigma5K
May 21 – Strokes for Students Golf Outing – Looks like we’ll have a full foursome for this.
May 24 – Fluency Friends Open House – This as the date that will officially close out and celebrate this reading year. The event will be held again in the Library of Michener Elementary beginning at 9am and ending about 10am with coffee, donuts and light snacks being served. All members who have been a part of this great program this past school year should not miss this. Members who did not participate but can attend should also plan to do so. The club donated $600 in books again this year students will be able to take home with them to read over the summer! Thanks, Mary, once again for all of the work you put into making this another successful year for students who benefit so much and whose lives are truly changed participating in this program!! March 18 will be the last day of this program.
June 21 – Joint Changeover Dinner - with the Morning Club. More info coming
September 22 – Lenawee Bike Tour - If you cannot serve on the committee but can help out during the actual one-day event on Saturday, September 22nd, please send Chip an e-mail to let him know. This year’s event will be a “timed” event for the more serious riders and begin at the Armory! Along with that, something for families and children (like a “slow” ride and scavenger hunt possibly) is being planned. Next regular meeting is Tuesday, May 15th in the basement of the Armory.
GUESTS: Junior Rotarians Lauren and Erica who introduced their replacements Aidan French and Nick Gregg.
This was Pattie's first time as fine master and fined these deserving members: Sala (3), Clark (2), Marti (2), Behnke (3), Dick, Ellerholz, Reinink, Hokenson (2), Keller, Slater, Mercer, Rye, Williams, Sherman
Happy Bucks – Hokenson, Williams, Behnke, Marti, Sala, Wagley, Dick, Sherman, Clark
Yours Truly's ticket was drawn and won $24 then Chip Moore’s name was drawn (second time in a row!!) but he was not present to pick the winning card to win today’s $362 jackpot!
2018-19 RI President Barry Rassin wants Rotary members to Be the Inspiration
Rassin, a member of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, unveiled the 2018-19 presidential theme, Be the Inspiration, to incoming district governors at Rotary’s International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA. “I want you to inspire in your clubs, your Rotarians, that desire for something greater. The drive to do more, to be more, to create something that will live beyond each of us.”
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Luke Barnett introduced today’s speaker, Dr. Janet Salzwedel, Biology Professor for the past 25 years at Adrian College, who spoke about the various plants along the Kiwanis Trail. She had spent a fair amount of time prior to today researching plants, trees and shrubs along this this “very picturesque” 7 mile long trail.
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