The April Meeting
Our April meeting will be on Saturday, April 8 at 9:00 am at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch Park, at the southeast corner of Guadalupe and Greenfield Roads in Gilbert.The Gilbert Riparian Preserve is a 110 acre wastewater reclamation site, educational area and wildlife refuge.The public park held their grand opening on October 9 and includes a 5 acre fishing lake, 7 ponds, 4 miles of walking paths, picnic ramadas and bird watching blinds.Our speaker is Scott Anderson, executive director of the park.He will give us a tour and explanation about this man-made urban wetland.If should be a very informative and interesting meeting.Be sure to bring along your lawn chairs and maybe a hat or visor.We have permission to have our plant swap after the meeting, so bring along all your extra plants.Feel free to stay after the meeting to enjoy the park - bring a picnic lunch, hike, fish, etc.
DIRECTIONS:Take Greenfield Road south of the Superstition Freeway (Highway 60) past Baseline Road to Guadalupe Road.Turn left (east) on Guadalupe Road and the entrance to the park will be on the right off Guadalupe.There is a gathering area near the parking lot where we will meet.

NEED REFRESHMENTS FOR APRIL MEETING
We need one or two members to bring refreshments to the April meeting at the Water Park.If you have not hosted a meeting and/or don't wish to, please take your turn at refreshments. 
Thanks!

MARCH MEETING REVIEW
Another beautiful morning at the Bert & Betty's!We spent some time admiring the ponds, backyard and birds and then began the meeting.We were happy to have several visitors attending and gained 5 new memberships!!Bert told about his pond and all the various wild animals that have visited them.The meeting was then turned over to Art B. who has a Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat in Tempe.He told us about the program and his own backyard habitat.Although this was his first public talk on this subject, it was very interesting and caused us all to think about our own backyards and how we can help create a habitat.He shared copies of the application and also National Wildlife Federation newsletters. (I will have more copies of the application and requirement information available at the next meeting if there is anyone who didn't receive a copy and would still like one.)Art recently visited a rain forest and brought along a photo album to share after the meeting.Spring is definitely on the way, evidenced by the many plants that members brought to give away! 

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Andre G. - Scottsdale 
Larry & Rosalind H. - Chandler 
Brad J. - Gilbert 
Robert & Adrionna L. - Cave Creek 
Bill and Nicholas S. - Phoenix

LAST NEWSLETTER IF 2000 DUES NOT PAID
The next newsletter will only be mailed to members that are current on 2000 dues.We would hate to lose you, so if you have not paid your dues, please mail them to the Feingold's or bring them to the April meeting.Remember that your dues entitle you to the monthly meetings, newsletters and admission to the pond tour!

2000 POND TOUR
This year's pond tour will be in the east valley.We have six ponds - two in Mesa , two in Gilbert and two in Chandler.Since there was a cluster in the Phoenix area, maybe we will concentrate on that area of town for next year's tour.A HUGE THANK YOU GOES OUT TO EVERYONE WHO OFFERED THEIR POND!I will hopefully be contacting the six pond owners in the near future.I still need all the help I can get - ideas, suggestions, publicity, etc.Contact Dianne at jeffndi@earthlink.com