Flathead Chapter

 For for more information, contact Betty at (406) 892-0129 

Regular Meetings: The Flathead chapter meets the third Wednesday of each month. NOTE NEW DAY OF THE MONTH AND MEETING LOCATION -- Glacier Discovery Square in Columbia Falls at 540 Nucleus Avenue (old First Citizen's Bank building, enter through NW door).

Programs start at 7 unless otherwise noted. We also encourage members to attend the 5:30 pm general meetings to discuss and planplant society activities and business. For more information, contact chapter president Betty Kuropat at 892-0129 or program chair Rachel Potter at 892-2446.

• Wednesday, December 16th. Christmas Party. 5:30, visiting and refreshments. 6:30, potluck dinner. The gathering is at Ed and Betty Kuropat’s house, 2688 Witty Lane in Columbia Falls. Watch your email for directions, or call Betty at 892-0129. Bring a potluck dish, beverages, and an inexpensive or recycled gift. We hope to see you there!

• Wednesday, January 20th. Noxious Weeds and Cooperative Management. 7 p.m. Learn about noxious weeds and a cooperative effort to pull federal, state, and county weed managers together with local gravel pit operators to improve weed management. Presented by Joyce Lapp and Dawn La Fleur, Glacier National Park resource staff.

• Wednesday, February 17th. Siyeh Pass Virtual Field Trip. 7 p.m. Shake out the winter blues and follow Glacier National Park’s Jen Asebrook and her camera to the remarkably diverse and spectacular wildflower habitats of Siyeh Pass. This program will follow a short video on conserving the Transboundary Flathead presented by Dave Hadden.
  

• Wednesday, March 17th Nature Journaling. A little drawing, a little painting, a little outside the box. For novice or veteran journal keepers. With Karin Connelly.

• Wednesday, April 21st. Discovering the Jewels in the Crown- a Century of Botany in Glacier National Park. by Peter Lesica.
  

• Wednesday, May 19th. Program or Field trip with Steve Wirt. Time and subject TBA. Stay tuned!

High and Dry: Gardening with Cold-Hardy Dryland Plants available at a discount

The Flathead Chapter has copies of this “thorough and engaging” book (see review in your Spring 09 Kelseya). For a $25 copy (cover price is $35), contact your chapter representative before the early November MNPS board meeting. Flathead chapter members can contact Betty to reserve a copy to pick up and pay for at the October 21 meeting. You can also send $30.00 (includes shipping) along with your mailing address to: Betty Kuropat, 2688 Witty Lane, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.

Glacier Discovery Square

The Glacier Discovery Square is the new center for Flathead Valley culture, history, community and visitor education, as well as the future home of the Columbia Falls branch of the Flathead County Library. It is in the town square and commerce center of Columbia Falls. This effort is being driven by the grassroots community organization, The First Best Place Task Force. Their name, "First Best Place," reflects the notion that the Columbia Falls area is the oldest community in the Flathead Valley.

A wide variety of diverse individuals and organizations have volunteered to contribute their skills and efforts to the task force. Among these groups is North Valley Music School, whose mission is to enrich the musical life of the community through music education and performance. They have been making music in Whitefish for the past 10 years and currently have over 600 students a year from babies to retirees. In addition, the Chamber of Commerce, Flathead Valley Community College, and the local Rotary chapter have joined the effort. Terry Divoky, Elizabeth Nauertz and Joyce Lapp from the Flathead Chapter of the MNPS have begun a partnership by consulting with the First Best Place Task Force to create native plant demonstration gardens throughout the Discovery Square. For more information about Glacier Discovery Square and First Best Place, visit http://firstbestplace.org/.