Minutes of the Williamstown Garden Club – April 6, 2015
The first meeting of the Club in 2015 was called to order by the President, Sue Metzner. Sue thanked our host Louise Palmer for graciously offering her house as our venue. The new members handbooks were distributed. Those not picked up will be brought to the next meeting.
Sue announced that a Berkshire District spring meeting with other clubs in the area has been scheduled for May 27. More information will follow.
Sue Hyde, the Membership Chair, announced that 4 new members have joined the club and they were welcomed and introduced.
Rita Watson, the Program Chair, described all the very interesting events which have been planned for the year and which are listed in the new handbook.
Dianne Glick, reported on plans for Civic Beautification. The planting date for the bridges and containers will be May 26, with the 27th as a rain date starting at 9;00 at the Cemetery headquarters. Those of us planting containers may pick up our plants at that time and plant at our convenience, but she cautioned that empty containers tend to disappear so best to plant as soon as possible after you get your plants. The choices will be mainly zinnias and coleus. Maintenance day for the bridges will be Monday mornings at 9:00. She urged as many members as possible to come to lighten the work.
Sign-up sheets were available for the bridges, containers, Field Park, and Sarah Tenney Osborne Library gardens.
Elaine Neely, reported on Field Park, saying that the Wednesday maintenance time will be negotiated depending on the convenience of the members who sign up. Maintenance takes about 8 hours per week, and she needs more help. Sue Hyde said that the other Field Park crew will meet Mondays at 8:30 to work. 4 members per crew is desirable.
Sarah Foehl reported on the Osborne garden saying that some re-planting needs to be done, and the library has agreed to underwrite watering with an underground sprinkler which will help. Also a small sign will direct visitors to the garden. She asked for help every other Tuesday at 8:30.
Sigrid MacWilliams suggested that we take out an announcement in the local papers at the end of the season thanking Countryside and other contractors in the area who have helped us.
Anne Tiffany reported about 3 members who have been ill. Barbara Richardson has returned from Williamstown Commons, but Dottie Egerton and Joan Gniadek are still there.
Sue Pike and Kathy McKnight, in charge of publications and website, reported that the handsome directory is correct and up-to-date through Berkshire Direct. The website is also current. Remember to use WGC as user name, and roses as password, and members should always log out when they finish so that membership data is protected.
Since no one was willing to take on hospitality, Sue announced that two people will sign up to take care of each meeting. The utensils will circulate. When members sign up to do this they must plan to stay to the end of the gathering to clean up.
The spring plant sale will be Saturday, May 16th. Pat and Marie Siskind have offered to store the plants, and Eja Heekin will send out an email to members who wish to participate in a propagation party at Joan Wright’s.
Bette Craig mentioned that member Carol Goodman has a lovely exhibit of her pastels at Images.
Dianne Glick suggested that everyone who works on a WGC project around town should wear the club t-shirts so that people know what we are doing. She suggested that new members see Kathy McKnight to get their shirts.
Linda Conway spoke about the long history of the club, now in our 82nd year, and mentioned the many projects we’ve been involved with in connection with the re-publication of “Williamstown Garden Club: An Informal History, 1933-2003”. She urged members to read the history and said that there were additional materials at the Williamstown Historical Society.
Respectfully submitted, Joan Wright, Recording Secretary