Chair's Corner...
By Karen Haake
The Christmas lights have been tested, the dancing bears have been removed from storage, and the candle cylinders are filled. The elves at the Arboretum have been busy getting ready for this year's magical Luminary Walk. Be sure to make this event part of you plans for Thanksgiving weekend or the following one. You don't want to miss the beauty found in the stillness of the night.
When marking your calendars, be sure to note the classes and activities that will be taking place right after the first of the year. It is not too early to register for classes, and some have limited space.
We are also adding music for Sunday afternoons in February. Enjoy the coziness of the Visitors Center and special musical entertainment beginning at 2 pm.
When doing your holiday shopping, remember that we have wonderful note cards for sale. These cards feature photos from our photography contest and make a great hostess gift or stocking stuffer.
At this time of thanksgiving, I wish to thank all the volunteers who give so much time to benefit the Arboretum. Through your dedication and outstanding efforts we continue to be able to offer more tours, flowers, manicured gardens, etc., to showcase the Arboretum. To all the members of FOTA, thank you for your financial support as well. Your donations allow us to continue with events, educational opportunities, and promotion of the Arboretum.
All donations written and postmarked by December 31st will be acknowledged for 2009. Remember to submit the paperwork for corporate matches for volunteer hours or monetary donations.
Our donor board is updated each year in the spring.
Lastly, Barbara Brand, a member of the FOTA board for the past six years has completed her two terms of office. Barbara has devoted countless hours of service as membership chairman as well as finding musical talent and story tellers for Arts for Kids and the Luminary Walk. Barbara, a librarian, is now stepping into the chairmanship role for a committee selecting the recipient of a major book award for children.
Cold, crisp days are a great time to come, take a walk, explore the Arboretum and watch us grow.
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FOTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Karen Haake, Chair
Teri Shields, Vice Chair
Kathy Alspaugh, Secretary
Larry Engelkemier, Treasurer
Barbara Brand
John Kalal
Stacey Gilman
Dick Cromwell
Jim Holland
Margaret Maher-Williams
Shannon Corley & Nancy Yates,
ARFOP Liaisons to the Board
FOTA ADMINISTRATOR
Suzie Swyden
fotacoordinator@yahoo.com
FOTA VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS
Arts for Kids, Stacey Gilman & Gail Keller
Bird Committee, Sue Davidson
Bird Feeders, Bob Buehler
Eagle Scout Projects, Hugh McCreery
Garden Shows, Karen Haake
Greeters, Phyllis Merrick
Holiday Luminary Walk, 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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Tenth Annual Holiday
Luminary Walk
November 27-28
and December 4-5
5 to 8:30 pm
Start your 2009 holiday season off in grand style by bringing your family and friends to the Tenth Annual Holiday Luminary Walk. Where else can you experience a mile of candlit trails, lighted displays, holiday music, a bonfire and refreshments -- all in the eerie silence of the night-time woods? In addition, Santa Claus makes an appearance at the Visitors Center each night from 6 to 8 pm.  Volunteers have been planning for months and working hard in all kinds of weather for weeks to make this the best Luminary Walk ever. So bundle up, come early, and bring your camera. According to photo committee chair Carol Fowler, the best time to take pictures is shortly after sunset. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for ages 5 to 11, and children 4 and under free. Parking is free. No pets please.Carriage and reindeer photo above (by Carol Fowler) is from the 2008 event. Above right, hard-working volunteer and board member John Kalal unwraps a string of lights on a recent volunteer work day. Photo by Luminary Walk chair Margaret Kalal.
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New Volunteer Orientation:
Join the fun!
Volunteer Coordinator Phyllis Merrick will hold new volunteer orientation sessions on January 16 and February 20 from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Visitors Center.
The session will cover volunteer opportunities such as:
gardening, greeting, prairie restoration, greenhouse operations,
weddings, photography, birds, special events and plant sales.
Pre-register by calling 913-685-3604 or by e-mail:
volunteercoordinator@opkansas.org
Consider spending part of your leisure time volunteering at Overland Park's 300-acre Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. The Arboretum is a great place for people to get back in touch with nature, admire the beauty of numerous flower and water gardens and become a part of a wonderful volunteer experience. The volunteer requirement is 30 hours per calendar year. Call us and we will put you to work!
Pictured here is a group of volunteers getting ready for the Tenth Annual Luminary Walk. Photo by Margaret Kalal.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
NOVEMBER 27-28 and DECEMBER 4-5
Tenth Annual Holiday Luminary Walk 5-8:30 pm *
JANUARY
9 Learn to Play the Native American Flute 10-noon*
16 New Volunteer Orientation 9-11 am
20 Annual Flowers for Your Gardens 10-11:30 am*
30 Enhancing Our Local Bluebird Population 10-11:30 am*
FEBRUARY
Winter concerts every Sunday afternoon at 2
in the Visitors Center
6 Volunteer Sign-Up Day 10-2 pm
10 Gardens in Flight 1-2:30 pm*
17 Monet Gardening, Kansas Style 10-11:30 am*
20 New Volunteer Orientation 9-11 am
27 Learn to Play the Native American Flute 10-noon*
* There is a fee for these events/classes.
Friends of the Arboretum receive a 10% discount on educational programs.
Learn more about upcoming events at the Arboretum website.
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Fall and winter ... a great time to take pictures for the photo contest
 Demonstrate your photographic ingenuity and hardy midwestern constitution by shooting some entries for the annual photo contest in the somewhat more challenging seasons of fall and winter. Photos of events such as the Luminary Walk make excellent entries as well. You can find complete contest information and the entry form at opabg.org.
Photo by Kevin Keltner
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If you are having any technical difficulties with this newsletter, or if you have comments or suggestions, please contact Suzie Swyden at fotacoordinator@yahoo.com.
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