The Garden Club of the Sandhills

When the world wearies and society fails to satisfy,

There is always the garden

Minnie Aumonier

                                                                                                                                                                September, 2011

Dear Members:

I hope you are all enjoying these last days of summer!  Our first meeting of the 2011/2012 year will take place on Wednesday, September 14^th at the home of Hartley Fitts who has arranged for us to tour “The Gardens on 7.”  Wear comfortable shoes!   Our Corresponding Secretary, Marilyn Grube will be sending out invitations shortly.  Please note that we will continue to use e-mail as our main communication method.

At our last meeting in May, members voted to return to a 10am commencement time for “Coffee and Conversation,” with the program to start at 10:30.  Any variations from this schedule are noted in the Membership Directory which will be distributed at the meeting.    With several changes in membership and the addition of e-mail addresses, the corrections to this year’s directory were substantial.    In an effort to reduce costs and assure accuracy, Marilyn input the entire document so that we were able to present clean copy for the printer to reproduce.    Our goals were realized.  Thank you Marilyn!

As an organization we have supported several area projects that have brought an appreciation of horticulture and the beauty of plants and flowers to North Carolina and our local community.   Perhaps our most important effort is the scholarship we provide for a deserving student in the horticulture program at Sandhills Community College   (our winner this year is the wife of a Fort Bragg soldier  who has been deployed multiple times to Afghanistan, a  mother of 4 young children and a breast cancer survivor).   Your participation in our fundraising is critical to accomplishing these goals.    Our second annual no fuss, send your check, fun fundraising party “Blooming Bingo” will take place on Thursday, December 8^th  (please note the  change of date from the Directory listing) at Weymouth.  More details will follow!

As we celebrate the 45^th year of our formation, we must recognize that our continued vitality is based on the time, energy and willingness of our membership to participate in our programs and work to accomplish objectives.     We have five membership openings.   Please give thoughtful consideration to sponsoring  a candidate that you know will share an interest in gardening, learning and doing what is necessary to achieve our goals in a fun filled environment.    You may obtain a membership application from me.  Our October meeting is “open”—a wonderful time to invite a guest who may want to consider membership and learn what we are all about.

My thanks to all of you who have been working diligently to make the coming year a success.  I look forward to seeing  you on September 14^th!

Sincerely,

Thea Pitassy

President

Check out the new Community Events tab for updated info on gardening events going on in the Sandhills.

Also, don’t get behind – here are some tips to help with your seasonal pruning:

Dear Members,

Hello to everyone!  In just a few short weeks we will be resuming our garden club activities.  I am grateful to our Executive Board, Cynthia Eckard, First VP; Ann-Boyd Newman, Second VP; Helen Von Salzen, Recording Secretary; Anna Smith, Corresponding Secretary; Mary Jane Knight, Treasurer and Julia Mattingly, Assistant Treasurer, for their willingness to serve.  I am also grateful to those of you who have agreed to act as committee chairpersons: Archives, Tris Fearon; Bylaws, Virgina Swayne and Anne Howell; Club Programs, Cynthia Eckerd and Ann-Boyd Newman; Envoirnment, Alison Halbert; Horticulture, Marilyn Grube; Hospitality, Ann-Boyd Newman; Membership and Orientation, Jane Lewis; New Projects, Meredith Clifton; Publicity, Peggy Sarvis; Sandhills Garden Council Representative, Mary Jane Knight; Scholarship and Endowment Fund, Mary Jane Knight; Ways & Means, Cav Peterson and Nancy Smith; and Yearbook, Alice Robbins.

Many of you are already substantially involved in your responsibilities.  Cynthia and Ann-Boyd have arranged new and exciting presentations and are finalizing plans for two outings.  Our yearbook is expected to be ready for distribution at our first meeting, thanks to Alice’s diligence.  Your response to Cav and Nancy’s proposal for a “Pay and Play” fundraiser has received enthusiastic support from an overwhelming majority of members.  They are proceeding with plans for this lighthearted event.  Details will be available for distribution at our September meeting.  We are well underway!!!

The success of any organization depends on its ability to effectively communicate with its membership.  The U.S. Postal Service is operating at a significant deficit and has again proposed a rate increase.  After discussion with our Corresponding Secretary Anna Smith, and recognizing that the vast majority of active members have internet accounts, it has been decided that we will use email as our preferred method of communication.  Anna will be sending an email announcement two weeks prior to any meeting date.  A flash reminder will be sent on Monday prior to the meeting.  Those active members who do not have internet connections will continue to receive notices through postal mail.  I am enclosing the most recent list of email addresses for your use.  Please advise Anna of any changes.

In past years, monthly meeting notices have been sent by postal mail to Associate Members, though the objective of associate membership is to be free of requirement to attend meetings.  In lieu of these monthly reminders, I am enclosing, for Associate Members, our yearly schedule which also includes program topics and meeting venues.  We are always delighted to have Associates participate in our programs and activities and Nancy Howe, a member since 1986 and Anna Smith have agreed to serve as liaisons to Assocites to provide information and answer any questions.  If you have an email account, please advise Anna so that you can be included on the email list.

Enjoy the last days of summer!  I hope to see you all at our first meeting on September 8th.

Sincerely,

Thea Pitassy