August 2019

DMARSPA AUGUST 22, 2019, MINUTES

1. President Paula Schaeffer welcomed DMARSPA members and guests, and thanked
people for bringing school supplies.
2. Bill Synder introduce the speaker from Cherry Glen Learning Farm, an award-winning
science- based NRCS design. Ray Meylor was trained as a doctor, and was recruited to
help nutrition for workers for a company. Then the company decided it wasn’t needed
despite success . Later, it was realized that his program worked, and he was invited to
speak at a national conference . In an accident, he suffered brain damage, and was forced
to relearn many things. During that time, he took up gardening, and found his way into
gardening with students. He learned the brain of a child has to be feed for him/her to
succeed in life. Iowa has over a million miles of farm tile. He and his group designed a
farm that has solar power irrigation, tiles that grows food. He and his group enlisted vets
who had farm background to help have crystal clear water. He is a member of the Iowa
Association for Young Children that has a grant to grow food. He would like members to
consider being a resource for this activity to get kids involved in gardening. He has 10
acres of working gardens and no employees. The site is located near Saylorville
campground. Over 12,814 youth were involved in his gardening project. Every classroom
that had a garden had a 40 percent jump in math and science scores. There are now 172
outdoor sites with 72 gardens. He also did a project at Wildwood Ranch for troubled kids.
They ate what they produced, and got to take home bags of produce . He also teaches
bee keeping. The kids had two bee hives. One grant to ECE Kellogg Foundtion was
$325,000. He has seven conservation projects. Now Iowa wants to use this as a new
business model for new farmers. We can reverse the tiling out of water and reuse it for
irrigation with no overhead. He buys ground that no one else wants. Drought resistant
plants are used; if it works here, it can work in Africa. His lake has algae. He was told he
needed to install two pumps; instead he bought six carp who take care of it. The key to
learning opportunities and public health. After a ten inch rain, he had no erosion. The
runoff from his farm is crystal clean. His production in his garden is 256 percent higher
than the average farmer. Ray also works with the Boy Scouts. He is going to take this
model to every VFW post, every elementary school to create this opportunity of learning
and ownership. This concept is not brand new; it has been used for centuries. Ray would
like to have people take some information to help form some guidelines for schools with
DMARSPA name on it. It took three years to rebuild his topsoil that otherwise would have
taken a thousand years. The government is using his research for farms in Africa. Iowa
State has substantiated his findings. It works; it’s gravity feed; no overhead. Ray would
like to get volunteers to help with 120,000 garden sites around Iowa and to teach school
children on water conservation.
3. August birthdays were recognized by the singing of Happy Birthday, followed by the Pledge
of Allegiance and a moment of silence.
4. Lunch
5. During lunch, the directors of The Children and Families Urban Movement spoke to
DMARSPA members. Almost 400 items were donated by members today. Jonelle Mueller
accepted the donations. The mission is to create a community of learning and community
engagement for youth. It’s at 50314, Moulton School. It has turned into an ELL school
with 260 students from different countries. They start the day with a hot breakfast -
breakfast club. They are a licensed day care at Moulton; unlicensed at a church. They just
completed summer programming. Supper Club is the serving of an evening meal. Any
volunteers are accepted.
6. Joke of the Day: Tina Olsen
7. Business meeting called to order.
A. Installation of officers: Justin Finley and Tina Olsen
1. President - Mike Walag
2. President-Elect - Marla Carr

3. Secretary - Sherry Wilkinson
4. Treasurer - Sandra Petree
B. President Mike Walag will now conduct the meeting.
C. Secretary’s report: Sherry Wilkinson. Minutes will be filed as read.
D. Treasurer’s Report: Sandra Petree. In the general account, balance on hand July
25, 2019, was $6,239.73; deposits totaled $1323 and expenses for the month
were $1887.98, resulting in a balance of $5674.75 on August 22, 2019. In the
Scholarship account, the balance on hand on August 22, 2019, after a deposit
of $75.00 is $248.80. Total balance: $5093. The report was filed for audit.
E. Courtesy & Scholarship: Dee Fleischacker - cards were sent to Marilyn Allendar -
knee surgery; Florence Nelson passed away; Ernie Doeringsfeld is still at Rio.
Scholarship: Dues go toward scholarships. More money promotes more
scholarships. She received a thank you from our Central Scholarship winner.
F. Old Business:
1. Please pick up your directory. Please email Bill or Joelle Synder, if any
concerns.
2. A Vice President is still needed.
3. Warren Pitcher said a copy of the By-Laws had been forwarded to him. He
would like to sync the audit dates with the fiscal year stated in the by-laws. We
are a 501C4.
4. After August 12, one member got her info about DMARSPA in her junk mail.
Bill Snyder said it depended on what email server you’re using. Since it’s a
mass mail, your email provider may sort it and put it there. You can go into your
settings and make sure it goes to your mail box.
G. New Business:
1. State dues of $15 must be paid by October.
2. IRSPA state conference is October 2-3 in Denison. Think about getting a
car load and attending. We will have to host a conference in 2025 -
every 10 years.
8. Cashiers for next month, September 26, are Dorothy Hall and Mara Swanson.
9. Visitors Introduced.
10. Announcements:
11. Door prize: Liz Huber
12. President Mike Walag adjourned the meeting at 12:42 pm. Our next meeting will be
September 26, with the program being Dreams and Detours” by Mike Pace.
Respectfully submitted,
Sherry Wilkinson,
Secretary

No comments:

Post a Comment