The Des Moines Ike Newsletter
DES MOINES CHAPTER NEWSLETTER
DEFENDERS OF SOIL, AIR, WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE
 

April 13, 2004

Previous Newsletters

Events at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge Saturday, April 17, the Refuge will be observing Earth Day.  Their mission is to re-establish tall grass prairie/oak savanna and as part of their on-going effort will use the day as a spring clean-up day.  Volunteers will be provided a free lunch and awarded a participation badge.  They will have the opportunity to be involved in planting, brush removal, tree removal, site improvement and litter removal. For information, call Ranger Allan Murray, 515/994-3400, before March 30. May 8th and 9th – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. the Refuge will host an International Migratory Bird Day Festival.  The event will include; Birds of Iowa – 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; Junior Duck Stamp Award Ceremony – 10:30 a.m.; Free Lunch – 11:15 a.m.; Live Raptors – All Day; Return to Wildness – All Day and Art Show and Sale – All Day.  Proceeds from the “Wild Things” nature and wildlife art show and sale will go to benefit “Friends of the Prairie Learning Center”. The Refuge is located at Prairie City (Hwy 163, Exit 18),  follow the signs to the “Prairie Learning Center”.   Calendar of Events 4/13                 S.O.S. Meeting 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. 4/14-4/17        Trout Fishing – Lake Taneycomo 4/17                 Earth Day/Planting/Neal Smith Prairie -9 a.m. 4/20                 Hillbilly Auction 4/27                 Uncle Ikes – Chapter House Clean-up 5/11                 S.O.S. Meeting – 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 5/14-5/15        Bass & crappie Outing – Lake Rathbun 5/23                 S.O.S. Monitoring/Cookout-11 am-1 pm – Yeader Cr. 5/25                 Uncle Ikes Meeting 6:30 pm

Hillbilly Auction – April 20 Not much time left to gather up those unwanted items and prepare them for the Hillbilly auction.  Remember, do not bring them in before 3 PM, April 20.  Most of all, bring yourself in ready for fun and bidding on some of these forgotten “treasurers”  and at the same time be helping the Uncle Ikes program. If you have any questions please contact Mike Roland 266-0261 or Steve Ford 229-9099.   Chapter Prairie Seeded The Chapter Prairie (west of the building) was seeded last week with Iowa native mesic prairie mix.  Dave Waters, Waters Construction, furnished the harrow and with the use of Rod Kent’s ATV prepared the seed bed.  He drove the equivalent of 21 miles, criss-crossing the prairie from all directions.  Thanks Dave for your time and effort.  Also a big thank you to the anonymous donor of $500 used to help pay for the seed and a special thanks to Verlee Kent who made two trips to Indianola to pick up and return the spreader. We still can use some more seed.  If anyone is interested in donating some please contact Rod Kent at 285-2358 or, on Tuesday nights, you can find him tending bar at Ikes.  Another big thank you from Rod Kent to all mentioned above!   Door prizes We are in need of door prizes for the weekly drawing.  See Mike Lucas if you can donate an item.

Menus and Program April 13 – Stuffed Iowa Chop – Program:  Beaver Creek Plainsman. April 20 – Walleye – Program:  Hillbilly Auction. April 27 – BBQ Ribs – Program:  TBA IMPORTANT NOTICES: 1.      Hillbilly Auction, April 20.  Round up those things you have been wanting to get rid of and bring them in April 20 after 3 PM.  Come on down, enjoy a tasty Walleye dinner, get your bidding number, sit back and get ready for some fun, and, at the same time, be helping the Uncle Ikes program.   Note:  Hunting and fishing licenses may be purchased at the chapter house on Tuesday evenings.

Izaak Walton League
4343 George Flagg Parkway
Des Moines, Iowa 50321
515-244-3773
ialeague@qwestoffice.net
Please note iwleague@qwest.net must be used until 1/17/08.