Meeting Notice

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KIRTLANDIA SOCIETY
General Meeting - January 13, 2001

After coffee and conversation, President Ted Ganger called the General Meeting of the Kirtlandia Society to order at 10:03 a.m. in the Rare Book Room of The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Turnout was exceptionally good with approximately 40 members and guests attending. Ted welcomed all to the first Kirtlandia meeting of the New Millennium and requested that everyone sign an attendance sheet for inclusion in a time capsule under the new planetarium.

Bill MacDermott reported that the 2001 schedule is now available. He introduced and welcomed the 4 visitors to today's meeting.

Treasurer Charles Greenwald reported that, according to the most recent report from the Museum dated November 30, 2000 most members had paid their membership dues for 2000-2001. The Adopt-A-Student fund has received $2,700. The Endowment stands at over $120,000, including the $5,000 temporarily transferred in from the AAS Special Projects Account to earn interest.

Walt Stephens reported on the progress of the Adopt-A-Student Committee. Since the mailing of the AAS solicitation letter, $7,100 has been received. There are 13 gifts from Kirtlandia members and 2 gifts from outsiders. Ann DuFresne reports we will have at least 7 proposals with the possibility of 1 additional proposal. Bob Taylor passed around a printout of the information on our AAS program colleges and access through the Internet.

Jane Litt reported on the meeting of the Education Committee. Discovery Day will be Monday, January 15. In excess of 30,000 fliers publicizing the event were hand delivered to the Cleveland schools. We are expecting a big turnout because it is a "free" day at the Museum. The Museum is gearing up for the Elephant Exhibit. The "Science to Go" program is 1-year old this month. It has been a big hit, with 164 classes serviced from September through December. The WVIZ Advisory Board will be meeting at CMNH in April. The Museum's Amazon trip was a huge success with 54 people participating, and another trip will probably be planned.

Bob Taylor introduced CMNH's new Curator of Invertebrate Zoology, Dr. Joe Keiper, who gave a very informative talk on his specialty, one of nature's little creatures, an insect called the Caddisfly. They resemble moths in appearance and belong to the order Trichoptera. The larval habitats range from quiet ponds to swift-flowing streams. Basically there are 3 types, all living in fresh water. Free-living species live under rocks and, as predators, eat small aquatic animals. Streams are the habitat of the ones making nets. Case makers feed on plants and live in the shelter of the cases they make themselves of sand grains, pebbles, or other materials found in their surroundings. The abdomen of the larvae is inside the case, with the head and thorax protruding from an opening at one end as it crawls about. Joe showed many slides of the various types and a fascinating video of these tiny creatures sucking the nutrients from underwater plant life.

After a lively question and answer period, the meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan MacDermott
Recording Secretary

Created 5/14/01