Food Drive at the Final Meeting of the Year

It’s that time of year again. All members of the NFLA are encouraged to bring or send non-perishable food items to the October meeting on the 4th. Acceptable donations include non-perishable commercially canned goods, dried foods such as rice, pasta, beans and any packaged food items not requiring refrigeration. Of particular interest is baby food. Another popular item is pancake syrup.

Items that are not acceptable include those that have been opened, are not in their original container, or are damaged in any way. Unfortunately, home canned goods are also considered unacceptable. However, items whose expiration date has passed are acceptable as long as they are not more than two years out of date.

Tax deductible contributions in the form of a check made payable to the Columbia Falls Food Bank are also welcomed.

This food drive is a way for the NFLA members to get involved in a community service project and provide others with a small share of our good fortune. Please set aside appropriate items while cleaning out and closing your North Fork homes for the season and bring them with you to the October meeting. If you aren’t closing up or don’t have these items on hand, pick them up the next time you’re shopping. And if you are not going to be here for the meeting, don’t forget to drop these items off with a friend who will be attending.

Improvements to Sondreson Hall

The NFLA maintenance committee had a long list of tasks that they wanted to finish this summer and fall including the kitchen floor, a new back porch with a ramp, replacing the batten on the back of the building, and hooking the wood stove back up inside.  Much of that work was finished during a flurry of activity this past week.  Here’s a report from Becky Braunig on the work that took place on Saturday…

There was a good work crew on hand Saturday including Paul Marotz, Randy Kenyon, Donna Harrison, Bill Walker, Gary McDonough, Lynn Ogle, and Lynn’s sister and brother-in-law John and Nancy North.  Karen McDonough had planned to attend, but was unable to so sent lunch with Gary. We got the roof on the back porch finished and one section of batten done.  Around 4PM everyone was tired and ready to go home. Then someone said let’s put the stove back where it belongs on the tile and after that decided to go ahead and hook it back up.  That was quite an adventure because the stovepipe did not want to go back in place and they had to take one section of it off and crimp it. They got it done tho and I was happy to see smoke coming out of the chimney yesterday morning when I went down to church.

Karen and Gary are dog sitting the Hoilands’ lab Knute while they are in Ireland. He provided entertainment all day for all of us, bringing sticks and dropping them on our feet to throw.  By the end of the day Knute looked like all he could manage was a piece of grass. I imagined Knute slept well last night and Karen confirmed that he did.

Here are some photos from Becky and one from Donna Harrison:

We want to thank everyone who has been participating in all of the work at Sondreson Hall this summer and fall.  Everything looks great and it wouldn’t have happened without you.

Annual Membership Dues have Increased

The NFLA Board of Directors voted to increase the annual dues for active members from $10 a person to $15. Dues for associate members (no voting privileges) were also increased from $5 a year to $10.  For more information about joining the NFLA and paying dues, including an updated form to fill out, see our Contact Page.

NFLA Sondreson Hall Fall Maintenance Schedule

Members are taking advantage of the cooler weather to perform some maintenance at Sondreson Hall.  Following is the schedule:

  • Help with moving – On Wednesday, September 10th, a few folks are needed to help put the kitchen back together after the floor work in that area has been completed.  Work will begin around 4PM.
  • Minor repairs and oiling – On Tuesday, September 16th, folks are asked to come help with some minor repairs to Sondreson Hall, including flicker damage and oiling the logs on the south side.  Work with begin around noon.
  • Major work – On Friday, September 19th, a major work day has been scheduled for Sondreson Hall including starting construction on the back porch, raking gravel, and putting the stove back in place for the winter.  Work will begin a 9AM and go throughout the day.  Please bring work gloves, a rake, and your lunch.

We want to say a special thanks to all the folks who plan and supervise these work parties.  Sondreson Hall is in the best shape its been in years due to their efforts.

Tree Farm Newsletter and Annual Tree Farm Meeting

The Annual Tree Farm Meeting will be held on Saturday, October 11. The group will be meeting at Sondreson Community Hall at 10AM before proceeding on to the Chrisman and Hoiland Tree Farms, then returning to the Hall for the lunch, Business Meeting, and Awards. This meeting is open to the public – anyone wanting more information on the Tree Farm program is welcome to attend. Registration is $25 per person, $12.50 for children under 16. With Registration both lunch and snacks are provided.

Both the Hoiland and Chrisman Tree Farms will be visited – so don’t miss an opportunity to check out what is going on at your neighbor’s!

Download the Tree Farm Annual Meeting Registration 2014 form from here.
Download the 2014 Fall Tree Farm Newsletter (Full Color) from here.

Anyone with questions can contact me at chrisman@bresnan.net or 406-249-6130.

August BOD Election Results

The annual election of the officers took place at the Business Meeting on Saturday evening.  Here are the results:

  • President Karen McDonough
  • Vice President Donna Harrison
  • Past President Debo Powers
  • Treasurer Bonny Ogle
  • North Director Allen Chrisman
  • North Director Paul Marotz (new)
  • South Director Alan McNeil
  • South Director Carol Groebe

In addition, the following proposed bylaw change was passed:  Dissolution Clause; “Upon the dissolution of the North Fork Landowners’ Association, assets shall be distributed by action of the Board of Directors to one or more charitable organizations that qualify for the distribution by the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.”

The proposed by law change regarding lifetime membership was withdrawn by Bonny Ogle.

2014 Fire Wise Day

For eleven years (since the Wedge Canyon Fire in 2003, the NFLA has had a very active Fire Mitigation Committee. Each summer, the committee hosts a Fire Wise Day at the Hall to help inform landowners about what they can do on their property to mitigate the effects of catastrophic wildfire. Grants have been available to help landowners with reducing fuels around their homes. This year’s Fire Wise program began with a staggering film about the devastating wildfires that have plagued Colorado in recent years. This film covered some of the causes of those fires and the conditions that control the options that fire managers have in fighting huge wildfires. The overwhelming message of the film is that if you choose to live in a fire-prone area, you will eventually have to deal with the consequences. The remainder of the program focused on research concerning adequate distance between trees in thinning projects and the Kinsolving’s restoration project since the Wedge Canyon Fire. Molly Shepherd and Allen Chrisman received an award from Fire Safe Montana for their leadership with the NFLA Fire Mitigation Committee.

Social and square dance were great fun

Last night’s Ice Cream Social and square dance was enjoyed by everyone who came to Sondreson Hall.  Linda Pittman and Debo Powers made delicious ice cream and everyone else contributed the pies.  We had special visits from Cecily McNeil and Ray Hart who reminded us that square dances have been taking place at the hall for over 60 years – and the tradition lives on.  A special thanks to Linda for once again sponsoring this year’s Social and to Debo for her usual excellent job at calling the square dance.  We had some pretty fancy dancing going on by the end of the evening!

Don’t forget that the next square dance is scheduled for Saturday, August 16th, starting at 8PM at Sondreson Hall.  We hope to see everyone then.