History

MICSS has a history full of active involvement in Iowa, the broader Midwest, national CSSA events, and international tours. Its members' enthusiasm for exotic plants has been a source of fun, friendship, and community engagement for over half a century!

This page summarizes some highlights from the club's history, based on notes compiled by Chuck Staples.

• 1970: Founded on September 28, 1970 by four cactus & succulent enthusiasts in Des Moines, Iowa. It was originally called the Family Cactus and Succulent Club of Des Moines.
• 1977: Joined the CSSA as an affiliate society. By this time, the club had grown to over 40 members.
• 1979: Started its tradition of hosting an annual Display and Sale. Member Chuck Staples began writing a newsletter for the club, launching a 28-year-long stretch as MICSS editor.
• 1981: The club began exchanging newsletters with other Midwest states, including Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Some members attended the national CSSA convention for the first time.
• 1982: Members worked on an indoor cactus and succulent garden in the dome of the DM Botanical Garden.
• 1984: The club name was changed to Mid-Iowa Cactus and Succulent Society (MICSS) to reflect the expanding membership. Added newsletter exchanges with cactus & succulent clubs in Chicago and Toronto.
• 1986: Member Bill Woodard was elected to the national CSSA Board of Directors for a four-year term. The CSSA began the biannual Mid-States Cactus & Succulent Plant Conference, held in Omaha. 60 attendees joined from 12 states and 7 affiliate clubs, including MICSS.
• 1988: MICSS hosted the second Mid-States conference in Des Moines.
• 1993: Members began work on a new outdoor cactus & succulent garden at the DM Botanical Garden, funded by a grant from club member Thomas Schwink.
• 1995: MICSS celebrated its 25th anniversary. Members Laura Gray and Rebecca Hoeppner traveled to the Loess Hills in NW Iowa to locate native species of Yucca and Opuntia. The outdoor cactus & succulent garden at the DM Botanical Garden was opened to the public.
• 1999: Member Rob Wallace presented at the national CSSA convention in Las Vegas. Over 1/3 of MICSS members traveled to attend. Member Pat Fusaro received an award at the convention for his volunteer work for the CSSA.
• 2003: The first of several tri-club joint meetings were held with MICSS, River City C&SS, and Kansas City C&SS.
• 2005: Member Chuck Staples became the historian for the national CSSA organization. MICSS participated in the Iowa State Fair with a booth in the Iowa Flower, Lawn & Garden Show & Sale.
• 2009: Member Dick Schreiber was elected to the national CSSA Board of Directors for the first of two 4-year terms. He and Cynde Schreiber completed an expansion of their hobby greenhouse to an impressive 40ft. Denny Rehder took on the role of MICSS editor and began distributing a color newsletter by email.
• 2013: Member and CSSA historian Chuck Staples published the first edition of his book, A Historical Record of Authors of Cactus & Succulent Plant Names & Books.
• 2016: Carol Gallagher donated a large cactus collection for the annual MICSS Show & Sale, which raised over $800.
• 2020: In MICSS's 50th year, most events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the club stayed in touch online. The national club (CSSA) continued regular meetings and presentations via video conference. Many members found themselves with extra free time, and naturally spent it on gardening.
• 2021: After almost a year and a half of quarantine, the club resumed in-person meetings in summer.
• 2022: After a two-year gap, MICSS hosts its annual Display and Sale again, in cooperation with Reiman Gardens. We were joined by plant vendors and friends of the club Bedwell Gardens and Chaos On Coyote Trail Cactus & Succulents.
• 2024: Chuck Staples publishes a revised edition of his book (Volume 1 & Volume 2). His biographies and other historical documents are also published in the CSSA Archives.

Presidents

Last updated: 2025-11-21