Minutes from the January 15th, 2012meetiing

Generally meetings will proceed in the following format, with exceptions made to accommodate speakers and special presentations:

• 2:00 - Arrival (use of library books, etc.), plant display, plant sales
• 2:30 - Welcome and announcements; any further business
• 2:40 - Cactus of the Month
• 2:50 - Succulent of the Month
• 3:00 - Break
• 3:15 - General Program
• 4:30 - Dismissal

The following minutes describe the meeting in condensed form. For complete information, please attend the next meeting

New president Bill Hickey called the meeting to order. Twelve members and guests braved the snowy
streets to attend the meeting.

Treasury report by Adrian Saunders: $6,609.38 in the bank. Adrian is actively collecting outstanding dues.

Karen Summers showed several books brought in from the CCSS library and some newsletters for
giveaway.

Bill shared some bookmarks sent to the club from Sunnyside Nursery. They have all of their workshops
and location info on them. This might be an idea for how we market our club and programs. Giselle will
format our current program schedule into a bookmark like strip with club info on the back and bring it to a
future meeting for approval.

Bill offered thanks to Dixon Blackmer for his many years of excellent service to our club as treasurer.
Bill suggested that our club pull together a speaker’s list which we could post on our website. If you would
like to present succulent related programs, please send your name, contact info, and presentation topics to Adrian Saunders at adrian.saunders@comcast.net

Bill shared with the group a decision made by the officers at an earlier meeting. We would like to
establish information tables at venues where we might attract some new members, and at the very least share information about succulents with interested people. Discussion was held on having an info table at The Conservatory. Possible dates are April 28, 29, June 2, 17. Also we could have an info table at the plant sale on Mother’s day weekend. These dates will be published in The Point and membership can check their calendars for availability to staff the info table. We will decide at the February meeting which ones we will do.

Brag Plants: Mike Dubbury brought in some of his [Awesome!] seedlings of Euphorbia obesa and
Euphorbia symmetrica which have crossed. Each pod had about 3 small black seeds in it. Since the
plants tend to “shoot” their seeds when the pods open, he put a plastic dome over the plants so he
could collect all of the seed. The seeds were planted about 6 weeks ago and he has many
seedlings from ½ to 1 inch tall. Members were intrigued and asked Mike to bring them back
again when they are older so we could check in on their progress.

Cactus of the Month: Bill Hickey presented on Echinofossulocactus, focusing primarily on
lamulosas. He brought E. cristatus as an example of the genera. Also Mike Dubbury
brought in an Echinofossulocactus which was different from cristatus but unlabeled. Dixon
and Adrian also grow these and reported lovely, reliable flowers.

Succulent of the Month: Giselle Blythe reported on Umbilicus rupestris whish is a Mediterranean,
Western European native that is hardy here. Her plant disappears every winter and reappears in
spring. Since the plant is now dormant, Giselle crafted her own U. rupestris from fabric, earning
accolades from the group.

Dixon Blackmer announced his good news to the group – he is a proud great grandfather as of this
past December.

The group adjourned for delicious refreshments provided by Sue Braaten and Nick Heiting.

Giselle Blythe gave an excellent program on Seeking Succulents in Southern Spain which
included a nice travelogue of Spain along with plant life, much of which was Umbilicus
rupestris.

Door prizes donated by Lisa Lithgow were won by Adrian Saunders, Eugene Collias, and Mike
Dubbury.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen Summers, substitute secretary

February 2012