01/01/2025
1. Some White Pine Group Outings (as described in the 2024 White Pine Needle (3/21/24), the Autumn/Winter 2024-25 Needle (9/3/24), and in another update (10/30/24)] and other hike and topic photo descriptions have been posted on Richard Worm page to provide wider coverage. Check them out. The White Pine Hollow hike on November 23 had 17 participants (thanks in part to a Wednesday Hikes group promotion), but my camera somehow failed to record the photos. Weird -- maybe deleted somehow?? Two added hikes HAVE been given extensive photo coverage: Friday the 13th hike, Dec. 13, at Maquoketa Caves State Park, and the Shortest Day hike, Dec. 21, at Pohlman Prairie. More 2024 hike photos are to eventually be posted.
2. The February 8, 2025, hike at Backbone State Park is still on the schedule.
3. The dates for the suggested Ice Fest at the National Mississippi River and Museum and Aquarium activity are January 18-19, 2025, NOT Jan. 11-12 as "most likely" speculated in the Autumn/Winter 2024-25 Needle.
4. 5 Sierra Club 2025 Wall Calendars are still available for any sort of donation, or for free (as a donor will cover the basic cost.) 563-582-2580. Free delivery.
5. The November 26 White Pine Membership/EXCOM meeting to evaluate the fate of the White Pine Group did NOT take place. It had been clarified for us that to de-commission or de-activate the White Pine Group is not as officially easy as we suspected due to National Sierra Club affiliation standards. Dick went to the A&W meeting site but, as Charlie and Dick suspected, no one else showed up. EXCOM/Membership Meetings are still scheduled for January 28 and February 25. A 2025 EXCOM of 5 members (quorum of 3) is needed to keep the Group viable. HOPEFULLY, 3-5 members, or more, willing to serve as an EXCOM for 2025 will become available. Minimal operating levels as described in our Group By-Laws will be reviewed and likely used as 2025 operating guidelines. PLEASE consider helping the White Pine Group maintain a presence for the Sierra Club in Northeast Iowa.
6. Membership numbers will be posted here prior to the January 28 meeting. New members HAVE signed on so there MAY be interest among them. In any case, general Sierra Club membership helps the National Sierra Club thrive. Thank you for that continued support.
7. If you would care to receive a copy via mail or email of any or all of the three "official" 2024-25 White Pine Needles as reminders please contact:
Dick Worm, White Pine EXCOM (563-582-2580... leave a voice mail if no answer; and/or [email protected] (today alone I received over 100 emails so sometimes important ones get overlooked.... too many fingers into too many pies... what with all the year-end requests for donations!)
