Evergreen Garden Club
Minutes of September17, 2024 Meeting
Tour of Tudor Place House and Garden
Attendees: Jean Barquin, Julia Bellinger, Carol Cramer, Winkie Crigler and guest (Ann Reid), Jane DeCell, Amy Dewey, Doris Dixon and guest (Chris Pulford), Fossy Fenwick, Nancy Gorman, Diana Luka-Hopson, Sara Maner, Colet Mitchell, Laurene Sherlock, Ellen Thrasher, Susan Vanderver and guest (Katherine Richter), Ann Williams.
Thank you to Doris Dixon for arranging this wonderful tour and keeping the rain away.
Approval of Minutes from May meeting: A motion to approve the minutes of May 2024 meeting at Rosa Wallace’s home in Fauquier County, VA was made by Doris Dixon, seconded by Ellen Thrasher, and passed unanimously.
Membership: Membership: will again be chaired by Xenia Wilkinson; Cathy Farrell will serve with her. There is space for up to six new Active members. So far, Xenia has received 2 complete nomination packages proposing Ann Reid and Sarah Vilms. October 1 is the deadline for submission of nomination proposals and two supporting letters of club members. All candidates will be presented at the October meeting and voting will take place at the November meeting. Winkie encouraged members to “think young” and nominate younger members to maintain a robust organization.
Volunteers Needed: Winkie announced that volunteers are needed for the following:
· Host for March 18 2025 meeting - a slide show presentation by Elizabeth Doyle, owner of the Yankee Clippers. Contact Donna Roberts if you can open your home.
· Nominating Committee - an opportunity to nominate officers for 2025-26 who will shape the direction and programs of our club.
· Philanthropy Committee - currently two members, Mary Jane Glass and Ellen Thrasher. One more member will be added to the committee to provide new potential community engagement.
Website: Kudos to Jane Dana and Cathy Farrell who have spent countless hours Spring and Summer working with our web designer Meredith Cooley to give us an exceptional new website! Basically, posted items on the website will automatically send members a notice of a new item and a link. Learn more at the October meeting when Jane and Cathy will provide an overview tutorial including Q&A. Reminder: the website name and password are printed on page 2 of the pink EGC directory and it is www.evergreengc.org and the password is Forevergreen.
Treasurer’s Report: Dues of $150 (payable to Evergreen Garden club) are due to Susie Taylor by October 31.
The 2023-2024 budget assumed a year end balance of $4202.93. The actual year end balance was $5360.60. This is primarily due to greater than anticipated membership. In addition to cash, the club received two generous donations, a projector valued at $484 (Jane Dana and Cathy Farrell) and monthly website expenses valued at $343.44 (Jane Dana), thus reducing our expenses accordingly.
The 2024-2025 Budget assumes 39 Active members at the start of the year and 2 Active members joining In November at the reduced rate of $100; 9 Associate members and 1 absentee member. Expenses are up due to our investment in the new website. Historically, we have maintained a year end balance of $5,000 in accordance with best practices. President Winkie Crigler recommended reducing the 2025 philanthropic gifts to $4,000. Throughout the year, there will be a discussion about a further reduction in gifts over the next few years in anticipation of the club’s 75th Anniversary.
A motion to approve the budget was made by Carol Cramer and seconded by Doris Dixon; the motion passed unanimously.
Tregaron: - Colet Mitchell will again act as liaison. Volunteers include Colet, Winkie Crigler, Jane Dana, Cathy Farrell, Mary Jane Glass, Sara Maner, Anne Snodgrass, Susie Taylor, Susan Vanderver, Ellen Thrasher, and Jane DeCell. Colet will reach out to this group with dates and times.
Forest walk in Rock Creek Park: Rock Creek Conservancy, one of our philanthropy recipients, has offered a guided forest walk to our members in the Normanstone area of the Park on Friday, September 27 at 9am. Please contact Mary Jane Glass if you are interested.
October meeting: Tuesday, October 15,2024 at Susie Taylor’s home. Kathy Jentz, author of “Ground Cover Revolution,“ host of GardenDC podcast, and Publisher of “Washington Gardener Magazine” will be the guest speaker.
A motion to adjourn was duly made and seconded and unanimously passed.
