FEARRINGTON GARDEN CLUB BOARD MEETING
October 5, 2006
PRESENT: David Alter, Dianne Birch, Marlene Conner, Orv Conner, Frances
DeHart, Janet Dopler, Ruth Keimig, Barbara Snotherly, Nancy Marrow, LaVerne
Troutman
PRESIDING: Orv Conner, Co-President
PRELIMINARY TO BUSINESS: Orv Conner expressed appreciation to those who are
serving on the Board. He displayed an October 3rd NEW YORK TIMES article
that alerted gardeners to a parasitic invader called “DODDER,” so
determined in spreading its threadlike vines that it is listed among “the
10 most dangerous” plants. Orv brought in sample Dodder from the Conners’
yard.
TREASURER’S REPORT: David Alter reported that the Club year’s rental fee
has been paid to THE GATHERING PLACE, and there is a $946.10 balance in the
treasury.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT: Membership Co-chairs Dopler and Troutman report 56
members to date.
PROGRAM REPORT: In Gresham Yeager’s absence Orv made brief comments about
future programs. The November program will feature an orchid specialist.
Board members agreed to $1.00 lottery tickets at the door, with a drawing
for an orchid that the speaker will donate that night.
OLD BUSINESS: CLIPPINGS: A motion was made, seconded and carried to the
effect that the second (October) issue of CLIPPINGS should be a delivered
“hard copy.” At the October general meeting membership will be polled as to
preference of newsletter distribution method (hard copy/email), aiding the
subsequent Board decision. CLIPPINGS copies will be distributed in October
to any of last year’s members who have not been heard from this year for
perhaps the final time. It was suggested that CLIPPINGS might include a
member’s advertisement of seeds or plants available to be picked up at
his/her home. (The “to share” plant table at monthly meetings will
continue.)
SPECIAL EVENTS: LaVerne Troutman will be co-ordinator of “SPECIAL EVENTS”
for this Garden Club year. A number of sites were mentioned as interesting
possibilities for day trips. Orv and LaVerne will talk to the Botanical
Garden staff; if an afternoon trip can be scheduled for OCTOBER 24 at 1pm,
LaVerne will make an announcement at the October 17 meeting. Guidelines
would be similar to last year’s – no “reservation,” simply appearing at the
Gathering Place parking lot for carpooling at the appointed time.
GARDEN CLUB TOUR: Dianne Birch reported that initial inquiries about garden
prospects for the Tour are being made and will continue. She asked that all
Board members report recommendations of potential sites to her or to Mimi
Woehrel. (AN ASIDE: Diane offered an email address for some deer management
material: DEERBUSTERS.COM)
HOSPITALITY: Hospitality Committee reported that $55 was spent on the
September meeting wine-and-cheese refreshments (with enough cups for
subsequent meetings, and also leftover wine).
NEW BUSINESS: Karen Marshall will be working in Fearrington with the
pre-Christmas Luminary event benefiting the Ronald McDonald House again
this year. The Board had no objection to Garden Club’s participation. Karen
will need volunteers for the preparation and clean-up of the Village space.
A Board member observed that the timing last year was disappointing, in
that the evening’s candlelight celebration did NOT last until 8:30pm as
advertised. This discrepancy should be reported to this year’s planners.
The meeting adjourned – with an announcement that the next Board meeting
will be scheduled for JANUARY, if needed.
Respectfully submitted,
Frances DeHart, Secretary
FEARRINGTON GARDEN CLUB BOARD MEETING
August 31, 2006
PRESENT: David Alter, Marlene Conner, Orv Conner, Frances DeHart, Janet
Dopler, Nancy Marrow, Betsy Mebane, Barbara Snotherly, Mimi Woehrel, Anne
Yeager, Gresham Yeager
PRESIDING: Orv Conner, Garden Club Co-President
PRELIMINARY TO BUSINESS: Orv Conner welcomed the new Garden Club Board
members, who then introduced themselves. Marlene Conner presented each
member a folder of pertinent Garden Club documents.
COMMITTEE REPORTS AND DISCUSSION:
TREASURER David Alter called attention to his budget summary, which
reflects income and expenses of 2005-2006, showing a BALANCE FORWARD OF
$617.82.
CO-PRESIDENT Marlene Conner requested that each Board member add his/her
signature to bank documents as required by SUNTRUST BANK.
VICE-PRESIDENT/PROGRAM CHAIR Gresham Yeager gave a summary of Club programs
presently scheduled or envisioned for the meetings this year. For the first
meeting of the new Fearrington Garden Club season – SEPTEMBER 19 – AL
COOKE, Chatham County Extension Agent, has agreed to give a presentation on
“PRUNING: THE WHY, HOW, AND WHERE.” A sampling of featured speakers to
follow will include those with expertise on Duke Gardens, Orchids, Floral
Decoration – and the particulars will be made available. Since the Club has
no “SPECIAL EVENTS” co-ordinator, Orv Conner may seek a Club volunteer for
that role. There are unique gardens that might qualify as appealing side
trips (one possibility – “HOBBIT GARDENS”; another, a garden with a home
“railroad setting”), and Gresham and Mimi Woehrel will investigate these
opportunities.
MEMBERSHIP CO-CHAIRS Janet Dopler and LaVerne Troutman have Membership
Committee plans ready for the September meeting.
HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN Nancy Marrow will prepare sign-up sheets for
Refreshments and Table Decoration volunteers at the September meeting.
After much discussion, a motion was made to continue the “tradition” of
Wine-and-Cheese (also non-alcoholic beverage) refreshment for the September
Opening meeting of the Club; the motion passed.
CO-ORDINATORS OF THE SPRING GARDEN TOUR Mimi Woehrel and Dianne Birch have
established APRIL 28-29 as Tour dates for 2007. A “theme” is still in the
discussion stage (water garden elements? alley gardens?) and will be
announced. Mimi will need names of those who would be willing to have their
gardens included on the Tour, and she requests that an appeal for
volunteers be made.
WEBSITE CREATOR Forrest Greenslade will oversee the Garden Club Website as
he has in the past.
CLIPPINGS EDITOR Ruth Keimig has not returned to Fearrington Village from
her summer away, but she expects to publish a September issue of CLIPPINGS.
The discussion of the expense of the print copies resulted in a decision to
greet the new Club season with a September print copy and consider emailing
subsequent CLIPPINGS.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: Mimi Woehrel informed the Board that a Club that
signs a contract with FHA for usage of meeting space assumes its own
liability. She stated that each Board member should be aware that he/she is
“liable,” and this is standard policy in volunteer organizations. Mimi is
an insurance professional, and assured the group that a Board member is
likely protected under an “umbrella policy” of his/her Homeowner’s Policy.
CHANGE IN CLUB MEMBERSHIP DUES: There was a lengthy discussion of an
increase in Club membership dues. Strong opinions pro and con were
expressed. As general expenses have increased, concern for the state of the
Club treasury and a desire to be in a position to offer more generous
fees/gratuities to resource persons seemed to motivate the calls for
changing membership dues. Ultimately, a motion was made, seconded and
passed to make dues $16 for a single annual membership, $26 for a “family
membership,” and a $5 fee for an attending non-member.
Marlene Conner announced that BOARD meetings will be scheduled as needed
for the 1st THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH.
THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE OCTOBER 5 AT 3 O’CLOCK.
Respectfully submitted,
Frances DeHart, Secretary |