GARDEN CLUB OF NEW HAVEN, INC.
GENERAL MEETING
www.gcnh.blogspot.com
March 7, 2011
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
The General Meeting was called to order by President Carol Ross on Monday, March 7, at 12:23 p.m., at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut.
President Carol Ross welcomed everyone to the March General Meeting and introduced Debby Moore, Program Chair.
Program
Debbie Moore introduced guest speaker, Rich Pomerantz, a full-time, free-lance photographer based in Litchfield County. Mr. Pomerantz presented a slide show and lecture, “Relax, It’s Only Garden Photography,” explaining the basic principles of photography, including camera functions, composition, and lighting. Two books showcasing his photography were offered for sale: Hudson River Valley Farms, and Great Gardens of the Berkshires. A third book of his original text and photography was also for sale, Wild Horses of the Dunes. www.richpomerantz.com
Business Meeting
President’s Report
• President Carol Ross thanked corresponding secretary, Marty Dauwalder, for providing copies of the February minutes.
• Thank you to all the GCNH members who entered in the FGC of CT Standard Flower Show, “Capture the Magic,” in Hartford, Connecticut, February 24-27, 2011.
◦ Congratulations to Vicki Arkins who won a blue ribbon for her table arrangement in the Class 8, “Sit a Spell.”
◦ Congratulations to the GCNH team of Lisa Lovejoy, Cordalie Benoit, Amy Estabrook, and Susan Ehrenkranz for creating an entry from GCNH in the Class 10, “Lotions and Potions,” which won a blue ribbon, the Club Competition Award, and the Nell McGuiness Award.
• Ruth Martin is in the Montowese Health & Rehab Center, recovering well from hip surgery. Her daughter, Amanda, has reported they anticipate Ruth will be returning home soon.
• A memorial service will be held for Betsy Gentry Sunday, April 17, at the New Haven Lawn Club from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Betsy’s husband, Buck Gentry, hopes to see many GCNH members there.
• Thank you to Cordalie Benoit for her work with the New Haven Parks Department on the repair of the fence at Phelps Triangle (re-welding, with no cost to GCNH).
• Thank you to Nancy Duble for hosting a wonderful reception for prospective new members in her home on February 27, 2011. Thank you, also, to Jody Bush, Jennifer Rook, Susan Wildridge, and Carolyn Millman for their work on the Membership Committee.
• LOST & FOUND items left at Nancy’s house after the reception: a pair of eye glasses and an insect pin.
• President Ross is in the process of forming two ad hoc committees. An ad hoc committee will be formed to examine the GCNH By-laws in an effort to update and streamline this document. President Ross will be working with Cordalie Benoit, to form an ad hoc committee for the purpose of completing work that was planned for the Phelps Triangle renovation. If you are interested in working on this committee, please see President Ross.
• Colleen Murphy-Dunning, Director, Hixon Center for Urban Ecology, URI (Urban Resources Initiative) has reported the City of New Haven is cutting back by $15,000 monies allocated to the tree-planting project. URI is looking for ways to raise this amount so they will not be forced to limit the number and quality of trees to be planted this year, and they have approached GCNH about the possibility of making a donation for this cause. After speaking with Ms. Murphy-Dunning about this matter, President Ross brought this information to the GCNH Board of Directors. Discussion was held at the March 3, 2011, board meeting; and a motion was made, seconded, and passed for GCNH to provide a gift of $2,500 to URI for the specific purpose of planting trees in the City of New Haven. This motion must now be supported by a GCNH member vote. President Ross asked for a motion to support the board’s decision for GCNH to provide a gift of $2,500 to URI for the specific purpose of planting trees in the City of New Haven. The motion was made, seconded, and passed.
• Susan Ehrenkranz has scheduled a meeting on Wednesday, March 9, 2 p.m., at her home to begin the process of sorting and organizing the GCNH archives.
• Due to weather challenges, beginning in 2012, during the months of January, February, and March, the Ag Station will not be providing meeting space for organizations larger than 20. Susan Ehrenkranz and Vicki Arkins are currently working on the task of locating an alternate space for GCNH General Meetings during these three months.
• Please send nomination suggestions for club awards to Billie Ladd, chair of the Nominating Committee.
Committee Reports
Newsletter—Ann Hoefer
• President Ross reminded members to please submit any information you want included in the GCNH blog newsletter to Ann Hoefer by the Sunday after the General Meeting.
Conservation—Mikey Hirschoff
• President Ross reported Mikey Hirschoff, Conservation Committee Chair, recently represented GCNH in Washington, D.C., at the GCA National Affairs & Legislation meeting. Mikey will provide a report at the next meeting.
Flower Arranging—Lisa Lovejoy
• On the side table Lisa Lovejoy had placed a group of four photos, asking members to try and guess which of the arrangements had actually been awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place Honorable Mention awards. This exercise, “Train Your Flower Design Eye,” was designed to help teach members about flower design.
• Lisa Lovejoy gave credit to and thanked Vicki Arkins for her work in preparing a document of information for the GCA Zone II Flower Show, ‘Neath the Elms, which will be hosted by GCNH at the New Haven Lawn Club, October 26-27, 2011. The flower show has been designed with four divisions for entry—Division I, Flower Arrangement; Division II, Horticulture; Division III, Photography; and Division IV, Education. Each division has been designed for 20 entries; there are 20 clubs in Zone II, and each club is required to submit only one entry in each division. Lisa asked GCNH members to consider participating in this show—GCNH needs four members to each submit an entry.
Hospitality—Rosita Murphy
•Thank you to all who brought refreshments to today’s meeting—Vicky DiSesa, Adele Edgerton, Debby Edwards, Susan Ehrenkranz, Amy Estabrook, and Martha Alexander, Thank you to Nancy Duble for the lovely flower arrangement.
Garden History and Design—Anemone Schweizer-Kaplan
• A committee meeting was held at the New Haven Museum and Historical Society, at which time photos and articles were reviewed. They discovered information about a 1970 sculpture that was commissioned by the GCNH and made from the last elm tree that was taken down from Phelps Triangle due to Dutch elm disease. The committee is trying to locate information about this sculpture and asking long-time GCNH members who might have knowledge of the sculpture to please contact Anemone Schweizer-Kaplan.
Visiting Gardens—Jeanne Ciravolo Bjorkman
• A side-bar space will be created in the GCNH blog newsletter for the posting of garden tour information.
• The New Haven Preservation Trust (NHPT) has two tours scheduled this coming spring:
◦ Walking Tour: Presented by The New Haven Preservation Trust in Wooster Square, “The Changing Landscape of Wooster Square,” on Tuesday, April 12, 5-6 p.m. (meet at the General David Wooster statue in Wooster Square Park). www.nhpt.org
◦ Walking Tour: Presented by The New Haven Preservation on Hillhouse Avenue, “The Evolution of the Skinner- Trowbridge House Gardens,” Wednesday, May 4, at 12 noon (meet at 46 Hillhouse Avenue). Anemone Schweizer-Kaplan reported Channing Harris (New Haven Preservation Trust) has stated this tour may include discussion of up to four landscapes. www.nhpt.org
Phelps Triangle—Cordalie Benoit
• A sign-up sheet was placed on the side table and also passed around so members could sign up for specific days to help work in Phelps Triangle. Work dates are March 25, 26, and April 16, 18, and 19. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and members are asked to please spend at least one hour helping in the park on these dates. Remember to bring your work gloves and gardening equipment.
Photography—Amy Estabrook
• Shoot & Share Workshop, Sunday, March 27, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Participants will be taking photos at either the Marsh Botanical Garden or Edgerton Park. If interested, please sign up (sign-up sheet on the side table), or contact Amy Estabrook by March 20. A notice will also be in the GCNH blog newsletter.
Announcements
• Christine Janis reported visiting Ruth Martin in the Montowese Health & Rehab Center. She was asked by Ruth to relay a “thank you” to everyone in GCNH for the cards and get well wishes. The many floral cards were greatly appreciated by Ruth.
• Debbie Edwards made a request on behalf of Karyl Evans who is filming the GCNH documentary on the history of the New Haven Green for the GCHS 2013 Project Trees. The New Haven Museum and Historical Society, Yale Archives, and the New Haven Preservation Trust have all agreed to give GCNH the use of their images on file at no cost. Images from the Yale University Art Gallery can be used, also, but for a fee; therefore, GCNH hopes to be able to negotiate a lower fee for the use of their images. If any members know the Director of the Yale University Art Gallery, Mr. Jock Reynolds, please contact Karyl Evans or Debbie Edwards.
There was no further business for discussion.
M/S/P to adjourn at 1:48 p.m.
Minutes submitted by recording secretary, Marty Dauwalder
The next GCNH General Meeting will be held on April 4, 2011, at 11:45 a.m. in the Jones Auditorium, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
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