Though Town & Country has kept a low profile here on the blog this year, the club has been busy as ever. We hope this round-up report will bring our sister-club members up to date on our activities during the year.
Under President Bonnie McKinney this year’s meetings have been varied and informative, beginning with a September kickoff business and housekeeping meeting at Hill House. October’s meeting at the home of Marty Warburton included a visit from Steve Vacendak from NC Beautiful, thanking the club for the scholarships that have provided teachers’ “Windows of Opportunity” grants to develop classroom enrichment in environmental education. Juline Chevalier, Curator for Education at the Nasher Museum, spoke to the club about the fascinating process of mounting exhibits at the Nasher.
November’s meeting was Town & Country’s annual Luncheon and Auction, chaired by Barbara Collie and Carol Garbutt, and Auctioneer Barbara worked her magic once again, with the proceeds closely approaching last year’s record-setting total. December brought the Holiday Luncheon, held like November’s auction at Hope Valley Country Club, where the members enjoyed celebrating together the season and the auction’s success .
January saw a possible First in the annals of Town & Country: a cancelled meeting! We all remember that weather too well! February’s meeting was held at Witherspoon Rose Culture, where David Pike gave an excellent program about the history of Witherspoon and about their culture of new varieties. The club voted to support two teachers’ grants through NC Beautiful and to lend financial support to the Briggs Avenue Garden in Durham.
March saw the club meet at The Forest at Duke, where Julia Matson of The Animal Conservation Center presented a fascinating program about the fauna that go with our region's flora. April’s meeting will take place at the UNC Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill, where the club will learn about “Conservation Gardening.” The year’s activities will conclude with the May Annual Social and Dinner, a gala evening that includes spouses and that will this year be held at Hill House.
