Happy Birthday

The following officers will be installed at our May meeting:

President - Carole Snyder
Vice President - Pat Richards
Secretary - Shirley Nice
Treasurer - Peggy St. Germain
Board members:
Jill Lihdahl
Judy Cognetta

Once again, a big thank you to Dorothy for the great menu selections... we appreciate all your efforts. A quick poll was taken at our last meeting and it is unanimous! We will be continuing with Joseph's for our 2005-06 year.

Keeping in mind our commitment to protecting our precious resources and preserving our environment for all of us and future generations, here are some suggestions.

Composting:
According to the EPA, yard trimmings and food scraps make up roughly 23 of the waste stream in the U.S. Things to add to a compost pile: cardboard rolls, clean paper, coffee grounds and filters*, cotton rags, dryer and vacuum cleaner lint, eggshells, fireplace ashes, fruits and vegetables, grass clippings, hair and fur, hay, straw, houseplants, leaves, nut shells, sawdust, shredded newspaper, tea bags, wood chips, wool rags, and non chemically-treated yard trimmings.
*Starbucks offers free (used) coffee grounds for composting.

Things you should NOT add to a compost pile: pet wastes (including used cat litter,) citrus rind/peel, charcoal ash, fat/grease/lard/oil, dairy items (milk, cheese, egg yolks, yogurt, sour cream, etc,) fish bones, meat, disease-ridden or insect-infested plants

Don't Trash It!
Before you trash your old furniture, appliances, clothing, books, household goods, decorations, and other things you no longer use, consider offering it to someone else. Have a yard sale, donate these items to charity, or offer them through your local Freecycle Network to help keep your stuff out of local landfills.

Avoid disposables whenever possible. Items, such as paper/plastic plates, cups, utensils, paper lunch sacks, and paper towels are wasteful and actually cost you more in the long run than their refillable/reusable counterparts. If you do choose plastic plates, opt for durable plastic and make sure they are washable and reusable.

Eating Out
Forgo the paper bag next time you choose fast food.

Use paper napkins sparingly--curb the urge to grab them by the handful. If you have extras, leave them in your glove box for use next time.

Bring your own mug! Gas stations and coffee shops usually allow you to bring your own commuter mug and some even offer a discount for doing so. Starbucks, for example, offers a 10¢ discount when you bring your own mug.

Food Items Many health food stores have a loose bulk section, allowing you to buy as much or little to fit your needs. Look for items such as cereals and grains, pastas, pet foods, spices, and other items with a long shelf life. Store these items at home in reusable airtight plastic or glass containers.

If you already buy in bulk, bring along some of your own refillable containers instead of using the store-supplied baggies/tubs.

Bring your own canvas or other reusable bags back to the grocery store. These are a lot easier to carry in my opinion, and some stores offer small discounts for doing so.

Use cloth towels instead of paper in the kitchen.

Ask a salesperson for help if you are unsure how to properly weigh the items so your do not get charged extra for the weight of the container.

It goes without saying that your containers should be thoroughly clean, dry, and free of food before refilling.

If bulk foods are not available, on the other hand, choose the largest size unit that you can use before spoiling.

Bigger is not always better! Many items sold "by-the-case" are really just individually packaged items that are then re-wrapped in a great big package, thus creating even more waste.

When Shopping
Look for products with the least amount of packaging.

Consider buying frequently used household products in bulk, such as laundry soap, shampoo, baking soda, and cat litter.

If bulk products are not available, look for concentrates. Concentrated forms of laundry soap and other household cleaners are often available and use minimal packaging

District 7 fall conference will be held Friday, September 30th to Sunday October 2nd at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Zonta International President - elect, Olivia Ferry will be their guest as the official International Representative to the district conference. Details will be coming out soon. The following information was in the Zinger, Cape Girardeau's newsletter (April issue) - The Drury Lodge has been confirmed for accommodations, Grandpa Woo's yacht from Minnesota will be scheduled for the entertainment and dinner Friday or Saturday night. A member suggested attending "Trojan Women". Will keep you all posted!

For more info go to their website at: http://www.zontacapegirardeau.org/