DMARSPA SEPTEMBER 22, 2016, MINUTES
1. Welcome of members and guest by President Justine Finley.
2. Sherry Wilkinson introduced Mike Blair, who presented, "Geology of Iowa."
Mike, born in Des Moines, always had an interest in the rocks and fossils in the are. He
earned his bachelors degree in geology at the University of Iowa and a Master in Earth Science , focusing on the geology of the Des Moines area. After teaching for 39 years in various places around the world, he retired in 2016. He has been the recipient of two Fulbright Teacher Exchanges and was RadioShack Teacher of the Year in 2001, along with various state and local awards.
The earth is 4.5 billion years old, but Mike shortened it to 100 million a year in his presentation. He looked at three eons. About 1.9 billion years ago collisions of crustal plates formed northeast/southwest mountain ranges in Iowa. Back in the 70's,when we had our energy crisis, digging began to find more oil sources. When rocks were pulled up, they looked just like what was found in the Himalayans today. About 1.6 billion years ago, mountain building ceased and erosion took over. You can see this today around the Sioux City area. You can also see it at St. John's Church in Des Moines, where the building stone is composed of the pink and purple quart. You can also see it around railroad tracks. One billion years ago, a 40 mile wide rift valley was created in Iowa, much like you find in Africa today. The system is still active. The biggest earthquake was in 1812 near New Madrid, Missouri, which is part of the New Madrid Fault Line. Iowa is also part of that line. Des Moines sits on the cliff part of the rift; Ames sits on the bottom. Imagine the damage it would present in Iowa.
The rocks we see most often in the Des Moines area are the Paleozoic Era (550 M.Y.A. To 232 M.Y.A.). The closest site is in the Gutherie Center area. About 600 million years ago, a basin was formed - The Forest City Basin- which extends to Missouri and Kansas. It was a sea. The basin filled in through the years. You can see the rocks exposed at the Saylorville Museum. Another layer was exposed from second avenue from Mercy Hospital on north. Go east to the PleaSant Hill water treatment plant, where a river deposited rock and sale. You will find sea shells, coral exposed in the clay pits around Veteran's hospital. North of the old Target Store on Euclid, there were clay pits where bricks were made, the materials are shown. Drive on E. 14th, south of the Des Moines River, across the bridge by the capitol, the rock is exposed. A big sand island by the Capitol building. Deep ocean fossils could be found when we had the flood in '93.
During the Pennsylvanian Period (300 M.Y.A.) Des Moines was on a shifting shore line. Sometimes there were rivers and much forestation. Those remnants can be found in the rocks. An ancient tree was found at the Saylorville gorge. A great place to look for fossils 40 years ago was Pella. Now the area is used for land fill. A tree was found there buried several feet below the earth, with layers of earth. It is now in the Smithsonian. A lot of marine stuff was going on in this stuff, too. Sometimes the shoreline was further north and east and Des Moines was a shallow ocean. Sharks, octopod, sharks, crabs lived there. Also small shells can be found. A display is at the Saylorville museum. At Saylorville, these sea shells are encased by Fool's Gold. Undoubtedly, there were dinosaurs, also.
A series of glaciers were presented. One came through Des Moines around 14,000 years ago, and stayed for 2,000 years. On satellite pictures, you can see the glacier area. Des Moines river is about 12,000 years old. The glacier system laid itself down on the DM river course. The Raccoon River runs in front of the Glacier. That's how it formed. The river, at one time, ran right through the east side of Des Moines. All of the melt waters came through that area. That's why many people's basements are flooded on the east side today.
2. Sherry Wilkinson introduced Mike Blair, who presented, "Geology of Iowa."
Mike, born in Des Moines, always had an interest in the rocks and fossils in the are. He
earned his bachelors degree in geology at the University of Iowa and a Master in Earth Science , focusing on the geology of the Des Moines area. After teaching for 39 years in various places around the world, he retired in 2016. He has been the recipient of two Fulbright Teacher Exchanges and was RadioShack Teacher of the Year in 2001, along with various state and local awards.
The earth is 4.5 billion years old, but Mike shortened it to 100 million a year in his presentation. He looked at three eons. About 1.9 billion years ago collisions of crustal plates formed northeast/southwest mountain ranges in Iowa. Back in the 70's,when we had our energy crisis, digging began to find more oil sources. When rocks were pulled up, they looked just like what was found in the Himalayans today. About 1.6 billion years ago, mountain building ceased and erosion took over. You can see this today around the Sioux City area. You can also see it at St. John's Church in Des Moines, where the building stone is composed of the pink and purple quart. You can also see it around railroad tracks. One billion years ago, a 40 mile wide rift valley was created in Iowa, much like you find in Africa today. The system is still active. The biggest earthquake was in 1812 near New Madrid, Missouri, which is part of the New Madrid Fault Line. Iowa is also part of that line. Des Moines sits on the cliff part of the rift; Ames sits on the bottom. Imagine the damage it would present in Iowa.
The rocks we see most often in the Des Moines area are the Paleozoic Era (550 M.Y.A. To 232 M.Y.A.). The closest site is in the Gutherie Center area. About 600 million years ago, a basin was formed - The Forest City Basin- which extends to Missouri and Kansas. It was a sea. The basin filled in through the years. You can see the rocks exposed at the Saylorville Museum. Another layer was exposed from second avenue from Mercy Hospital on north. Go east to the PleaSant Hill water treatment plant, where a river deposited rock and sale. You will find sea shells, coral exposed in the clay pits around Veteran's hospital. North of the old Target Store on Euclid, there were clay pits where bricks were made, the materials are shown. Drive on E. 14th, south of the Des Moines River, across the bridge by the capitol, the rock is exposed. A big sand island by the Capitol building. Deep ocean fossils could be found when we had the flood in '93.
During the Pennsylvanian Period (300 M.Y.A.) Des Moines was on a shifting shore line. Sometimes there were rivers and much forestation. Those remnants can be found in the rocks. An ancient tree was found at the Saylorville gorge. A great place to look for fossils 40 years ago was Pella. Now the area is used for land fill. A tree was found there buried several feet below the earth, with layers of earth. It is now in the Smithsonian. A lot of marine stuff was going on in this stuff, too. Sometimes the shoreline was further north and east and Des Moines was a shallow ocean. Sharks, octopod, sharks, crabs lived there. Also small shells can be found. A display is at the Saylorville museum. At Saylorville, these sea shells are encased by Fool's Gold. Undoubtedly, there were dinosaurs, also.
A series of glaciers were presented. One came through Des Moines around 14,000 years ago, and stayed for 2,000 years. On satellite pictures, you can see the glacier area. Des Moines river is about 12,000 years old. The glacier system laid itself down on the DM river course. The Raccoon River runs in front of the Glacier. That's how it formed. The river, at one time, ran right through the east side of Des Moines. All of the melt waters came through that area. That's why many people's basements are flooded on the east side today.
When you get away from the edge of the glacier into the middle, you can see the swell and
swale. Some think this is the annual glacier retreat. The Polk City Cemetery is part of a minor
end moraine, where the glacier washed out. A lot of rock and rubble is contained there, which
comes out when the graves are dug.
Engeldinger Marsh is a Kettle Lake. In the 1850's, we had a malaria outbreak, because of the swampy area. This marsh is one of the last ones. Kettle lakes formed in depressions on the ground moraines- this was how it drained. No crops grown here because every time it rains, prairie potholes form. Coal was formed from the swampy areas.
In the Camp Dodge area, the old river valley is over a mile wide. Little Beaver Creek forms through there with a mile wide valley.
What kinds of things can you find in creeks around here? In the Four Mile Creek area, Mammoth teeth , bison bones, elk were found. A biracial knife , 4,800 years old was also found in that area.
Prairies covered 90 percent of iowa until 175 years ago. Today there is virtually none.
3. Present Finley honored members with September birthdays. 4. Pledge to the Flag, followed by a moment of silence.
5. Lunch
6. During lunch, Suzanne Hull from DM European Heritage Association spoke to members. The organization will have a Christmas market in Cowles Common during the four
weekends building up to Christmas. Waukee Industrial Arts students will be building the stalls; Drake will be providing the tree. They need our help to get the word out to people to come to the event. Looking to partner with non profits to provide a kinder area. It is a free event that is about our cultural traditions. Food,products, entertainment will be provided. Traditional mugs will be presented. Their focus is on culture and the arts. Dec. 2-4. Suzanne will also do presentations to other organizations. As a non profit group, they do need funding and volunteers. If interested in volunteering, go to their website and sign up.
Engeldinger Marsh is a Kettle Lake. In the 1850's, we had a malaria outbreak, because of the swampy area. This marsh is one of the last ones. Kettle lakes formed in depressions on the ground moraines- this was how it drained. No crops grown here because every time it rains, prairie potholes form. Coal was formed from the swampy areas.
In the Camp Dodge area, the old river valley is over a mile wide. Little Beaver Creek forms through there with a mile wide valley.
What kinds of things can you find in creeks around here? In the Four Mile Creek area, Mammoth teeth , bison bones, elk were found. A biracial knife , 4,800 years old was also found in that area.
Prairies covered 90 percent of iowa until 175 years ago. Today there is virtually none.
3. Present Finley honored members with September birthdays. 4. Pledge to the Flag, followed by a moment of silence.
5. Lunch
6. During lunch, Suzanne Hull from DM European Heritage Association spoke to members. The organization will have a Christmas market in Cowles Common during the four
weekends building up to Christmas. Waukee Industrial Arts students will be building the stalls; Drake will be providing the tree. They need our help to get the word out to people to come to the event. Looking to partner with non profits to provide a kinder area. It is a free event that is about our cultural traditions. Food,products, entertainment will be provided. Traditional mugs will be presented. Their focus is on culture and the arts. Dec. 2-4. Suzanne will also do presentations to other organizations. As a non profit group, they do need funding and volunteers. If interested in volunteering, go to their website and sign up.
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Moments of humor -
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Business meeting called to order by President Finley.
A. Secretary- Sherry Wilkinson. Minutes approved as read.
B. Treasurer - Rosemary Hillman. Only expense was the Barratta's lunch., which was
more than we took in because some people came who didn't sign up for reservations or who didn't pay. The checking account balance on August 25, the balance was $11, 069.16. Deposits: $1475; expenses - $1495. The checking account balance on September 25 was $9,049.16. The scholarship fund was $375.78 on August 25. A transfer from the General Fund of $2000 resulted in a balance on September 25 of $2,375.75. Total Assets as of September 22, 2016, was $11,424.91. The report will be filed for audit.
1.Warden Pitcher (auditor) report: Good news. The ending checking account balance has increased over the years. He made a plea for scholarship donations
C. Courtesy - Sue Slatter: absent. Death of Jody Miller. Grace Green Dickerson is at
Wesley Acres Health Center after being hit by a car. Please let Sue know of
anyone who would need a card. A former speaker Bill Bartine passed away.
D. Legislative Update - Gary Thelen: After checking with the lobbyist with the Iowa State Education Association, Gary said there has been discussion with IPERS about merging with DM plan, but they were concerned about unfounded liabilities; they would not do so until those were taken care of. One plan was to not take any members into the DM Plan; put new members into IPERS, and let the DM Plan die out.
E. Old Business:
1. Directories may be picked up.
2. State IRSPA dues - $15. Checks should be made payable to Rosemary
Hillman.
3. Fall convention in Marshalltown October 5 and 6. Details on IRSPA website.
F. New Business:
1. Membership books - get any changes to Joelle or Bill so you can get called
each meeting. Correction in book - January 26, not 28. 2. Cashiers for next month: Jody Rains and Margaret Townsend
9. Guest introduction
10. Dee Flieschwacker gave the answers to puzzles. A. She also recognized telephone callers.
11. Jim Patch wanted to remind people about the ISEA retired conference October 14, at the Sheraton West Hotel on 50th in West Des Moines.
12. Door prize announced - Sue Johnson
13. President Finley adjourned the September 22, 2016, meeting at 12:47 p.m. The next meeting will be October 27. Topic: "Grotesques and Gargoyles" with Jan Fleming.
D. Legislative Update - Gary Thelen: After checking with the lobbyist with the Iowa State Education Association, Gary said there has been discussion with IPERS about merging with DM plan, but they were concerned about unfounded liabilities; they would not do so until those were taken care of. One plan was to not take any members into the DM Plan; put new members into IPERS, and let the DM Plan die out.
E. Old Business:
1. Directories may be picked up.
2. State IRSPA dues - $15. Checks should be made payable to Rosemary
Hillman.
3. Fall convention in Marshalltown October 5 and 6. Details on IRSPA website.
F. New Business:
1. Membership books - get any changes to Joelle or Bill so you can get called
each meeting. Correction in book - January 26, not 28. 2. Cashiers for next month: Jody Rains and Margaret Townsend
9. Guest introduction
10. Dee Flieschwacker gave the answers to puzzles. A. She also recognized telephone callers.
11. Jim Patch wanted to remind people about the ISEA retired conference October 14, at the Sheraton West Hotel on 50th in West Des Moines.
12. Door prize announced - Sue Johnson
13. President Finley adjourned the September 22, 2016, meeting at 12:47 p.m. The next meeting will be October 27. Topic: "Grotesques and Gargoyles" with Jan Fleming.
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