ANNUAL REPORTS
2017-2018
Annual Meeting
At our first meeting, we decided to hold the annual luncheon at the Riverway as it has worked well for our purposes in the past. We then met with the manager to discuss, table, space and time needs and our menu choices which were changed. We printed up new reservation forms which were available at the March meeting and April’s Horticultural Roundtable. In May, we took care of the details such as tables needed at the entrance, for the raffle, seating for members, stickers for meal choices and other Garden Club business. This year, as my swan song, a friend agreed to provide musical background to our luncheon.
Jeanne McGrath, Chair
By-Laws
Committee recommended two changes to the by-laws. Both were changes to Article VII Section 2. The first was to read The Officers “shall be elected to a one-year term” instead of two-year term. The second was the position of the Corresponding Secretary be added to those officers who may be elected for additional terms. They were voted on by the membership and carried through in January of 2018.
Cookie Barry, Chair
Civic Beautification
This year, with the impetus of a $500 donation from the Rotary Club, we looked into the possibility of improving our irrigation systems. With manual labor from the Parks and Recreation Department and a $1,300 grant from the Community and Economic Development Committee (a committee which provides small grants to beautification projects), we were able to have a tubed system with timers installed in the Triangle, Parkside and George Davis gardens in June. This eliminated the need to turn on soaker hoses and sprinklers in the midst of heavy street traffic several times a week.
Because of the traffic situation George Davis agreed to take over the maintenance of the garden in front of his property which had been maintained by the Garden Club for 44 years.
With the $500 from the Rotary Club and donations of $400 from various donors given to Civic Beautification we were able to update the 20-year-old system at Buck Island with a timer and an expanded range of watering in May. The garden has many flowering trees and shrubs, perennials and annuals, continually changing with each month during the season.
The Forest/Old Town House garden had a problem in the spring with excessive weeds developed from seeds of the surrounding grasses. These new gardens also had to replace some perennials that did not survive the winter. A large branch fell onto the stone bench from a diseased tree which will be removed at some point. The garden design is low maintenance and very attractive.
The garden at the entrance of the Senior Center now has water available at the site with a timer and soaker hose to facilitate easy watering. Joyce Jenks, who maintains the site, also has planted and maintained appropriate perennials at the Town Hall in the garden below the Town Hall sign.
All the Post Offices are creatively maintained by members and hand-watered all season. We also provided decorated Christmas wreaths to town offices. Thanks to all who dedicate themselves to beautifying our town.
Carol Coverly and Marie Gates, Co-Chairs
Conservation
The Coastal Sweep was held in September. Because of bad weather it had to be put off to Saturday the 23rd. A large amount of trash was collected.
In October I asked members to save the pull tabs from cans to donate to the Aleppo Shriners Children’s Transportation Fund.
Corey Bray of AmeriCorps spoke to the members in December about his work with the Town Hall Conservation Department to clean up the town of invasive species to inform and ask members to join him. February’s conservation moment involved straws. Five hundred million non-biodegradable straws are used and thrown away every day. I asked members to use biodegradable straws from now on.
Paula Phillips, Chair
Corresponding Secretary
As Corresponding Secretary, thank-you notes were sent to all of this year’s Garden Club meeting speakers as well as all the Roundtable speakers. There were eighteen thank-you notes sent to those who made donations to our club in memory of Judy McClory. Several others were also thanked for their individual donations during the year.
Judy Tabb, Chair
Flower Show
We celebrated the Garden Club of Yarmouth's 45th anniversary with a Flower Show and Boutique at the Bangs Hallet House Museum on August 4th 2017, together with the Ways and Means Committee. Several flower arrangements were placed in each room of the house and a Horticultural Show was held in the chapel. It was a very successful day.
In September we made flower arrangements for the lunch tables at the meeting.
On March 19th we held a Flower Arranging Workshop at St. David's Church with 17 members in attendance, the most we have ever had. The ladies brought their arrangements to the Garden Club the next day to show what they had created. They were all given printed notes on the conditioning of various flowers and on basic designs of arranging.
Once again, we joined with the Yarmouth Art Guild to celebrate their Spring Show at the Cultural Center of C.C. on April 20th until the 23rd.We had sixteen beautiful flower arrangements all proclaiming Spring and very different from each other.
Our last duty for the year is to provide the centerpieces for the top table and other tables at the Annual Luncheon to be held at the Riverway restaurant on May 22nd 2018.
Joy Shipp and Vicki Balboni, Co-chairs
Handbook Committee
In June 2017, I brought the membership roster up to date. I also requested information for the handbook from the various standing committee chairmen.
I created a draft of the handbook and met with the committee on August 1st to discuss the contents and to select a cover from the many photos created for us by Don Loring, husband of member Charl Loring.
I made a few corrections and additions to the handbook and had 145 copies printed at Winkir. I printed and applied address labels and distributed handbooks to board members at the September board meeting. Members picked up their copy at both the September and October meeting. I mailed the copies that were left.
The Handbook costs were:
$43.12 for proofs
$478.10 for printing
$16.38 for postage
Total cost: $536.60
Carol Ann Morris, Chair
Herb Garden
The Herb and Kitchen Gardens were opened up at the end of April 2017. Compost was put down on all gardens and the watering schedule was set up. New plants were put in place that did not make it over the winter. All members fulfilled their responsibilities for watering and caring for for the gardens over the summer. It was a very dry summer which required more diligence in maintaining the gardens. The gardens were closed the end of October.
Joan Huckins, Chair
Horticulture Roundtable
This year we had three members, Joyce Jenks, Joy Shipp and Ed Mulligan, participate as speakers, with a guided tour of a Hydrangea Garden, talks on Ancient Art of Well Dressing and Ease of Drip Irrigation, respectfully. The other two presenters were Emily Woudenberg and Linda Colgan, both Master Gardeners speaking on Bokashi Composting and Growing Herbs. Thank you to all who have participated and helped out!
Our annually bus trip is scheduled for June 22nd to the Newport Flower Show at the Rosecliff Manor in Newport, Rhode Island this year.
Vicki Balboni, Interim Chair
Hospitality
The Hospitality Committee contacted Club members who have signed up to provide a platter or floral arrangement for the refreshment table at monthly meetings.
This sign-up is conducted at the September meeting. Committee members help with set-up, tea & coffee service, and cleanup at the monthly meetings.
Mary Spurr, Chair
Membership
SEPTEMBER
RESIGNED- Clair Banks, Donna Hill, Mary Spellman
NEW MEMBERS- Marie Hamilton, Shannan Myers
NEW ASSOCIATE- Pat Donovan
DEATH- Shirley Taylor
OCTOBER
NEW MEMBER- Lynette McCloy
NOVEMBER
NEW MEMBERS-Andrea St. Germain, Louise Wolf, Pamela Innamorati, Lynn Froleiks, Mary Salviati
DECEMBER
NEW MEMBER-Gail Cronin
JANUARY
NEW MEMBER- Judith Majusky- Voted in but 1ST meeting will be March
FEBRUARY
NEW MEMBERS-Diane Tlapa, Genie Anglin, Mary Ann Janosko
MARCH
NEW MEMBERS- Shirley Fitzgerald, Dawn Jackson
NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBER- Klara Campos
APRIL
NEW MEMBER- Sharon Carpenter
RESIGNED- Janet Snelley, Diane Baniewicz, Kathy Deschaines
Lynette McCloy, Margaret Flaherty, Mary Ann Anese, Susan Anderson
DEATH-Elaine Martin,
Janet Snelley, Chair
Newsletter
“The Trumpet” newsletter is published each month and distributed to the membership at the regular meetings September-May. The newsletter covers activities organized by the club’s committees and any other pertinent information of interest to Club members. It can also be found on the Garden Club website.
Candy Vance, Chair
Nominating
The Committee formed to facilitate selection of new officers and fill open committee chairs, as needed. Members were Barb Commons, Joan Huckins, Pat Leary, Regina Mullen & Kiki Becker. We also addressed the untimely departure due to illness of President Ellen Philie.
Kiki Becker assumed presidency a year earlier than scheduled. Mary Ehbrecht stepped into 1st VP/Program Chair. Vicki Balboni filled Horticultural Roundtable Chair position for one year as interim. Nominating Committee suggested to Bylaw Committee a change from 2 year term for Presidency and 1st VP to one year each.
Kiki & Mary will serve two year terms (President & 1st VP)after that President and 1st VP will be reduced to one year terms as approved and voted on by executive board and voted/approved by general population of GC of Y.
As of May 8, 2018, new executive board members and new committee chairs: Corresponding Secretary - Norma Atwood; Membership Committee Chair - Pat Holcomb; Civic Beautification - Ed Mulligan; Hospitality Co Chairs - Mary Spurr & Ann Libby. We still need Chairs for Horticultural Roundtable and Annual Luncheon. Working on it!
Kiki Becker, Chair
Program
2017 October 17- “Gardening is Murder” by Neal Sanders-was a laugh out loud presentation and very much enjoyed by club members. November 14- “Fragrant Gardens and Lovely Containers” presented with beautiful slides by Donelle Denery, Master Gardener.
December 12- “Floral Artistry & Hostess Gifts for the Holidays” by Anna Holmes, very popular Floral Designer. Her creations were raffled off to members (6 tickets were handed out to each member).
2018
January 16- “The big Three: Sun, Soil & Water for Healthy Plants” by Mike Almonte, Master Gardener and former Police Chief-very engaging and humorous.
February 20- “The Artist in the Garden” presentation by Shannon Goheen of Second Nature gardenworks-amazing demonstration of making framed collage pictures with dried plants and blossoms from your own garden-ideas for garden memories and gifts.
March 20- “Spring Fever”- Jeannie Gillis (original designer was ill) – her flower arrangements were full of brilliant colors for Spring with a variety of greens – ideas for everyone.
The Program Committee has all contracts signed for 2018-2019
October 16 – “Fall Migration Magic” – with bird calls by Phillip Kyle
December 18- “Holiday Arranging” colorful with Betty Sanders
2019
January 15 – “stewardship of Cape Cod Fishing” – with enthusiasm by Seth Rolbein
February 19 – “Quenching Heat, Humidity & Drought” – season’s pallet with Warren Leach
March 19 – “Entry Courtyards” – Tom Strangfeld- lucky to have him
April 16 – “Flower Arranging” – Rev. Sonny Gada – very happy to come – lifetime of flowers
Mary Ehbrecht, Chair
Publicity
The publicity contact list has been maintained and updated as needed with appropriate names and email addresses as well as preferred methods of contact.
Updated Garden Club activity information was submitted to the Barnstable Patriot for inclusion in Yarmouth Handbook for 2018.
We applied for and received approval for a free full page informational Public Service Announcement in the Cape Cod Times for September 2019.
Color flyers were printed at Winker’s to advertise our 45th Anniversary Celebration at the Bangs Hallett House in August 2017.
Save-the-Date cards were printed by Winker as well as flyers for the November Boutique.
An announcement seeking applicants for our scholarship program was submitted to all publications in January.
Notices inviting the public to each Garden Club of Yarmouth meeting are published monthly. The notices give a brief statement about the speaker who will present at that meeting.
The banner for the Plant Sale was patched by Sign-O-Rama. Color flyers were printed at Winkler’s, and appropriate notices were submitted for print in all newspapers as well as radio and online bulletin boards.
Cheryl Ryan, Chair
Remembrance
Appropriate cards were sent for ongoing concerns of members. A follow up was mailed if indicated. Twenty-three cards went out this year. Members were encouraged to convey information when and where so we could be supportive to one another.
Ruth Lund, Chair
Scholarship
Last Year’s Scholarships were disbursed to our successful awardees.
2 scholarships and 1 tool ship award.
I have received approximately 10 applications
We had a committed meeting 5/1/18 at noon to review and select among the applications who will be awarded scholarships for 2018. The committee has chosen to share our $3500. award among 3 candidates. We are awarding $1500.00 each to Brett Halloran of West Yarmourh and Alexis Hartnett of Yarmouth Port. Brett is Pursing Environment Police studies Alexis is an Environmental Sciences major.
Hanna Wilson will be working locally in the organic, nursery,/landscaping industry. and being awarded a $500. toolship toward the tools and work-related things she needs.
Claire Linnan, Chair
Telephone
Forty-two club members were called by the ten committee members throughout the year. Because of the cancelled April Membership Meeting there were emergency calls made to over 100 members to remind them of the Plant Sale, Annual Luncheon and Horticultural Roundtable road trip.
Harriet Murphy, Chair
Ways and Means
We had three fundraising projects this year. The first, the Annual Fundraiser at the Recycle Center was September 23 and 24, 9AM to 12 Noon both days. The second, Our Fabulous Annual Members Boutique. This year we sold pies, breads and crafts on Tuesday, November 14th. The third will be the Annual Plant Sale and Raffle on May 19th, held at the Moose Family Lodge. In each of these events the entire membership takes part and is the reason they are so successful.
Jan Brogan and Cookie Barry, Co- Chairs
Web Site
During the year we continued our internet presence with a web site and a Facebook page.
We launched our Facebook page in March 2017. By posting items of interest to gardeners we hope to bring new members into the club. During the past year we purchased Facebook advertising for three of our activities: the May plant sale, the August flower show, and the November boutique. The advertising reached over 2,000 people and cost $35.
Our web site software, Weebly, which we installed last year, has proven to be reliable and easy to use.
Ed Mulligan, Chair
2017-2018
Annual Meeting
At our first meeting, we decided to hold the annual luncheon at the Riverway as it has worked well for our purposes in the past. We then met with the manager to discuss, table, space and time needs and our menu choices which were changed. We printed up new reservation forms which were available at the March meeting and April’s Horticultural Roundtable. In May, we took care of the details such as tables needed at the entrance, for the raffle, seating for members, stickers for meal choices and other Garden Club business. This year, as my swan song, a friend agreed to provide musical background to our luncheon.
Jeanne McGrath, Chair
By-Laws
Committee recommended two changes to the by-laws. Both were changes to Article VII Section 2. The first was to read The Officers “shall be elected to a one-year term” instead of two-year term. The second was the position of the Corresponding Secretary be added to those officers who may be elected for additional terms. They were voted on by the membership and carried through in January of 2018.
Cookie Barry, Chair
Civic Beautification
This year, with the impetus of a $500 donation from the Rotary Club, we looked into the possibility of improving our irrigation systems. With manual labor from the Parks and Recreation Department and a $1,300 grant from the Community and Economic Development Committee (a committee which provides small grants to beautification projects), we were able to have a tubed system with timers installed in the Triangle, Parkside and George Davis gardens in June. This eliminated the need to turn on soaker hoses and sprinklers in the midst of heavy street traffic several times a week.
Because of the traffic situation George Davis agreed to take over the maintenance of the garden in front of his property which had been maintained by the Garden Club for 44 years.
With the $500 from the Rotary Club and donations of $400 from various donors given to Civic Beautification we were able to update the 20-year-old system at Buck Island with a timer and an expanded range of watering in May. The garden has many flowering trees and shrubs, perennials and annuals, continually changing with each month during the season.
The Forest/Old Town House garden had a problem in the spring with excessive weeds developed from seeds of the surrounding grasses. These new gardens also had to replace some perennials that did not survive the winter. A large branch fell onto the stone bench from a diseased tree which will be removed at some point. The garden design is low maintenance and very attractive.
The garden at the entrance of the Senior Center now has water available at the site with a timer and soaker hose to facilitate easy watering. Joyce Jenks, who maintains the site, also has planted and maintained appropriate perennials at the Town Hall in the garden below the Town Hall sign.
All the Post Offices are creatively maintained by members and hand-watered all season. We also provided decorated Christmas wreaths to town offices. Thanks to all who dedicate themselves to beautifying our town.
Carol Coverly and Marie Gates, Co-Chairs
Conservation
The Coastal Sweep was held in September. Because of bad weather it had to be put off to Saturday the 23rd. A large amount of trash was collected.
In October I asked members to save the pull tabs from cans to donate to the Aleppo Shriners Children’s Transportation Fund.
Corey Bray of AmeriCorps spoke to the members in December about his work with the Town Hall Conservation Department to clean up the town of invasive species to inform and ask members to join him. February’s conservation moment involved straws. Five hundred million non-biodegradable straws are used and thrown away every day. I asked members to use biodegradable straws from now on.
Paula Phillips, Chair
Corresponding Secretary
As Corresponding Secretary, thank-you notes were sent to all of this year’s Garden Club meeting speakers as well as all the Roundtable speakers. There were eighteen thank-you notes sent to those who made donations to our club in memory of Judy McClory. Several others were also thanked for their individual donations during the year.
Judy Tabb, Chair
Flower Show
We celebrated the Garden Club of Yarmouth's 45th anniversary with a Flower Show and Boutique at the Bangs Hallet House Museum on August 4th 2017, together with the Ways and Means Committee. Several flower arrangements were placed in each room of the house and a Horticultural Show was held in the chapel. It was a very successful day.
In September we made flower arrangements for the lunch tables at the meeting.
On March 19th we held a Flower Arranging Workshop at St. David's Church with 17 members in attendance, the most we have ever had. The ladies brought their arrangements to the Garden Club the next day to show what they had created. They were all given printed notes on the conditioning of various flowers and on basic designs of arranging.
Once again, we joined with the Yarmouth Art Guild to celebrate their Spring Show at the Cultural Center of C.C. on April 20th until the 23rd.We had sixteen beautiful flower arrangements all proclaiming Spring and very different from each other.
Our last duty for the year is to provide the centerpieces for the top table and other tables at the Annual Luncheon to be held at the Riverway restaurant on May 22nd 2018.
Joy Shipp and Vicki Balboni, Co-chairs
Handbook Committee
In June 2017, I brought the membership roster up to date. I also requested information for the handbook from the various standing committee chairmen.
I created a draft of the handbook and met with the committee on August 1st to discuss the contents and to select a cover from the many photos created for us by Don Loring, husband of member Charl Loring.
I made a few corrections and additions to the handbook and had 145 copies printed at Winkir. I printed and applied address labels and distributed handbooks to board members at the September board meeting. Members picked up their copy at both the September and October meeting. I mailed the copies that were left.
The Handbook costs were:
$43.12 for proofs
$478.10 for printing
$16.38 for postage
Total cost: $536.60
Carol Ann Morris, Chair
Herb Garden
The Herb and Kitchen Gardens were opened up at the end of April 2017. Compost was put down on all gardens and the watering schedule was set up. New plants were put in place that did not make it over the winter. All members fulfilled their responsibilities for watering and caring for for the gardens over the summer. It was a very dry summer which required more diligence in maintaining the gardens. The gardens were closed the end of October.
Joan Huckins, Chair
Horticulture Roundtable
This year we had three members, Joyce Jenks, Joy Shipp and Ed Mulligan, participate as speakers, with a guided tour of a Hydrangea Garden, talks on Ancient Art of Well Dressing and Ease of Drip Irrigation, respectfully. The other two presenters were Emily Woudenberg and Linda Colgan, both Master Gardeners speaking on Bokashi Composting and Growing Herbs. Thank you to all who have participated and helped out!
Our annually bus trip is scheduled for June 22nd to the Newport Flower Show at the Rosecliff Manor in Newport, Rhode Island this year.
Vicki Balboni, Interim Chair
Hospitality
The Hospitality Committee contacted Club members who have signed up to provide a platter or floral arrangement for the refreshment table at monthly meetings.
This sign-up is conducted at the September meeting. Committee members help with set-up, tea & coffee service, and cleanup at the monthly meetings.
Mary Spurr, Chair
Membership
SEPTEMBER
RESIGNED- Clair Banks, Donna Hill, Mary Spellman
NEW MEMBERS- Marie Hamilton, Shannan Myers
NEW ASSOCIATE- Pat Donovan
DEATH- Shirley Taylor
OCTOBER
NEW MEMBER- Lynette McCloy
NOVEMBER
NEW MEMBERS-Andrea St. Germain, Louise Wolf, Pamela Innamorati, Lynn Froleiks, Mary Salviati
DECEMBER
NEW MEMBER-Gail Cronin
JANUARY
NEW MEMBER- Judith Majusky- Voted in but 1ST meeting will be March
FEBRUARY
NEW MEMBERS-Diane Tlapa, Genie Anglin, Mary Ann Janosko
MARCH
NEW MEMBERS- Shirley Fitzgerald, Dawn Jackson
NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBER- Klara Campos
APRIL
NEW MEMBER- Sharon Carpenter
RESIGNED- Janet Snelley, Diane Baniewicz, Kathy Deschaines
Lynette McCloy, Margaret Flaherty, Mary Ann Anese, Susan Anderson
DEATH-Elaine Martin,
Janet Snelley, Chair
Newsletter
“The Trumpet” newsletter is published each month and distributed to the membership at the regular meetings September-May. The newsletter covers activities organized by the club’s committees and any other pertinent information of interest to Club members. It can also be found on the Garden Club website.
Candy Vance, Chair
Nominating
The Committee formed to facilitate selection of new officers and fill open committee chairs, as needed. Members were Barb Commons, Joan Huckins, Pat Leary, Regina Mullen & Kiki Becker. We also addressed the untimely departure due to illness of President Ellen Philie.
Kiki Becker assumed presidency a year earlier than scheduled. Mary Ehbrecht stepped into 1st VP/Program Chair. Vicki Balboni filled Horticultural Roundtable Chair position for one year as interim. Nominating Committee suggested to Bylaw Committee a change from 2 year term for Presidency and 1st VP to one year each.
Kiki & Mary will serve two year terms (President & 1st VP)after that President and 1st VP will be reduced to one year terms as approved and voted on by executive board and voted/approved by general population of GC of Y.
As of May 8, 2018, new executive board members and new committee chairs: Corresponding Secretary - Norma Atwood; Membership Committee Chair - Pat Holcomb; Civic Beautification - Ed Mulligan; Hospitality Co Chairs - Mary Spurr & Ann Libby. We still need Chairs for Horticultural Roundtable and Annual Luncheon. Working on it!
Kiki Becker, Chair
Program
2017 October 17- “Gardening is Murder” by Neal Sanders-was a laugh out loud presentation and very much enjoyed by club members. November 14- “Fragrant Gardens and Lovely Containers” presented with beautiful slides by Donelle Denery, Master Gardener.
December 12- “Floral Artistry & Hostess Gifts for the Holidays” by Anna Holmes, very popular Floral Designer. Her creations were raffled off to members (6 tickets were handed out to each member).
2018
January 16- “The big Three: Sun, Soil & Water for Healthy Plants” by Mike Almonte, Master Gardener and former Police Chief-very engaging and humorous.
February 20- “The Artist in the Garden” presentation by Shannon Goheen of Second Nature gardenworks-amazing demonstration of making framed collage pictures with dried plants and blossoms from your own garden-ideas for garden memories and gifts.
March 20- “Spring Fever”- Jeannie Gillis (original designer was ill) – her flower arrangements were full of brilliant colors for Spring with a variety of greens – ideas for everyone.
The Program Committee has all contracts signed for 2018-2019
October 16 – “Fall Migration Magic” – with bird calls by Phillip Kyle
December 18- “Holiday Arranging” colorful with Betty Sanders
2019
January 15 – “stewardship of Cape Cod Fishing” – with enthusiasm by Seth Rolbein
February 19 – “Quenching Heat, Humidity & Drought” – season’s pallet with Warren Leach
March 19 – “Entry Courtyards” – Tom Strangfeld- lucky to have him
April 16 – “Flower Arranging” – Rev. Sonny Gada – very happy to come – lifetime of flowers
Mary Ehbrecht, Chair
Publicity
The publicity contact list has been maintained and updated as needed with appropriate names and email addresses as well as preferred methods of contact.
Updated Garden Club activity information was submitted to the Barnstable Patriot for inclusion in Yarmouth Handbook for 2018.
We applied for and received approval for a free full page informational Public Service Announcement in the Cape Cod Times for September 2019.
Color flyers were printed at Winker’s to advertise our 45th Anniversary Celebration at the Bangs Hallett House in August 2017.
Save-the-Date cards were printed by Winker as well as flyers for the November Boutique.
An announcement seeking applicants for our scholarship program was submitted to all publications in January.
Notices inviting the public to each Garden Club of Yarmouth meeting are published monthly. The notices give a brief statement about the speaker who will present at that meeting.
The banner for the Plant Sale was patched by Sign-O-Rama. Color flyers were printed at Winkler’s, and appropriate notices were submitted for print in all newspapers as well as radio and online bulletin boards.
Cheryl Ryan, Chair
Remembrance
Appropriate cards were sent for ongoing concerns of members. A follow up was mailed if indicated. Twenty-three cards went out this year. Members were encouraged to convey information when and where so we could be supportive to one another.
Ruth Lund, Chair
Scholarship
Last Year’s Scholarships were disbursed to our successful awardees.
2 scholarships and 1 tool ship award.
I have received approximately 10 applications
We had a committed meeting 5/1/18 at noon to review and select among the applications who will be awarded scholarships for 2018. The committee has chosen to share our $3500. award among 3 candidates. We are awarding $1500.00 each to Brett Halloran of West Yarmourh and Alexis Hartnett of Yarmouth Port. Brett is Pursing Environment Police studies Alexis is an Environmental Sciences major.
Hanna Wilson will be working locally in the organic, nursery,/landscaping industry. and being awarded a $500. toolship toward the tools and work-related things she needs.
Claire Linnan, Chair
Telephone
Forty-two club members were called by the ten committee members throughout the year. Because of the cancelled April Membership Meeting there were emergency calls made to over 100 members to remind them of the Plant Sale, Annual Luncheon and Horticultural Roundtable road trip.
Harriet Murphy, Chair
Ways and Means
We had three fundraising projects this year. The first, the Annual Fundraiser at the Recycle Center was September 23 and 24, 9AM to 12 Noon both days. The second, Our Fabulous Annual Members Boutique. This year we sold pies, breads and crafts on Tuesday, November 14th. The third will be the Annual Plant Sale and Raffle on May 19th, held at the Moose Family Lodge. In each of these events the entire membership takes part and is the reason they are so successful.
Jan Brogan and Cookie Barry, Co- Chairs
Web Site
During the year we continued our internet presence with a web site and a Facebook page.
We launched our Facebook page in March 2017. By posting items of interest to gardeners we hope to bring new members into the club. During the past year we purchased Facebook advertising for three of our activities: the May plant sale, the August flower show, and the November boutique. The advertising reached over 2,000 people and cost $35.
Our web site software, Weebly, which we installed last year, has proven to be reliable and easy to use.
Ed Mulligan, Chair
THE GARDEN CLUB OF YARMOUTH
ANNUAL REPORTS
2016-2017
Our 2016 -2017 calendar year has been filled with wonderful events and some challenges as well. I need to thank all Officers, Chairpersons and Committee Members for working together with energy and positive attitudes to make the season thoroughly successful ~! WELL DONE to you all~! Monthly meeting programs were well received by members. Despite the fact that two presenters were unable to fulfill their commitments, and one meeting needed to be cancelled due to the Senior Center Ballroom’s floors being refinished, our team of Officers flexed their mental and physical muscles, and the production of each program went smoothly.
Highlights of the season included Anna Holmes, Floral Designer from Falmouth, a fabulous Flower Show in November, and renowned Bill Graham of Salem MA presenting his signature program THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS. Inasmuch as we are in our 45th year as a Garden Club, we celebrated with West Dennis Garden Club, which funded our Club's start-up with a $500 check. We chose to make the Bill Graham presentation a joint effort of the two clubs. It was wonderful to be able to share the work and the fun with our West Dennis Sisters~!
All our gardens continue to flourish, our Flower Show “Home for the Holidays” was a success, Horticultural Roundtable had interesting speakers, publicity has increased our presence in the community, our scholarships have been given out, we have been successful in the raising of funds, our website has been improved and another site added, in addition to the successful meeting of the goals of each committee.
Ellen Philie, President
Annual Meeting
At our first meeting, we decided to hold the Annual Meeting at the Riverway as it has worked well for our purposes in the past. We then met with the manager to discuss, table, space and time needs and our menu choices which were changed. This year we included a vegan/vegetarian choice. We printed up new reservation forms which were available at the March and April meetings. In May, we took care of the details such as tables needed at the entrance, for the raffle, seating for members, stickers for meal choices and other Garden Club business.
Jeanne McGrath, Chair
Civic Beautification
Buck Island continues to add to the beauty of Yarmouth through successive plantings of spring flowers, perennials, flowering trees and spectacular annuals. The roses seemed to lack water due to overhanging shrubs. This year we will improve the situation with hand watering. A redbud tree was donated by a nearby association in remembrance of a member.
The gardens at Forest and Old Townhouse greeted us last spring when 450 bulbs burst into a wave of yellow daffodils. Even better news was to see that most of the plantings survived their first winter. Greenspot replaced, free of charge, five small grasses and we added five additional blue stem grasses to fill in. The final addition to the design of the gardens was a stone bench purchased from Cape Wood Stone of Orleans. It was erected under one of the flowering trees to view all angles of the three triangular, natural, xeriscape gardens.
The Highbank, Parkside Gardens and George Davis Gardens were maintained by members last summer, but it was found that leaking hoses and the watering situation needed to be changed. Traffic around the gardens are a concern. Until a permanent watering system can be installed we are making a temporary change by installing timers with new hoses. The Town will install a new system, but we must find funding for the parts ($1,400} This May we will ask a Yarmouth group that has funds for tourism. It may be that we can only do one garden this year, others in time.
Our Post Office window boxes and tub and Senior Center garden continue to show the creative aspects that the Town has come to enjoy.
Thanks to all on the Committee for your diligent work and, at times, going above and beyond.
Carol Coverly and Mary Gates, Co-Chairs
Conservation
Our goal is to encourage protection of our natural resources, reduce waste, & create healthy, safe environments. We work toward that through education and various activities.
This past year Conservation did a Fall Clean Sweep picking up trash at Smugglers/Bass River Beach. We were joined by several eager & very helpful Cape Abilities participants; their Leader would like to continue participating in the future. Jill Talladay stopped by from Care For The Cape & Islands and indicated her group might join us next year. The CofC supplied necessary materials, coffee & donuts, & sends our results to a national data base.
Conservation Committee members met at my house to share ideas & decide on what specific issues they wanted to focus. We decided that sharing knowledge on these issues with our whole club would reap more benefits than just keeping the information in our committee. Committee members then chose which issue each would present at Club monthly meetings. We ended with a nice lunch.
"Conservation Moments" were then presented at most meetings to educate our club on environmental/conservation issues or current events, with a positive response from members.
Finally, Conservation had to cancel its usual Spring Tour this year due to learning quite late that members could be stung by bees during the Beekeeper's presentation.
Donna Hill, Chair
Corresponding Secretary
As Corresponding Secretary, thank-you notes were sent to all of this year’s Garden Club meeting speakers as well as all the Roundtable speakers. There were eighteen thank-you notes sent to those who made donations to our club in memory of Judy McClory. Several others were also thanked for their individual donations during the year.
Judy Tabb
Flower Show
We started the year by holding a "Winter Holiday" flower arranging class at St. David's Episcopal church in Yarmouth on October 17th that was well attended by our members.
Then on November 19th we hosted a Flower Show and Boutique, [the Ways and Means Committee was responsible for the latter], it was held in Nelson Hall at St. David’s. The show was titled "Home For The Holidays" and all the arrangements were related to either Thanksgiving or Christmas. There were 7 categories with 6 displays in each.
It proved to be very popular with our members and the general public that came to view it.
We were also responsible for finding members to make an arrangement for the podium at the monthly meetings.
At the Annual Luncheon on May 23rd we will make centerpieces for each dining table as well as the top table.
Joy Shipp and Vicki Balboni, Co-Chairs
Handbook
In June 2016, I brought the membership roster up to date. I also requested information for the handbook from the various standing committee chairmen.
I created a draft of the handbook and met with the committee in July to discuss the contents and also to select a cover from the many photos created for us by Don Loring, husband of member Charl Loring. I made the corrections and additions to the handbook and the committee met again for another review. Committee members proof read this copy and I had 175 copies printed at Winkir.
I printed and applied address labels and distributed handbooks to board members at the September board meeting. Members picked up their copy at both the September and October meeting. I mailed the 7 copies that were left.
The Handbook costs were:
$ 27.36 for proofs $522.60 for printing $12.99 for labels $6.23 for postage
Total cost: $579.18
Carol Ann Morris, Chair
Herb Garden
The Herb and Kitchen Gardens were opened up the end of April 2016. Compost was put down on all gardens and the watering schedule was set up. New plants were put in place that did not make it over the winter. All members fulfilled their responsibilities for watering and caring for the gardens over the summer. It was a very dry summer which required more diligence in maintaining the gardens. The gardens were closed the end of October.
Joan Huckins, Chair
Horticultural Roundtable
This year was very well received with an average of between 25 – 30 members attending. We encouraged everyone to save seed, garden supply and ornament catalogs.
September, “Lifelong Gardening” by Cherie Bryan. October, “Putting your Garden to Bed” by Clint Flagg. January, the Cape and Islands Orchid Society Show counted toward attendance. February, “Starting Seeds and Seed Catalog Exchange” with Linda Colgan. March, “Beneficial and Pest Insects of the Garden” with Larry Dapsis, Entomologist, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. April, “Native Orchids of Cape Cod”.
Our Road Trip will be in June to Acushnet for visiting the Roseland Nursery, eating lunch at the Captain’s Place (select from sandwich/salad menu) and continuing on to the Allen C Haskell Public Gardens for a guided tour of the hosta collection.
My appreciation to the Committee for suggesting topics for our 2017-2018 year. Five, meetings are booked: September, “Hydrangeas” guided walk through Joyce Jenks garden. October, “Well Dressing” by Joy Shipp. January, view the Cape and Islands Orchid Society Show. February, “Drip Irrigation” with props by Ed Mulligan. March, “Bokashi – Complete Composting” by Emily Woodenberg. April, “Dahlias” by Helen McVeigh.
Annual Road Trip will be carpooling to the East Dennis Oyster Farm – date to be announced for best month, May at low tide.
Mary Ehbrecht, Chair
Hospitality
The Hospitality Committee contacts Club members who have signed up to provide a platter or floral arrangement for the refreshment table at monthly meetings.
This sign-up is conducted at the September meeting. Committee members help with set-up, tea & coffee service, and cleanup at the monthly meetings.
Mary Spurr, Chair
Membership
TOTAL MEMBERS-115
NEW MEMBERS
PAULA PHILLIPS MARY PREIKSZAS MARGERY KELLEY SUSAN ANDERSEN CLAIRE OLSEN CORINNE BISCARDI
RESIGNED
FRAN WHITNEY
DEATH
JUDY MC CLORY
NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
IRENE LANDENBERGER JEANNE SNOW MARGARET HUSZAR PATTI FAFF
MARGARET FLAHERTY IS STILL A MEMBER BUT HAS BEEN OUT WITH A LONG TERM ILLNESS.
Janet Snelley, Chair
Newsletter
“The Trumpet” newsletter is published each month and distributed to the membership at the regular meetings September-May. The newsletter covers activities organized by the club’s committees and any other pertinent information of interest to Club members. It can also be found on the Garden Club website. I took over this responsibility in October 2016.
Candy Vance, Chair
Program
A computer melt down caused our scheduled speaker to cancel one day before the September meeting! The Yarmouth Senior Center closed TWICE (due to ongoing renovations) which resulted in the rescheduling of two more speakers. After a bumpy start and two detours, we finished the year with a BANG, “The Little Black Dress” & the West Dennis Garden Club! Nearly finished with next year's roster of speakers. Committee will meet in late May.
Kiki Becker, Chair
Publicity
The publicity contact list was reorganized and updated with appropriate names and email addresses as well as preferred methods of contact.
Updated Garden Club activity information was submitted to the Barnstable Patriot for inclusion in Yarmouth Handbook for 2018.
With the help of Ed Mulligan and Ellen Philie, a full page informational Public Service Announcement was created. It ran in the Cape Cod Times in June.
Thank you letters were sent in October to those officials who granted us time to make a collection at the landfill.
Color flyers were printed at Winkler’s to advertise Home for the Holidays Flower Show and Christmas Boutique held in November at St. David’s Church.
An announcement seeking applicants for our scholarship program was submitted to all publications in January.
The banner for the Plant Sale was patched by Sign-O-Rama. Color flyers were printed at Winkler’s, and appropriate notices were submitted for print in all newspapers as well as radio and online bulletin boards. This included submission to Cape Cod Life and Cape Cod Magazine.
Cheryl Ryan, Chair
Remembrance
Appropriate cards were sent for ongoing concerns of members. A follow up was mailed if indicated. Eleven cards went out this year. Members were encouraged to convey information when and where so we could be supportive to one another.
Ruth Lund, Chair
Scholarship
The Committee met on April 24, 2017
We had received 9 candidates from DY and 6 from Cape Cod Tech, and one candidate currently in college.
We were very fortunate to have 16 great candidates apply and appreciate the collaborative effort of all the board along with the technical and PR efforts.
We reviewed all the applications and decided to award the $3000.00 Award divided between 2 candidates.
Cory Farrell Jr., Cape Cod Tech, $1500.
Kyle Campbell, Dennis Yarmouth, $1500
The $500 Toolship award to Joseph Ostrom
I will be contacting the schools and the Award recipients next week as I am recovering from surgery and will be away until May 1.
Claire Linnan, Chair
Telephone
Forty-two club members were called by the twelve committee members throughout the year.
Harriet Murphy, Chair
Ways and Means
We had three fundraising projects this year. The first, the annual collection at the Landfill was September 24th and 25th. The second was a flower show and boutique that was held at St. David's Episcopal Church on November 19. It was titled "Home for The Holidays" and was a very successful money maker along with our members’ boutique at November’s meeting. The third, our yearly Plant Sale is being held on May 20th at the Moose Family Lodge. Thanks to the entire Garden Club membership, our first year chairing this committee went very well.
Jan Brogan and Cookie Barry, Co-Chairs
Website
This year we have two significant improvements to our internet presence.
First, we have a new web site software platform, Weebly. It is cloud-based and, after a short learning curve, is easier to use than our previous software. Cost is about the same. The new platform interfaces with all hardware (laptops, tablets, smart phones, desktops) and operating systems (Windows and Apple). We now have a password-protected area on the web site so our members can view meeting minutes, complete Trumpets and other personal information.
Second, we now have a Facebook page. As we accumulate 'friends’ and 'likes' we believe this will become a powerful tool for internet advertising and for leading the public to our web site.
While web site traffic is difficult to characterize with precision, we are seeing approximately 30 visitors per month coming from search engines such as Google with search criteria such as 'Cape Cod garden clubs'.
Our Facebook page went live March 10 2017. As of April 4 we have 86 'views' .
Ed Mulligan, Chair
Respectfully Submitted,
Ruth Piscitelli, Recording Secretary
ANNUAL REPORTS
2016-2017
Our 2016 -2017 calendar year has been filled with wonderful events and some challenges as well. I need to thank all Officers, Chairpersons and Committee Members for working together with energy and positive attitudes to make the season thoroughly successful ~! WELL DONE to you all~! Monthly meeting programs were well received by members. Despite the fact that two presenters were unable to fulfill their commitments, and one meeting needed to be cancelled due to the Senior Center Ballroom’s floors being refinished, our team of Officers flexed their mental and physical muscles, and the production of each program went smoothly.
Highlights of the season included Anna Holmes, Floral Designer from Falmouth, a fabulous Flower Show in November, and renowned Bill Graham of Salem MA presenting his signature program THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS. Inasmuch as we are in our 45th year as a Garden Club, we celebrated with West Dennis Garden Club, which funded our Club's start-up with a $500 check. We chose to make the Bill Graham presentation a joint effort of the two clubs. It was wonderful to be able to share the work and the fun with our West Dennis Sisters~!
All our gardens continue to flourish, our Flower Show “Home for the Holidays” was a success, Horticultural Roundtable had interesting speakers, publicity has increased our presence in the community, our scholarships have been given out, we have been successful in the raising of funds, our website has been improved and another site added, in addition to the successful meeting of the goals of each committee.
Ellen Philie, President
Annual Meeting
At our first meeting, we decided to hold the Annual Meeting at the Riverway as it has worked well for our purposes in the past. We then met with the manager to discuss, table, space and time needs and our menu choices which were changed. This year we included a vegan/vegetarian choice. We printed up new reservation forms which were available at the March and April meetings. In May, we took care of the details such as tables needed at the entrance, for the raffle, seating for members, stickers for meal choices and other Garden Club business.
Jeanne McGrath, Chair
Civic Beautification
Buck Island continues to add to the beauty of Yarmouth through successive plantings of spring flowers, perennials, flowering trees and spectacular annuals. The roses seemed to lack water due to overhanging shrubs. This year we will improve the situation with hand watering. A redbud tree was donated by a nearby association in remembrance of a member.
The gardens at Forest and Old Townhouse greeted us last spring when 450 bulbs burst into a wave of yellow daffodils. Even better news was to see that most of the plantings survived their first winter. Greenspot replaced, free of charge, five small grasses and we added five additional blue stem grasses to fill in. The final addition to the design of the gardens was a stone bench purchased from Cape Wood Stone of Orleans. It was erected under one of the flowering trees to view all angles of the three triangular, natural, xeriscape gardens.
The Highbank, Parkside Gardens and George Davis Gardens were maintained by members last summer, but it was found that leaking hoses and the watering situation needed to be changed. Traffic around the gardens are a concern. Until a permanent watering system can be installed we are making a temporary change by installing timers with new hoses. The Town will install a new system, but we must find funding for the parts ($1,400} This May we will ask a Yarmouth group that has funds for tourism. It may be that we can only do one garden this year, others in time.
Our Post Office window boxes and tub and Senior Center garden continue to show the creative aspects that the Town has come to enjoy.
Thanks to all on the Committee for your diligent work and, at times, going above and beyond.
Carol Coverly and Mary Gates, Co-Chairs
Conservation
Our goal is to encourage protection of our natural resources, reduce waste, & create healthy, safe environments. We work toward that through education and various activities.
This past year Conservation did a Fall Clean Sweep picking up trash at Smugglers/Bass River Beach. We were joined by several eager & very helpful Cape Abilities participants; their Leader would like to continue participating in the future. Jill Talladay stopped by from Care For The Cape & Islands and indicated her group might join us next year. The CofC supplied necessary materials, coffee & donuts, & sends our results to a national data base.
Conservation Committee members met at my house to share ideas & decide on what specific issues they wanted to focus. We decided that sharing knowledge on these issues with our whole club would reap more benefits than just keeping the information in our committee. Committee members then chose which issue each would present at Club monthly meetings. We ended with a nice lunch.
"Conservation Moments" were then presented at most meetings to educate our club on environmental/conservation issues or current events, with a positive response from members.
Finally, Conservation had to cancel its usual Spring Tour this year due to learning quite late that members could be stung by bees during the Beekeeper's presentation.
Donna Hill, Chair
Corresponding Secretary
As Corresponding Secretary, thank-you notes were sent to all of this year’s Garden Club meeting speakers as well as all the Roundtable speakers. There were eighteen thank-you notes sent to those who made donations to our club in memory of Judy McClory. Several others were also thanked for their individual donations during the year.
Judy Tabb
Flower Show
We started the year by holding a "Winter Holiday" flower arranging class at St. David's Episcopal church in Yarmouth on October 17th that was well attended by our members.
Then on November 19th we hosted a Flower Show and Boutique, [the Ways and Means Committee was responsible for the latter], it was held in Nelson Hall at St. David’s. The show was titled "Home For The Holidays" and all the arrangements were related to either Thanksgiving or Christmas. There were 7 categories with 6 displays in each.
It proved to be very popular with our members and the general public that came to view it.
We were also responsible for finding members to make an arrangement for the podium at the monthly meetings.
At the Annual Luncheon on May 23rd we will make centerpieces for each dining table as well as the top table.
Joy Shipp and Vicki Balboni, Co-Chairs
Handbook
In June 2016, I brought the membership roster up to date. I also requested information for the handbook from the various standing committee chairmen.
I created a draft of the handbook and met with the committee in July to discuss the contents and also to select a cover from the many photos created for us by Don Loring, husband of member Charl Loring. I made the corrections and additions to the handbook and the committee met again for another review. Committee members proof read this copy and I had 175 copies printed at Winkir.
I printed and applied address labels and distributed handbooks to board members at the September board meeting. Members picked up their copy at both the September and October meeting. I mailed the 7 copies that were left.
The Handbook costs were:
$ 27.36 for proofs $522.60 for printing $12.99 for labels $6.23 for postage
Total cost: $579.18
Carol Ann Morris, Chair
Herb Garden
The Herb and Kitchen Gardens were opened up the end of April 2016. Compost was put down on all gardens and the watering schedule was set up. New plants were put in place that did not make it over the winter. All members fulfilled their responsibilities for watering and caring for the gardens over the summer. It was a very dry summer which required more diligence in maintaining the gardens. The gardens were closed the end of October.
Joan Huckins, Chair
Horticultural Roundtable
This year was very well received with an average of between 25 – 30 members attending. We encouraged everyone to save seed, garden supply and ornament catalogs.
September, “Lifelong Gardening” by Cherie Bryan. October, “Putting your Garden to Bed” by Clint Flagg. January, the Cape and Islands Orchid Society Show counted toward attendance. February, “Starting Seeds and Seed Catalog Exchange” with Linda Colgan. March, “Beneficial and Pest Insects of the Garden” with Larry Dapsis, Entomologist, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. April, “Native Orchids of Cape Cod”.
Our Road Trip will be in June to Acushnet for visiting the Roseland Nursery, eating lunch at the Captain’s Place (select from sandwich/salad menu) and continuing on to the Allen C Haskell Public Gardens for a guided tour of the hosta collection.
My appreciation to the Committee for suggesting topics for our 2017-2018 year. Five, meetings are booked: September, “Hydrangeas” guided walk through Joyce Jenks garden. October, “Well Dressing” by Joy Shipp. January, view the Cape and Islands Orchid Society Show. February, “Drip Irrigation” with props by Ed Mulligan. March, “Bokashi – Complete Composting” by Emily Woodenberg. April, “Dahlias” by Helen McVeigh.
Annual Road Trip will be carpooling to the East Dennis Oyster Farm – date to be announced for best month, May at low tide.
Mary Ehbrecht, Chair
Hospitality
The Hospitality Committee contacts Club members who have signed up to provide a platter or floral arrangement for the refreshment table at monthly meetings.
This sign-up is conducted at the September meeting. Committee members help with set-up, tea & coffee service, and cleanup at the monthly meetings.
Mary Spurr, Chair
Membership
TOTAL MEMBERS-115
NEW MEMBERS
PAULA PHILLIPS MARY PREIKSZAS MARGERY KELLEY SUSAN ANDERSEN CLAIRE OLSEN CORINNE BISCARDI
RESIGNED
FRAN WHITNEY
DEATH
JUDY MC CLORY
NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
IRENE LANDENBERGER JEANNE SNOW MARGARET HUSZAR PATTI FAFF
MARGARET FLAHERTY IS STILL A MEMBER BUT HAS BEEN OUT WITH A LONG TERM ILLNESS.
Janet Snelley, Chair
Newsletter
“The Trumpet” newsletter is published each month and distributed to the membership at the regular meetings September-May. The newsletter covers activities organized by the club’s committees and any other pertinent information of interest to Club members. It can also be found on the Garden Club website. I took over this responsibility in October 2016.
Candy Vance, Chair
Program
A computer melt down caused our scheduled speaker to cancel one day before the September meeting! The Yarmouth Senior Center closed TWICE (due to ongoing renovations) which resulted in the rescheduling of two more speakers. After a bumpy start and two detours, we finished the year with a BANG, “The Little Black Dress” & the West Dennis Garden Club! Nearly finished with next year's roster of speakers. Committee will meet in late May.
Kiki Becker, Chair
Publicity
The publicity contact list was reorganized and updated with appropriate names and email addresses as well as preferred methods of contact.
Updated Garden Club activity information was submitted to the Barnstable Patriot for inclusion in Yarmouth Handbook for 2018.
With the help of Ed Mulligan and Ellen Philie, a full page informational Public Service Announcement was created. It ran in the Cape Cod Times in June.
Thank you letters were sent in October to those officials who granted us time to make a collection at the landfill.
Color flyers were printed at Winkler’s to advertise Home for the Holidays Flower Show and Christmas Boutique held in November at St. David’s Church.
An announcement seeking applicants for our scholarship program was submitted to all publications in January.
The banner for the Plant Sale was patched by Sign-O-Rama. Color flyers were printed at Winkler’s, and appropriate notices were submitted for print in all newspapers as well as radio and online bulletin boards. This included submission to Cape Cod Life and Cape Cod Magazine.
Cheryl Ryan, Chair
Remembrance
Appropriate cards were sent for ongoing concerns of members. A follow up was mailed if indicated. Eleven cards went out this year. Members were encouraged to convey information when and where so we could be supportive to one another.
Ruth Lund, Chair
Scholarship
The Committee met on April 24, 2017
We had received 9 candidates from DY and 6 from Cape Cod Tech, and one candidate currently in college.
We were very fortunate to have 16 great candidates apply and appreciate the collaborative effort of all the board along with the technical and PR efforts.
We reviewed all the applications and decided to award the $3000.00 Award divided between 2 candidates.
Cory Farrell Jr., Cape Cod Tech, $1500.
Kyle Campbell, Dennis Yarmouth, $1500
The $500 Toolship award to Joseph Ostrom
I will be contacting the schools and the Award recipients next week as I am recovering from surgery and will be away until May 1.
Claire Linnan, Chair
Telephone
Forty-two club members were called by the twelve committee members throughout the year.
Harriet Murphy, Chair
Ways and Means
We had three fundraising projects this year. The first, the annual collection at the Landfill was September 24th and 25th. The second was a flower show and boutique that was held at St. David's Episcopal Church on November 19. It was titled "Home for The Holidays" and was a very successful money maker along with our members’ boutique at November’s meeting. The third, our yearly Plant Sale is being held on May 20th at the Moose Family Lodge. Thanks to the entire Garden Club membership, our first year chairing this committee went very well.
Jan Brogan and Cookie Barry, Co-Chairs
Website
This year we have two significant improvements to our internet presence.
First, we have a new web site software platform, Weebly. It is cloud-based and, after a short learning curve, is easier to use than our previous software. Cost is about the same. The new platform interfaces with all hardware (laptops, tablets, smart phones, desktops) and operating systems (Windows and Apple). We now have a password-protected area on the web site so our members can view meeting minutes, complete Trumpets and other personal information.
Second, we now have a Facebook page. As we accumulate 'friends’ and 'likes' we believe this will become a powerful tool for internet advertising and for leading the public to our web site.
While web site traffic is difficult to characterize with precision, we are seeing approximately 30 visitors per month coming from search engines such as Google with search criteria such as 'Cape Cod garden clubs'.
Our Facebook page went live March 10 2017. As of April 4 we have 86 'views' .
Ed Mulligan, Chair
Respectfully Submitted,
Ruth Piscitelli, Recording Secretary