1. art and entertainment
2. shows and events
3. festival

GFWC/Iowa
Clubwoman Newsletter
Spring 2015
A Message from your 2014-2016 Iowa State President, Gayle Hanna
Great Club projects for 2014 have been reported. Each club took the time
and effort to report statistic’s and activities that occurred during the year. You
are all doing a fantastic job serving your communities. Your reports were
interesting and varied; and many projects and programs were creative.
Thank you !
Thank you !
Thank you !
We currently have 55 GFWC/Iowa clubs and 1065 members, not counting
some new members. Forty-seven clubs reported.
The scholarship committee will be meeting this March to pick the winners for
scholarships. Their task is a difficult one, and they have put time and dedication before they make the final decisions. Clubs who have sent in money to help maintain these
scholarships are greatly appreciated.
Is it Spring yet? Well, it’s just around the corner.
Our GFWC/Iowa Convention will be held in Marshalltown, Iowa, at the Best Western Regency Inn
on April 24th and 25th. When you reserve your room, if you need a first floor room, please state so.
There are no elevators. We will have interesting speakers and a celebration on Friday night. Let’s
soar to new heights for GFWC/Iowa!
The GFWC convention is in Memphis, Tennessee June 13-15. There will be some interesting tours
the 10th through the 12th. The same tours will be offered each of those days. It promises to be a
very exciting and educational experience. GFWC will be celebrating their125 th anniversary. Be a
part of the Iowa delegation to this important milestone. We do have a lot of fun and learn a lot; meet
our GFWC friends.
Yours in Federation,
Gayle Hanna
PAGE 2
GFWC/Iowa Spring 2015 Newsletter
GFWC/Iowa Federation of Women’s Clubs
The General Federation of Women’s Club is an international
women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by
enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.
Inside this issue:
2014-2016 GFWC/Iowa Executive Committee
STATE PRESIDENT—Gayle Hanna
PRESIDENT ELECT—Betty Wade
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT—Karen Havran
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT—Amy Haney
RECORDING SECRETARY—Mary Magill
TREASURER—Carma Bisinger
President’s Message
1
April Celebrations, Conservation
3
Education, Membership
4
Country Store, Scrip, Fundraising
5
Market America, $100 Club
6
Book Letters, Photography
7
Communications & Public Relations
8
Pink Sheet, District Director
9
PARLIAMENTARY ADVISOR—Sue Hass
SE District Director—Eileen Hagemann
NE District Director—Gayle Lehmkuhl
NW District Directors—Sue Hass & Julia Thoel
SW District Director—Bonita Baughman
GFWC/Iowa Clubwoman Newsletter is published 3 times a
year: Summer, Fall, and Spring.
This newsletter is distributed to members of the GFWC/Iowa
Board of Directors via email and regular mail if necessary.
Members of GFWC/Iowa may request to be added to the
email distribution list by submitting an email address to
GFWC/Iowa Headquarters at gfwciowa@qwestoffice.net.
Reminder, GFWC Celebrates 125
Convention Ads, Jennie Award
10
A complete version of the GFWC/Iowa Clubwoman
Newsletter is available on the GFWC/Iowa web site:
www.gfwciowa.org
Pre-Convention Meeting Schedule
11
Call to Convention
12
GFWC/Iowa Executive Board Members, GFWC/Iowa Club
Presidents/Officers and GFWC /Iowa Standing and Special
Committee Chairmen and members contributed to the
content of this newsletter. Future articles and photographs
may be submitted at any time to Headquarters and are
subject to the approval of the Editorial Committee.
Registration Form
13
Tentative Convention Schedule
Regal Fritillary Article
14-16
17
GFWC/Iowa Spring 2015 Newsletter
PAGE 3
April Celebrations
April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month
Make meaningful connections with children and family
Earth Day is April 22nd
Arbor Day is April 24th
Plant a Tree
Federation Day is April 24th
Have a club project to celebrate and publicize GFWC Federation Day.
Please have clubs bring one $5 gift, wrapped, for a door prize at convention.
We Are Winners!
We should be receiving tape and office products as a prize soon.
Thanks to all that saved and contributed to the Scotch Tape Brigade Recycle Project.
We sent in over 100 pieces in the contest month of December.
The Regal Fritillary
A Conservation and Legislative Project
Contact your legislators and tell them you are a member of GFWC/Iowa
and would love to have a State Butterfly.
We advised the state on the State Flower in 1897 and are happy to recommend the Regal Fritillary.
The Senate Bill is SJR2 and the House Bill HJR2. This is a Bi-Partisan bill.
(See the Iowa State University Horticulture News Article attached to this Newsletter)
PAGE 4
GFWC/Iowa Spring 2015 Newsletter
Read Across America and Kick-off to the
St. Jude Read for Research
On March 2, Read Across America Day, GFWC International President Babs J.
Condon and staff will be reading Dr. Seuss books to kindergarten classes in
Maryland and Washington, DC.
Get your club involved in this day too! Post your photos to Facebook, or email us
at PR@GFWC.org , and we ’ ll post to our Facebook page.
Don ’ t forget that Read Across America goes along with GFWC and St. Jude ’ s Read for
Rsearch fundraiser. Just call the St. Jude call center at ( 800 ) 457-2444 to receive your personalized fundraising kit. The kit will have all the information you need to conduct Read for Research or
any other St. Jude fundraiser, a letter from President Condon, and St. Jude posters. Many clubs
have already called and received materials, and we encourage even more to participate.
MEMBERSHIP
Our GFWC/Iowa State convention is fast approaching. We like to honor our 25- and 50-year
members at convention. Club Presidents will need to contact GFWC.org and request the 50-year
membership form. GFWC will send you a certificate and a gold 50-year pin for your members.
Please get information to me so they can be recognized. For the 25-year members, send information to me. We will also be honoring 100-year clubs.
You are all working diligently to bring in new members.
Hoping to see you all at convention!
Betty Wade
GFWC/Iowa Membership Chair
elizabethwade71@yahoo.com
We will have lots of eagles flying around.
GFWC/Iowa Spring 2015 Newsletter
PAGE 5
Country Store
When you attend GFWC/Iowa State Convention, please bring items for the Country Store. This is a great
way to recycle items you no longer want. All proceeds will go to the GFW/Iowa General Fund to help defray
the cost of the State Convention. Please price the items you bring and if they do not sell, please take them
home.
Some suggestions: seasonal items; perennials; house plants; books; baked goods;
home canned items, such as pickles, jelly and jam, salsa, pickle relish, etc.; jewelry.
SCRIP for State Convention
Purchase Scrip cards to pay for your room at the Marshalltown Best Western Hotel at the GFWC/Iowa
State Convention. Your stay for one king bed or two queen beds for one night is $75 plus tax for a total of
$84.00/night.
Scrip cards come in denominations of $25 and $100. By purchasing these cards and using them at the
Convention, GFWC/Iowa will get a 12% reward on what you order at no cost to you.
Let me know how many $25 or $100 cards you will need. Email me at eaglemere50@yahoo.com or call
me at 319-363-2210 to order your cards by April 18th. After placing your order, send a check for the amount
ordered to GFWC/Iowa Headquarters at 3839 Merle Hay Rd., Suite 201, Des Moines, IA 50310. The cards
will be hand delivered to you at the GFWC/Iowa State Convention.
Scrip Chairman
Sandy Phillips
Fundraising Opportunities at Convention
You can expect to see the RADA Cutlery and Mixes and the Vidalia Onion Salad Dressing
in addition to some new items.
Also available will be the letters cut from old books (see next page).
You will have a chance to enter the silent auction of the baskets.
Also a 50/50 Raffle each day of the convention.
So everyone come to convention and support your State Federation!
Bonita Baughman
State Fundraising Chair
PAGE 6
GFWC/Iowa Spring 2015 Newsletter
Market America ’ s Non-Profit Organization Program
Your supporters earn CASHBACK shopping for products they’re currently buying from their
favorite online stores, while your non-profit earns royalties.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fundraising substantially challenges non-profit organizations more and more every day. Federal, state, and local agencies are not committing as many resources to funding non-profits.
Supporters are finding it harder and harder to contribute anything more than their time.
There must be an answer.
The Market America Non-Profit Organization Program is a free program that helps you and
your non-profit create an additional funding source. Your non-profit receives a fully ecommerce enabled website with access to millions of products and thousands of brand named
stores.
Your supporters do not have to change their buying habits. They sign-in at your website and
shop at their favorite stores like Best Buy, Walmart, Sears, The Home Depot, and Staples.
They save money, get access to exclusive deals, earn up to 50 percent cashback on qualified
purchases; and your non-profit receives weekly and monthly royalties based on your
supporters’ purchases. Also, your supporters can invite their friends to shop on your website
and earn 0.5 percent cashback on the purchases made by anyone they’ve invited.
Examples of
Cashback
Partner Stores:
Dollar Days
Minimus.biz
Alice
Perfect Smile
JC Penney
Macy’s
Staples
Cooking.com
Home Depot
PetFoodDirect
ShoeBuy
Bloomberg Business
Week
Getting Started is Easy!
1.
Talk to the Market America UnFranchise Owner who shared this information with you and
enroll in the Non-Profit Organization program.
2.
®
Share the news! Promote your non-profit organization’s new website to your supporters.
3.
Encourage your supporters to invite their friends, family and acquaintances to shop on your website so
they can earn 0.5 percent cashback on referrals’ purchases.
4.
As everyone shops online, qualified purchases through your website generate weekly and monthly royalties
for your non-profit organization!
JOIN THE $100 CLUB
The $100 Club is ongoing, and clubs or individuals may contribute as often as they wish. The money will be
placed in the GFWC/Iowa General Fund to be used for operating expenses.
Clubs and members who have donated since the last state convention will be recognized at the 2015 State
Convention in Marshalltown, April 24-25. Clubs, Districts, and individuals are welcome to contribute. These
funds are for GFWC/Iowa Operations.
Make checks payable to GFWC/Iowa and earmark the check for the $100 Club by March 31st. We will celebrate at Sate Convention.
GFWC/Iowa Spring 2015 Newsletter
PAGE 7
Book Letters
If you attended any of the District Conventions, you are aware that GFWC/Iowa sold recycled Readers
Digest Condensed Books sawed into letters as a fund raising project. So if you are interested in a
particular letter and/or a particular book color, please let me know. I will find the book color or book
colors you have chosen, saw the letter or letters and bring them to the GFWC/Iowa State Convention.
Think about graduations you will be attending and will need a gift. Do you have family members who
follow Iowa, Iowa State, or the University of Northern Iowa sporting events? How about a yellow or
black “I” for Iowa, red or gold “I” for Iowa State, or a purple “I” for the University of Northern Iowa for a
gift. The books make a good birthday or Christmas gifts.
If you are decorating, the letters can be displayed on a shelf or in a wall display.
Family pictures displayed could use a book letter of the last name.
Use your imagination, order your book or books, and bring the $15/book in
payment to the GFWC/Iowa State Convention. Order the books by emailing me at
eaglemere50@gmail.com or calling me at 319-363-2210.
Sandy Phillips
PHOTOGRAPHY CONTESTS - JUST A REMINDER!
"Express Yourself With Photographs" Did you take a lot of pictures of family, clubwomen in action,
or scenes from trips between January 1 and December 31, 2014? GFWC offers three (3) opportunities
to participate in the Photography Contests:
1. The World in Pictures 2. GFWC Volunteers in Action 3. A Year in Pictures
Follow ALL the rules for the Contests that can be found on pages 28 and 29 of the Bluebook or in
the 2014-2016 GFWC Club Manuel in the hands of your Club President. Photos should be sent
to the GFWC/Iowa Photography Chairman (Marcia Heronimus - 802 I Avenue - Grundy Center 50638)
by April 1, 2015. Carry a camera with you at all times - you never know when a "winning" photo will
present itself, and you will want to be ready with a "click" of the camera.
Continue to take pictures NOW for next year's contest.
Marcia Heronimus
Photography Chairman
PAGE 8
GFWC/Iowa Spring 2015 Newsletter
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC RELATIONS
Public Relations cover more than just publicity. The term public relations describes the interrelationships between GFWC, its members, the general public, and other entities, including the government.
Your club ’ s communications efforts are the vehicle by which you achieve your public relations
goals. In your club manual, you will find ideas, resources, tools, and tips necessary for achieving
successful public relations and professional communications to promote GFWC clubs, districts,
States, Regions, and the national organization.
GFWC Stylebook: Make GFWC Part of your Club Name
USE ALL COMMUNICATION TOOLS: Newsletters, Websites, and Social Media. Send out the
minutes of your meetings to all members. Develop a webpage and start a Facebook page.
COMMUNITY AWARENESS: Celebrate Federation Day, April 24 or Federation Week; Special
Events.
Participate in community events, such as parades, holiday lighting celebrations, high school athletic
events, and other community-wide celebrations.
MEDIA RELATIONS: Press Releases: Tips for Submission-Numbers and statistics are nice, but a
good narrative is better. Anytime we can have our clubs ’ name in print, in front of the public, we
are communicating and promoting our brand and our goals. Make sure you submit all your club activities to your local newspaper.
If you need ideas or have questions, please contact me!
Bette Kuboushek
GFWC/Iowa Communications and Public Relations Chairman
561 6th Ave. SW
Dyersville, IA 52040
563/599-4312
lbkubo@iowatelecom.net
PAGE 9
GFWC/Iowa Spring 2015 Newsletter
PINK SHEET
CLUB OFFICER INFORMATION
We are asking that you elect your officers promptly and complete the
pink sheet, sending it to GFWC/Iowa Headquarters.
We will need the information in order to keep our membership
records correct.
Your prompt response is appreciated.
Pink Sheet
President………..
Vice President…..
Secretary ………..
Treasurer………..
Reminder to District Directors
Please donate a basket equal to $25 in value for the state convention silent auction in April
in Cedar Falls. Please bring one $5 gift, wrapped, for a door prize.
Select two members from your district to serve during voting for state officers;
one for a teller and one for the credential committee.
Usually one of those is a District Vice-Director.
Attention-Department Chairmen and Special Projects Chairmen
Please bring one $5 gift, wrapped, to use as a door prize.
There will be space provided for chairmen to display their projects.
Thank you to all for your good work and support during this administration.
GFWC Celebrates 125 Years
Make sure you put the date on your Calendar, April 24th, Federation Day
and Celebrate in your club. Better yet, come one and come all to the
GFWC/Iowa State Convention on April 24th in Marshalltown, Iowa and
celebrate GFWC’s birthday with the other members of GFWC/Iowa.
Or join us in June in Memphis for the GFWC International Convention where we will be
celebrating often and on a grand scale.
GFWC has had many wonderful accomplishments over the last 125 years. Make sure you and
your clubs are aware of “who we are” and “what we have done.”
We have accomplished much together during the 125 years .
PAGE 10
GFWC/Iowa Spring 2015 Newsletter
Convention Ads
Would you like to honor someone in your club, or for a birthday? How about advertising your club, or whatever you wish? This information will be put in the form of an Ad
in this year’s convention program.
Please send your ads to Carma Bisinger, 704 Buffalo Ct., P.O. Box 111, Walker, IA
52352, cjbisinger@iowatelecom.net. Please send the money for the ads to GFWC/Iowa
Headquarters, 3839 Merle Hay Rd., Suite 201, Des Moines, IA 50310, gfwciowa
@qwestoffice.net. Cost: ¼ Page - $25.00, ½ Page - $50.00, Full Page - $75.00
Jennie Award
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs awards one woman from each State this
honor during each two-year administration for lifetime personal excellence. The
GFWC Jennie Award is named in honor of GFWC’s founder, Jane Cunningham Croly,
who wrote for national newspapers under the pseudonym, Jennie June. The award is
an occasion to highlight extraordinary clubwomen who epitomize her spirit of independence, courage, and persistence in purpose through their roles as volunteers within
their clubs, elsewhere in the community, and as members of family or extended family.
Have your clubs nominated a member for this prestigious award? This one member
from each club must have demonstrated the qualities specified for the judging criteria.
Clubs must complete and submit the official GFWC Jennie Award Nomination Form
along with a narrative. Narratives should include descriptions of the nominee’s club
activities, participation in community groups and organizations both volunteer and
professional, to her nuclear or extended family. Other material to be included are:
photograph of nominee (no larger than 5x7 inches); clips of two-three newspaper (or
other media) stories about successful projects to which the member contributed (it is
not necessary for such articles to mention the member by name), letter of endorsement from club president, letter of endorsement from a representative of another organization.
Clubs must submit nomination forms and supporting materials to the GFWC/Iowa
President postmarked by June 1, 2015 for state level judging.
The State finalist entry will be sent to MVR and committee will select two finalist
entries to be sent to GFWC.
GFWC/Iowa 88th State Convention
Best Western Regency Inn, Marshalltown, Iowa
Friday April 24, 2015
Official Call
8:00 a.m.
Registration
Lobby
9:30 a.m.
Executive Committee Meeting
(GFWC/Iowa Officers)
Board Room
10:30 a.m.
Finance Committee Meeting
Board Room
11:00 a.m.
Board of Directors Meeting
Board Attire - Business Casual
Friday Night Banquet Attire - GFWC
Timeline Period Dress or Dressy Attire
Convention Attire - Business Casual, in
colors of your district on Saturday
Official Call
GFWC/Iowa Federation of Women’s Clubs
88th GFWC/Iowa State Convention
Best Western Regency Inn
3303 South Center Street, Marshalltown, IA 50158
April 24 and 25, 2015
“Soaring to New Heights with GFWC”
Club Presidents make copies to inform and share information with members.
Encourage attendance by all club members.
Registration: Complete one registration form for each member attending the convention
and send with check payable to GFWC/Iowa, including the meal functions and the $15
registration fee to the registration chairman, Marlene Eernisse, by April 16, 2015. No
refunds after that date, but you may send someone in your place if you are unable to
attend.
Room Reservations: Deadline for room rate is April 1, 2015. Make room reservations at
the Best Western Regency Inn, Marshalltown, IA, 641-752-6321. Please ask for the GFWC/
Iowa block of rooms. The rate will be $75.00 plus taxes for a king bed, $75.00 plux taxes for
two double beds, and an additional $5.00 for a third bed.
Credentials: Club credentials will be available at the Registration Desk when you check in at
the convention. They will not be mailed out in advance.
Convention Attire: Convention dress is business casual.
Friday’s Celebration Banquet Attire - Symbolic GFWC timeline period dress or dressy attire
Saturday Attire – show your “District Spirit” by dressing in your district recognition color:
NE—Purple shades SE—Blue shades NW—Green shades SW—Red/pink shades
Things to Bring: Items for the Country Store (see newsletter article). Bring recycle items –
empty scotch tape centers or rolls and prescription bottles (with labels removed). Bring
packaged or canned food to be given to the Emergency Food Box in Marshalltown.
Displays and Fundraising Items, including the Country Store, will be set up on Friday
morning at 8:00 a.m. and Saturday at 8:30 a.m.
GFWC/Iowa 88th State Convention
REGISTRATION FORM
Make Checks Payable to: GFWC/Iowa
Send Registration Form and Check postmarked by—Wednesday, April 15, 2015
To: Marlene Eernisse, Registration Chairman
209 N. Wilson St.
Toledo, IA 52342
Phone: 641-751-4521 Email: eernisse@iowatelecom.net
Name: ___________________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________________________________________
Telephone: ________________________ Email: _________________________________
Club Name: ___________________________________ Club Town: __________________
District: SE______ SW______ NE______ NW______
Present GFWC/Iowa Position held, if applicable:
Club: _____________________________________________ District: _______________
State Officer and/or Chairman: _______________________________________________
Voting Delegate for: Club
District
State
__________________________________________________________________________
(per GFWC/Iowa Bylaws Article X—Representation)
Are you a first-time State Convention Attendee? __________yes __________no
(One first-time attendee from each club has registration waived.)
One Registration Per Form
Please mark each meal you will be attending below:
REGISTRATION FEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15.00 ______
MEALS:
Friday, April 24 Board of Directors Luncheon . . . . . . . . . . . . . $21.00 ______
Friday, April 24 Celebration Banquet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $32.00 ______
Saturday, April 25 Luncheon “Feed the Hungry” . . . . . . . . . . $23.00 ______
TOTAL (including Registration and Meals) $___________
Please specify here if special diet required (gluten free, no green vegetables, vegetarian)
Tentative Schedule of GFWC/Iowa Convention Events
Friday, April 24th, 2015
8:00 a.m.
8:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Set up Displays and Sales
Registration Opens ---------------Marlene Eernisse
Executive Committee Meeting
Finance Committee Meeting
Board Meeting
12:15 - 1:15
Board Luncheon
1:30
Convention Convenes
Call to Order ----------------------------------------------------Gayle Hanna
Presentation of Colors ---------------------------------------National Anthem led by --------------------------------------Nan Cord
Pledge of Allegiance -------------------------------------------Nan Cord
Welcome and Introduction ----------------------------------Gayle Hanna
Welcome to Marshalltown ----------------------------------Mayor Lowrance
2:00
Business Meeting
Adoption of Convention Program --------------------------Sue Hass
Credentials Report ---------------------------------------------Marlene Eernisse
Secretary’s Report ----------------------------------------------Mary Magill
Treasurer’s Report ----------------------------------------------Carma Bisinger
Finance Chairman Report -------------------------------------Marlene Eernisse
By-laws/Standing Rules/Resolutions -----------------------Karen Havran
Speaker --------------------------------------------------------—-Meredith McHome-Pierce
World Food Prize
Officer Reports
RELAXER
25- AND 50-YEAR MEMBER Recognition
50 – 100-year Club Celebrations ------------------------------Betty Wade
Membership Awards --------------------------------————-Betty Wade
Introduction of Special Chairmen and Advancement Chairmen –Amy Haney
Legislation Awards ----------------------------------------------Doris Mauer
Photography Awards -------------------------------------------Marcia Heronimus
Creative Writing/Short Story Awards ----------------------Nan Cord
Adventures in Reading Report -------------------------------Pat Chase
ESO -----------------------------------------------------------------Fundraising Awards
Clubwoman Magazine -----------------------------------------Joan Galloway
Communication and identity Awards ----------------------Bette Kuboushek
Women’s History Resource Center -------------------------Nancy Tabor
Leadership Awards ---------------------------------------------Sue Hass
Announcements ----------------Door Prizes
4:00 Members-at-Large Meeting
5:30 Welcome Reception -----sponsored by the Marshalltown Visitor’s Bureau
6:15 Processional
6:30 Celebration Banquet
Entertainment
Tentative Saturday, April 25th, 2015
8:00 a.m.
8:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
9:15 a.m.
PIPS Meeting
Registration Opens ----------------------Marlene Eernisse
Prelude -------------------------------------Marcia Heronimus
Convention Reconvenes
Opening ------------------------------------Gayle Hanna
Introductions -----------------------------Gayle Hanna
Introduction of Community Service Programs and Project
Chairman -----------------------------------Karen Havran
Arts Community Service Program Awards –Gayle Lehmkuhl
Conservation Community Service Program Awards ------Karen Martinek
Education Community Service Program Awards ---Julie Thoel
Home Life Community Service Program Awards –Eileen Hageman
International Outreach Community Service Program Awards
----Donna Hoffman
Public Issues Service Program Awards -----Mickey Coonfare
Creativity Awards --------------------------------Gayle Hanna
Members-at-Large Report ---------------------Dee Nelson
$100 Club Members’ recognition ------------Karen Havran
New attendees
Endowment
RELAXER
Visit Display and Country Store
President’s projects ------------------------------- Gayle Hanna
Door Prizes ----Announcements
12:15
“Feed the Hungry”
Table Grace --
1:15
Recognition of “Emergency Food Box” representative and presentation
Problem Solving Bowl Report ------------------------Carolyn Blaue
Scholarships ----------------------------------------------Carma Bisinger
Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Awards ---Sandra Philips
Advocates for Children Awards -----------------------Susann York
District Basket Winners --------------------------------Bonita Boughman
Door Prizes and Announcements
Club Collect --“Let There Be Peace on Earth” ---------------Everyone
Adjournment
4:00
Tear Down Displays
GFWC/Iowa Spring 2015 Newsletter
PAGE 17
Regal Fritillary Proposed as Iowa’s State Butterfly
This article was published originally on 2/13/2015
Did you know that Iowa is one of only four states that do not have an official state insect or butterfly? Perhaps you already know that
Iowa has a state tree (oak), flower (wild rose), bird (eastern goldfinch) and rock (geode), which was the last to be designated 48 years
ago. With just these four state symbols Iowa has the lowest number of official state symbols of any of the 50 states.
Iowa’s 86th general assembly is currently considering a House and Senate joint resolution (HJR2) to name the regal fritillary
(Speyeria idalia) as the state butterfly of Iowa. So what makes the regal fritillary a good candidate to be the state butterfly of Iowa?
Regal fritillary has not been used by another state so it would be unique to Iowa.
Regal fritillary is an Iowa native species which can be found state wide.
Regal fritillary represents the prairie heritage of Iowa.
Regal fritillary is a large identifiable butterfly and it doesn’t hurt that it is beautiful.
While the population is considered fairly stable in the state, currently the regal fritillary’s conservation status in Iowa is listed as a
species of concern, so it has some conservation need.
Iowa sits in the heart of the regal fritillary’s current distribution range.
Regal fritillary has a wonderful educational lifecycle story.
The regal fritillary has only one generation a year (univoltine). In the fall the females lay their eggs in tall grass prairies. Unfortunately
for the females, the caterpillar food plants, bird’s foot violet and prairie violet, die back to the ground in late summer. The female
butterflies have to dive bomb and crawl their way through tall grasses to reach the ground. There, using chemical volatiles from
where the host plant died, they lay their eggs as close as possible to where the violets will emerge the following spring.
The eggs hatch in late fall and the new, tiny caterpillars consumer their egg shell and then eat nothing more until the following
spring. The caterpillars have to survive an Iowa winter folded up in the leaf litter on the ground, having only eaten their egg shell and
nothing else until the following spring when the violets finally come up out of the ground. That is one tough caterpillar.
In early spring, the caterpillar eats the violet leaves and goes through six instars (stages in between molts). Most butterfly caterpillars
go through only five instars before pupating. Adults emerge in early summer; males and females fly around for several weeks and
eventually mate.
After mating, the females tend to go into a summer diapause which helps them survive often the hottest and driest part of the summer, until fall when they will begin laying their eggs and the process starts all over again.
Legislation
The Iowa’s State Butterfly joint resolution can be found on the Iowa Legislature website.
If you are interested in supporting the regal fritillary as the official state butterfly of Iowa, please contact your Iowa Senator and House
Representative.
As you are planning your gardens for this spring, consider planting a few extra plants to help support our native insects. There is fun
new program in Iowa you can participate in with the addition of nectar and host plants to your garden. "Plant.Grow.Fly" is a statewide effort to increase the amount of habitat suitable for our native butterflies, insects and pollinators. More information on PGF and
how to participate can be found at their website www.PlantGrowFly.com.
Regal fritillary male butterfly.
By Nathan Brockman, Reiman Gardens
GFWC/Iowa Federation of Women’s Clubs
Must Have
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 201
Regular Postage
Des Moines, Iowa 50310-1321
Phone; 515-276-0510
E-mail: gfwciowa@questoffice.net
Visit us on the web
gfwciowa.org
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED