GARDEN CLUB OF NEW HAVEN, INC.
GENERAL MEETING
November 1, 2010
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
The General Meeting was called to order by President Carol Ross on Monday, November 1, 2010, at 12: 20 p.m. at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT.
President Carol Ross welcomed everyone to the second meeting of the 2010-2011 GCNH season.
PROGRAM – Debbie Moore, Program Chair, introduced guest speaker, Jenny Rose Carey, Director of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Jenny’s talk on “Ladies in the Landscape; An Overview of American Women 1900-1940” provided an excellent historical perspective and she was a dynamic speaker. Three things gardeners need to survive? money, manure, and maintenance
The Business Meeting was called to order at 1:27 p.m.
President’s Report – Carol Ross expressed a warmest thank-you to Vicki Arkins for her wonderful October 20 gathering.
Guests were introduced by Cordalie Benoit, Cathy Riley, and Debbie Edwards
Special Announcement – at 3:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. November 2, 2010, radio host Faith Middleton will be talking with our spokesperson, Cordalie Benoit, about the 2013 Elm Tree Project.
Carol presented news of Club members: Vicki Arkins has been elevated to the ‘Prospective Judge’ level in the GCA Judging Program; Federated Garden Clubs presented an award to the Club and to Betsy Nininger for her informative Kitchen 1, Kitchen 2 Manual; GCA Awards at the Zone meeting in Stonington were presented to Betsy Nininger for floral design and to Lucy Elliot for her years of amazing horticulture work; the Club welcomes 2 new master gardeners – Cordalie Benoit & Marty Dauwalder
Two members of the Club, Robin DuBois and Cherry Swords are beginning the long recuperative process after falling and breaking some bones. Cards would be very welcome.
Carol then reported on the work of the Board at its monthly meeting. The focus was on the Phelps Triangle – a project that has been a focal point of the Club since 1951. The new renovation has created a park that is open and inviting, and the Board is interested in bringing all of our members to this lovely oasis for tours, for work days, and for educational horticultural workshops. Cordalie Benoit, who is coordinating our efforts at the Park, noted that the soil needed enrichment and that we lost some plants after this particularly warm summer. She has requested, and the Board has approved, an allocation of monies to replace these plantings, a project that will be done in the spring. Additionally, Carol encouraged all active and provisional members to mark December 4th on their calendars as a time to prepare the beds for winter.
Treasurer’s Report – Sondra Haller asked all who do business for the club to use the tax exempt number (page 18 in the directory) to avoid paying sales taxes; we are spending too much money on taxes which we are not required to pay and we must be a little more careful about our spending. Sondra reported that although total assets are $119,649.83, our balance for unrestricted assets (this is the only money which can fund check-writing) is only $47,184.00. We must be careful stewards of our funds.
Committee Reports
Civic Committee –Judi Freudenburg reported that the holiday workshop is the focus of next month’s meeting; all members are asked to please remember to bring cut greens and clippers. Those who volunteered to prepare the oasis, were asked to meet after the November meeting. The holiday workshop meeting is at the Carriage House in Edgerton Park and starts at 9:30 a.m.
Conservation – Mikey Hirschoff – no report
Flower Arranging – Lisa Lovejoy reported that two sign-up sheets were present at meeting. One sheet is for the KI workshop to be held on Wednesday, November 24. A table oval will be created. Lisa has planned this workshop so that arrangements can be used for Thanksgiving. The KI workshop will be held at the lower level lab of Jenkins building of CT Ag Station. The second sign-up sheet is for people to attend the June WAFA event at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. This will be a huge international event with over 600 flower arrangements on display – please sign up. 20 people are needed for reservations!
Garden History and Design – Anemone Schweitzer-Kaplan asked for more members for the committee; they are working on documenting Phelps Triangle and following this wonderful talk today she hopes that more people will join them. The committee now has 5-6 members and a “slew” of paperwork to sift through for Phelps Triangle. Thanks also to Karyl Evans for her chairmanship the last several years and congratulations for her submission acceptance at the Smithsonian; also thanks to Debby Moore for the dinner she hosted for Jenny Rose Carey and the Garden History and Design committee. Jenny Rose Carey was tremendously helpful in providing guidelines for photos. The Committee is also looking for members who have digital knowledge as well as skills - they would be very welcome; finally, the Committee acquired a reference book on 144 features of landscape that are included on the list of the Smithsonian.
Horticulture – Shelby Wilson – no report
Hospitality – Rosita Murphy thanked Carrie Witt, Carolyn Millman and Debby Moore for bringing cookies, and Nancy Ahlstrom, Kathleen Lundgren, Stephanie Rook and Natalie Ronai for bringing sandwiches today.
Membership Committee – Susan Wildridge – no report
New Member Education – Bonnie Sullivan – no report
Newsletter – Ann Hoefer – no report
Phelps Triangle Park – Cordalie Benoit announced work at Phelps Triangle to take place on Saturday December 4 at 9a.m. with a rain/snow date of December 5 at 10 a.m. All who can, please join in the fall cleanup; everyone should come, even if only for half an hour.
Photography – Amy Estabrook – no report
Program – Debby Moore – no report
Public Relations – Jennifer Rook – no report
Scholarship – Vickie DiSesa reported that after soliciting from the general membership of the Garden Club of New Haven the names of individuals for candidate for the GCA Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award, (a GCA award established in 1992), three names were presented for consideration and a paper vote today:
John Cunningham, Foote School
Margaret Devane, Edgerton Park Conservancy
Kelly O’Leary, Saint Martin de Porres Academy
Vote was taken: our nominee for GCA award (and $1,000 award) will be Kelly O’Leary
Street Trees – Martha Alexander – no report
Visiting Gardens – Jeanne Ciravolo Bjorkman – no report
Ways and Means – Vicki Arkins reminded members that the December meeting will include a Holiday Boutique with a wide range of items for sale. Bulb orders have been filled and are available now. If anyone else would like bulbs, more are available (paperwhitesand amaryllis). Vicki is asking everyone to bring holiday baked goods and other items to sell for the Holiday Boutique
2011 Zone II Meeting – Betsy Hartmayer thanked all members who submitted recipes at the event at Vicki Arkins’ home. Anyone who still feels the need to provide more recipes is welcome to do so. Betsy asks for anything but entrees and new submissions would still be very much appreciated.
Also, Billie Ladd reported on the Zone II Event which will be held on October 26 and 27 of 2011. On Wednesday the 26th, we are planning to host some dinner parties with “notable speakers” in “elegant homes” – the meal will be catered, the hosts just have to welcome people into their homes. Billie would like to know of anyone interested in hosting. Please contact her.
Other Announcements
Carol reminded members that the next meeting is on December 13 at 9:30 a.m. and will be held at the Carriage House at Edgerton Park. Bring clippers, wear denim and please come.
No further business for discussion; meeting was adjourned at 2:07.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Kathleen Lundgren, Assistant Recording Secretary
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