Geneva Area Pond Club's free meeting on June 1

Today we're meeting by the pond in a beautiful garden designated a 'Parc Naturel' by the foundation 'Nature et Economie.' It was created by new pond club member Guy Loutan, a naturalist who designed his entire house and garden to be in harmony with nature. We'll see his various biotopes, water-management system, roof garden, solar panels that heat water and generate electricity, and of course his ponds and stream.

The 15-square-meter pond is two meters deep. The adjoining stream is an impressive 30 meters long. The garden is full of flowers and plants that attract many forms of wildlife, including dragonflies, newts and toads. You can see pictures of all these sights in the 'Photos' section of the pond club's web site at http://ponds.meetup.c.... Click on each photo in the 'Guy Loutan's pond' album to enlarge the picture, then scroll down the screen to see albums of other club members' ponds.

There will be two main topics of discussion at this meeting. Guy is the founder of the CONVIVE organization (CONstruct VIvant et VErt), dedicated to constructing with nature in mind. He'll describe all the ways we can make our ponds and gardens more beneficial for nature's wild creatures. He'll also introduce Jacques Thiebaud, who's creating a complete database listing and describing all the ponds in the canton of Geneva. Be sure to attend this meeting to have your pond included in this scientific project.

Each meeting has its own page on the pond club's extensive web site. The June 1 meeting is described in detail at http://ponds.meetup.c.... Above the description is a blue link marked 'Info/Map.' Clicking on that link will bring up a Google road map which can be zoomed in and out to show the way to this meeting's location, the Thonex section of Geneva. Below the map, click on the link marked 'Get directions,' type in your own address, then click to get step-by-step travel directions from your home to Guy's. If you're going by Geneva's public transportation, take the TPG tram number 12 or 16 , or Bus C, and get off at Francois-Jacquier.

Descriptions of all upcoming free meetings are listed on the club's web site at http://ponds.meetup.c.... Click on each event's title to read its full details, then submit your RSVP by clicking Yes, Maybe, or No to indicate if you can attend. Meeting hosts prepare snacks and drinks for all attendees in advance, so they have to know who's coming and who isn't coming. If your plans change, you can always go back to the meeting's description to revise your RSVP.

If you can't attend any of the upcoming meetings already listed, you can always host a meeting in your own home or garden. The club meets on the first and third Sundays of every month. Club members are already reserving their favorite dates to host a meeting this summer and autumn. To reserve an ideal date for a meeting chez vous, write to club leaders Suzanne and Peter in Nyon at PeterSuzanne2@hotmail.com.

Everyone is welcome at our free meetings, so bring along some interested friends or neighbors. Let them know that membership in the club is also free. Have them log on to our web site at http://ponds.meetup.c..., then click on the red link marked 'Sign up' for instant membership. As of today, 99 families or individuals are current members, and more are always welcome.