TRGC Meeting Minutes, January 18, 2024
Meeting was brought to order at 11:58 p.m. by Karen Neilan, President
Attendance: 36 active members, 18 excused members
Officer’s Reports
President – Karen Neilan
- Karen proposed a toast to 2023, a wonderful year past and to 2024, a great year ahead. We toasted with sparkling water and fresh raspberries. She recapped the prior year thanking all the committees for their dedication and hard work. She mentioned the honorees at the FGCCT awards luncheon. We welcomed 5 new members this past year. She also acknowledged the new lifetime honorees, Sandy Kelly and Christine Crawford. The Penny Pines project is coming along nicely. We have made (4) $68 donations to include the following: in memory of our deceased members, in honor of our membership, in honor of our 70th anniversary and in honor Rosina Longo’s 100th birthday.
- The November 7, 2023 meeting minutes were approved with no corrections.
- Karen was in the process of submitting our yearbook to the FGCCT awards committee. It was then she was informed the yearbook would not be eligible for an award because the activities that correspond with our theme had to be listed in the current yearbook.
- Karen thanked Rod Atkins and Richard Bucklin of the audio and visual committee for doing a great job.
- Karen thanked hospitality team members Ruth Hammill, Mary Ellen Hagen, Barbara Mingo, and Phyllis Teeson for preparing our delicious lunch.
Vice-President – Val Haagensen
- Val stated the white pages in the yearbook will be reprinted each year whereas the green pages which are the bylaws, and the yellow pages which are the policies and procedures, will not be reprinted unless they are revised.
- A membership application for Carolyn A Koziatek, a former beekeeper who has taken part in state fairs, was presented. A motion to accept the application was approved.
- Additional copies of the bylaws are available for new members yearbooks.
Treasurer- Elaine Lombardi
- Report was distributed via email
Recording Secretary- Pam Atkins
- No report
Corresponding Secretary- Laurie Markowicz
- No report
Committee Reports
- Audio/Visual – Rod Atkins reported on the attached report.
- Audit – Karen reported that we received the financial review from Joe Anderson. He reported everything was in order. Karen thanked Elaine Lombardi for doing such a thorough job.
- Constitution and Bylaws – No report
- Civic- No report
- Environmental & Conservation – Ivy Plis reported to be aware that cold weather brings dryness to our homes. This also affects our plants. Humidifiers can help. She encouraged putting all the plants together.
- Therapy Gardens York Prison – Peggy Schepp reported they are propagating spider plants. She would like to bring them to the plant sale as a giveaway. On behalf of the committee, Peggy requested to change the monthly meeting time back to 11:30 am. Since this committee volunteers at the prison on Thursday mornings, it’s very difficult for them to get to the meeting at 11:00 am. Karen will present the request to the Executive Board and report back to the membership.
- Therapy Gardens Nursing Home – No report
- Historian- Brenda Kramer reported on the attached report.
- Horticulture – Margie Sydney and Kayla Mullen presented in Vonice Carr’s absence. Members were asked to bring the plants they took from cuttings last fall. Everett and Margie brought their plants. Other members had success but didn’t bring them to this meeting. Margie discussed the different ways to propagate to include using water or just putting the cutting directly into the soil. She brought tip sheets about caring for houseplants and discussed putting a horticultural entry in the February flower show, which can be submitted online.
- Hospitality- Jill Johnson announced that it is the responsibility of all hospitality team members to follow the guidelines set forth in the policies and procedures if unable to serve on their scheduled date. Team members are responsible for finding a substitute and notifying the hospitality chair. If a team member cannot find a substitute, they should notify the hospitality chair who will refer to the sub list. Jill will be passing around a sign-up sheet next month for the following year.
- Plant Sale- Maria Zalegowski asked members to gather some items together for the white elephant table. She also asked for volunteers to chair the bake sale at the plant sale.
- Program – Pam Atkins announced the new committee members. Becky Starrett, Kathy Pavelcak, Brenda Kramer, Elaine Lombardi, and Shoshanna Weiss. Becky and Kathy are co-chairs of the committee. Pam explained how the programs come together. She encouraged the membership to contact the committee with ideas. Pam went through the 2023-2024 speakers. She also asked for members to join the committee.
- Sunshine- No report
- Social Media- Margie Sydney reported changing our page to a private group to help eliminate some of the unwanted information that comes through. We are still encouraging people to join our Facebook page.
- Ways and Means- Margie Sydney announced that new members may want to buy aprons for the plant sale.
- Website-No report
- Workshops – Brenda Kramer reported there will be a workshop on March 28 at 1:00 pm. Tea and cookies will be served and members are asked to bring tidbits of info to share
● Yearbook – No report
Upcoming Events:
- TRGC Annual Meeting, Installation of Officers, and 70th Anniversary Celebration Enders Island- June 20, 2024, Karen, Pam, Val, and Brenda, will get together to go through the history.
- FGCCT Annual Flower Show, February 22-25, 2024
Tickets are available at a reduced rate through February 1. Karen will send a link to the membership to purchase tickets.
- FGCCT Annual Meeting – Aqua Turf – April 17, 2024
Announcements:
Phyllis Teeson announced Lynn Ruenzel had a bad fall and is in the hospital.
Elaine asked members to update their information so she can forward it to Federation.
Meeting adjourned 1:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela Atkins, Recording Secretary