The Williamstown Garden Club serves the Williamstown community through its mission of Civic Beautification. This work is visible each growing season as members work to plant and maintain flowers and plants at numerous locations throughout town. 

October Meeting Minutes

by | Oct 28, 2015 | Meeting Minutes

Minutes, Williamstown Garden Club,  10/5/15

The meeting was called to order by the President, Sue Metzner.

The minutes as posted, were approved

Guests were welcomed including Jason Hoch, our new Town Manager.

Sue reported on the following updates:

  1. The strategic plan is moving forward, and the club members should be able to vote on the new by-laws at the December meeting.  They will be circulated before the meeting.
  2. It was decided at the strategic plan meeting that there will be co-presidents and co-vice-presidents so that the commitment to office will be limited to 2 years rather than 4.
  3. Co-vice-presidents are still needed.
  4. There are a number of committee openings including a combination Membership/Outreach Committee chair.
  5. The Program Committee also needs the help of members.  Sue Metzner and Claudia Elet have agreed to serve, but would like participation from more members.
  6. Civic Beautification will be making preparations for fall and frost, and would like suggestions from members for orders for next year’s plants.
  7. Elaine Neely reported that beginning in November, we would be planting 200 bulbs on the wall above Field Park.
  8. Cathy Yamamoto reported that the Osborne garden is in good shape and should look great next year.
  9. Corresponding Secretary, Anne Tiffany, reported that Sigrid McWilliams is recovering from an ankle replacement.

Sue then introduced the meeting’s speaker, Phil McKnight, environmental lawyer, teachers, Williamstown Conservation Commission President, and incoming President of WRLF.  He also builds amazing bridges!    Phil’s talk was addressed to the issues of preservation – the setting aside of lands like the national parks under Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir for wilderness protection, and conservation – the Gifford Pinchot model which emphasizes conservation – i.e., the wise use of natural resources for the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people.  He pointed out that these two related, but often conflicting rationales of resource use were  behind  the Williamstown Conservation Commission and the Williamstown Rural ands Foundation.  The Conservation Commission is committed to ensuring orderly and sensible development in the township.  The WRLF ‘s mandate is preservation which provides the opportunity for farmers to continue farming by giving away development rights, and education.

Sue mentioned the following upcoming events:  the Holiday Greens Workshop is Monday, November, 30th, the Annual Meeting  and luncheon is Monday, December 7  at Coyote Flaco, and the next meeting is Monday, November 2 when Elaine DiGiovanni and Linda Ladd will demonstrate pre-Thanksgiving décor at Sweetwood.

Sue then thanked  and said farewell to our hostess Cathy Yamamoto.
The meeting was adjourned.  Respectfully submitted, Joan Wright, Recording Secretary