Chair's Corner...
By Teri Shields
 This is the newsletter in which I get to sing the praises of the OPABG volunteers. The Friends of the Arboretum wouldn't be able to present our programs, classes and events without our awesome volunteers. Some of the volunteers are FOTA member and some are not. The one thing they do have in common is working tirelessly on behalf of the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.
A quick list of things that the volunteers do includes: FOTA special events, committees and activities such as the luminary walk, arts for kids, plant sale, golf tournament, geoarboretum, photography, birds, classes, weddings, touch a truck -- the list just goes on and on. One of the most important things that the volunteers do for the OPABG is gardening. Between the hands-on work out in the gardens and growing plants in the greenhouse, they are part of the reason the Arboretum is so very beautiful. One of the most important volunteer positions each day is the greeter in the Visitors Center. Greeters are the smiling, helpful faces that visitors are met with. A true treasure in Overland Park.
We are all here out of our love and passion for the Arboretum. What I never expected when I became a volunteer was the friendships I would make. There is a bond, a closeness, working side-by-side with people you share a vision with. It is truly a joy to be a volunteer at the Arboretum.
There are new volunteers in addition to the ones that have been at the Arboretum since the vision began. They all deserve an award for their commitment. It was a very difficult task, but we have chosen two people to honor for their work at the OPABG in 2009.
 The winner of the 2009 Margie Engelkemier Volunteer of the Year award is Margaret Kalal. Margaret has become the go-to person for FOTA events and activities. There is seldom an event at which Margaret is not a hard-working volunteer, if not leader. This will be her fourth year chairing the Holiday Luminary Walk. Her passion has helped grow this event to our number one fund raiser for 2009. Margaret is also involved with our new birthday parties and fairy terrarium classes, and she is a devoted hands-on worker in the Arboretum gardens.
The Sapling Award is given to a new volunteer in his or her first full year of volunteering at the Arboretum. It is not only based on the number of hours, but also the diversification of volunteer activities and assumed leadership roles. Sandra Peterson is the recipient of this year's Sapling Award. Sandra put in more than 175 volunteer hours. She has been involved as a weekly gardener, a greenhouse team member, and a walking guide for the Open House on the Prairie. She has helped with the prairie restoration project and has assumed leadership roles in both the Arts for Kids and Holiday Luminary Walk events.
The awards were presented at FOTA's annual meeting on July 18. We are so grateful to have volunteers like Margaret and Sandra!
Annual meeting photos above by Margaret Maher-Williams.
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FOTA RAFFLE
Here's your chance to win:
· Apple iPad Wi-Fi, 32 GB
· Wind Sculpture by Renowned Artist
Lyman Whitaker
· 26" Vizio HDTV
Drawing will be held September 24 at the Council President's Green Space Golf Tournament.
Tickets: suggested donation $10,
or 3 for $20
Available at Arboretum events, in the Visitors Center, and online.
You do not have to be present to win.
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Contact Information
FOTA Chair Teri Shields:
Terishields@aol.com
Volunteer Coordinator Phyllis Merrick:
VolunteerCoordinator@opkansas.org
FOTA Coordinator Suzie Swyden:
fotacoordinator@yahoo.com
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2009 Volunteer Hours
400 and Above
Karen Haake (674); Lenora Wuattoux-Ray (410)
300 to 400
Teri Shields (375); Don Tetzlaff (347); Ken O'Dell (339); Judy Moser (328)
200 to 300
Margaret Kalal (288); Dixie Wantoch (272); Hugh McCreery (249); Mike Pooler (240); Greg Bloom (228); Ron Lomax (225); June Luedke (220); Nancy McCreery (216); Sue Bolan (210); Adair Weingart (208)
100 to 200
Karin Winn (199); Jim Copling (191); Virginia McKenzie (190); Patsy Arnold (189); Milton Noelken (184); Karen McNerney (180); Sandy Peterson (176); Carole Dean (176); Chuck Garrett (174); Julie Vieg (173); Larry Engelkemier (164); Bob Buehler (157); Carol Fowler 142); Phyllis Merrick (140); Kathy Alspaugh (138); Sue Davidson (138); Georgia Erickson (136); Harriet Hartman (136); Olive Schwartz (133); Stacey Gilman (125); Warren Thomas (124); John Kalal (124); Laura Ross (115); Dick Cromwell (114); Anne Schuman (113); Don DeGeer (112); Barbara Brand (110); Aziza Moolla (105); Heidi Retherfore (101)
 25 to 100
Ed Deane (98); Bette Stockdale (98); Suzie Swyden (97); Carolyn Dewey (96); Kathleen Hess (94); Peggy Kupfer (89); Collyn Peterson (88); Cindy VanHooser (88); Bud Tolman (87); Lynda Ochs (85); Haven Rolander (83); Pat Gray (82); Eleanor Englander (82); Lola Harrington (82); Debbie Hughes (79); David Munie (79); Dale Jenkins (79); Frank Reichart (79); Kay Allega (78); Andrea Chase (78); Ellen Mohr (78); Norma Haraughty (75); Norma Erwin (74); Jerry Share (74); Larry Jiskra (71); Debbi Chapman (70); Jane Golub (69); Trent Reed ( 68); Susan Cardenas (68); Michele Sevcik (66); Bob Fowler (66); Sandy Garrett (64); Charyl Singer (64); Mark Trefry (63); Judy Moecker (58); Charles Cormier (58); Sharon Janney (58); Don Gundy (67); Hilda Tingey (56); Carol Saxon (56); Carol Cramer (55); Charles Loftus (55); Joan Langmack (53); Ed Cramer (52); Pat Blanchat (51); Bob Potty (51); Mark Marston (50); Nell Hall (49); Jordan Kala (49); Jane Flora-Swick (49); Tracey Williams (47); Gail Keller (46); Lynn Broyer (46); Shirley Love (45); Margaret Maher-Williams (45); Leon Smith (45); Betty Knackstadt (44); Carroll Toll (43); Virginia Arnold (42); Stephen Londerholm (41); Cat McGrath-Farmer (41); Denise Lynch (40); Barbara Buehler (40); Virginia Toll (40); Tanya Keys (39); Diana Aubuchon (39); Priscilla Jamison (38); Lauren Klimt (38); Bob Weingart (38); Martha Seymour (36); Dennis Patton (36); Alyson Swyden (35); Don Johnson (35); Carolyn Marston (34); Judy Sipple (34); Karen Tobler (34); Sandy Kenyon (33); Keri Myers (33); Jim Holland (32); Kevin Keltner (32); Liz McKee (32); Dave Shackelford (32); Nancy Yates (32); Cathy Lovetere (32); Wayne Byrd (31); Traci Sipple (31); Melana Cooke (31); Lakshmi Muddurama (31); Stacy Rund (31); Larry Lynch (31); Carlie Copeland (31); Sam Hartman (31); Wayne Shields (30); Kathleen Myers (30); JoEllen Stamm (30); Patti Cain (29); Dan Howard (29); Becky Reed (29); Barbara Rolander (28); Susan Strong (28); Norm Pommerenke (27); Christie Cochran (26); Bonnie McClellan (25); David Sinzheimer (25); Paul Trautman (25)
 Up to 25
Jacqlyn Swyden, Jack Kilcoyne, Russ Ackerman, Michelle Bader, Chuck Haake, Alex Meisinger, Ann Hibbard, Nick Semrau, Rachel Smith, Wayne Smith, Crystal Alpers, James Mulich, Lyle Brende, Carol Semrau, Eric Klimt, Saundra Meroney, Terri Hughes, Carol Gast, Sharon Justice, John Pruitt, Christa Schroeder, Debbi Homola, Mary Anne Stewart, Nicole Perez, Jessica Wolzen, Walter Coe, Daryl Taylor, Dr. Mathur, Linda Fisher, Jessica Edwards, Ray Olsen, Terry Scheier, Derek Perez, Dianne Ayers, Sharon Lomax, Peggy McGowen, Lorie Phillips, Almira Hansen, Miranda Froehlich, Nancy Gardner, Eryn Copeland, Rahe Chapin, Courtney Semrau, Matt True, Meggan True, Lynn Dale, Joe Allen, Brett Bauer, Pat Bennett, Emily Klimt, Bob Lane, Kate Pearce, Meaghan Tyler, Debby Sewell, Edna Farris, Nancy Gilhaus, Wanda Lee, Frand Kaul, David Miles, Pat Dolesal, Susan Berlinski, Susan Davis, Wilson Graves, Bonnie Jenkins, Bonnie Powell, Mary Taylor, Ying Penz, Kim Follet, Jackie Zard, Loren Semrau, Sandi Cook, Julia Morphew, Vickie Un, Cheryl Dick, Susie Newman, Val Holzer, Gail Mayer, Cheryl Patterson, Kathy Sinzheimer, Kira Sexton, Marjorie Kline, Tammy Watson, Kelly Way, Ann French, Sharon Marshall, Jennifer McGonigle, Ashley Knutson, Anne Byrd, Ron Ellison, Alice Lee Hollister, Erica Kurta, Alan Stetson, Carrie Hartman, Marilyn Young, Edna Toms, Hazel Bischoff, Jerry Blume, Peggy Christianson, Paige Jones, Surriya Kahn, Donna Owens, Tom Westerman, Steve Goulding, Dan Palmer, Linda Gale, Mike Giuliani, Laurie Grace, Amanda Poage, Marilyn Thomas, Heather Copling, Mike Larson, Holly Stutzman, Casey Lynch, Robert Kenney, Lauren Chapman, Patti Lynch, Kristina Rafferman, Rebecca Miller, Jeff Stone, Mike Vera, Spencer Hanson, Dan Jones, Rick Meroney, Shawna Meyers, Cheryle Micinski, John Moecker, Therese Park, Janet Ready, Dee Bliss, Jeff Davison, Andrea Smith, Dana Grissom, Jessica Newcomb, Blair Hollis, Matt Leone, Lauren Pratscher, Donna Anderson, Jim Slaterback, Kris Tousley, Katie Green, Tom Kilgore, Mark Higgins
Photos by Debbie Hughes, above, and Ed Barkley, below.
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Upcoming Tours
and Classes
Geocaching ... the GeoArboretum Way, Saturday, July 24, 10:00 am - 11:30 am, $10.00 per person
 Open House On The Prairie,
Saturday, August 28, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm - FREE
Join our dedicated group of Prairie volunteers who have been working since 2002 to restore 160 acres of existing Arboretum land, south of Wolf Creek, into native prairie. See the native grasses, wildflowers in bloom, wildlife food plots, Prickly Pear Cactus Glade and prairie birds. This will be a walking tour with stops along the way to learn about each area of the developing prairie. Please dress for heat, sun, wind and unpredictable weather with boots (no open toe shoes or sandals) as the terrain is often uneven. Bottled water recommended. No accommodations for mobility challenged individuals will be available. Each tour group is limited to 12, so please call 913-685-3604 to reserve a time. Tours will start every twenty minutes beginning at 10:00 am with the last group at 1:00 pm. Adults only, please. Parking will be at the Prairie "Old Home Site Entrance Gate," 0.8 miles south of 179th St. on the west side of Antioch Road. Follow signs at gate entrance. Call 913-685-3604 for more information and to reserve a time.
Attracting & Nurturing Butterflies in Your Garden, Saturday, August 28, 10:00 am to 11:30 am, $10 per person
Reservations are required. Pre-register by calling 913-685-3604 or by emailing volunteercoordinator@opkansas.org.
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.Bring your picnic basket, lawn chairs, family, friends and neighbors for the last concert in this FREE concert series! Join the crowd Thursday evening, July 29, in the beautiful amphitheater overlooking Margaret's Pond.  July 29: Latin Jazz Quartet6:00 to 7:00 pm. Featuring Miguel "Mambo" DeLeon, a pioneer of Latin/Salsa and Mambo in KC, the quartet will perform hot Latin jazz standards of Jobim, Cal Tjader and other classics. |
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