WILLIAMSTOWN GARDEN CLUB
SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 GENERAL MEETING
1:00 P.M. – MILNE LIBRARY
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER: President Karen Pellegrini called the meeting to order at 1 pm. The minutes from the last meeting have been posted on the website and sent by email to all members; motion made and seconded to approve; minutes approved.
2. WELCOME to members and guests by Karen. 27 members were in attendance including one new member.
3. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY’S REPORT: Patti Brundage’s family designated WGC as beneficiary of memorial gifts; WGC yielded $500 from these gifts. Thank you’s have been sent to all donors.
4. HORT-SHORTS with Kathie Jones and Members’ Begonias: Kathy presented a short session on begonias one year ago (October 2017) and members took leaves home to grow new plants. Three plants grown by members are shared at today’s meeting. The annual begonia show and plant sale is happening 9/22-23 at Tower Hill; Kathy has a flyer if anyone is interested.
5. SPECIAL GUEST Nancy Lescarbo from the Williamstown Grange: last year Elaine Neely spoke to the Grange and was very well received. This year the Grange has voted to award the Grange’s Good Citizen Award for 2018 to the Williamstown Garden Club for the beautiful work in the community gardens. The next Grange meeting is on October 3, which is a potluck supper and award presentation and all members of the WGC are invited to join. A head count is needed so please rsvp to Karen Pellegrini as soon as possible and by September 22.
6. PRESIDENT’S REPORT:
a. Fall Plant Sale: was a huge success this year and thanks to all who participated; these members are too numerous to be named. Gross receipts were $3,400! Special thank given to Bob Kampe for all his help and heavy lifting.
b. Library Garden: work on the library garden has been very successful and is nearly done; only mulch is remaining to be finished. Grant from the GCFMA has been awarded to WGC in the amount of $500.
c. Hay Days Festival: WGC had a table promoting membership and a children’s activity.
d. Tax Preparation and Accounting Program: we have outsourced the annual tax return to a local CPA and purchased software to make tracking easier.
7. UPCOMING EVENTS:
a. Farmer’s Market on September 22: please sign up to assist; Jeanne Roy will lead the children’s activity.
b. Membership Chair search: currently we do not have a candidate for the membership chair for the 2019 year; please nominate yourself or another member.
c. The December 4 holiday greens workshop needs an organizer, please help!
8. NEXT MEETING: the Annual Meeting is Tuesday, October 9th at St. John’s Church Lower Level. This will be the annual potluck luncheon at 12:00 followed by an annual meeting where we will vote on the 2019 budget, the slate of officers for 2019 and bylaw changes. These have been sent to you by email today so please review at your convenience.
9. Our November 13 TH meeting will have a presentation Gardening into the Future by Lilian Jackman; Joan Wright is the organizer of this program, please join.
10. NEW BUSINESS: Maria Siskind introduced our speaker Neal Sanders whose presentation Gardening Will Kill You was enjoyed by all the members. It was a very entertaining talk about his recent move to a new location and construction of new gardens. Neal particularly referred us to a You Tube video for the Yankee Flipper bird feeder guard, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEW9TG6Dcgg. Neal is the author of 12 books including The Garden Club Gang. Neal got so much feedback from readers asking for a sequel. Two have come out: Deadly Deeds and Fatal Equity.
11. ADJOURNMENT: The formal meeting was adjourned at 2:15 pm and refreshments enjoyed.
Submitted by Susan Montiel,
Recording Secretary