Minutes of The West Hartford Garden Club General Meeting April 12, 2012

Transcription

1 Minutes of The West Hartford Garden Club General Meeting April 12, 2012 President Ellen Clarke called the meeting to order at 11:31 p.m. She thanked the Hospitality Co-Chairs and volunteers for the luncheon and Patricia Duncan for the flower arrangement. The minutes of the March 1, 2012 General Meeting were distributed in advance of today s meeting and were accepted as written. President s Comments: Referring to the recent deaths of Betty Wuerthner and Dee Fay, Ellen honored both Betty and Dee for their long years of service to, and support of, the Garden Club. She stated that both Betty and Dee will be sorely missed. Corresponding Secretary: Susan Lindberg stated that she had received a note from Margot Egan thanking the Club for the book sent to her following her accident. She then reported that she had received a thank you note from The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc. (Federated ) for the Club s donation to Federated s Scholarship Program. Federated also sent a note to the Club for managing the responsibilities of refreshing the floral arrangements during the 2012 Connecticut Flower and Garden Show. Susan next reported that resignation letters had been received from Fran Beckerman and Diane Mello. Susan stated that a donation was made to the Salvation Army in memory of Dee Fay. A donation was made to the Lions Club of New Britain s Charities for Eye Project in memory of Betty Wuerthner. Susan Lindberg stated that a book will be donated to the West Hartford Public Library in their memory. Treasurer: Linda Berry reported that the balance on hand as of April 8, 2012 was $33, of which and $9, is restricted and $24, is unrestricted. Linda then recommended that the Club renew its three-year rose bed contract with Elizabeth Park. The contract amount is $ Upon motion duly made and seconded, the renewal of the three-year rose bed contract with Elizabeth Park in the amount of $ was unanimously approved. President s Comments: Ellen reminded Club members that each member is responsible for the purchase or sale of four Garden Tour tickets at the reduced price. She commented that the Garden Tour is a biennial fund raiser and noted that the profits from the Tour support the Club s civic activities for two years. Ticket packets were available at the ticket table. Ellen then commented on the following: The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum s Fine Art and Flowers show to be held on April 26-29, Federated s Annual Meeting will be held on April 18,

2 Margaret Roach s Web site entitled A Way to Garden ; The Windsor African Violet Society s Show and Sale to be held on May 5, 2012; and the National Gardener Newsletter. The Federated Landscape Design Study School held on March and 30, Susan Fellman, Jeanne Grandy and Ellen attended the Design Study School. Information for the Club s Spring Newsletter should be provided to Lila Ferrari no later than April 15, Preference sheets were available at the ticket table for members to indicate their Committee preference(s) for the fiscal year. The Connecticut Horticultural Society s next two programs which will be held on April 26, 2012 ( Water Gardening ) and May 17, 2012 ( What s Bugging Your Gardens ). Sign up sheets for Hospitality The Club s Annual Committee Reports should be returned to Ellen by late May. Invitations for the Club s Annual Meeting and luncheon in June were available at the ticket table. Members will be asked to bring to the June luncheon scrapbooks, photographs and other Club memorabilia for display at the luncheon. Garden Tour yard signs were available at the meeting. Donations to the 2012 Garden Tour are welcome. Sponsor letters packets were available at the ticket table. Ellen asked Susan Fellman to comment on Trade Secrets, a fundraiser for Women s Support Services, which will be held in the Litchfield Hills on May 19, 2012 (antique and rare plant sale) and May 20, 2012 (tour of four gardens). (Information on Trade Secrets was ed to Club members on April 15, 2012.) Civic Projects: Claudie Blozy reviewed the Connecticut Horticultural Society s Scholarship Program. The Program currently offers three scholarships at the University of Connecticut and one at Naugatuck Community College. Claudie then recommended that a $ donation be made to the Society s Program. Upon motion duly made and seconded, a $ donation to the Connecticut Horticultural Society s Scholarship Program was unanimously approved. Claudie then reported on a landscaping project for the triangle junction of Fern Street and Mountain Road. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the funding of up to $2, for the landscaping of the triangle junction of Fern Street and Mountain Road was unanimously approved. Claudie next reported that the West Hartford Housing Authority contacted the Committee for advice in adding color to the entrance of the Alfred E. Plant housing complex prior to its grand opening on April 16, Committee members will plant pansies at the entrance. The Housing Authority will pay for the plants. Claudie then stated that the Club is donating floral arrangements for the grand opening. Barbara Cloonan, Anita 2

3 Herbst and Marjorie Johnson will make the floral arrangements. She noted that $ had been allocated to fund the floral arrangements. Claudie announced that Connie Adams-Keilch has offered to let members dig up perennials from her garden to sell at the Garden Tour s Garden Shop. The digging party is scheduled for April 28, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Noah Webster House Gardens: Shirley DeLong reported that the Gardens are in good shape and that general Spring cleaning of the Gardens has been completed. Sign-up sheets were circulated at the meeting. Volunteers meet on the 2 nd and 4 th Wednesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. Butler-McCook Gardens: Ellen circulated sign-up sheets for volunteering at the Gardens. Flower Arranging Study Group: Anita Herbst expressed her thanks for the support Betty Wuerthner provided to the Study Group, noting that Betty never missed a workshop. She reported that two workshops will be held at Westmoor Park from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on: April 19, 2012 a combination Basic Design I Horizontal arrangement and a Basic Design II Vertical arrangement; and May 17, 2012 an advanced class workshop. Anita stated that, on behalf of the Club, Lynn Horne and Fran McIntyre will make a floral arrangement for exhibit at the Fine Art and Flowers Show. Garden Therapy: Jane Brady reported that members planted pansies in the plant containers at the Elmgrove Apartments last month. She stated that a garden therapy workshop also was held on the same day for Elmgrove residents. Elmgrove has asked the Committee to consider holding additional garden therapy workshops during the year. Junior Gardeners: Meg Grffin read a note from the Hillcrest Avenue Neighborhood Outreach Center thanking the Club for the landscaping project at Hillcrest which was completed last Fall. Hillcrest also thanked the Club for its continuing support of the Junior Gardeners program. She then displayed a thank you card illustrated and signed by the children who participate in the Junior Gardeners program. Horticulture Study Group: Pat Moores reported that Marci Martin, Elizabeth Park s rosarian, will lead a guided tour of the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden. The tour will be held on June 18, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Sign-up sheets were circulated at today s Meeting. Joan Martin announced that a composting for beginners lecture will be held at 7:00 p.m. on May 22, 2012 at the West Hartford Public Library. 3

4 Nominating: Margot Egan announced the names of the Club members who have been nominated to serve on the Executive Board and as Club officers for the fiscal years: President Vice President Treasurer Assistant Treasurer Recording Secretary Corresponding Secretary Margaret Pulito Susan Lindberg Joan Martin Tina Merz Martha Keener Marty Harper The following will be appointed to serve in the positions indicated for the fiscal years: Advisor and Strategic Planning; Ellen Clarke Liaison with Federated 2013 Flower Show Susan Petty-Bailer & Marjorie Johnson Communications Ann Painter Yearbook Ann Painter Calendar Ann Painter Web Site Madeleine Hexter Photography Rachael Desmond Publicity Margot Egan Newsletter Lila Ferrari Awards Judy Carrithers Civic Projects Jeanne Grandy & Betty Payton Noah Webster Donna Corio & Sheila Daley Butler McCook Cheryl Fine, Chloe Horton, Carolyn Lind and Paula Mooney Conservation Jane Brady & Julie Przybycien Flower Arrangements Francie Bergquist & Patricia Duncan Flower Arranging Study Group Lynn Horne & Fran McIntyre Fine Art & Flowers Lynn Horne & Fran McIntyre Festival of Trees Lynn Horne & Fran McIntyre Horticultural Study Group Barbara Cloonan & Ann Uphoff Garden Therapy Judy Joly Junior Gardeners Judy Carrithers & Patricia Duncan Membership Elsie Harp Program Suzanne Sayers Hospitality Liz Cloud & Priscilla Thomas Ellen stated that the Club members will vote on the officers at the June Annual Meeting. 4

5 2013 Flower Show: Ellen announced that Susan Petty-Bailer and Marjorie Johnson will Co-Chair the Club s 2013 Flower Show. Susan stated that the Small Standard Flower Show will be held on June 1, 2012 at the Butler- McCook House and Gardens. Susan noted that Butler-McCook is not charging the Club for use of the facility. She invited Club members to participate in the planning and organizing of the Flower Show. An organizational meeting will be held at Susan s home on May 8, 2012 at 11:00 a.m Garden Tour: Ellen thanked Pat Duncan for organizing the garden hat workshops. Irene Clark then asked Committee members to report on the arrangements for the Tour. Claudie Blozy reminded Club members that the Garden Tour will be held on June 2, 2012 and that the Garden Shop will be located at the Noah Webster House. Members are asked to donate five plants for sale at the Garden Shop. Claudie noted that members can obtain garden pots at Moscarillo s Garden Shoppe and Gledhill Nursery to pot up plants from their gardens. Ann Painter asked for cookie volunteers and circulated sign-up sheets at today s Meeting. Margaret Pulito circulated sign-up sheets for Tour hostesses. She asked that volunteers include their cell phone numbers on the sign-up sheets. [The Club s Policies require members to participate in the Club s major fundraising activities such as the Garden Tour.] Martha Keener announced that lawn signs were available at today s Meeting. The signs should be displayed no earlier than May 1, 2012 and should be placed 6 to 8 feet from the curb. Julie Przybycien displayed the poster for the Tour and said that the posters were available at today s Meeting. Members who take one or more posters should let Julie know where they have placed the poster(s). She also displayed the Tour postcard and noted the postcards were available to the Meeting. Pat Duncan reported on the garden hat workshops. The first workshop was held on April 10, Two more workshops are scheduled (April 16 and 26, 2012). Members are encouraged to wear their garden hats to the May General Meeting. Linda Berry explained the purpose of the Tour, i.e., raising funds for the Club s civic projects for the next two years. She urged Club members to sell more than the four tickets allotted to each Club member. (Information on the ways the Garden Club spent the $19,715 the Club raised at the 2010 Garden Tour was prepared by Linda and ed to Club members on April 12, 2012.) Ellen announced that the floral arrangements made during today s program would be raffled at the end of the presentation. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m. 5

6 Paige Falasco Recording Secretary Marjorie Johnson introduced Jeanne T. Nelson, a Master Judge and a renowned flower arranger. Ms. Nelson demonstrated a variety of lovely floral designs. She also explained the floral arrangements and responded to questions from Meeting attendees. 6