Presidents' Letter- January

Dear Members,

It's only mid-January, but it seems like the holidays were ages ago! Billie and I trust that you enjoyed a happy season and hope you are ready to begin the new year.

Even though our gardens do not require attention right now, we have many garden club opportunities coming up to keep us busy. Committees are hard at work planning for community projects, workshops and interesting activities. We look forward to reporting on projects and upcoming activities being planned by the Conservation, Horticulture, Program, Visiting Gardens, Garden History & Design, Photography, Phelps Triangle and Street Trees Committees. And, we especially appreciate the hard work of those committees that support us in all of our activities. They are our "unsung heroes." Several new opportunities for involvement by the membership are in the works.

First, the Civic Committee received board approval to begin an exciting new project at Fellowship Place in New Haven. Fellowship Place was founded fifty years ago by our long-time member Phyllis McDowell and serves to help adults with mental illness lead more meaningful and healthy lives by offering them resources, education and opportunities. Garden Club members will work with Fellowship Place members in planting container gardens and teaching them how to care for them, as well as conducting periodic flower arranging classes.

Second, the Flower Arranging Committee continues to offer workshops for floral designers of all skill levels and has filled a special botanical jewelry making class, to be led by Jane Vanderzee from the New Canaan Garden Club.

Finally, planning is underway for the GCA 2013 Tree Project. We expect a full report of plans for our club's participation in this important initiative in April. Committees working on this plan are Trees on The Green, Civic, Conservation and Horticulture. This project will offer our entire membership opportunities to participate.

In other news, the board voted to donate $500 in support of The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut's establishment of a Children's Garden on the rooftop of the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford. This amount will be matched by the Federation, so our gift is worth $1,000 towards the goal of $20,000. We are proud to be a part of what will certainly benefit many young people in our community.

In closing, Billie and I appreciate our association with each of you, and we look forward to seeing you soon. Nothing is more important to the continued health of our club than new members, and so we especially hope to see you at the annual prospective member brunch on January 25th, hosted by the Membership Committee. Please bring an interested friend along with you.

Warm regards,
Debbie

"In the snow light,
In the swan light,
In the white-on-white light
Of a winter storm,
My delight and your delight"