MARCH MEETING AND SALE

IHS Members & Friends:
There will be a meeting of The Iowa Herpetological Society, Saturday, March 19, from 10:00 a.m., until noon. The meeting will be held at the Urbandale Public Library, 3520 86th Street, Urbandale. If you get lost, the Library phone number is (515) 331-6765 or (515) 278-3918.
 
LEADERSHIP
Some form of leadership will be decided Is it time for change in how we run the society.  Or do we keep the same form of leadership? It will be decided on the 19th.
 
SPEAKER
Our speaker will be Steve Gilfillan, Council Bluffs, IA. Steve is a member of our Society. His program will be on Garter Snakes, in Iowa, as well as other states and countries, such as Canada. I had the pleasure of visiting Steve a few months back. For over 10 years, he has been been breeding Thamnophis radix (Plains Garter Snake), and more recently Thamnophis s. parientalis (Red-sided Garter Snake), Thamnophis s. concinnus, (Red Spotted Garter Snake), Thamnophis maricanus (Checkered Garter Snake), Thamnophis s. sirtalis (Eastern Garter Snake), and Thamnophis ordinoides (Northwestern Garter Snake).
 
He has been very successful breeding these species. I have no idea how he keeps the babies from escaping, as small as they are at birth. So, you will hear about his caging methods, as well. I was really impressed with his interest and success.
 
By the way, if you visit him, he will cook you a steak with fresh salad. At least that's what I got to eat for lunch!
 
Steve has a natural hibernaculum in his outdoor siding, and down to the foundation. Usually, when I pick up a Garter Snake I wear gloves, as they always seem willing to bite me. I guess they know Steve is going to feed them, so they don't bite him. He certainly has a way with these snakes. He has some of the nicest Garter Snakes I have ever seen.
 
Steve will also show us a Canadian Garter Snake emergence and migration of Thamnophis s. parientalis at the Narcisse Den, in Manatoba, Canada. It was a once in a lifetime experience, for Steve. He left with a better understanding of these awesome Garter Snakes, as he told me. That would be a sight to see!
 
I hope you will attend this meeting as Steve will also be bringing a guest turtle, you won't believe. His name is Tank, and that is all I will tell you. He is a one of a kind turtle, to say the least. You won't believe where he sleeps, and interacts with Steve and his family. Steve has 5 children, and is a retired law enforcement
officer, after 27 1/2 years.
 
MEMBERSHIP JOINING AND RENEWING
If it is time to renew your membership dues, please do so.
You can renew your membership in advance by contacting Sue Rybolt, IHS Treasurer, 1932 SW 3rd Street, Suite 5,
Ankeny, IA 50021-2400, or join at the Sale.
Types of Membership includes: 18 & Under...$15.00; Individual...$20.00; Family...$25.00; and Library or Business...$30.00.
If joining by mail please include the following information:
Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code, Telephone Number, and E-mail Address

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SPRING SALE
Will be on Sunday April 1st 2012
Holiday Inn Merle Hay Rd. Des Moines, Iowa
Questions and info on vending please check out www.iowareptileshows.com
or call Jim at (563) 503-0592