April 2020
CANCELLED: APRIL 4TH MEETING OF THE MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY
The Missoula Iris Society will be practicing social distancing by cancelling our April meeting. We hope all of you are well!
Below are Future Dates of Events that are scheduled by our society. (We will be monitoring closely whether or not they can be held. You will be notified if there are any changes.)
May 2: Our general meeting at the home of Gary Clark and Steve Hesla.
May 16: Median Show, 11:00 am at the home of Judy Blunt.
June 3: Ice Cream Social, 5:00 pm at the Fort Missoula Iris Garden.
June 6: Our general meeting at the home of Fred Frey.
June 13: Annual Iris Show at the Holiday Inn Downtown Missoula.
Please take care!
Betty Ann Gustafson, President, Missoula Iris Society
MESSAGE FROM AIS:
Dear CINDY DAVIS,
Because of COVID19 this year's award voting has been canceled. No judges will be dropped for failing to vote, or for failing to get needed JT.
Of course, still send in your activity report when requested, even though it is likely sparser than usual.
Check with your regional JT chair with questions (in a while, this information is still being spread). We are all struggling to get through this.
Gerry Snyder
AIS Awards Chair
TREASURER'S REPORT: as of March 24, 20
SAVINGS ACCOUNT: February 25, 2020 Balance $9674.42
Transfer to Checking 500.00
Sub Balance 9174.42
Interest earned in 2020 0.49
March 24 Balance $9174.91
CHECKING ACCOUNT: February 25, 2020 Balance $ 313.75
Deposits made 575.00
Sub Balance 888.75
Expenses Paid 356.00
March 24 Balance $ 532.75
Savings Account Transfer to Checking made to pay expenses for the month of March.
Checking account expenses paid were for the following: Paid PawPaw Everlast Label Company $296.00 for 500 each Metal Type E labels which have heavy duty labels and stainless steel support wires. These labels are due to arrive later this month. 250 of the labels will be sold to the Missoula Peony group for their use to identify the peony plants in their new garden at the University of Montana. Therefore they will reimburse MIS $148.00 for this purchase. I also paid $20.00 to the State of Montana for the annual Business Incorporation fee. This fee makes us a legal entity each year to operate as a business in Montana. Betty Ann and I made our annual trip to visit the Secretary of State office in the Capital Building in Helena, MT. This is a lot easier than trying to negotiate the internet process which usually takes a couple of hours of our time. We get it done in about 10 minutes in the office. Plus we get a nice ride to Helena and back. Betty Ann has sent letters to those members who have not paid 2020 dues and we have have had limited success with only 4 responses.
FORT GARDEN REPORT: I have been to the garden several times since the last newsletter as I am compiling a file listing of all the irises planted in each garden and creating a planting map of where each iris is planted along with a short description of the colors and sizes of each variety. This will help us to verify each variety is correctly named. So far I have got all but the Big Bed done. The snow was covering the irises when I have been out checking so wasn't able to see all the tags as they were laying down in the snow. However, since the snow is now gone, I have noted many tags are knocked down and most likely may not in the correct placement. So with this verification method I hope to get the irises correctly identified. If you have some time, there are lots of dead leaves and other debris to be cleaned from the beds. If each of us does a little bit of cleaning, the gardens will soon be looking swell. I am planning to contact the weeder this coming week to get her started on working to clear weeds with 16 hours of time each month.
FORT MUSEUM:
I was notified last week by the Historical Museum that they were closing down for a little while during the corona virus situation. It is hoped they will be able to open again at the end of April. I see lots of people still spending time on the Fort grounds exercising and/or taking advantage of the warm days. Restrooms are not open so if you are out there doing something, you will need to take this into consideration.
Respectfully submitted, Erling Gustafson, Treasurer
MINUTES OF THE MIS MEETING OF MARCH 7, 2020
The Missoula Iris Society meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Betty Ann Gustafson at the Fort Missoula T-1 location.
Members were notified that our good friend Morris Nyquist and his wife were absent because Morris is undergoing some health issues. We wish him a quick recovery.
Lotte Bowen was in attendance after a long absence due to health issues. Lotte is moving soon from Missoula to a newly purchased home at 122 Patricia Way in Hamilton.
MINUTES: The minutes of the February 2020 meeting were approved as printed in the newsletter.
TREASURER REPORT: Treasurer Swede Gustafson reported that signers for the club bank accounts will now include Swede, Betty Ann and Gary Clark, Vice President. Swede has ordered marker labels for gardens at a price of $496 for $500.
ICE CREAM SOCIAL: Mark your calenders for the ice cream social. Judy Blunt will again prepare the home made ice cream and toppings. The date is set for Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 5 p.m. at Fort Missoula near the iris gardens.
MEDIAN SHOW: Mark your calendars again for the median show, which will be Saturday May 16, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Judy Blunt will host the show at her home. The theme is “Glamour Girls”.
IRIS SHOW: Betty Ann reported that the annual iris show formerly held at Southgate Mall will be held at Holiday Inn Parkside Downtown on Saturday June 13, 2020. A contract has been signed and a deposit of $150 was paid. The total cost will be $250. The show will be set up near the restaurant or in the atrium.
Gary reported that the visiting show judge, Patrick Spence, will arrive from Lake Stevens, Washington on Friday, June 12, 2020 at 11:30 p.m.; he leaves on Sunday at 7:24 p.m. The air fare cost will be $294. It was decided to offer him a paid room at Holiday Inn at $159.00 per night for two nights. That way he would have shuttle rides to and from the airport. He will do two classes: One on Saturday afternoon at the Fort Gardens. The second on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. on Siberians at Grace United Methodist Church at Garfield and Kemp. We will also advertise to the public for anyone who wants to attend an iris training class.
Set up for the show will be Friday night; the banquet will be Saturday evening at Holiday Inn Brooks and Dunn Restaurant.
FORT GARDENS: Swede presented information on the Fort Gardens. Name tags are all over the place, pulled up accidently we guess. He wants to have a work party soon. Marchies has been contracted to haul fresh dirt out to the garden, but no date has been set yet.
CALENDARS: New iris society calendars for 2021 can be ordered in May. The club can buy 10 for $4.00 each.
PRESIDENTIAL RHIZOME: The presidential rhizome for March was won by Judy Blunt.
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Carol Addeo
Presidential Rhizomes: August: Gary Clark, September: Cindy Davis, October: Marie Nyquist, November: Jim Sadler, December: Swede Gustafson, January: Fred Frey, February: Ron Dowell, March: Judy Blunt.
MIS MEETING/EVENT SCHEDULE – subject to change due to coronavirus
Saturday, April 4, 2020 - Meeting cancelled
Saturday, April 4, 2020 - Meeting and pot luck supper beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Fort Missoula Building T-1.
Saturday, May 2, 2020 - Meeting and pot luck supper beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Target Range home of Gary Clark and Steve Hesla.
Saturday, May 23, 2020 - Median Show, 11:00 am at the home of Judy Blunt
Wednesday, June 3, 2020 - Ice cream social - 5:00 pm at the Fort Missoula Iris Garden
Saturday, June 6, 2020 - Meeting and pot luck supper beginning at 6:30 p.m. at home of Fred Frey.
Saturday, June 13, 2020 - MIS Iris Show at Holiday Inn Downtown
Show Banquet - Time and location to be announced
Saturday, July 11, 2020 - Meeting and pot luck supper beginning at 6:30 p.m. at home of Jim and Linda Sadler.
Monday, July 20, 2020 - Sale preparation begins. Additional details to come later.
Saturday, July 25, 2020 - Annual Rhizome Sale near Fort Missoula Display Gardens - Sale begins 9 am to 1 pm
1:30 pm. - After sale patio party at home of Billie Gray
August, 2020 - No meeting
September 2020 - No meeting
Saturday, October 3, 2020 - Meeting and pot luck supper beginning at 6:30 p.m. at home of Swede and Betty Ann Gustafson
Saturday, November 7, 2020 - Board and Budget Meeting at 5:00 p.m. at home of Carol Addeo and Al Ledford. Regular meeting and potluck supper beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 13, 2020 - Christmas party and pot luck supper at home of Billie Gray beginning at 4:30 p.m