THIS WEEK
Club Assembly
Agenda
• Club Discussion on "No Mow May" and "Planting Pollinators"
Please read Chip Osborne's Comments at the end of this newsletter.
• Reports from last week's Rotary Leadership Institute
First Experience
Julie Hahnke
Graduate Level - Strategic Planning
Linda Doliber - General and Membership
Jessica Barnett - General and Club Experience
• Members' Discussions
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Opportunities for Service
IMPORTANT REMINDER - THIS TUESDAY -
In support of the Food Pantry: The First Tuesday of Every Month
As we learned from Janet Fitch Parker's eloquent letter last week,
the Food Pantry is serving quite a number of people.
In response, we will be restarting our monthly food collection to benefit the Food Pantry.
As you are able, please consider bringing donations of non-perishable food items for the Pantry to our breakfast meeting on
March 7
April 4
May 2
June 6
Reminder - In cooperation with Elderact:
Providing hygiene items to help fill 50 more ditty bags for Salem State students in need -
and the need is significant.
Elderact has alreaady completed the making and filling of 50 ditty bags for the students. We now have a chance to help them fill 50 more. Needed are these full-size items:
toothpaste
floss
soap - bar and or liquid body wash
shampoo
conditioner
deordorant
small disposable, heat-safe containers w/lids to reheat food
quart size freezer bags
razors
Kleenex pkgs
Tricia has asked that we do our best to find items that are not packaged in plastic.
If you are able to donate any of these items, please bring them to a Tuesday morning meeting or deliver them to Jessica's front porch at 217 Humphrey Street.
Every item - whatever the quantity - will be appreciated.
Can Tabs Shriners Childen's Hospital
Anyone still collecting can tabs for the Shriners Children's Transportation Fund? Our bucket is thirsty and the Shriners are flying young burn victims in to the U.S., even in the middle of our winter. Tab pickup is available.
Call Linda D. at 781-631-6938. Glass jars are encouraged and will be returned; Plastic bags will also be returned for re-use.
EVENTS
Get Ready for the 2-Day Yard Sale in May
Spring is coming and so is our Second Annual Two-Day Yard Sale. It’s not too early to think about sorting out drawers and closets...and setting aside a corner for donations. The first yard sale was a tremendous success, both for charitable fundraising and club member fellowship. Let’s surpass last year for fun and
great Rotary service!
DISCUSSION INFORMATION
Chip Osborne's Comments on
"No Mow May"
For Your Consideration
Someone asked me about that a few months ago on one of my calls with the Beyond Pesticides Board of Directors. I am a member of the board and the resident land specialist. They were talking about No Mow May and embracing that. They asked me what I thought, and I had to be honest.
If it is a desire to grow a quality, managed lawn organically, without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, No Mow May becomes a problem. I am talking about managing with an organic program and not organic by neglect. If a property is organic by neglect, then No Mow May is fantastic.
If a lawn is being managed and wants to look nice in June and July, it is not a good for turfgrass to be allowed to grow that much at the most active and important growth time of the year. It uses up a tremendous amount of stored carbohydrates and food reserves. When the grass is finally cut in June, the cut is so severe that it puts the plant in major stress because it can no longer produce carbohydrates until it becomes healthy again. The grass will exhibit chlorosis (yellowing) and the ability to photosynthesize new food sources is severely restricted until it turns fully green.. It would most likely take at least three weeks in June for a lawn to recover from 30 days of no mowing in May.
So in a nutshell, No Mow May is a great idea and yes, pollinators will come. But they are coming on a temporary basis. The other issue is what will attract pollinators as food sources are flowers containing seeds. This would then exacerbate a weed problem in the lawn and if it is managed organically, you do not have the luxury of herbicides. If someone was in a chemical lawn care program they could grow the grass for four weeks in May with no cuts and then give it herbicides, soluble, leachable nitrogen in June when the weeds pop up. Relying on the herbicides is probably worse than having no tall grass for pollinators.
Not an easy issue to address from the environmental perspective and no matter which side someone takes there is always going to be legitimate opposition. Again, let me reiterate, that if someone is not in favor or has no desire to have a managed looking lawn and subscribes to the concept of a freedom lawn, then No Mow May will absolutely allow certain plants that we call weeds come to flower and provide food sources. It will be temporary like putting out a birdfeeder and feeding the birds and then stopping and not continuing to feed. The one reason that it can be beneficial is that these food sources for pollinators are appearing as the first ones in the spring on dandelions, clovers, etc. at a time when pollinators are just getting going.
Did we forget to mention anything?
If so, let us know on Tuesday in person or on Zoom.
Thank you, everyone!