Saguaro News Newsletter of the SKP Saguaro Co-op Benson, Arizona April 2015 One View from the Board As I sit to write this article, my mind is on all of the activities for Silver Selabration! I just know it will be a wonderful time and appreciate all the work that is going into this. By the time you get the newsletter, we will be reminiscing. If it sounds like I am not sure what to say this month, that has been going through my head for two weeks. I ran out of topics! Never fear though, a few days ago I was working on the Board bulletin board and a new committee chair asked me what a liaison is supposed to do. With several new committee chairs and four new Board members, it seems like a perfect topic. Merriam-Webster defines liaison as a person who helps organizations or groups to work together and provide information to each other. In our Co-op, the Board assigns a director as the committee liaison, and another director as an alternate if the liaison is not available. It is the responsibility of the liaison to attend committee meetings, listen, and report what is happening at the next Board meeting. As long as all is going well, the liaison may say nothing during the meeting except, “hello”, “job well done” and “goodbye”. If the committee has questions, the liaison is there to answer, if possible, or bring the questions back to the Board. If your committee is working on a project that needs to be on the agenda, the committee liaison is the person you need. Work together to be sure what you want on the agenda is ready to present. If there are documents involved, make sure they are in order. Your liaison can get the documents to me to copy for the directors. The deadline to get on the agenda according to our bylaws, is 72 hours Sixteen of the original founders of the Co-op at the Founders Park dedication party in March. Front row (left to right): Tom Firlott, Laverne Firlott, Terry Braatz, Jerry Johnson, Maryellen Barcala, Lillie Gaul, Joe Gaul. Back row (left to right): Toe Takenaka, Guy Bourgon, Frances Pratt, Marliss Johnson, Ann Guerrini, Marilyn Contisano, Martin Contisano, Jean Walsh, Frankie De Mercado. For more photos of the SKP Saguaro Silver Selebration, see pages 6 and 7. (See One View on Page 7)
Transcript
Saguaro NewsNewsletter of the SKP Saguaro Co-op
Benson, ArizonaApril 2015
One View from the BoardAs I sit to write this article, my mind is on
all of the activities for Silver Selabration! Ijust know it will be a wonderful time andappreciate all the work that is going into this.By the time you get the newsletter, we will bereminiscing.
If it sounds like I am not sure what to saythis month, that has been going through myhead for two weeks. I ran out of topics! Neverfear though, a few days ago I was working onthe Board bulletin board and a newcommittee chair asked me what a liaison issupposed to do. With several new committeechairs and four new Board members, it seemslike a perfect topic.
Merriam-Webster defines liaison as aperson who helps organizations or groups towork together and provide information toeach other. In our Co-op, the Board assigns adirector as the committee liaison, and another
director as an alternate if the liaison is notavailable. It is the responsibility of the liaisonto attend committee meetings, listen, andreport what is happening at the next Boardmeeting. As long as all is going well, theliaison may say nothing during the meetingexcept, “hello”, “job well done” and“goodbye”. If the committee has questions, theliaison is there to answer, if possible, or bringthe questions back to the Board.
If your committee is working on a projectthat needs to be on the agenda, the committeeliaison is the person you need. Work togetherto be sure what you want on the agenda isready to present. If there are documentsinvolved, make sure they are in order. Yourliaison can get the documents to me to copyfor the directors. The deadline to get on theagenda according to our bylaws, is 72 hours
Sixteen of the original founders of the Co-op at the Founders Park dedication party in March. Frontrow (left to right): Tom Firlott, Laverne Firlott, Terry Braatz, Jerry Johnson, Maryellen Barcala, LillieGaul, Joe Gaul. Back row (left to right): Toe Takenaka, Guy Bourgon, Frances Pratt, Marliss Johnson,Ann Guerrini, Marilyn Contisano, Martin Contisano, Jean Walsh, Frankie De Mercado. For morephotos of the SKP Saguaro Silver Selebration, see pages 6 and 7.
(See One View on Page 7)
April 2015 Page 2 Saguaro News
A grand congratulations to the wonderfulSpring Chorus show—“2015 Co-Op Cabaret.”Marian Binder, Bruce Bryant and LindaQuistad-Berg did a fine job directing andproducing this show, and the chorus allseemed to have a fun time. It is wonderful tosee the tradition continue.
Chorus has been present since thebeginning of the Co-Op. Gwen Pacholik wasthe first director, and had a short tenure.
Sue Moore, a retired music teacher, spent14 years as Chorus director and was belovedby all. She did four shows a year: Hoedownin the fall; a Christmas show in December;love songs around Valentine's Day in Februaryand St. Patrick's Day music in March. She didher own accompanying and practiced pianoreligiously every morning at 6 a.m. Sheretired in 2004, and left the park to move toFlorida. She is presently in Tallahassee in anursing home near her veterinarian son.
Louise Strong took over from Sue in 2004and did her own accompanying. Louise hadworked with Sue for a year or two with“Strong/Moore” productions. She initiateddoing themed shows like “Benson toBroadway” and “Benson to Broadway andBack”, “Jukebox Saturday Night”, and “AnEvening with Gershwin.” Louise had abackground in theatre performance andproduction and brought that change to thepark. She started jam sessions in her casita.After the jam became too big for the casita, itmoved to the Clubhouse where it continuesvery successfully today.
Norma Taylor took on Chorus from Louisein the fall of 2010. She also did 2007-2008,when Louise took a sabbatical. Normacontinued the themed Spring programs,“Irving Berlin”, “The 20's”, “The 50's”, and“Rodgers and Hammerstein” evenings. Amajor change was using an accompanist, FayeBragg. These two teamed until both retired atthe end of 2014. The Chorus began switchingfrom all-unison singing to using some part-singing (with great success I might add).
Now the Chorus is led by Marian Binder,Bruce Bryant, and Linda Quistad-Berg. Lookforward to a change of format as these threecombine their talents. The music continuesfor SKPs that enjoy singing together.
Norma Taylor
Sound Of Music
Helping Hands Facts about the 2015 Helping Hands
Food Auction on Feb 21, a fund raiser forCactus Wrens:
$6,602 brought in by food auction $520 brought in by Sloppy Joes 190 food items donated
The Golden Spoon, plus $50, wasawarded to Frankie De Mercado who donated39 items that brought in $871. The $50 awardfor bringing in the highest amount for a singlefood item went to Donna Struble whosepineapple upside down cake sold for $94.The Progressive Dinner, which brought in$1,030, was presented by Ann and MickMeilicke, Mary and Court Nighswander, JanePauli and Stan Aursund, and Jo and KenBloedel.
Our hats are off to Kelly Edwards for hersuperb job of organizing this event. She willbe looking to train a co-chair for next year.
Summer may be around the corner butHelping Hands is here with the same serviceswe provide throughout the year whichincludes short term visitations, meals,laundry, shopping, light housekeeping andpet care. All services are confidential. Anyonein need should call the monthly coordinatorlisted on Channel 5.
We are in need of volunteers this summerto provide meals if needed. Contact themonthly coordinator or call NormaSchwarting at 608-963-2446 between now andMay 15. Have a great summer.
The season is coming to an end, and wewant to thank so many volunteers for makingthis another great SKP Saguaro season.
Last October, Pam Sanor and Susan Phelpshosted the Annual Yard Sale which is, and
always has been, a bigfundraiser for the CactusWrens. We can't thank themand their crew enough fortaking on this task. These
ladies also hosted the Annual ChristmasAuction and, again, we thankyou.
A big event was the PolarBear Party in January given byChapter 21.
In February, we had awonderful “Souperbowl”party. We thank all the ladies for providingthe soup which was thoroughly enjoyed bymany.
Also in February, we welcomed twentyplus new leaseholders.
We say “thank you, Kelly Edwards andcrew” for chairing the Annual Food Auctionwhich raised an incredible amount of moneyfor the Cactus Wrens.
In February we also celebrated weddinganniversaries for couples who had beenmarried 25, 50, 55, 60 and 60+ years. Twelvecouples celebrated a total of over 500 years ofwedded bliss. Thank you, Brian Tratner, forbeing such a great master of ceremonies.
By the time you read this newsletter, wewill have celebrated the Co-op's 25th Anniversary andthere wouldn't be enoughpages to list the hundreds ofvolunteers who helped put ona week of great events. Wewant you to know, though,
that we appreciate everyone's input and thehard work you have done.
Ice Cream SocialOur next Ice Cream Social is Sunday,
April 5 at 7 p.m. We will be celebrating thosewho have birthdays and/or anniversaries inApril and October. Those people will receivefree ice cream while others pay 50¢ pergenerous “scoop.”
To reduce our trash, please bring yourown bowl and spoon. See you in theClubhouse.
Jan Petring
Spring Fling 2016For many of us it’s time to leave behind
our old and new winter friends and hit theroad or head for home. It’s been a very busyand exciting 25th anniversary year!
But it is never too soon to think about the2015-2016 season here in the park. A themehas been selected for the 2016 Spring Flingfundraiser: Old Mexico Days. After all, it
hasn’t been thatlong ago that thisland was in
Mexican territory. Let’s embrace our historyand celebrate the food, music and fun of oldMexico.
Bring your ideas, clothing and decorationswith you when you return to the park in theFall.
Linda Rubin & Dodie Schleiger,2016 Spring Fling Co-Chairs
From The ClubhouseThank you, thank you, thank you!
Linda Rubin and I wish everyone a safetrip wherever it may take you, and we bothlook forward to serving you in the fall.
Ingrid Kluegel & Linda Rubin,Clubhouse Co-Chairs
April 2015 Page 4 Saguaro News
What if you had to vote on which of ournatural attractions was the best?
You could choose from the colorful skiesat sunrise and sunset against the silhouettedmountains or the sparkling formations ofKartchner Caverns, or perhaps the cacti andwildflowers that decorate the valley in spring,or perhaps you would prefer the colorfulflying gems that live here or migrate throughon their yearly flights. Of course, I mean thehummingbirds. At this time of the year, Iwould have to cast my vote for the jewels thatvisit my red yuccas. There are so many thingsto learn if you are fortunate enough to getclose to these creatures.
It is hard to describe the thrill of holdingan exhausted hummingbird in your hand,feeling its warmth and heartbeat as its brightlittle eyes watch you. It might allow you totake it to a feeder where it can regain energy,then whir rapidly away to resume its insectand nectar gathering.
Looking at hummers we see brilliant reds,purples, and greens. However, they do nothave colored feathers, but iridescent colorsare produced when light is reflected orabsorbed by the structure of the feathers.Also, they can get covered with pollen as theyflit from flower to flower and appear to bebright yellow. It is often difficult to tell thefemales apart but the brightly colored malesare much easier to identify. If you see ahummingbird east of the Rockies it is almostcertain to be a Rubythroat because nearly100% of the hummers there belong to thatspecies. In our valley, Blackthroated andRufous are quite common. On the Pacificcoast, Anna’s are the most numerous.
Most of our common hummer species are3 ½ to 4 inches from bill tip to tail tip. If yousee one that is quite different, you just mightbe seeing an unusual visitor. There aresightings of visiting birds from Mexico fromtime to time.
The females get the whole job of laying,hatching, and feeding the babies. Thathappens after she builds the nest! The nestwill measure about two inches across and becomposed of spider webs, plant fibers, andeven animal hair. They are hard to see unlessyou observe the actions of the female as shebrings insects and nectar to the babies. Shewill be extraordinarily busy for three or fourweeks and then the young are on their own.In a few short weeks, they must figure outhow to find food and then how to migrate.The latter task is not fully understood but theact of hitching a ride on a larger bird is just amyth that has been bandied about.
Another oddity is the hummingbird mothwhich drinks nectar and flits aboutresembling a bird. If you look closely, youwill see that it has antennae and birdsdefinitely do not.
As hummers are often seen fighting overfeeders, it is easier to understand when youknow that their energy needs cause them toconsume food equal to their body weight eachday, whereas we consume food equal to aboutone percent of our weight daily. Rufoushumming birds are often the mostpugnacious, perching near a food source andswooping down to chase intruders away.
San Pedro House on Highway 90 just westof the river has plenty of observationstructures for watching the many species ofbirds which live by the river or visit as theypass through. Banding of the hummingbirdswill begin this year on March 28, andcontinues every Saturday in April and May.The public is welcome to watch from 4 to 6p.m. It is fascinating to watch the experts asthey place the tiny bands on fragile legs. Ifyou look around there, you will see giantcottonwood trees, and many other birds suchas flickers, finches, and flocks of blackbirds.
Have a happy, healthy summer down theroad.
Jean Holloway-Burkhart
Our Valley
Saguaro News Page 5 April 2015
Prickly pear spines. Photo by Sharon Pearson
Since our article “Gardening in Welder’sGloves” back in January Sharon and I havelearned a few things about gardening here inthe SKP Saguaro Co-op. We enjoy workingoutdoors and chatting about the desert plantswith our fellow Landscaping Committeemembers. The mornings are warmer thanwhen we wrote our first article but we stillcover up during work parties. The air maybeless chilly but the plants are still spiky and alayer of denim is useful in protecting usagainst scrapes and scratches.
Since January, we’ve learned how to trimbushes and cactus so that they don’t providehomes for snakes, mice and pack rates.Trimming the foliage so that it’s no closer tothe ground than six inches keeps pests fromfinding shelter at the base of the plants.Trimming the bottom of the plants oftenrequires us to get down on ours knees to reachunder the branches. Using knee pads orkneeling pads make this important operationmuch more comfortable and we’ve addedthese items to our equipment.
the plant or if the plant is shaken. Glochidscan irritate skin, eyes, nose and throat so it’simportant to handle prickly pear carefully.When cutting these cactus we avoid usingpower tool like Sawzalls or chainsaws. Powertools vibrate the plant and can releaseglochids into the air. We use loopers, polesaws and even shovel blades to remove partsof these plants. Spraying the cactus pads withwater before working is helpful in preventingthe glochids from becoming airborne.
Even when a piece of prickly pear cactushas been cut off, just picking it up can bedifficult. The flesh of the prickly pear isdense, slippery and covered in spines. Thewelder’s gloves we wear do not provideenough protection to handle prickly pearpieces. Some of the large spines can directlypenetrate the gloves. Glochids don’t penetratethe gloves directly but they do seem to worktheir way through the fabric nonetheless andeventually end up in your fingers. We’ve triedusing kitchen tongs to pick up prickly pearpads but they could grip only relatively smallones. Heavy fireplace tongs, used to movesmall logs in a hearth, work much better. Oneset of fireplace tongs has been donatedalready and works well. If anyone has anadditional set of fireplace tongs they wouldlike to donate, the Landscaping Committeewould be happy to have them.
Since our last article we have learned tohandle prickly pear cactus, trim pyracanthabushes into an umbrella shape and refurbishfoot paths through gardens. We’ve enjoyedworking on the Landscape Committee as itspruced up the park’s common area inanticipation of the Silver Anniversary. Wewill be leaving for the summer soon, alongwith some other member of the committee. Ifyou would like to learn more about workingwith desert plants and contribute to parkmaintenance, the committee could use yourhelp. In the meantime, have a good spring andsummer and we’ll see you next fall.
Rick and Sharon Pearson
The Perils of Prickly Pear Pruning
When prickly pear cactus grow close to theground they need to be trimmed like any otherplant. However, we’ve learned that pruningprickly pear cactus can be tricky. Prickly pearcactus are unique in that they often have twotypes of spines. They have the large obviousspines like other cactus and tiny, stealthspines called glochids. These tiny, hair likespines come lose when you brush up against
April 2015 Page 6 Saguaro News
Parade costume
winners Doug
Miller, Valerie
Miller, Diane
Zaugg, and
Morgan.
Jo Bloedel workson a Jenga towerduring the SilverHaired Olympics.
Jill Mohr and Susan Phelps go off course
driving the Golf Cart Blind Man’s Bluff.
Bruce Bryant, Dick Johnson, Bruce Williamson, TankLucas, Mike Lenney and Doug Miller erect theFounders Park sign carved by Bruce and Dick.
Keystone Cops Mike Lenney andStan Aarsund escort Tank Lucasback to jail during the Celebration of
the Stars parade.
Misdeal Betty Lenneman atBlast From The Past.
Frank Downey escorts
founder Terry Braatz .
SKP Saguaro Silver SelebrationMarch 16-21, 2015
Photos by Dodie Schleiger
Saguaro News Page 7 April 2015
(9 a.m.) the Saturday morning before a Boardmeeting. There is a way to make exceptionsbut this should be used for emergency itemsonly.
Your committee liaison may handle amotion that needs to be made for thecommittee. If that is going to happen, pleasepresent the motion in writing to make it easierfor the Recording Secretary or Secretary. It isdifficult to get the motion in the minutescorrectly when the wording keeps changingmid-sentence.
Your liaison does not run your committeeor take part in discussions unless asked tospeak or to correct some misinformation.They are there to listen, help when needed,and report back to the Board and the Co-op. Ifthe liaison has concerns, he/she will talk tothe chair privately. Since we are all learning,the liaison may just need some clarification.
As our projects get more complicated, I amstarting to hear from Directors that two daysare not enough to read, analyze, and get readyto vote on something. If it is possible to getitems to me before Saturday, that would begreat.
To sum it all up, the liaison is the gobetween for the committee and Board and thefacilitator to make it easier to see projects tocompletion. Last but not least, this is alearning experience for all of us.
The birds are nesting, the cactus arestarting to bloom, and soon many of ourfriends will be on the road again. Safe travelsto all and I look forward to seeing you back inour wonderful Co-op in the fall.
Carole Melander, Board Secretary
One View...(continued from Page 1)Silver Selebration
To download a copy of Saguaro News withthe Anniversary photos in color, go to theCo-op’s web site (skpsaguaro.org) and clickon Publications/Newsletter, or enter thisaddress in your browser:http://www.skpsaguaro.org/newsletter.html
The U.S. Olympic Swim Team performed atBlast From The Past. Left to right: NickPergasis, Spencer Kluegel, Rex Porter, CosmoBaraona, Ken Bloedel, Ed Yurs.
Meals included a St. Patrick’s Day dinner, ahot dog roast, Saturday morning breakfast, andthe Silver Anniversary Reception.
Published October through AprilDeadline is the 15th of the
previous month
Read Saguaro News on the web athttp://www.skpsaguaro.org/newsletter.html
LandscapingThanks to all the leaseholders and renters
for sprucing up your lots for the celebration.
The three chairs of Landscaping, plus KayTrudo and Jerry Yecny (who drove hispickup) went on a plant buying trip to Civanoand B&B nurseries to buy plants and cacti forthe park. Most of them will be plantedaround the parking area at the Clubhouse.
We desperately need someone to waterthese new plants after the middle of May untilthe monsoons arrive. It would take about onehour once a week. Please see one of us if youwould be willing to do this.
Jane Pauli, Rita Kingma, Linda Lightborn Landscape Co-Chairs
Welcome CommitteeThe Welcome Committee has had another
busy month. We visited a total of 66 guestsbetween February 15 and March 14. Twentyeight of them used coupons and four signedonto the hotlist.
We are trying to welcome everyone now,including returning SKPs (not just theguests). Hopefully, they will enjoy our warmwelcome and want to become leaseholders.
Carol Kemp, Welcome Chair
Editor’s NoteThis is the final issue of Saguaro News for
the season.
I want to thank all of the contributors whohave submitted articles and photos. Youmake this a lively and interesting newsletter.My thanks also goes to my chief proofreader,Dan Wainwright, who keeps me from makingsome embarrassing mistakes.
Have a great summer. The newsletter willresume in October.
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