West Hartford Garden Club Board Meeting Minutes February 4, 2013

Transcription

1 West Hartford Garden Club Board Meeting Minutes February 4, 2013 President Margaret Pulito called the meeting to order at 9:30AM and welcomed members. She thanked Barbara Cloonan for hosting the meeting. Present were: Jane Brady, Judy Carrithers, Ellen Clarke, Barbara Cloonan, Liz Cloud, Donna Corio, Pat Duncan, Margot Egan, Lila Ferrari, Jeanne Grandy, Marty Harper, Lynn Horne, Chloe Horton, Marjorie Johnson, Martha Keener, Susan Lindberg, Joan Martin, Ann Painter, Susan Petty-Bailer, Priscilla Thomas and Ann Uphoff. The Minutes of the January 7, 2013 Board Meeting were approved as sent. Corresponding Secretary Marty Harper reported that we will purchase, Owl and Woodpecker, by Paul Bannick, as a memorial donation to a library to honor Mary Meyer. Mary s husband, Harry, collaborated on the book choice. The Language of Flowers by V. Diffenbaugh was given to Mary Ann Souza to enjoy during her recovery from knee replacement. Treasurer Joan Martin reported that January was a quiet month with $ in expenses and $ in income. As of February 1, 2013, the club had a balance of $41, with $4, in the checking account and $37, in the money market account. There is a balance of $25, in the unrestricted funds account and $16, in restricted funds account. Joan will hold a meeting in March to review Committee budgets. She reminded members to segregate personal expenses from Club expenses on receipts submitted for reimbursement. President s Comments Connecticut Federation NEWS December 2012 Issue An article announced that the FGCCT, Inc., had donated $1,000.from the World Gardening Fund to Global Partner/Running Waters, Inc. The NEWS mentioned the local clubs who contributed to the World Gardening Fund. The WHGC made a donation of $100. directly to The National Garden Club and therefore was not acknowledged in the NEWS. Dottie Fox, FGCCT World Gardening/Garden Therapy Chairperson will send a letter to the WHGC acknowledging this donation. It will also be acknowledged in the CT Federated NEWS March issue. February 21-24, 2013 Love in Bloom, is the theme of the State Flower Show at the Connecticut Convention Center. Ellen Clarke will hold an Orientation for members who have volunteered to work at the Show. The meeting is February 7, 2013 at 11:30 before the General Meeting. March 26-28, 2013 Landscape Design Study School, Course III will be held at the Kellogg Environmental Center, Derby, CT. Members Susan Fellman, Ellen Clarke and Jeanne Grandy are enrolled. April 3-5, 2013 Flower Show School Course IV is offered at the Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby. April 17, The FGCCT Annual Meeting at the Aqua Turf Club. Julie Lapham will be the guest designer-speaker. Judges Update Tina Collias and Janet Ward have elected the status of Master Judge Emeritus. Thanks and congratulations to Tina and Janet for their many years of service as FGCCT Judges. 1

2 In response to a question about Orientation for Judges Susan Petty-Bailer asked about enrolling in the FGCCT Landscape Design course. Certification upon completion of the course enables one to join the Landscape Design Council. See page 6 of the FGCCT website for additional information. Barbara Cloonan has been in contact with Betty Wuerthner s husband about his wish to donate Betty s books and vases to the Garden Club. He will contact Anita Herbst or Barbara when he is ready to donate them. Standing Committees Awards Judy Carrithers will hold a meeting in April to review the FGCCT awards booklet to see what areas might fit Club activities for potential awards. Judy contacted June Klopfer who heads the FGCCT judging to share the list of judges for our June 1 st Small Standard Flower Show and so that she could arrange our panels. June clarified that Small Standard Flower Shows (as opposed to Standard Flower Shows) arrange their own panels. She suggested Tina Collias and Janet Ward for that role. June observed that had we added an additional arrangement class of four we would have quality as a Standard Flower Show and could be subsequently be evaluated for a State of CT recognition. Margaret Pulito handed out Annual Club Report forms for various committee chairpersons. The Annual Club Reports are also available on the FGCCT website, in the Club Login Section. The reports are due to FGCCT by April 1, All Club committee chairs will please return their reports to Margaret Pulito by the March 4 th Board Meeting. The President s Annual Club Report and the Committee chairpersons reports are then sent together to FGCCT. Civic Projects Jeanne Grandy reported that the Civic Projects committee met on Friday Jan. 31st with representatives from both the Hort Study and Garden Therapy committees, as well as invited guests, Duane and Alice Luster, who introduced us to KNOX. Jeanne moved to spend up to $ 1,000 at WHHA Alfred E. Plant facility for three different vines in multiple numbers to be planted along the south fence to screen parking and garage visages. The motion was seconded and discussion followed. Discussion included considerations of plant stock, placement, maintenance, award potential if combined with Garden Therapy, and cost. Joan Martin moved to table the previous motion. The motion was duly seconded and approved. Jeanne will share discussion points with the Civic Projects committee. The committee will distill the discussion and will propose a plan. Jeanne Grandy moved that we again fund two scholarships for college $ 500 each, one through FGCCT and one through the Horticulture Society of CT Scholarship program, as we did last year. The motion was duly seconded and approved. Judy Joly will oversee this process. After learning more about KNOX from the Lusters education of youths in horticulture, community gardens, neighborhood revitalization, and a project to replenish the tree canopy in Greater Hartford it was affirmed that we hold Charter Membership in KNOX. Jeanne moved that we make a commitment to KNOX by renewing our annual Charter Membership fee 2

3 of $75.00 from restricted funds for the next five years. The motion was duly seconded and approved. KNOX will be kept on the short list of projects being considered, along with Auerfarm. Ellen Clarke moved to give $500. to KNOX Parks for the City of Hartford s tree planting project. The motion was duly seconded and approved. Considering other Civic Projects, while the Merritt Parkway Project is worthy, it is not local. However, Pat Duncan will write a note to Ronnie Schoelzel, FGCCT President commending the extensive work done to beautify the Parkway. Butler-McCook- Chloe Horton reported that a Carolina Silverbell tree in the garden at the Butler-McCook House, planted in 1865, was destroyed during Storm Sandy this past fall. Through the National Garden Clubs, a State Garden Club or Member Clubs may apply for funds from National Disaster USA to help replant, restore and beautify a public area that has been damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storm, floods, fires, etc. The restoration project may receive no more than $5,000. per disaster project within the NGC Fiscal Year. Plans to apply are underway. Noah Webster House Donna Corio, Shirley DeLong and Margaret Pulito met with Executive Director, Chris Dobbs, on January 24 th. Discussion topic included: shared responsibilities (among the Town, the Noah Webster House, and WHGC), maintenance of the garden, and how renovation projects at the House will impact the WHGC work in the garden. Susan Burleson, a Master Gardener candidate, will be involved as a course requirement project. Communication Ann Painter and Madeleine Hexter have worked on changes to improve and simply the Members Only section of the website. Originally set up to mirror the Yearbook, the plan now is to remove less useful information and clutter so that the site is more user friendly. The site will continue to serve as an archive for Policies, Minutes and the Newsletter and, in the future, Master Calendar and Membership Directory. Direct questions to Ann or Madeleine. Use our website to find information you need. Refer to page 2. in the yellow Yearbook for log on instruction. Newsletter Deadline for the spring issue material and photos is April 10 th. This date accommodates Lila Ferrari s publication schedule of May 1 st. Photography Margaret Pulito thanked Rachael Desmond and Judith Carrithers for taking pictures at various events. Publicity Margot Egan reported Publicity for February 2013 in Hartford Courant (4 times), West Hartford New, West Hartford Press and West Hartford Life, Federation News and on West Hartford TV. Conservation Reporting on behalf of the Committee, Martha Keener, proposed that the WHGC purchase of a weed wrench, a tool recommended by the New England Wild Flower Society, to control of invasive plants. This would be the first tool in the Virtual Tool Library that would be available for loan to members to accomplish garden tasks especially when removing invasive plants. Martha moved to purchase a weed wrench for $189. that would be available for loan to members and used as an aid to controlling invasive plants. The motion was duly seconded and approved. Following discussion, a motion was made to purchase a weed wrench for $189.that would be available for loan to members for a rental fee of $5.00 per use. 3

4 The motion was duly seconded and approved. Money from the two recycling events sponsored by the Committee might be used toward the expense of the weed wrench. Flower Arranging Study Group Lynn Horne reported dates for the Flower Arranging Study Workshops: Basic I, Thursday, February 28; Basic II, Thursday, March 28. Sign up sheets will be passed at the February and March General Meetings. Reminder: New members are required to take these workshops within two years of joining the WHGC but all members are invited and encouraged to enroll. Garden Therapy Susan Lindberg reported for Judy Joly that Garden Therapy held a workshop on Jan 24th presentation at Alfred E. Plant Senior Center for 20 residents with 10 members participating. Photos have been sent to the committee and to Lila Ferrari for the Newsletter. Susan Lindberg and Lynn Horne are organizing a workshop for February 28 th. All members are invited. By changing the day of the week, we are able to have more members attend. West Hartford Health and Rehab (Brookview) nursing home had an outstanding program in January. Laura Nash and others did a very creative job. Feb 11th will be chaired by Susan Lindberg and Jo-Ann Librio. The Conservation Committee is holding many boxes of vases that we will put to good use for workshops. Please save PLASTIC coffee containers (11-12 oz.). Horticultural Study Group Ann Uphoff reported the committee is planning a spring trip to the Florence Griswold Museum. Sign up on a circulated clipboard. The trip may include a visit to Harkness Memorial State Park and house and a stop at Ballek s Garden Center. Strategic Planning Committee met to discuss levels of commitment to Butler-McCook, Noah Webster House and Auerfarm. Plans will be shared at the February General Meeting. Hort Study will sponsor a workshops, How to Prepare your Horticulture Entry for the Flower Show prior to the April and May General Meetings at 11:30 AM. A meeting on soil preparation will be held in preparation for the September Container Challenge on May 15 th at 1:00 PM (rain date: May 16 th ) at Ann Uphoff s house. Other trips are under consideration. If you have suggestions for nurseries or places to visit, tell the Committee and they will compile a list and put it in the April Newsletter. The next Hort Study meeting is April 17 th at 1:00 PM at Ann s house. Hospitality Liz Cloud and Priscilla Thomas report that eleven (11) men are planning to attend the General Meeting on February 7 th. Junior Gardeners Judith Carrithers reported that at their next meeting Junior Gardeners will make arrangements with red and pink artificial flowers with hearts on sticks and pipe cleaners. A March project will be a small tree weighted with plaster in a peat pot that can be decorated with seasonal ornaments shamrocks for March and later, paper eggs for spring. Membership Jo-Ann Librio reporting for Elsie Harp: Attendance at January 2013 meeting, 59 members. 12 guests, Total of 71. Of the 12 guests, 9 were paying guests, 3 were free guests of members. Current Membership remains the same as last month: 68 Active, 38 Associate, 5 Professional for a Total of 111 members. Special Committees 4

5 Flower Show 2013 Co-chair, Susan Petty-Bailer reported that the Working Schedule for the WHGC Flower Show has been updated to include minor changes. It is available on our website and indexed for easy reference. The Committee met to discuss the Flower Show budget originally estimated at $500. A conservative but more realistic budget would be closer to $1,100. See p.7, following, for details. A motion was made to increase the Flower Show budget by $600. The motion was duly seconded and approved. Relevant to our Flower Show: Janet Ward and Ann Schoeninger encouraged members to enter small arrangements. They suggested members pay attention to similar design categories at the FGCCT Flower Show. Another design workshop will be held in April for member wishing to enter the Show. Jeanne Grandy urged members to enter their Horticulture entry for the Show using the form in the Working Schedule. Lynne Horne and Fran McIntyre encouraged participation in classes and offered their help. Note: Any potted Horticulture entry needs to be in the member s possession 90 days before the Show, that is, by March 2 nd. Glass, narrow neck, clean bottles with no etching/logos/labels are still needed. Margot will market the Show in April and May in the usual places but with an expanded narrative. The Committee invites a volunteer to create a flier to market our Flower Show in the Connecticut Federated NEWS and to other garden clubs. The Committee has the specifications for what the flier should contain. Volunteer immediately so that the flier will be ready to be ed in time to meet distribution schedules of various clubs and organizations. The next General Flower Show committee will meet on March 15 th at Marj Johnson s house. A meeting was held at Butler-McCook House on Jan. 30 th to review the progress on the Flower Show plans. Present representing CT Landmarks were Cindy Cormier, Education & Historic Sites Operations Manager; Holly Howley, Director of Donor Development; Jennifer Cassidy, Community Educator & Liaison; Jackie McKinney, Site Administrator Butler-McCook House & Garden and Isham-Terry House; Michelle Holcomb, Site Coordinator Phelps-Hathaway House & President Suffield Garden Club. Present representing WHGC were Margaret Pulito, Ellen Clarke, Jeanne Grandy, Janet Ward, Marjorie Johnson and Susan Petty-Bailer. The Amos-Bull House on South Prospect St. is a property of CT Landmarks. There are plans to begin a complete renovation of that building in April of Due to the upcoming renovation and to off-set personnel costs for their participation in the Flower Show, Sheryl Hack, Executive Director CT Landmarks, would like the flower show to be run as a fundraiser. Several CT Landmark social and fund raiser events were discussed that focused on the synergy that can result in shared information and various collaborations, for example, with the Phelps- Hathaway House in Suffield, the First Thursdays and Second Tuesdays at Butler-McCook, and the West Hartford Art League. CT Landmarks is also interested in collaborating with the West End Civic Association to market its 14 garden tour on June 1 st and in packaging publicity for the garden tour together with publicity for our Flower Show. The Flower Show committee invites a volunteer interested in writing a press release according to its specifications for content. Due to the Amos-Bull House renovations, there will be no parking available in the small area behind the House off So. Prospect St. On street parking around the House remains unchanged. Jennifer Cassidy verified that the municipal parking lot on the corner of So. Prospect and Sheldon will be available for free parking on June 1st. Signs will direct guests from parking to the House. 5

6 A volunteer(s) is invited to make a wreath for the front entrance and a Victorian arrangement for the front desk. (Budget for the arrangement: $75.) Butler-McCook plans to have Docents in the House to supplement our Hostesses. They will be on hand to answer any questions that visitors may have about the House or its contents. The second floor will be open to the public. They want to showcase the restored gardens during the Flower Show, as well. We need Hostesses in the garden who can answer questions about the restoration/plantings. CT Landmarks requested that signage include the CT Landmarks Fox Logo. The staff agreed to keep the House closed to the public on Friday, May 31 st so that the staging committee will be free to set up for the Show. They also agreed to open the House on Saturday from 12:00 4:00pm. This will help with scheduled delivery of the 16 arrangements and will limit the disruption of the subsequent judging. Butler-McCook will provide us with tables for the Horticulture display, Hostesses and refreshments, as well as tables and chairs for the judges luncheon. The plan was to have the judges luncheon on the porch under the pergola and the refreshments on the middle, covered porch. In case of inclement weather, the judges luncheon will be held on that porch and then turned over for refreshments during the Show. Both porches have kitchen access. The House is open weekends beginning in April. The Design consultants will need to contact Cindy Cormier to make arrangements to visit the House with their four designers. Combined visits with multiple consultants and designers would be ideal, but is not essential. The House staff meeting the group will give a brief history of the House and be on hand to answer questions, move furniture, etc. Only Butler-McCook staff moves furniture or objects in the House. WHGC members would be admitted to the House free of charge using the 110 free admission passes given to the Club. All other guests to the House will pay a $5 admission fee. That admission fee includes the House (1 st and 2 nd floors), the history center, the Flower Show, the gardens and refreshments. Following is the schedule of Show events. Tentative Flower Show General Events Schedule Friday, May 31 7:30am 6:00 pm Staging set up 3:00 5:00 Horticulture specimen drop-off Design drop off BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Saturday, June 1 7:30 8:00 am Arrival of committee chairs and appropriate club members 8:00 9:30 Drop-off of design entries and remaining horticulture specimens 9:30-10:30 Clean up and final preparation before judging begins Club members not engaged in specific duties with the judges leave the house. 6

7 10:00 10:30 Review any updates or changes with the judges. Coffee for judges 10:30 12:30 Judging of Flower Show Evaluation and awards judging 12:30 Box lunch for judges, possibly on the wisteria-covered porch An alternate area should be planned in case of rain. 1:00 4:00 Flower Show open to members Refreshments during show 4:00 4:15 Wrap up 4:15-6:00 Members pick up of designs and horticultural specimens Clean up. Refreshments continue. Final Flower Show Budget Design Workshops $80 Awards & Clerks $100 Hospitality $50 (snacks/coffee for judges/members) Judges Luncheon $100 Photography $40 Program/Printing $ (150 or 200 programs) Refreshments $150 Staging $75 Entry Floral arrangement $75 $1,070 Strategic Planning Ellen Clarke reported that the Club commitment to the gardens at Butler- McCook will remain at the current level. Each member is expected to work in the gardens one time during the summer, if able. To provide relevant, unrestricted information to members that is not announced at meetings, and is not endorsed, there will be an Information Table at the General Meeting. A motion was made to provide miscellaneous information to members there will be an Information Table available at each General Meeting. The motion was duly seconded and approved. Material left over at the end of the meeting will be disposed of and recycled. Garden Tour 2014 Margaret Pulito announced that Laura Nash will Chair of the Garden Tour She encouraged members to volunteer to Chair Committee to assist Laura. The Board meeting was adjourned at 12:00 noon. Respectfully submitted, Martha Keener 7