News and Updates for LCSWA Members

  A surge in pre-orders for the Linn County Small Woodlands Association seedling sale means plants will not be available for sale on Saturday Feb. 6.   Limited supplies from area nurseries and COVID restrictions are also factors leading to changes in the 26th annual event.  COVID restrictions mean a maximum of 25 people are being allowed inside the Santiam Building while also wearing masks and social distancing. Pre-orders have already exceeded last year’s numbers.  Those orders will be picked up at the Santiam Building of the Linn  County Expo February 6th from 8 am until 2 pm.  Sale chairman Bonnie Marshall  said she will be sending out an email with order confirmation and instructions for curbside pickup the week of the sale.  These will go out to everyone that placed a pre-order.  There are a handful of people with no e-mail that will be contacted by phone. Fay Sallee, volunteer coordinator, has added shifts on Friday to process...

 By Fay Sallee Linn County Small Woodlands Assoc. Thank you for volunteering to help with the Linn County Small Woodlands Seedling Sale, last year (2020). I hope you are able to help this year 2021. I have sent last year’s work schedule(s) in case you worked both days as attachments. You can look it over and let me know if you want to stay with the same schedule that you had last year. Or let me know if you would like to do something different this year. If you want more information about the different jobs let me know and I can send the information as an attachment. General Information for 2021 Seedling Sale Linn County Fair grounds in the Santiam Building in Albany Friday, February 5, 2021 Filling Pre-Orders Set up: 8- 11:30am Fill Orders 12-5pm or until done  Saturday, February 6, 2021 Orientation 7:30am for those helping with the sale. Doors open to the public 8am to noon. Pre-Order Pick-ups 8am to 11am. This year we will follow special instructions and set up for our se...

By Tim Otis Linn County Chapter incoming president As we, who live in western Oregon, look ahead to 2021, we should probably look back at the last year for what may help us move forward. I know, I didn’t want to either.   First, Covid 19.  For those who have lost loved ones to this, there are really no adequate words.  Remember that your family and friends care about you, want to support you in any way they can.  If you were ill and recovered, as my niece and my son were and did, you are truly a fighter.  If you were an “essential worker”, bagging groceries, driving trucks, or caring for patients in the hospital, as my daughter was, we salute and thank you.  I know this is not over, but hopefully it will be soon.  Here are the lessons I have tried to learn from this time: Hiking in the woods is a treasure.  Last week we hiked a beautiful urban forest with my family, wearing masks and separated on the trail.  It was a complete joy. Take t...

  Linn County Small Woodlands Association Board of directors meeting Time and location: Thursday, Dec. 2, 2020, Cota-Melcher property off Upper Berlin Road Meeting called to order at 2:30 p.m. by board President Lee Peterman Attendance: Lee Peterman, Larry Mauter, Bonnie Marshall, Shirley Holmberg, Jim Cota, Jonathan Christie (3:30 p.m.) Tim Otis. Old Business Minutes of Sept. 3. meeting: Reviewed and approved without change. Tim Otis move, Bonnie Marshall second. Treasurer’s Report: Delivered by Shirley Holmberg, summary of funds, Shirley is now on the OSWA budget committee, plan is to put out statewide budget template; OSWA to change by-laws to show chapter and main OSWA fund and budget indepedence and partner umbrella wording. Shirley recommends bylaw change to include OSWA coverage regarding dues from main OSWA group. Motion and second to review spending ideas for money in accounts at March 3, 2021 board meeting. Approved unanimously. Seedling sale update:...

Linn County Small Woodlands Assoc Board of directors meeting Sept. 3, Waterloo Park, Waterloo Meeting called to order at 5:30 p.m. by board President Lee Peterman Attendance: Lee Peterman, Larry Mauter, Bonnie Marshall, Shirley Holmberg, Jim Cota, Katie Kohl, Fay Sallee, Jonathan Christie (6:30 p.m.) Tim Otis (6:30 p.m.) Minutes of June meeting: Larry Mauter move,  Bonnie Marshall second approve of June minutes with the addition of attendees list. Online attendees were Christie, Marshall, Mauter, Holmberg, Otis, Peterman and  Kohl. Unanimous Treasurer’s report: Shirley Holmberg reported that college scholarship checks for academic year have been sent out. Shirley to follow up on check for Kimberly Ortiz that will go to Eastern Oregon Univ. Shirley reviewed quarterly expenses and receipts. Katie Kohl move, Bonnie second approval of treasurer’s report. Unanimous. Old Business Annual Budget: Shirley presented 2020-2021 fiscal budget. Numbers are close to 2019-20...

 After a way-too-long break, it is time to spring back with this information tool, your Linn County Small Woodlands Association website. We are at a crucial point with our annual seedling sale. Restrictions relating to COVID will require us to revamp our scholarship fundraiser procedures that has included 4-H and member volunteers working closely together in the past. More on this in another post. Tim Otis will be taking over as president of the chapter at our annual meeting. That meeting will be virtual this year. There is no late-January potluck this year, again because of COVID. Members should look for information in the mail soon. Look for more posts soon. Happy New Year to all.