News Items:

TODAY'S PROGRAM

LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM

Vince Cox said Gwen Lewis was his cousin and he has known her his entire life.  He was proud to introduce her.  She works with the Montgomery County Extension System.

Gwen began by saying it was her pleasure to speak to us.  She started by explaining the Alabama Extension System.  It was the Service, but was combined with Alabama A & M and Tuskegee University, so in 1995 the name was changed.  She has been with the system almost three years and it is a wonderful job.  She asked who was familiar with 4-H.  It is the youth component of the Alabama Extension System.  The Master Gardner Program is where they train volunteers for eight weeks, teaching different gardening techniques.  They in turn volunteer 40 hours to the community.  The Extension System couldn't operate without volunteers; depending heavily on them.

She is an urban agent, whose duties are in urban forestry and environmental education.  A typical day would be getting a call from a client, like ourselves, who was having trouble with trees or shrubs.  She would go and give advice on how to treat a pear tree or determine why an insect was eating the tree.  She would give a diagnosis about their trees, plants and insects.  If she can't tell what is wrong with the tree, she collects a sample and then sends it to Auburn University Pathology Lab.

Some of the programs she has worked with over the past two years has been tree planting at schools, teaching young people the benefits of trees and caring for them.  Last summer, she worked with the YMCA planting community gardens.  It was exciting to see those young people working in a garden since they had never seen tomatoes on the vine.  They've eaten vegetables, but have never seen them growing.  She was able to demonstrate to seasoned gardeners, like ourselves, about drip irrigation and plastic.  In Alabama, we have been through drought since last summer and you can't have a garden without a source of water; you need irrigation.  So they have demonstrated using drip irrigation, laying out rows of black plastic.  It served two purposes, keeping out weeds and also to conserve moisture.  Vegetables grew twice as fast, because they got the needed water and didn't have to compete with the weeds for moisture.

They briefly introduced a program called, "The Junior Master Gardner."  It is an international program similar to the Master Gardner Program, but it's for the youth.  Usually third graders are in the program, but youth of all ages can participate.  Teachers or volunteers follow an eight week curriculum.  There are eight topics they introduce to the youths in gardening.  It was started in Texas and is now in 40 states.  The Alabama Cooperative Extension System will be the agency that puts the program out into the community.

In closing, she asked if anyone was interested in volunteering for the Junior Master Gardeners.  You don't have to go into a classroom, but you can donate to the program.  The two books in the curriculum that the teachers would need in the schools cost $48.00.  Some of the teachers and schools could afford to purchase the materials.  If we are interested, we can call the Montgomery County Extension office and she would be happy to give us a list of schools and more information.  She had several publications that we could pick up on controlling fire ants.  She told us about the Montgomery Committee whose purpose is to put together a proposal, submitting it to the Mayor, providing a tree ordinance for the proper cutting and caring for trees.  Presently there is no urban forester in Montgomery County.  Her priority is to hold workshops on proper care of trees.

LAST WEEK'S GUESTS

Michael Fritz, Jr. accompanied his dad to breakfast.  He has been to several meetings.  It is a pity that Michael isn't old enough to join.  President Wilkinson asked Michael, Jr. if he knew Frank Wells.  (Frank is his grandfather.)

ENTERTAINMENT

Al McLellan said it is important to train children.  He had trouble standing still as a child; his mother was very strict on him sitting still in church.  Today, he can still sit through a church service without running around.  Early training is great.  He sang, "Papa Played the Delrod."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Mike Winstead told the story about an unemployed man.  He took a qualification test to clean restrooms.  The manager said he would email him some forms.  The man said that he had no computer.  The manager then said that without a computer, he didn't exist.  The man then bought a box of tomatoes and sold them for 100% profit.  He repeated this process and did so well that he soon bought a truck and then several more until he had a fleet of trucks.  His financial advisor said that he would email him some forms.  The man replied that he didn't have a computer.  The advisor asked him how he could compile such wealth without email.  He asked the man if he knew where he might be today with email.  The man replied, "Sure, I'd be cleaning restrooms."

ACTIVITIES

Veteran's Day Chris Lafferty, Barnie Paulson and Dick Bennett distributed cards prepared by Dalraida Elementary School to veterans at the V. A. Hospital.  They were invited to attend an impressive ceremony.

President Wilkinson said that $150 would be sent to Kiwanis International Foundation besides what was collected in passing the hat at meetings.

Dick Bennett said that two readers are needed to go to St. Jude's today to read to the children.

Chris Lafferty announced the party for Brad's retirement from the Air Force for Monday, December 2nd.  Everyone is invited.  RSVP by calling 396-3823.  The address of their home is 4437 Plummer Drive

DALRAIDA SCHOOL

The following members read last Thursday to the students at Dalraida Elementary School: Dick Bennett, Frank Wells, Jean Ash and Jim Jones.

The following members watched the classes so the teachers could have a free lunch period:  Dick Price, Dick Bennett, Mike Livingston, Ken Carrick, Barnie Paulson and Warren Mitchell. The teachers were very appreciative.

PEANUT SALES

Last Monday the following members bagged peanuts: Jean Ash, John Burch, David Morris, Ken Carrick, Malcolm Bush, Hoyt Middleton, Barnie Paulson, El Kidd, Sam Wesley, Dick Bennett and Warren Mitchell.

Leading Salespersons are:

El Kidd                  $1,371
Malcolm Bush             315
Ken Carrick                241
Jim Jones                    165

Total sales to date - $3,456
Total cost of peanuts - $3,200

Total peanuts profit to date=$256
More peanuts were recently purchased

CHRISTMAS PARTY

Charlie Eckerly needs to know which members will be attending the Christmas Party December 10th at Maxwell Officer's Club [Click here for map].  A pay as you go bar starts at 6:00 p.m. with dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Children's Christmas Shopping Spree is on December 7th at J. C. Penney's at 7:30 a.m. [Click here for map]