Geneva Area Turtle and Tortoise Society's free meeting on November 3

Although 31 people came to September's meeting, we always expect a smaller attendance in the cooler months of the year. That's when many of our turtles and tortoises go into hibernation for the winter, as do some of the club's members.

The main topic of discussion at the November 3 meeting will be the winter care of those turtles and tortoises that are NOT hibernating until spring. Many other subjects come up at these events, so bring your questions for the experts to answer.

Most people who keep terrestrial tortoises in their gardens let them hibernate all winter in frost-free areas outdoors. People who keep aquatic turtles in their garden ponds let them hibernate in the mud at the bottom of the ponds, where frost never reaches.

Not everyone gives their turtles or tortoises the opportunity to hibernate every winter, as these animals would have in nature. This annual period of rest is beneficial to all chelonians which don't originate in the tropics. But hibernating their pets is impractical or impossible for many people, so this meeting will discuss their care during the winter months.

Turtles kept in aquariums should have a platform rising above the water level on which they can bask under a warm sun lamp. Tortoises kept in indoor enclosures should also be provided with a warm sun lamp for basking, and should ideally be placed close to a sunny window as well. The lamps should be turned on and off by automatic timers, adjusted occasionally to approximate the current day length. The extra light and warmth will help their bodies generate Vitamin D, a necessity for good health. Expect your turtles or tortoises to be less hungry and less active at cooler temperatures and with shorter day lengths, but they'll become active again when spring arrives.

Full details of this meeting are on the club's web site at http://turtles.meetup.... If you can't attend this event, check out the other free meetings listed in the site's 'Calendar' section at http://turtles.meetup.... Click on a meeting's title to read its location and complete description, then click Yes, Maybe, or No to indicate if you can attend.

If you can't leave home to attend a meeting, note that a future meeting can come to you instead. Hosting a meeting in your own home involves little more than providing some snacks and drinks for those who attend. It's especially easy in the winter when so few people attend. We meet on the first Saturday of every month from 3 to 6 PM. To reserve a convenient date for a meeting in your home, write to Suzanne and Peter at PeterSuzanne2@hotmail.com, or call them in Nyon at 0041 22 362 03 60.

Only club members may host a meeting, but non-members can instantly become members for free right on the club's web site. Log on to its 'About Us' section at http://turtles.meetup... to learn all about the club. If you like what you read, click the red link marked 'Sign up' to join the club. Members can download clear road maps and written travel directions to all meeting locations in the site's 'Files' section at http://turtles.meetup..., then print the maps and directions for their drive to the meeting.

Only club members may vote on club-management issues, as shown in the 'Polls' section at http://turtles.meetup.... Members and non-members alike can see the current results of the polls. Only members can submit or revise their votes, then instantly see the change in results.

Only club members may submit photos to the site's 'Photos' section at http://turtles.meetup.... Digital photographs of your turtles, tortoises, aquariums, indoor or outdoor shelters, incubators, or hatchlings may be sent to PeterSuzanne2@hotmail.com, along with a caption describing each photo. Peter will upload them into the appropriate online albums for all to see.

Only club members may submit messages on the site's 'Messages' section at http://turtles.meetup.... These can be requests to buy or sell turtles or tortoises, requests for help in identifying particular species, articles about these fascinating reptiles, or any other related topic.

78 families or individuals are current members of the club. We look forward to meeting many of the newest members at the November 3 meeting.