Sharing Reports - November, 2009

I am glad to say that we received a 3 Star Rating from International.

We had a sister who became elgible to receive her Laureate Degree and our lovely sister, Krissie, planned a weekend retreat up on Mackinac Island. While we were there someone had put together goodie bags for each of the sisters. Thank you Vivian. Our goodie bags contained a pin in the shape of Michigan, apple crisp mix, assortment of jerky and snack sticks, cherries, mackinaw fudge. And some of us had extra luggage but we were not charged anything extra. We have a wonderful Airlines that caters to our needs. We call it the Fox Airlines. We can have whoever we want to be our stewards or stewardesses. We even share sometimes. All of this happened in September.

In October we had Joan's Laurete Degree Ritual, it was beautiful. We held it virtualy, and Joan had a Sister from her Land Chapter to help with the Ritual.

Then we were sadden by the news of Suzi Katz. She passed away on October 12, due to a heart attack. Our President did a power point Memorial for Suzi Katz. Our hearts are heavy with sorrow, but we do have another Sorority Angel. Our dear sister, Krissie, planned another weekend outing for us, for Halloween. Any one care to guess where we went. We went to Romania. We had such a great time. Krissie really out does herself on each retreat and we really appreciate all of her hard work.

Arlene is on a foilage trek with her hubby, Dan this week. So she asked if I or Pat E. do the sharing report. As to answer the question asked for this month. Yes we do go to different places. Virtually of course. Its all in the imgagination of everyone. If you want to go then do it. It does take alot of planning on one or a couple of sisters. But we do have alot of fun. If you need some advice on how to get started, please ask and we will see if we can help.

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn
OLT Rep

Hope all of you are enjoying autumn and the beginning of the holiday season. VP Marcia Hamm recently submitted the names of of two deceased OLP members, Dawn Neumeyer and Marilyn Kelly, to BSP Memory Stitches. Also added to the quilt is Marcia's daughter Lori, who was a legacy and was active in her own land chapter before becoming a member-at-large.

MEMBERSHIP: We are pleased to welcome a new member to our chapter. Karen visited our chapter in September and officially joined us in October.

PROGRAMS: Janice presented the September program, "Stand by me." It was very joyful, and it fit in with our International theme by taking us on an adventure to different places. Be sure to check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM

Cheryl presented the October program which also fit into our International theme. While in Concordia Kansas to attend her class reunion, she attended the dedication of the Whole Wall Mural, depicting some of the history of Cloud County Kansas. It is the longest sculpted brick mural in the USA. Cheryl included the web site for the mural but unfortunately there were some problems accessing the site. She will re-post when she receives another link from her friend. We are looking forward to viewing the mural.

SPECIAL SISTERS: Many of our sisters signed up for Special Sisters this year. Our heartfelt thanks go to Kimberly for all her hard work on this project.

RECIPES: Vicki S shared a Halloween Special with our chapter - Bone Crunching meatballs. :-)

1 8oz. can sliced water chestnuts
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 T. soy sauce
1/2 c. chopped green onions (greens only)
1/4 c. dry breadcrumbs
2 T. minced fresh cilantro
1 1/2 tsp. grated lime peel
1 1/2 tsp. minced fresh ginger root
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp. each salt/pepper
1-1/2 pounds lean ground turkey
2 T. canola oil
Plum sauce

1-Cut enough water chestnut slices in half to make 60 pieces; set aside.

2-In a bowl combine the next 10 ingredients. Crumble turkey over mixture and mix well. Divide into 60 portions and shape each proportion around a water chestnut piece.

3-In a large nonstick skillet, saute the meatballs in oil in batches for 5 minutes until browned. Transfer to a 13"x9" baking dish. Cover and bake @350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until meat is no longer pink; drain. Serve with plum sauce.

Respectively submitted,

Rose
OLP Rep

The Sisters of the OLK have been very busy since our last sharing report! It's hard to believe that we are experiencing Fall and now have the holidays coming up fast before us! Our Chapter has welcomed new members, congratulated new mothers-to-be, one member is now planning a wedding, and we've continued to chat our way through to our upcoming meeting that is ongoing for November 2009! Our members are continuing to be very active and "chatty" throughout the entire month, so we truly enjoy our long-distance friendships and sisterhood!

The paragraphs following contain our Program and Social from our October 2009 meeting. Enjoy as we have!

Program Part 1

Idaho is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890 as the 43rd state.
• State Bird: Mountain Bluebird
• State Dance: Square Dance
• State Fish: Cutthroat Trout
• State Flower: Syringa (Syringa vulgaris)
• State Fossil: Hagerman Horse (Equus simplicidens)
• State Fruit: Huckleberry
• State Gem: Idaho star garnet
• State Horse: Appaloosa
• State Motto: Esto perpetua ("Let it be perpetual")
• State Insect: Monarch butterfly
• State Raptor: Peregrine falcon
• State Song: Here We Have Idaho
• State Tree: Western White Pine
• State Soil: Threebear (soil)

Idaho is mostly mountainous and is larger than all of New England. It is landlocked, surrounded by the states of Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and the Canadian Province of British Columbia. The Port of Lewiston is the farthest inland Pacific port on the west coast. A series of dams and locks on the Snake River and Columbia River facilitate barge travel from Lewiston to Portland, where goods are loaded on ocean-going vessels. In Central Idaho, Sun Valley is one of the oldest ski resorts where the world's first chairlift was installed. A ski resort is adjacent to nearly every urban area. Whitewater rafting and kayaking are among the state's major pastimes. Hell's Canyon and the Salmon River have some of North America's best whitewater, with Riggins, ID the state's "informal" whitewater capital.


According to the 2008 US Census Bureau, the population for Idaho was estimated to be 1,523,816. Southern Idaho is in the Mountain Time Zone and areas north of the Salmon River, are in the Pacific Time Zone.

Idaho's highest point is Borah Peak, 12,662 feet and the lowest point, 710 feet, is in Lewiston. Idaho's most famous mountain range is called Sawtooth Range.

The climate in Idaho can be hot, but extended periods over 100 °F are rare. Hot summer days are helped by low humidity and cooler evenings. Winters can be cold, but long periods of temps below zero are unusual.

Humans may have been present in the Idaho area as long as 14,500 years ago. Native American tribes predominant in the area included the Nez Perce in the north and the Northern and Western Shoshone in the south.

Idaho is the sixth fastest-growing state after Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Georgia, and Utah. Since 1990, Idaho's population has increased by 386,000 (38%).

In Southern Idaho, the largest metropolitan area is the Boise Metropolitan Area. Other metropolitan areas in order of size are Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Lewiston.

Religion affiliations are as follows: Protestant, 29.3%; LDS (Mormon), 22.8%; Catholic, 14.3%; Non-Denominational Christian, 13.6%; Non-Affiliated, 12.7%; and Other, 7.2%.

Idaho is an important agricultural state, producing nearly one third of the potatoes grown in the United States. Important industries in Idaho are food processing, lumber and wood products, paper products, (a very stinky pulp mill is in Lewiston), machinery, chemical products, electronics manufacturing, silver and other mining, and tourism. Idaho also has three facilities of Anheuser-Busch which provide a large part of the malt for breweries located across the nation.

Idaho is home to many technology-based companies: Micron Technology in Boise, the only U.S. manufacturer of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips; Hewlett-Packard in Boise, devoted primarily to LaserJet printer production; Dell, Inc. in Twin Falls operates a major customer support call center; Coldwater Creek in Sandpoint, a women's clothing retailer; Fortune 500 Sun Microsystems (with two offices in Boise and parts depot in Pocatello). Sun brings $4M in annual salaries and over $300M of revenue to the state each year.

< The state personal income tax ranges from 1.6% to 7.8% in eight income brackets. Idahoans may apply for state tax credits for taxes paid to other states, as well as for donations to Idaho state educational groups and some nonprofit youth and rehabilitation facilities. The state sales tax is 6%. Food is taxed, but prescription drugs are not. Hotel, motel, and campground usages are taxed at a higher rate (7% to 11%).

Idaho has a state gambling lottery which contributed $333.5 million in payments to all Idaho public schools and Idaho higher education from 1990 - 2006.

Major airports include Boise International serving southwest Idaho, and Spokane International (located in Spokane, Washington), serves northern Idaho. There are several other small airports throughout the state (the best one being in Lewiston, which I use when flying into Lewiston for visits with my relatives).

Idaho's railroads are The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) which connects North Idaho with Seattle, Portland and Spokane to the west, and Minneapolis and Chicago to the east; The Union Pacific Railroad crosses southern Idaho traveling between Portland, Green River, WY, and Ogden, Utah; and Amtrak's Empire Builder crosses northern Idaho, with its only stop being in Sandpoint.

After the Civil War, many Southern Democrats moved to the Idaho Territory making the early territorial legislatures solidly Democrat-controlled. However, most of the territorial governors were appointed by Republican Presidents and were Republicans themselves. This led to bitter clashes between the two parties. In the 1880s, Republicans became more prominent in local politics.

The Republican Party has usually been the dominant party in Idaho, when the Democrats became more liberal and the Republicans more conservative. Since World War II, most statewide elected officials have been Republicans. Idaho Congressional delegations have been Republican since statehood. Several Idaho Democrats have had electoral success in the House over the years, but the Senate delegation has been Republican for decades.

Idaho has not supported a Democrat for president since 1964. In that election, Lyndon Johnson defeated Barry Goldwater by less than two percentage points. In 2004, Republican George W. Bush carried Idaho by a margin of 38 percentage points, winning in 43 of 44 counties. Only the Sun Valley ski resort supported John Kerry, who owns a home in the area. In 2008, Barack Obama's 36.1% showing was the best for a Democratic presidential candidate in Idaho since 1976. The Idaho State Board of Education oversees three universities: The University of Idaho in Moscow (the first university in the state, founded in 1889); Idaho State University in Pocatello (in 1901, as the Academy of Idaho and granted university status in 1963); and Boise State University (geared toward being a commuter school for part-time undergraduate students). Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston is the only public, non-university 4-year college in Idaho.

Idaho has three regional community colleges: North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene; College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls; and The College of Western Idaho in Nampa, which opened in 2009.

Private institutions in Idaho are Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg, which is affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; The College of Idaho in Caldwell, which still maintains a loose affiliation with the Presbyterian Church; Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa; and New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, of reformed Christian theological background.


Program Part 2
HISTORY OF THE IDAHO POTATO

Why Idaho? The correct combination of the elements?...
Idaho's unique environment provides nearly perfect growing conditions for potatoes. The soil, clear clean water, clean air and climate in Idaho make potatoes superior to any potato grown anywhere else.
Summer days along the Snake River Valley are sunny and warm, combined with Idaho's cool nights provide ideal climate conditions for the growing and production of potatoes.
Idaho's scenic mountains collect snow throughout the winter months. In the spring, the snow melts and flows into large reservoirs both above and below ground. Water from the reservoirs are used to irrigate the potatoes using irrigation systems which can be programmed using the correct amount of water needed.
Lastly, Idaho farmers have generations of experience and knowledge of growing potatoes. Pioneering research to improve the soil, storage and processing have made them the world's research leaders.
Idaho has the world's most advanced storage research center and claims more environmentally controlled commercial storage facilities than any other growing region.
There may be similar growing areas in the world but none have the complete combination which Idaho has to grow the best potatoes on the market today.
In certain ways the mighty Snake River is the mother of Idaho's potato industry. It has, through the centuries, transported and deposited much of the silt that farmers cultivate today in lower lying fields along the river course. It provides much of the water that makes possible the growing of a plant that needs a soil moisture of eighty percent for ideal growth. As it plunges a mile downwards in elevation along its course, the Snake generates electrical energy that makes pumping from deep wells possible, and most of the potato growing areas in the state lie contiguous to the Snake River Valley as it twists its way in a 550-mile arc across southern Idaho.

EARLY HISTORY
The first potatoes grown in Idaho were planted in northern Idaho by Rev. Henry Spaulding. It was a successful crop, but his missionary work was brought to an end by the Whitman massacre and the Spauldings were forced to leave in 1850. Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 22, 1847. On July 24 a five-acre potato patch was plowed and seed potatoes planted. The first irrigation in Salt Lake Valley was for the benefit of the newly planted potatoes. A week later the potatoes were growing.

Certain pioneers were sent northward to settle other areas. One of these were Cache Valley. Some, still thinking they were in Utah, had actually crossed the border into Idaho and began to establish their farms there. One of these early settlers in Franklin was William Goforth Nelson. He recorded in the summer of 1850: "We all camped in our wagons the first summer, but we all got homes built by winter; these houses were built in the present meetinghouse lot in a fort. I spent the summer working on ditches, canton roads, and hauling poles and wood from the canyon. I raised thirty-three bushels of potatoes, which is all that was raised in Franklin that summer except for a few onions." This is the first recorded planting of potatoes in Idaho in an area where the settlers remained and the crop is still grown to some extent today. The planting was accomplished three years before the Idaho Territory was organized. The spread of potato agriculture in eastern Idaho was only a matter of time. Henry E. Jenkins was a freighter hauling a load of potatoes from Farmington, Utah to Blackfoot, Idaho. The recipient of the shipment was Judge Stephens, who was encouraged by the freighter to plant the potatoes believed to be the first planting in the Blackfoot area. More and more potatoes were planted and the Blackfoot area has grown now into one of the principal potato producing areas in Idaho.

Those first Idaho settlers were pioneers mentally as well as geographically because they had the initiative and willingness to better their conditions regardless of physical hardships and uncertain futures.

RUSSET BURBANK DEVELOPED
The famous Idaho potato, Russet Burbank, is known as being large size, white, mealy & delicious. It was developed by Luther Burbank, beginning in 1872, when he planted twenty-three seeds from an Early Rose parent plant. All produced tubers, but one was superior in yield and size. Originally smooth-skinned, the familiar netting is actually a mutant of the Burbank. It is more resistant to blight than the original.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The University of Idaho Research Experiment Station in Aberdeen has provided valuable service in helping the potato industry. First started in 1914, many different problems have been researched and solved there. Experiments have been carried out concerning distance between rows and plants, seed piece sizes, planting and harvesting equipment, storage facilities, diseases, irrigation practices, and research for new varieties.

POTATO PROCESSING
As people's habits and lifestyles have changed, the demand for processed potatoes has grown. Idaho's potato industry has recognized and met this demand.
The earliest form of potato processing was probably drying potatoes to preserve them for future use. In Idaho, the first processing activity was the extraction of starch from potatoes closely followed by the production of potato flour and potato meal.

The Rogers Brothers Seed Company claims the first dehydration of potatoes for food use in Idaho. They indicate that they were producing potato flour in 1926 and drying diced potatoes in 1940. Military needs during World War II forced the development of techniques that gave birth to the modern potato processing industry in the Gem State as well as the rest of the world.

In 1942 Simplot produced dehydrated potatoes, using the same process as drying onions. R.T. French began producing potato granules for instant mashed potatoes in 1952.

The potato processing industry has evolved over the years until it has become possible to buy potatoes as frozen french fries, potato rounds, stuffed baked potatoes, shredded potato patties, hash browns, curly fries, seasoned fries, or mashed. Dehydrated potatoes come as flakes or granules for instant mashed, hash browns, diced for soups and stews, or sliced for au gratin, etc. There are processing plants for fozen products and those that are purely dehydration plants. Some operations have facilities for both types of processing.

One of the benefits of processing potatoes, aside from convenience to the consumer, is that it gives an opportunity to use the less than perfect potatoes, resulting in less waste.

IRRIGATION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT
Irrigation plays a critical role in the growing and production of potatoes. The Carey Act of 1894 made it possible for more land to be opened up for agricultural use. Under this Act, the so-called public land states with desert lands were offered one million federal acres each, provided they would cause the granted lands to be irrigated.

Idaho benefited from the Carey Act far more than did any other state. About 60% of all lands irrigated in the United States under the Carey Act are in Idaho. Over the period of forty years, the state of Idaho received 618,000 acres of previously desert, arid land. The overall benefit from the construction of dams and canals, the settlement of farms, the birth of towns and cities and the production of crops on the economy of Idaho is impossible to measure. Carey Act reclamation projects have put substantial tracts of land under cultivation that became family farms and were utilized to grow Idaho potatoes. Without this one piece of legislation, many of today's potato fields would be range for cattle and sheep.

High-lift pumping opened up even more of the desert lands to farming. Several projects were developed to bring water from the Snake River. The water was pumped 500 to 725 feet up from the river.

The combination of private citizens and private lending institutions expanding the agricultural economy of Idaho by adding significantly to potato production must certainly be included in the history of the industry. It is one of the noteworthy eras in the story of the potato in Idaho, an era, however, that belonged to the past when there was plentiful desert entry land, cheap energy and lower development costs.

Below is information about the Idaho Potato Museum located in Blackfoot, Idaho.
Idaho Potato Museum
"http://www.roadsideamerica.com/about/review"
Blackfoot, "http://www.roadsideamerica.com/location/id"
The image of King Spud grins from signs on the outskirts of Blackfoot. While any town in this tater-rich region could claim global preeminence, Blackfoot grabs it with its World Potato Expo, a celebration of the lowly spud and all its varied uses.

At the World Potato Exposition, you can "Learn about the agricultural, historical, social, scientific, educational, artistic and economic aspects of the world-famous Idaho potato." A giant chunk of Idaho gold -- the world's largest Styrofoam potato -- lies next to the parking lot, like something that fell off a flatbed truck on a novelty postcard (you can see the "http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/IDDRIpotato.html").
There are displays on how the industry grew in Idaho, and exhibits of farming and sorting equipment. A tribute to Mr. Potato Head sits behind glass.
You can touch the sleeve of the burlap tuxedo worn by Idaho's first Potato Commissioner. In 1998, they added a burlap rodeo queen outfit, made of potato sack, with vest and skirt.
There's a speculative section on how the "Potato In Space" might fare.
Perhaps most amazing: the world's largest potato chip, a 25x14-inch Pringle created in 1991 by Proctor & Gamble engineers. This pizza-sized potato snack is in its own display case.
During the summer, the Gift Shop sells potato fudge, potato ice cream and potato cookies. The free baked potato once given to visitors ("Free 'Taters For Out-Of-Staters") now includes a footnote: "* with $3 admission."
"http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/OKBEAchip.html"
One more thing that I wanted to add - In the September 27th, 2009, Sunday paper of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, there was an article in the Business and Farm section titled 'Growers looking for tater to wow McDonald's'.
Briefly, what the article was talking about is that potato farmers, researchers and industry representatives are looking for a new variety of potato for McDonald's french fries. McDonald's still relies on the Russet Burbank for many of its fries, even though this 130 year old variety takes a long time to mature, gulps water, and falls victim to rots and other diseases, meaning farmers must douse it in chemicals. Socially conscious investors want McDonald's to help cut pesticides to protect the environment and farm-workers' health. But coming up with another variety of potato is no easy feat. The latest variety that McDonald's tested, the Premier Russet, has a pedigree that resembles that of a thorough-bred race horse, with ancestors like the buff-skinned Penobscot of Maine. The company (McDonald's), decided it was an also-ran (meaning, I guess, that it was too costly?)

In March, three activist investor groups won an agreement from McDonald's to promote best practices to cut pesticide use by its American potato suppliers. So far, the groups say the company is doing a "great job" adhering to its commitments. McDonald's agricultural products director, Mitch Smith, says he's satisfied growers are already working efficiently and sustainably, largely because wasteful water or chemical practices dent their profits. Just now, McDonald's is scrutinizing the Bannock Russet, a 10-year-old potato variety bred originally in Idaho that isn't susceptible to most diseases as Russet Burbanks. "If we can find a variety that does that, with less inputs, water or whatever, that's something we're looking for," Smith said. "To date, there are not a lot of varieties that perform consistently enough."

Social
Our social today is Preceptor Kappa Iota's (my land chapter) "RUSH" picnic at Utica Park in Angels Camp, CA. It's a beautiful day, not too hot, not too cold. Liz, our Vice President (member of BSP for 52 years), arranged for us to use this covered area, away from the other picnic areas in order for us to have a short meeting and to more privately meet and greet our guests in a nice setting. We don't expect a large crowd, but hope for at least seven of our sisters (we have 10) to be here, along with four prospective sisters, all of whom are neighbors of mine. Usually, we meet at sister houses but since we didn't know how many guests to expect (invited 11); we decided to meet at a park.

Liz put table cloths on three of the tables; two for our meeting and eating. Our food is at this table: baked chicken, baked beans, macaroni salad, fruit salad, an avocado and shrimp salad, two types of potato chips with dips, cookies for dessert, and several types of non-alcoholic beverages (in the ice chest).

I'll introduce you to the guests and members as we go along. One of our prospective members (in the front) is a good friend and neighbor. Mary has been to several of our sorority get-togethers and is seriously considering joining our group (after the first of the year). The woman in the middle is our VP Liz (she's also a member of OnLine Beta); the other woman is Bets, another good friend and neighbor (the one responsible for me joining BSP).

Here's Margaret and Janice. Margaret has been in BSP for 51 years, starting in a San Francisco, CA chapter, and transferring to our chapter a year ago. She recently stated to me that she wanted to go on LOA as she has "ride" issues (her daughter and dog, in background, brought her today) and some "memory" problems. Janice has been a BSP member for 40 years and in PKI for 10 years. Janice was our president 3 years ago (and is my co-chair for the 2010 Relay for Life, Calaveras County, as well as our team co-captain for the Relay).

Three of our prospective members: Mary, Debby, and Carole. All live within 3 miles of me (makes for good driving time and distance for meetings, if they join). Debby and Carole are retired, and Mary works two evenings a week and one day-time for Weight Watchers. However, since our meetings are "currently" the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month (we might change them to the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays), Mary will be able to attend.

Just arriving are Dorothy (left) and Donna (right). Donna went to pick up Dorothy (our oldest sister/member, age 89) at work (yes, she still works; works at a Thrift Store in town, three days a week) so she could have lunch with us and meet our prospective new sisters. Dorothy works on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, and is the reason we may change our meeting days to Tuesday, in order for her to once again join us. Donna is our Secretary and is also in OnLine Delta.

The green t-shirt has a yellow rose on the front with BSP letters; on back in yellow lettering is Preceptor Kappa Iota of Angels Camp, CA. Our badge (that Donna's wearing) is made of felt, with the bar at the top being the degree for that person (Donna being Master). In the center of the badge is a green frog, also felt; our pins then go on and around the frog (symbol of Calaveras County).

Left to right – Carol (former Ways & Means chair), Hilda (Treasurer and member of OnLine Delta), Donna, Bets, guests Mary and Carole.

We've had our short meeting and our VP Liz has given our guests an overview of BSP and specifics about our chapter. We played a few of "Sharing our Passport to Adventure" type of games: one was a sheet of paper with pictures of six different hotels from National Parks and we were asked to identify the parks; another was an "elimination-round" of history-related questions with multiple choice answers (i.e. the Wright Brothers were famous for what? A. Trains B. Planes C. Automobiles D. Mopeds); and the last game was a sheet with 12 words scrambled (to be unscrambled) relating to picnics (i.e. nodaelme = lemonade). Everyone had a great time and, for most of us, the history-related questions were the hardest; even though some of the choices were silly, in a lot of questions relating to places, you could pick out the obvious BAD answers but there were two that might be good LOL.

Our fourth guest was the blonde in the dress, Debie. She works four days a week as church secretary for the local Catholic Church. If we change our meeting days, however, she'll be able to join us---another incentive to make a change.

I hope you enjoyed being at our picnic in the park "rush" today. We had a good time, good food, and most likely three of our four guests will be joining our chapter within the next couple months.

Respectively submitted,

Shelley
OLK Rep