Thames River Garden Club Minutes
June 15, 2017
President Everett Munro called the meeting to order at 1 PM.
Everett thanked our host and hostesses: Elaine Ackley and John Lombardi, Pam Atkins, Vonice Carr, Mary Ellen Michalowski, and Judy Gibbs for arranging a wonderful annual luncheon in such a beautiful location!
Everett Munro introduced his wife and guest, Sara.
A motion was made by Vonice Carr to waive the reading of the May 2017 minutes, seconded by Ethel Gerity. The motion passed unanimously.
Officers Reports:
President’s Report: Everett Munro shared that he has enjoyed being president of the Thames River Garden Club and he thanked his wife for her support during his 2 year term.
Reminder to members: please email or call Barbara Skinner with any changes or corrections (names, addresses, email, phone#, etc) for the new handbook!
IMPORTANT DATES:
1) July 20 summer meeting ****Please RSVP to Vonice Carr (vonicecarr@att.net)***
for the TRGC Harkness State Park Tour: Mansion tour @10 AM; Garden tour @ 11AM. Meet at the front door of the mansion; bring a drink and a bag lunch, guests are welcome.
2) September 26 – 28, 2017: FGCCT Study Courses – Gardening series 7 Course IV
3) October 25, 2017: FGCCT Awards meeting at Aqua Turf. TRGC will provide a tablescape (60” round table) based on the movie “Mystic Pizza”. More info to come!
4) October31-Nov 2, 2017: New England Garden Clubs 45th NGC Symposium, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Warwick, R.I.
5) Dec 6-8: FGCCT Tour – Christmas Treats in Boston and Newport
6) Feb 22-25, 2018: FGCCT Standard Flower Shown – ”Breath of Spring”
7) April, 2018: FGCCT Scenic River Cruise through Holland and Belgium
Vice President’s Report: Brenda Kramer introduced new member Joan Treadow to the club. Joan was proposed by Juanita Toledo and sponsored by Pat Uguccioni and Betty Garvie.
Brenda reminded officers and chairpersons that there will be a summer meeting July 13 @ 9AM at Brenda’s house.
Committee Reports:
Phyllis announced a “Weeding Party” to be held at Linda Chapman’s house Monday, June 26 at 10:30 AM. Please sign up if you are available.
Ways and Means: Pat Uguccioni announced that there were no expenditures with a gross income of $245 from sales of TRGC merchandise!
Program Committee: Pam Atkins presented a summary of the 2017 – 2018 TRGC programs. For September there will be a judged design (members should start thinking about what they might submit for this!) and a master gardener presentation. Pam will send out an entry form for the September Designs in August
Please see the full list of programs at the end of the minutes.
INSTALLATION of new TRGC officers for 2017-2019:
Outgoing president Everett Munro III presented the club’s new officers:
President: Brenda Kramer
Vice President: Elaine Ackley
Treasurer: Phyllis Teeson
Assistant Treasurer: Susan Bellefleur
Recording Secretary: Barbara Skinner
Corresponding Secretary: Mary Ann Richard
Meeting was adjourned at 1:35 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Ellen Hagen, Recording Secretary
Thames River Garden Club Program Summary 2017-18
September 21, 2017, Waterford Library
We will have a Judged Design brought in by you!!!!
Title – “Yellow Submarine”
A Mass Design of yellows and golds. All plant materials must be fresh and may not be treated in any manner. Decorative wood is not permitted, non-plant materials may be included, but may not dominate the design. No mammals, fish, birds, insects, reptiles, alive or preserved are permitted.
Design must be no larger than 12” wide and 24’ tall. Designs will be placed on a table.
Please include a 3×5 card with your interpretation and list of all plant materials along with your name. Please bring your best work and have some fun with design.
A pre entry form with more detailed instructions will be emailed to you by the end of July.
We will also have a short talk about the Master Gardener Program.
October 17, 2017, St. Matthias Parish Center
Guest Day- Speaker – Kerry Ann Mendez
Topic: Remarkable Perennials, Flowering Shrubs and Annuals for Non-Stop Color. This lecture features new introductions, as well as favorite stalwarts, for easy-care gardens that outperform the competition. Mixed borders provide outstanding color and interest year-round! Design tips & sustainable practices included. Please visit Kerry Ann’s website to read more about this amazing and knowledgeable speaker at: http://www.pyours.com
Our guest day fee will now be $15
We will also be having a “Garden Boutique” Our members are encouraged to bring any crafts from their talents to sell at our first Guest Day Garden Boutique. This is not a white elephant table, this is a table to show your talents and the proceeds will go to the program committee to help us continue to bring you the best of the best. This will be great for Holiday Gifts and to have a little fun with our own membership. The items do not have to be garden related.
November 16, 2017, Waterford Library
Speaker – Linda Flemming
Topic – Holiday Herbal Home, The meeting will consist of her lecture and a workshop for members. Linda sets up work stations for various herbal projects. Everyone goes home with 3 or 4 herbal items to give as gifts.
December 1, 2017
Holiday Christmas Party at the home of Brenda Kramer
336 Great Neck Rd, Waterford, CT
January 18, 2018, Waterford Library
Speaker- John Himmelman
Topic- Birds- Their side of the story
February 18, 2018, Waterford Library
Speaker – A TBD An educational director from Denison/Pequotsepos Nature Society
Topic- Predators in our backyard
March 15, 2018, Waterford Library
Speaker Nancy DuBrule-Clemente from Natureworks
Topic- Planting for Early and Late Season Pollination
April 19, 2018, Waterford Library
Judged Design,
Miniature Design Show, Same rules as September but designs needs to be no larger than 5”.
Please bring in your best “little” design!!! A more detailed description and rules will be emailed and provided at the March meeting. Also Plant Sale discussion
May 17, 2018- Field Trip
Field Trip to Broken Arrow Nurseries, 13 Broken Arrow Rd, Hamden, CT. We will have a tour of the Nursery (which is quite a treat) and a bagged lunch will be provided by our Hostesses. There is an area we can have lunch at the Nursery. We will carpool for this event and will try to obtain some catalogs by the April meetings for you to look through.
June, 21, 2018 Annual Luncheon
Our Annual luncheon will be held once again at the beautiful Enders Island retreat. Be sure to bring your camera and pray for a beautiful day!
Some other notes for this season’s Program:
We are also going to ask our members to bring a horticultural exhibit to our November, January, February and March meetings. The specimen will be announced to you at the prior meeting so you will have time to prepare. The items will be judged by one of our knowledgeable members.
