Meeting was brought to order at 11:25 a.m. by Karen Neilan, President
Attendance: 41 active members, 2 lifetime members, 2 privileged members, 3 guests
Officer’s Reports
President – Karen Neilan
- Karen thanked Pam Atkins for making the lovely centerpieces. She thanked Pam and Rod Atkins for donating the wine and acknowledged them for serving the wine along with Richard and Jane Bucklin.
- Karen recognized Pam Atkins for representing our club with a beautiful display, “Blooms with a View” at the Florence Griswold Museum.
- Karen announced every president wants to leave a legacy behind. She assumed hers would be policies and procedures, however, it turned out to be the Penny Pines Program. In exceeding our goal, our club had the opportunity to recognize eight honorees to include: Rosina Longo’s 100th birthday, TRGC Deceased Members, TRGC Membership, TRGC 70th Anniversary, TRGC Past Presidents, TRGC 2022-2024 Executive Committee, TRGC 70th Anniversary Planning Committee, and Vonice Carr.
- A tribute award was presented to Vonice Carr for her TRGC and FGCCT accomplishments.
- Karen welcomed the following guests: Karin Pyskaty, President of the FGCCT, Kayla Mullen’s husband, Ned, and Margie Sydney’s mother, Fran.
Vice President – Val Haagensen – Excused
● Karen acknowledged Val for doing a great job as membership chairperson.
Treasurer- Elaine Lombardi.
- Elaine asked for a motion to accept the budget as presented. Phyllis Teeson made the motion and Richard Bucklin seconded. Motion carried.
- Elaine asked for a motion to accept the philanthropy list as presented. Joan Treadow made the motion and Brenda Kramer seconded. Motion carried.
- Karen gave a shout out to Elaine. She thanked Elaine and Assistant Treasurer, Joan Treadow, for a job well.
Recording Secretary – Pam Atkins
- Karen thanked Pam for doing a good job throughout her term.
Corresponding Secretary- Laurie Markowicz
- Karen thanked Lori for a job well done. Lori read a thank you from the Ella Grasso Scholarship recipient.
Karen acknowledged the 2022-2024 Executive Board, Executive Committee, and all committee members.
President’s Closing Remarks:
● Karen was honored to serve as our President. Her mantra was creativity to include the following: (2022) Be Creative and Let Your Ideas Grow Wild; (2023) The Creativity You Plant Today Shall Blossom Tomorrow; (2024) Blooms Bloom and More Blooms. She encouraged members to continue being creative and putting their green thumbs to use because possibilities will emerge as we dig deeper. Karen presented each member with a yellow rose and a purple alstroemeria to signify that creativity will cultivate and beautify every opportunity that blossoms in the artistic garden of innovation. Karen acknowledged that her thumb is greener today because of how much she learned from everyone. She thanked the membership for the opportunity to serve as President.
● Karin Pyskaty, President of the FGCCT, presented Karen with a Presidential Citation for organizing the first-round table meeting in Waterford this year. Karin Pyskaty presided over the TRGC 2024-2026 Installation of Officers.
Meeting adjourned at 12:30 pm, Respectively submitted, Pamela Atkins, Recording Secretary