This page is for messages and information from the President or members of the Executive to the membership. Messages should be entered in Edit mode and dated.

Bennetts to Leave the Sault

Gerry and Betty Bennett will be moving to Midland, Ontario on or about September 19. The following message to the Bennetts was composed by President Dave Euler:

Thank you for all your work with the Sault Naturalist Club.  Your work on membership has been very helpful and I have appreciated the Excel worksheet with the names and address. Betty it was always nice to know that you would have the membership form for speakers all ready to go before the meetings.

Your ideas for speakers and the geology trips you led, Gerry, will be missed.  People really enjoyed talking about ancient history with you and we will miss your knowledge.

Our best wishes go with you to Midland, and we wish you good fortune.

Dave Euler and the Executive of the Sault Nats (Sept. 3, 2008)

Go to the Letterbox to see a message from Gerry from the Bennett's new home.

Information Requested on Status of Monarch Butterflies

The following letter was received by Nature Canada representatives, who suggested that the Sault Naturalists—the naturalist club closest to  St. Joseph Island—might have a more specific answer to Ursula Schleen's question about Monarch butterflies. If anyone has information on the status of these butterflies that might be helpful, please send it to Ursula with a copy to Tony Walker <anthonywalk@hotmail.com> or Dave Euler <birchpt@sympatico.ca>.

From: Ursula Schleen [mailto:ursula.schleen@sympatico.ca]

Sent: August 4, 2008 4:07 PM

To: User Info

Subject: Monarch butterflies

We have a cottage on St. Joseph Island (near Sault Ste Marie, Ont. between Lake Superior & Lake Huron).   Years ago the Monarchs  were abundant here, but each year we seem to see less.  We just came back from a hike where there were thousands of milkweed plants, but not a single caterpillar, no chewed leaves, no pupae and only 1 adult.

Are you getting the same news from other areas?

Ursula Schleen

Message from the President

The Sault Ste Marie Naturalist club has been a force for nature in both Ontario and Michigan for more than 60 years.  We enjoy walking, hiking and observing nature on our “outings” where we search for both the unusual and the commonplace.  A typical year takes us to a bat cave, a hike for mushrooms, lots of birding walks, many hours spent identifying wild plants, talking about them and their use by people as well as studying the geology of our small part of the planet.  In all cases we have fun while being in nature.

Over our history, we also have been part of efforts to improve the way people interact with the natural world.  We are part of committees that are involved in forest management, aquatic management, particularly the St. Mary’s River, and studying the impact of air and water pollution on our local ecosystems. The club is interested in both enjoying nature and helping protect the essential nature of our local and global ecosystems.

We welcome new members and encourage them to come on our outings, and be part of the club.  We always have opportunities to be part of the club, as an officer or one of several others jobs that keep a club viable and alive.  You can contact any of the officers of chairs of committees and I am sure you will receive a warm welcome and an enthusiastic member who is part of our club.

David Euler

President

November 26, 2007

Don Hall has provided instructions for downloading 1:50000 Canadian Topo Maps, free of charge. The files are about 33 Mb and may take a while to download. You will need Microsoft Office, including document imaging. If you don’t have the software it may be possible to work around it. (Reported by John Lehman Oct. 17, 2007)