Plant Sale Reminder
The annual Plant Sale will be held this year on May 7-8-9. Mark your calendars for the Thursday night members-only preview sale, where FOTA members find the best selection of plants and receive a 10% discount. Plan to bring your Plant Sale Wish List to the sale, which is open to the public from 9 to 5 on Friday and Saturday.
And-great news--THE NATIVE PLANTS WILL BE BACK!
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Help Wanted
We are in need of an additional wheelchair for visitors to the Arboretum.
Garden Show: help plan, set up, staff, or tear down the Arboretum booth at the Johnson County Lawn & Garden show February 27, 28 and March 1. Contact Phyllis Merrick at 913-685-3604 or volunteercoordinator@opkansas.org.
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Meet Suzie
 Meet our new FOTA administrative assistant, Suzie Swyden. Suzie joined the organization in December and will be responsible for handling membership renewals, database management, memorial gifts and will also be assisting with special events and other creative marketing projects. She and her family are active in the Blue Valley school district and community. In the past, Suzie was active as a private business owner. She is a Classical Community Musician performer and has been highly involved in a variety of Kansas City civic projects.
Suzie plans on sharing these creative experiences with FOTA and incorporating the Arboretum in a wide range of Kansas City events. Please don't hesitate to contact her with any questions or ideas you may have at fotacoordinator@yahoo.com.
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Save
10%
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Friends of the Arboretum (FOTA) members receive a 10% discount on class fees, plant sale purchases, and FOTA merchandise, along with invitations to special Friends events and other benefits of membership.
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FOTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Karen Haake, Chair
Teri Shields, Vice Chair
Kathy Alspaugh, Secretary
Larry Engelkemier, Treasurer
Barbara Brand
John Kalal
Sandy Kenyon
Stacey Gilman
FOTA ADMINISTRATOR
Suzie Swyden
fotacoordinator@yahoo.com
FOTA VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS
Arts for Kids
Bird Committee, Sue Davidson
Bird Feeders, Bob Buehler
Eagle Scout Projects, Hugh McCreery
EEVC Displays
Garden Shows, Karen Haake
Greenhouse, Ken O'Dell
Greeters, Phyllis Merrick
Holiday Luminary Walk, Teri Shields &
Margaret Kalal
Membership, Barbara Brand
Photography, Carol Fowler
Plant Sale, Phyllis Merrick & Don Tetzlaff
Prairie Restoration, Chuck Garrett
Safety, Don Tetzlaff
Volunteer Tour Guides, Karin Winn
Weddings, Phyllis Merrick
FOTA eNEWSLETTER
Judy Moser, Editor
judy@springvalleynursery.com
ARBORETUM STAFF
Karen Kerkhoff, Supervisor
Kerry Williams, Horticulturist
Dianna Mahaney, Park Attendant
Jon Beuthin, Park Attendant
Phyllis Merrick & Cathy Lovetere,
Volunteer Coordinators
For additional information, call
the Arboretum 913-685-3604
Website: www.opabg.org
To rent an area of the Environmental
Education and Visitors Center,
Pavilion or Garden Areas, call
Leisure Services at 913-895-6390
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Chair's Corner... 
By Karen Haake
Welcome to our new and improved FOTA newsletter. We are delighted to bring you this new publication featuring timely information, colorful photos, and a quick read--while at the same time saving our trees and using your membership dollars more efficiently.
The newsletter will be delivered about once a month and will inform you of upcoming events, on-going classes in the Visitors Center, and special invitations for FOTA members. We are excited that our readers will get a more comprehensive idea of what takes place at the Arboretum and we invite you to participate in as many programs as possible.
Please enjoy this first edition and we would welcome your comments and suggestions. Comments can be sent to fotacoordinator@yahoo.com.
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Volunteer Sign-Up Meeting Feb. 7
WE NEED YOU!
Volunteer opportunities abound at your Arboretum! The Volunteer Sign-Up Meeting on Saturday, February 7 is your chance to check out the many areas in which volunteer assistance is needed, and to sign up for the job or event-large or small- that interests you most.
Prospective volunteers can come at any time during the meeting--from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Event and committee chairs will be on hand to explain the various ways volunteers work to make the Arboretum better.
 Of particular need at this time are Gardeners, Greeters and Tour Guides.
"Volunteering at the Arboretum is fun!" says volunteer coordinator Phyllis Merrick. "Try it--you'll like it!"
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2009 Classes Start Soon
Enhancing Our Local Bluebird Population
Saturday, January 31, 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Milt Noelken will talk about recent efforts to attract Bluebirds to the Arboretum during the past two years. This program will cover the installation of 27 nest boxes designed especially for bluebirds with guards to prevent several kinds of predators from invading the nests, as well as the Bluebird Monitoring Program. Hugh McCreery and Bob Buehler will discuss designing and building bluebird houses. The Bluebird program at the Arboretum, in its second year, produced 26 nests, 76 hatches and 76 fledged Bluebirds. These are amazing results. Class fee $10 per person (includes notes and bird house plans).
 The Importance of Spring Bird Feeding
Saturday, February 21, 10:00 am to 11:30 pm
Doc and Diane Gover, owners of two Wild Birds Unlimited nature shops, will discuss the importance of continuing to feed songbirds in the spring. They will also discuss problem solving solutions, including raccoon, squirrel and grackle avoidance and clean feeding alternatives. There will be time for questions during the class. Handouts provided. Join us for this wonderful and informative class. Class fee $10 per person.
Reservations are required. Contact Phyllis Merrick at 913-685-3604 or at volunteercoordinator@opkansas.org. 10% discount for FOTA members. Download and print the complete 2009 Class Schedule.
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Photo Contest
We're
about half way through the 2009 Photo Contest, and winter
presents excellent opportunities for hardy photographers. Often they get
the more challenging shots that set themselves apart during contest
judging. Bundle up, be brave, and get to the Arboretum early or stay
late. Come during fog or snow. Make a photograph that no one else had
the creativity, vision and fortitude to take. We'll all be glad you did.
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 The Holiday
Luminary Walk was the most successful ever, as hundreds of families observed this annual season-opening tradition by strolling through the magically candle-lit trails and holiday decorated night-time woods. It is truly a spectacular event like none other in our area. Pictured here, a volunteer helps light the luminaries at dusk.
Photo by Carol Fowler
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Good Things Ahead . . .
 Finishing touches are being put on the Friends Welcoming Garden. New
iron gates and entrance lighting are currently being installed.
Work is
beginning on the new Iris garden with hopes for completion by May.
Plans are in the works for an additional fall event that include your
favorite dog. And the list of classes being offered continues to expand
each month.
We encourage you to take a walk, explore the Arboretum, see the changes and watch us grow. Photo by Debbie Hughes
CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND CLASSES:
JANUARY
31 Enhancing Our Local Blue Bird Population 10-11:30*
FEBRUARY
7 Volunteer Sign-up Meeting 10-2
21 Understanding Spring Bird Feeding 10-11:30*
27-28 Johnson Co. Lawn & Garden Show
MARCH
1 Johnson Co. Lawn & Garden Show
7 New Volunteer Orientation 9-11
11 Let's Talk Herbs 10-1*
18 Adapting the Monet Concept to Your Garden 10-11:30*
21 The Spectacular Iris 10-11:30*
28 Bird Walk 8 am
28 Climate Change & Bird Decline 10-11:30*
* There is a fee for these events/classes
Learn more about upcoming events at the Arboretum website.
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