Club News

Baxter Federated Garden Club

Baxter Federated Garden Club met on April 11. Ten members were present and seven guests.

Program Presentation was given by Angie Rumer the owner of Rumer Blooms a cut flower farm between Pella and New Sharon.

Meeting called to order by co-president Macy Lisk. What flower color scheme are you planting this year was the roll call question?

Secretary report – No corrections were made to the March minutes that were emailed to members.

Treasurer report was given by treasurer Janet Damman.

Correspondence/Announcements

Macy announced that Earth Day is April 22 and Arbor Day is April 26.

Old and New Business

Several members enjoyed attending the Knoxville Garden Gala.

Spring clean up day will be April 27. Members who can help are to meet at 9 a.m. at the Restland Cemetery.

Flowers for the Main Street Planters have been ordered through Flower Court Garden Center. Four trays of red wave petunias, one tray of white wave petunias and 27 spikes for were ordered. We will be planting the planters on May 11 at 9 a.m.

Macy passed around the watering sign up sheet to water the planters through the summer months.

Garage Sale will be June 1 at Barb Berry’s garage. Sale starts at 8 a.m.

Macy reported that the president district meeting was about our upcoming district meeting. Our district meeting will be June 3 at 9 a.m. at the Knoxville Sprint Car Museum. Our club will be providing breakfast and Grace before lunch. A sign up sheet will be passed around for members to donate breakfast items for this meeting. Our Club will receive $1.00 for each ticket sold to the district meeting for serving the breakfast. All clubs need to bring a silent auction item. Macy shared the criteria for the auction items. We are also to bring labeled potted plants that are priced to sale. All proceeds will go to the district treasury. Macy went over all the costs that goes into putting the district meeting together and the donations funded by our district.

It was reported that trees for Geise Park will be purchased around April 15.

Mallory made a motion to make painted rocks with the after school program at the Library on April 24 from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. Janet seconded it. Macy will get the rocks, the library has the paint. This will count as a Children’s project for the club.

Mallory will be getting more Baxter Garden Club brochures printed as we are almost out.

Members and guests enjoyed a snack provided by Macy.

Next meeting May 9 at the Baxter Community Building.

Colfax Historical Society

The April 15 meeting of the Colfax Historical Society was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by president Kevin Williams and he thanked everyone for attending. Members present were: BJ Williams, Karen Russell, Steve and Cindy L. Van Dusseldorp, Stanley Daft, Larry Daft, Rachel Wilty, Peggy Dvorak and facility manager Tranquillity Smith. Minutes of the March 18 meeting were read. Treasurer’s report was presented.

Facility manager Tranquillity distributed her report to all the members present. She thanked us for the use of our building for her father-in-law’s funeral reception. She also said her husband, Chris, would be willing to help with the installation of the security camera system, so he will get in contact with Kevin.

Aaron will be helping Joyce, Peggy, Deb and Cindy L. with learning the Past Perfect Program. Dianie Dafflito will also be willing to help as she works at the Jasper County Museum.

Further discussion was held of annual events and those mentioned were: Mineral Springs Day, a possible program in September or October by Michael Huston who is extremely knowledgeable about many aspects of the Civil War, including Iowa’s involvement, uniforms, prisons and he is a reenactor, Election Day Soup Supper on Nov. 5, Christmas movie with Larry D. in charge.

Kevin submitted an application for the endowment type grant by the Geisler-Penquite Foundation Grant.

Larry D. bought a mower to be used by him to mow our property this year. Thank you very much, Larry!

Peggy and Cindy L. have volunteered to audit the 2023 books.

We will be open the second Saturday of the month on May 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The volunteers will be Kevin and BJ from 10 a.m. to noon and from noon until 2 p.m. will be Don and Joyce. Admission is free.

We will have the museum open on Sundays now from 2 to 4 p.m. and ending on Sunday, Sept. 3. The next Sunday open is Sunday, May 26 with Kevin and BJ volunteering to be there.

Next meeting will be on Monday, May 20 at 7 p.m. It is open to anyone who would like to attend.