December 2024

HOLIDAY PARTY

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2024, 4:00 PM

LOCATION: HOME OF CAROL ADDEO AND AL LEDFORD

5805 HELENA DRIVE (LINDA VISTA)

POTLUCK: TURKEY DINNER

GUESTS ARE WELCOME

  Turkey: Al Ledford and Carol Addeo

Potatoes and Gravy: Provided

Dressing: Carol Addeo

Cranberries and relish tray: Cindy Davis

Sourdough rolls: Jennifer Anthony

Green Bean Casserole: Marie Nyquist

Fruit pies: Judy Blunt 

The Rest of Us: Please bring a side dish or a dessert to share

AFTER DINNER: GIFT EXCHANGE (Be ready for the fun of gift stealing!)

Participation is optional

Bring a gift to share up to $20.00

Gift Themes: (i.e., iris, floral, gardening, etc.)

CONTACT: ANNE BOWMAN, email: bowmanab.61@gmailcom or 406.360.3089, for any questions.

DIRECTIONS: 5805 Helena Drive (Linda Vista)

Go to Hwy. 93/Brooks Street. Go south on Hwy. 93 to the stop light by Walmart.

At Hwy. 93 & Miller Creek Road stop light, turn left onto Miller Creek Road.

Proceed to the roundabout, go right onto Lower Miller Creek Road. Do not go up the hill.

Go past the golf course and turn left on Linda Vista Blvd.

In one block you can turn right on Helena drive to 5805 Helena Drive or go 2 blocks and turn right on Eldora Lane.

 The house is at the end of Eldora Lane.

Call Carol, 406.251.5833, for further directions.

2025 MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY DUES: 

Dues are $10.00 per person. Mail to Swede Gustafson, Treasurer, 3128 Eldora Lane, Missoula, MT 59803

IRIS 2025 CALENDARS: $5.00 Each. Available at the Holiday Party

JANUARY & FEBRUARY: There will be no Missoula Iris Society Meetings.

MINUTES OF MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY MEETING OF NOVEMBER 2, 2024

The November 2024 meeting was at the Immanuel Lutheran Church. There were 15 members in attendance. The last formal meeting was October 5 – there were no changes to the minutes of that meeting, so they were de facto accepted as printed in the newsletter or in copies handed out to anyone who hadn’t yet received them. Betty Ann mentioned that annual membership dues for 2025 were due and Bronwen Harris, our new treasurer, collected from several members who were present. We especially want to thank Erin Pollan, a society member from Kalispell, who drove all the way to Missoula to attend our meeting. Welcome, Erin!

Treasurer’s Report for November 2024:

Checking Account Balance: $1,573.57. Withdrawn from checking, $535.47 to reimburse Gary Steen for the lumber needed for framework, hardware, etc., in the construction of the rose arbors and $100 was withdrawn to pay the Historical Fort Museum for the annual use of water for irrigating the MIS garden.

Savings Account: $5,740.80 which includes the $500 received from the volunteer grant discussed below. $3,000.00 was removed from savings to add to the Certificate of Deposit on September 15, 2024. New Savings Account balance: $2,740.80.

The Certificates of Deposit is now $6000 plus interest. The September 15 CD was renewed for 3- months at 4.5% APY interest. The renewal date is December 15, 2024.

Program:

Katie Steen discussed a $500 community grant she applied for from her former employer, Chevron Corporation, for work she and her husband Gary volunteered to plan and re-build the iris garden arbors, judge at the iris show, and garden and weed at the Fort Garden. The grant awards $500 for 20-hours volunteer work, and $1000 for 40-hours, so next year she will be looking for more volunteer opportunities to repeat. Thank you, Katie and Gary!!

The University Congregational Church Weekly Readers Book Club did vote to give $500 to the Iris Society for the Fort Gardens, in honor of one of their avid members, 90-year old Dorleen Bakke. Betty Ann suggested we use the money towards replacing iris that die or occasionally get stolen at the Fort and that we mention the memorial gift at the garden kiosk. Jim Sadler raised the idea of creating a “Dorleen Bakke Honor Award” for best flower arrangements at our iris show, which would be designated by a plaque but not a monetary award. A final decision was not made at this meeting.

Regarding the national AIS convention coming to Billings June 2-7 next year, it will conflict with our annual Missoula iris show, so Betty Ann proposed we focus all our energies on just having a median iris show the weekend before Memorial Day (May 17). There was much back-and-forth about whether we could hold our median show as late as May 31 (the Saturday before the convention), or even if we should have it at all since the Billings convention is such a unique event and that we shouldn’t spread our efforts too thin. The group decided to delay any commitments until next February when we need to submit our convention participation program to the AIS.

Jim Sadler is still working on the “Energize your Neighborhood” grant available from the City of Missoula. He is waiting for a letter of support from Fort Missoula to submit with the application, as we are not a “neighborhood association” per se but part of the Fort Missoula neighborhood grounds. Speaking of the Fort, their museum accreditation is due at the end of November so they asked if iris society representatives would please come to their accreditation meeting and reception. Betty Ann, Swede, and Jim Sadler said they would attend.

Steve Hesla and Gary Clark spent the remainder of the evening discussing previous AIS conventions they had attended around the country, specifically at Las Cruces, NM and Dallas, TX. They set up a monitor and presented a slide show along with highlights of what happens at these shows, and what to expect in Billings next year. It all sounds like a wonderful opportunity for all who want to attend. There will be workshops, garden bus tours, hybridizer exhibits, a variety of iris shows, and meals and snacks. Be thinking about your plans.

Gary Clark was the Presidential Rhizome winner for the month of November 2024.

Respectfully submitted, Mitch Hall (MIS Secretary)

PRESIDENTIAL RHIZOME WINNERS:

October, Marie Nyquist; November, Gary Clark

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Sunday, December 15, 4.00 PM – Holiday party at the home of Carol Addeo and Al Ledford

No meetings in January and February