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Woodridge Rotary Club Operation Pollination Presentation on October 30,2023
Woodridge Rotary Club Operation Pollination Presentation on October 30, 2023The Rotary Club of Woodridge and the Woodridge Park District sponsored an Operation Pollination event at the Fred Hohnke Community Center. Mary Lynn Onorad, the Rotary District 6450 Environmental Chairperson for Service Projects, and Past President of Woodridge Rotary was the presenter.
Many Rotarians were present from Woodridge, Downers Grove, and Westmont. Several Environmental Organizations were in attendance, including Jim Kleinwachter from the Conservation Foundation, Bruce Blake from the Dupage Monarch Project and Prairie Winds Native Plants, and Jon Yeater, Certified Arborist and Plant specialist from the City of Westmont. Patti Naisbett , Director of the Woodridge Library and Kimberly Tuskey from the Westmont Library also attended.
Five area garden clubs were represented, Lombard, Oakbrook, Westmont, Darien and Downers Grove with the majority of attendees being certified as Illinois Extension Master Gardeners. The energy was contagious as Mary Lynn spoke about local pollinator gardens and projects and offered a $500 District Environmental grant for collaboration of a project with a Garden club and a Rotary club. It was a wonderful networking opportunity for sharing ideas.
Also, Mary Lynn spoke about the Rotary International’s Global Grant from the Rotary club of Monterrey Mexico to plant Oyamel Fir trees in the El Rosario Sanctuary in Michoacán Mexico. This Sanctuary is where all the Monarch butterflies from Canada and the United States migrate to overwinter in the fir trees. Then in the spring, the Monarchs make the trip back north. It takes three generations of Monarchs to arrive in Chicago.
Lunch was served with special Monarch Butterfly Cookies, and Pollination Seeds were given to all. Afterwards, several attendees visited the Rotary and Woodridge Park District Pollination Garden located at the 83rd St Park. Mary Lynn encourages all residents to visit the garden and read the educational sign. If anyone is interested in learning more, please contact maryonorad@gmail.com