Great Island Garden Club
General Meeting Minutes
September 7, 2022
Approval of Minutes from Annual Meeting (June 7, 2022)
With a motion from Astrid Weeder and seconded by Jane Page, the 6/7/22 minutes were unanimously approved.
President’s Remarks
Reports of Officers and Committees
New Business
Susan Gough asked for help cleaning up the gardens at the Rec Center at 10am on September 8 followed by social time at the Green Bean.
Adjournment
Following a motion from Glicka Kaplan, a second by Brenda Scolaro, and a unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at 10:10am. Kathy Mathews then introduced Margery Winters who spoke on Plant Communication “Lets Listen In”.
October 11, 2022
No business meeting held. Meeting was open to the public at the Church
November General Meeting Minutes
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022
Approval of Minutes from Meeting on Sept. 7, 2022
Irene Bush motioned to accept the minutes from the September 7, 2022 meeting as written. Judy Hajjar seconded and the motion was unanimously approved.
Reports of Officers & Committees
• President's Remarks
a. Barbara collected checks for the Holiday Luncheon for those who had them.
b. The Church Guild is seeking volunteers to decorate wreaths at the Parish Hall from Nov 29 to Dec 2 from any time between 9 am to 3 pm.
• Corresponding Secretary’s Report - Kathy Mathews
a. Kathy sent a plant to Judy Hajjar and her husband with our get well wishes.
1. Civic – Biggie George
a. Fall plantings are done with the help of Biggie’s Co-chair, Brenda Reynolds. New Civic Organization – Barbara Moore
b. Barbara discussed a 2-pronged approach for streamlining civic garden
responsibilities to avoid overworking and under-volunteering. Part 1, Smarter Gardening, will include hiring outside mulch services, using Preen to reduce weeds, adding polymeric crystals to soil to aid in water retention, and using drought-tolerant plants, where appropriate. Part 2 is to appoint a Civic Garden Coordinator to oversee scheduling in all gardens and coordinate with individual garden heads. A volunteer is sought to become Civic Committee Chair.
2. Hospitality – Astrid Weeder
a. Astrid needs one hospitality volunteer for each of the March, April, and June 2023 meetings.
3. Membership–MaryBriggs
Mary Briggs welcomed new member Catherine Eames. Mary said 17 guests attended the October 11 Natives program. She and Linda Patchett are following up with all to determine interest in joining the club. Current club membership is 62, yet less than half (~45%) attend monthly programs. Mary and Linda created a colorful trifold membership brochure describing the club's mission, what we do, how we give back to the community, and how to join. Brochures will be distributed at various events or programs as appropriate.
4. Programs–Allison Stebbins
a. HolidayLuncheon: Tuesday, Dec13. Checks payable to GIGC for $36 can be given or mailed to Bonnie Brown (PO Box 903, New Castle, NH 03854).
Bonnie would like all checks by Dec. 2.
a. No report; With the club's approval to open remaining club meetings to town residents, Diane noted that Publicity will be needed and will use email distribution lists and poster placement around town rather than expensive postcard mailings. The January 2023 meeting will be in the Macomber Room as the Meeting Venue issue (above) is tabled for further discussion.
By-Law Changes – Julie Thomas
a. Julie reviewed club By-Law revisions that have been in the works for a long time and widely circulated to the membership for review. These modifications bring current written by-laws into alignment with actual practices. She highlighted changes such as having the Treasurer collect dues, having the Vice President oversee all fundraising efforts, and having the Nominating Committee nominate half of the slate of Officers in odd years and half in even years to promote continuity of knowledge of the Board of Directors. Alison Stebbins motioned to accept the By-Law revisions as recommended. Diane Coniglio seconded and it was approved.
New Business: Nothing noted
Adjournment
Claudia Wilbur motioned to adjourn that was seconded by Julie Thomas and approved.
Submitted by Diane Coniglio November 1, 2022
Great Island Garden Club
December 13, 2022
Holiday Luncheon Wentworth County Club
No Business Meeting
General Meeting Minutes
September 7, 2022
Approval of Minutes from Annual Meeting (June 7, 2022)
With a motion from Astrid Weeder and seconded by Jane Page, the 6/7/22 minutes were unanimously approved.
President’s Remarks
- Barbara thanked the following groups:
- the Church for quickly and generously responding to allow us to meet in the Parish Hall when the Macomber Room was suddenly unavailable
- the organizers of the Cocktail Party at PYC on August 29
- the Membership for caring for the many gardens and planters in the community.
- The Board is discussing ways to alleviate the hard work of caring for the many gardens in town. They plan to hire someone to apply Preen and mulch in spring, use polymeric crystals in containers to save water and time, and will encourage the heads of each garden to select drought tolerant plants.
- The membership directory is online in printable form. Julie provided copies for those who do not have access to a printer.
- Biggie circulated a watering schedule for Town Hall and Post Office.
- Astrid circulated a sign up for hospitality at future meetings.
Reports of Officers and Committees
- Treasurer’s Report - Jane Page
- Beginning Checking Balance: $18,208
- Total Income: $839
- Total Expenditures: $6,279
- Ending Checking Balance: $23,768
- Money Market: $18,044
- Total funds $30,812
- Corresponding Secretary’s Report - Kathy Mathews
- Committee Reports
- Civic – Biggie George
- Hospitality – Astrid Weeder
- Membership – Mary Briggs and Linda Patchett
- Programs –Allison Stebbins
- Publicity – Diane Coniglio
- Website – Pat Wilson, Wendy Tauber
- Garden Tour Committee - Glicka Kaplan, Claudia Wilbur
- “The Secret’s Out” will be the tagline for the GIGC Garden Tour, June 17, 2023.
- Glicka listed the Garden Tour committees and reminded us that participation by all members will be needed to make this huge undertaking a success. The committees include Logistics, Ticket Oversight, Program Materials, PR, Town Liaison, Sponsors, Volunteers, Merchandise/Logo.
- The Tour will start at the Town Landing, follow Walbach to Piscataqua and up Atkinson St, ending with several houses on Main Street. There are 10-11 houses concentrated in the historic district.
New Business
Susan Gough asked for help cleaning up the gardens at the Rec Center at 10am on September 8 followed by social time at the Green Bean.
Adjournment
Following a motion from Glicka Kaplan, a second by Brenda Scolaro, and a unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at 10:10am. Kathy Mathews then introduced Margery Winters who spoke on Plant Communication “Lets Listen In”.
October 11, 2022
No business meeting held. Meeting was open to the public at the Church
November General Meeting Minutes
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022
Approval of Minutes from Meeting on Sept. 7, 2022
Irene Bush motioned to accept the minutes from the September 7, 2022 meeting as written. Judy Hajjar seconded and the motion was unanimously approved.
Reports of Officers & Committees
• President's Remarks
a. Barbara collected checks for the Holiday Luncheon for those who had them.
b. The Church Guild is seeking volunteers to decorate wreaths at the Parish Hall from Nov 29 to Dec 2 from any time between 9 am to 3 pm.
• Corresponding Secretary’s Report - Kathy Mathews
a. Kathy sent a plant to Judy Hajjar and her husband with our get well wishes.
1. Civic – Biggie George
a. Fall plantings are done with the help of Biggie’s Co-chair, Brenda Reynolds. New Civic Organization – Barbara Moore
b. Barbara discussed a 2-pronged approach for streamlining civic garden
responsibilities to avoid overworking and under-volunteering. Part 1, Smarter Gardening, will include hiring outside mulch services, using Preen to reduce weeds, adding polymeric crystals to soil to aid in water retention, and using drought-tolerant plants, where appropriate. Part 2 is to appoint a Civic Garden Coordinator to oversee scheduling in all gardens and coordinate with individual garden heads. A volunteer is sought to become Civic Committee Chair.
2. Hospitality – Astrid Weeder
a. Astrid needs one hospitality volunteer for each of the March, April, and June 2023 meetings.
3. Membership–MaryBriggs
Mary Briggs welcomed new member Catherine Eames. Mary said 17 guests attended the October 11 Natives program. She and Linda Patchett are following up with all to determine interest in joining the club. Current club membership is 62, yet less than half (~45%) attend monthly programs. Mary and Linda created a colorful trifold membership brochure describing the club's mission, what we do, how we give back to the community, and how to join. Brochures will be distributed at various events or programs as appropriate.
4. Programs–Allison Stebbins
a. HolidayLuncheon: Tuesday, Dec13. Checks payable to GIGC for $36 can be given or mailed to Bonnie Brown (PO Box 903, New Castle, NH 03854).
Bonnie would like all checks by Dec. 2.
- Meeting Venue: After two club events were successfully held at the Parish
Hall, Alison raised the idea of using the site for all future garden club meetings. This would help foster a partnership with the church and solidify the space as a true community center. The Church Board agreed to let us use their coffee equipment, to store items there, and to not charge a fee, as we are a nonprofit organization. Alison suggested we could make a nominal monetary donation as a thank you whenever we do use the space. Pros and cons were discussed. A few members were concerned about a lack of parking downtown as compared to the library. Jane Finn said the church parking lot is used by town employees on weekdays, further limiting availability for parking for our daytime programs. Others noted that Parish Hall is more accessible (ramp) whereas the Library has many stairs and an elevator that may be limiting some members. No vote was taken; this issue is tabled until the January 2023 meeting when hopefully more members will be in attendance. - Open Meetings to Public: Alison favors inviting town residents to all educational programs, rather than just one a year, to promote the club and hopefully increase membership. Jane Finn motioned to invite New Castle town residents to the four remaining 2022-2023 meetings and reassess response over the summer. Glicka Kaplan seconded and the motion was approved.
a. No report; With the club's approval to open remaining club meetings to town residents, Diane noted that Publicity will be needed and will use email distribution lists and poster placement around town rather than expensive postcard mailings. The January 2023 meeting will be in the Macomber Room as the Meeting Venue issue (above) is tabled for further discussion.
- Website – No report as Pat Wilson and Wendy Tauber were not able to be present.
Biggie George noted an omission in the recently printed member list (Bonnie Brown). Barbara will follow up with the Website committee to have the list edited and reprinted.
\ - Garden Tour Committee - Glicka Kaplan, Claudia Wilbur Glicka announced the Secret Gardens of New Castle Tour schedule as Friday, June 16 from 5-7:30 pm and Saturday June 17 from 10 am-3 pm. She implored all members to save these dates. Glicka said the Tour Committee is very busy working on logistics, logo, publicity, program materials, and much more. Claudia said many volunteers will be needed to ensure the tour's success.
By-Law Changes – Julie Thomas
a. Julie reviewed club By-Law revisions that have been in the works for a long time and widely circulated to the membership for review. These modifications bring current written by-laws into alignment with actual practices. She highlighted changes such as having the Treasurer collect dues, having the Vice President oversee all fundraising efforts, and having the Nominating Committee nominate half of the slate of Officers in odd years and half in even years to promote continuity of knowledge of the Board of Directors. Alison Stebbins motioned to accept the By-Law revisions as recommended. Diane Coniglio seconded and it was approved.
New Business: Nothing noted
Adjournment
Claudia Wilbur motioned to adjourn that was seconded by Julie Thomas and approved.
Submitted by Diane Coniglio November 1, 2022
Great Island Garden Club
December 13, 2022
Holiday Luncheon Wentworth County Club
No Business Meeting