Minutes of the January 9, 2011 meeting of the Michiana Bonsai Study

Present:          Larry Benjamin, Bruce Kennedy, Kathy Lee, Mary Morgan, Cat Nelson, Cheryl Owens,

                Sue Salach and Ruth Yeomans

Location:        Linton’s Enchanted Gardens, County Road 17, Elkhart

Snacks:            Kathy Lee   (Quite a a spread. Thank you Kathy !)

Program:        Video (on bonsai appreciation and display) – postponed to February meeting due to

               equipment failure

                Jerusalem cherry  -  specimen plant brought in by Cheryl Owens:

           A member of the night-shade family, the Jerusalem cherry Cheryl brought in had bright

           red (poisonous !) fruit dangling from its stems in a most decorative manner. The fruit

           orm in late summer as little green balls which prolongs the effect. The Jerusalem cherry 

           makes a good winter plant as it does well around 72°F. Cheryl obtained her specimen at

           the Ft. Wayne club’s auction (which is on our agenda this July) but you can obtain seeds

           by Googling “Jerusalem cherry” online. Now would be a good time to start the seeds                        (Bruce says that he’s had good luck with them). And, Cheryl pointed out that the plant’s

           trunk size can be increased easily: just plant them in the ground this summer.

          A short discussion of bonsai pots centered around the possibility that Linton’s may

          increase their now limited selection. Cheryl passed along a good tip: avoid lotus pots –

          they tend to “lose” their “feet”!

         As promised in November, Larry came up with a sample club charter (including a                       mission statement). We went through it, making suggested revisions along the way.

         The charter will be up for a vote at our next meeting.

        One item covered in the proposed charter was dues. Not waiting upon the completion/

        adoption of the new charter, we went ahead and voted in a new dues schedule:

                                    Michiana Bonsai Study   -   2011 club dues structure:

                                                Category                                             Cost*

                                                Family                                                  $30

                                                Individual                                              $25

                                                Student                                                 $20

                                                Senior  (age 60 and over)                     $20

                                                Disabled                                               $20

                              *   Any member who recruits a paying new member during the course of the year

                                         shall be entitled to a $5.00 reduction for their following year’s dues.

              And, lastly, Larry is working on a website for the club. He has purchased a domain

              name (donated to the club) and is trying to use a free provider. More news will be

              forthcoming. Suggestions are welcome.