National Garden Clubs, Inc.
New England Region
Connecticut * Maine * Massachusetts * New Hampshire * Rhode Island * Vermont
NEW ENGLAND REGION 74TH ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
STURBRIDGE, MA October 17, 2008
NER Director Sonia Cianchette called the meeting to order at 9:00AM
Opening Ceremonies Linda Jean Smith, 1st Vice President of The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts led a prayer of invocation. Caroline Frey, Environmental Air Quality Chairman, led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
Welcome Celeste Wilson, President of The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts welcomed members and guests to the 74th Annual Meeting of NER.
Response Vera Bowen, 1st Vice President of Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs.
Invitations Maria Nahom, President of the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, extended the invitation to the 2009 NER Annual Meeting on September 21 & 22, 2009 to be held at The Clarion, in East Windsor, CT. A copy of the invitation is attached to these minutes. Joyce Kimball, President of the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs extended an invitation to the 42nd NER Symposium to be held August 11-13, 2009 at the Radisson Hotel, Nashua NH. A copy of the invitation is attached to these minutes.
Credentials Ronnie Schoelzel, Credentials Chairman reported a voting strength of 84 present. Adopted
Quorum NER Director Cianchette declared a quorum present.
Annual Meeting Rules were read by Virginia GrandPré. Adopted as Read
Adoption of the Annual Meeting Program 2008 NER Meeting Chairman Jeanne-Marie Parkes noted 2 changes in the printed program and agenda Caroline Frey replaced Lisa Perrault in the opening ceremony and Donna Nowak replaced Helen Pritchard as timekeeper; she recommended the program be adopted as amended. Adopted
Registration report Polly Povall reported there were 84 members and one guest registered. Adopted
2008 Minutes Committee Celeste Wilson and Joyce Kimball were appointed to approve the minutes of the 2008 meeting.
The 2008 Minutes for the Spring 2008 meeting were approved by the committee.
Report of NER Director Sonia Cianchette conveyed information from the NGC Spring and Fall meeting. She stressed the importance to the use of native plants to help preserve the balance and diversity in the local environments and that the time to act is now. A copy of the complete report is attached to these minutes.
NER Treasurer Helga Frazzette reported as voted at the spring meeting in Memphis, TN, the two pavers for the NGC garden in St. Louis were purchased at three hundred dollars ($300.00) each; the first to honor NGC President, Barbara May, and the second to honor the NER. She then reported the following NER account balances:
Citizens Checking: $1424.92
Citizens Savings: 12537.54
Citizens CD: 4374.32
Symposium Fund 3953.70
Lina Wagner Fund: 10000.00
Total Assets: $32290.48
The Treasurer’s Statement was accepted as presented and will be filed for audit. A copy of the complete treasurer’s statement is attached to these minutes.
NER Symposium June 9-11, 2008 held at Rocky Hill, CT Helga Frazzette read the final report submitted by Nancy Angelopoulos, chairman. A total of 78 full course students for credit, 10 full course students without credit, and 13 part-time students attended.
Income: $10338.99
Expenses: 11846.75
Loss: ($1507.76)
Rebate to CT from NER $500.00
A copy of the NER June, 2008 symposium report is attached to these minutes.
Reports of New England State Presidents
Celeste Wilson President of GCF MA reported an increase in the number of garden clubs and allied organizations in the state.
Maria Nahom, President of FGC CT reported a successful NER symposium I June 2008; work in support of the NER director’s project in the form of the booklet “Endangered/threatened/Special Concern Plants” , and the first in the series of NGC Environmental Studies classes was held in September of 2008.
Shirlene Gosline, President of the GCF ME reported that the president’s project “Plant the Seeds of Gardening” which encouraged garden clubs to work with youth groups on community projects had applied for and been given grant monies from a five thousand dollar sponsorship. Club were encouraged to seek funding from Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart and K-Mart; the response exceeded all expectation.
Joyce Kimball President of NHFGC reported a resoundingly successful project “Plant Native for Birds and Butterflies” in which all state member garden clubs participated. Attendees were encouraged to view the NH exhibit on display.
Lynne Merrill, President of RIFGC reported that the RI focus upon “Renew, Refresh, and Recycle” The RI 2nd vice President did a case study each month of one club’s successful methods and innovative ideas to attract and retain new members. This is one way to share and grow success. Design Study Program Workshops have proven a reliable avenue to refresh skills and interest in gardening and design. Federation recycling of printer ink cartridges with an area company also has made credit available to defray general recurring printing costs.
Susan Robinson, President of VTFGC reported that an increase in membership has been a major concern and Vermont’s fastest growing club has shared techniques. The state publication is now published on line; this has been a major feat and a great savings. VT garden clubs work with schools presenting programs which focus on the importance of using native plants.
Copies of all state presidents’ reports are attached to these minutes.
Reports of Chairmen
Historic Gardens Susan Faulkner made us aware that a Connecticut has a list of historic gardens available and suggested that other states may use it as a guideline for their own state. NGC strongly urges that both public and private historic gardens be included on an historic garden list.
NER Director’s Project Chairman Rebecca Linney reported each New England state club participated in “Future Choices” Seeking Regionally Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants through identification and education in the form of displays, making plant lists available on websites, booklet and/or brochure format, by the study of the plant - animal connection, and by active collaboration with the various agencies and entities in their states. The goal of this project was to increase awareness of the problem of invasive plants so that “future choices” made will consider local environment responsibly. It is hoped that through this effort our landscapes will continue to become re-acquainted with the distinctive local native plant palette and to continue to nurture native selection to promote natural habitat for the next generation. Chairman Linney extended her thanks to each of the states for their creative support of this project
A copy of the complete report is attached to the minutes of this meeting.
Membership Team NER 4/5 Chairman Jacqueline Connell explained the NGC Membership Contest. The state with the greatest percentage increase in membership will have a new canna cultivar named for it. The lily at maturity stands approximately 3 ½ feet tall and has a red/red/orange bloom with purple black foliage. It can be grown in all states and will be available for sale nationwide in the Fall of 2009 at fourteen dollars ($14.00) each. The contest runs from June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009. The poster explaining this and other membership information and suggestions can be copied from the NGC website.
NGC President Barbara May told us that at the meeting in Providence, RI, NGC adopted a Water Platform (please read the article in The National Gardener magazine). She suggested that each state federation and garden club vote to support this platform. Once support for the Water Platform has been adopted, members can as garden club representatives go to legislators to ask for legislative support of the water conservation platform. President May asked for our strong support in this endeavor; “We can all agree upon the urgent need to conserve and protect” our precious clean water.
Parliamentarian and NER Handbook Chairman Virginia GrandPré proposed the following changes to the 2005 NER Handbook to page 12 and page 40 in order to establish a clearer meaning to the NER Policies:
Page 12 (NER Meetings - Budget) Strike the sentence: "The profit of any Ways and Means activity is shared 40% for the State Garden Club and 50% for the New England Region".
add a new paragraph that states: Monies raised by the State Garden Club from their own Ways and Means, books, etc. and not from vendors and other means contracted solely for the NER Meeting, shall be the sole property of that State Garden Club. All vendor and other contracted income will be income to the NER meeting.
and
Page 40 (NER Symposium - 10 - Finance d.) Strike the sentence: d. Monies raised by the State Garden Club from means other than conducting the Symposium, i.e., Ways and Means, books, etc. shall be the sole property of that State Garden Club"
Replace the sentence to read: d. Monies raised by the State Garden Club from their own Ways and Means, books, etc. and not from vendors and other means contracted solely for the Symposium, shall be the sole property of that State Garden Club. All vendor and other contracted income will be income to the NER Symposium
The complete written proposal was circulated to all board members and chairmen prior to this meeting and was available to all at the meeting. The recommendation was made to adopt the changes.
Awards Chairman, Kathy Thomas made the motion to amend the recommendation by the insertion of the word “raffle” to both sentences so that they will read as follows:
on page 12 “All vendor, raffle, and other contracted income will be income to the NER meeting” and on page 40 will read “All vendor, raffle, and other contracted income will be to the NER Symposium.”
The amendment passed.
The recommendation as amended was adopted
A memorial Service was conducted by Elaine Dates who read the poem “Reluctance” by Robert Frost.
The meeting was recessed by Director Cianchette at 10:30 AM
Jeanne Marie Parkes introduced the program for the morning: Native Plants of the Northeast given by Cathy Felton State Project Coordinator.
NER Director Sonia Cianchette reconvened the meeting at noon.
2008 Annual Meeting Chairman Jeanne Marie Parkes introduced the head table and guest.
The blessing was given by Donna Nowak, 1st Vice President of the Federated Garden Clubs of CT.
Special Recognition: NER Director Cianchette made special presentations of containers of succulent plants to NGC President, Barbara May, the NER State Presidents, 2007 and 2008 Annual Meeting Chairmen, and to each the NER Chairmen present.
Presentations of Awards were made by the Awards Co-chairmen Kathy Thomas and Nancy Donaldson. A copy of the list of award recipients is attached to these minutes
Final Credential and Registration Report was presented by Ronnie Schoelzel. She confirmed a voting strength of 84 and one guest. Adopted
The Courtesy Resolution was made by Dr. Claire Hunt, Alternate NER Director. Adopted
Benediction was given by Diane McMillen, 1st Vice President of NH Federation of Garden Clubs.
The 74th Annual NER meeting was adjourned by NER Director Sonia Cianchette at 1:20 PM
Submitted by:
Susan V. Poole, NER Secretary
NER Director Sonia Cianchette, NER Director
Approved by: Celeste Wilson, Pres. GCF of MA & Susan Robinson, Pres. FGC of VT
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