Saturday, September 10, 2011

Letter from Judy Barnes, President of GCNC


“Make a Difference”


Gardeners
                        I woke up this morning to weather that was actually cool feeling!  What a joy.  Maybe I will actually feel like getting out in the yard-------then again maybe not!  The Garden Club year is up and running and I am already playing catch up.  My own club meets tomorrow and it is a covered dish and I have no idea what I am going to take.  This is when the deli at the grocery is wonderful.  Busy September has already started and an October filled with travel is on the horizon.  One of my joys is visiting all the districts and reconnecting with all my garden friends across North Carolina.  I look forward to seeing you all at the Fall Board and in your Districts.
                        Judy Barnes   

GCNC Website
            The site is looking good!  Lynne Mabry is doing a wonderful job working with our web designer and I am anxiously awaiting it going live before the Fall Board Meeting. 
            Thank you Lynne Mabry for all the hard work and time you have put into this project.

NC Gardener
            Those of you who receive the Gardener should have them in hand by now.  There will be extras for sale at the Fall Board Meeting.
            Thank you Gail Hill for a great Gardener.

ERRORS—No matter how hard one tries,  typos happen, addresses change (especially email) and something is left out.  Please contact me so that I can include corrections in the next newsletter, which I will do in November.  And I will send out a corrections email blast in October.
Corrections— So far!
Page 5, Sarah Johns, Elizabethan Gardens, email should be johnsobx@centurylink.net.  The u was left out of century.
Page 6, Ann Payne, Engagement Calendars, email should be annpayne2@windstream.net.  The 2 was left out.
Page 10, District 1 Director email is fractal42@aol.com.  L left out.

Fall Board Meeting, September 18-19 in Wilmington
            Registrations are in for the Fall Board meeting and we expect a very good attendance.  If you did not get yours in please contact Jenene Smith (910-799-0839) for information. 
Check out the Workshops that are being held:  Youth Awards, Senior Awards, and Non-Profit Status. And don’t forget the ever popular President’s Social by the pool at 5:15.
                       
Flower Show Schools Symposium
            The 45th North Carolina Flower Show Symposium will be held October 23-25 at the North Raleigh Hilton.  Full course cost is $150.00 (includes Sunday dinner).  Monday only (Horticulture) is $70.00.  Tuesday only (design) is $80.00.  Monday and Tuesday include lunch.   The symposium is open to all not just flower show judges.  It is a wonderful opportunity to learn about horticulture and/or design from National Garden Club Instructors.  Contact Jinny Marino for information and/or a registration form. 919-969-0022.

Engagement Calendars
            Send your order to Ann Payne, 156 Southwood Park Rd., Mooresville, NC 28117.  The calendars are $8.00 each and the profit goes to GCNC’s scholarship fund.  This is the only money making project that goes to Scholarship.  You can pick up the calendars at the Fall Board Meeting or they will be brought to the District Meeting.

“Hours not Minutes”
            I attended a Parliamentary Procedure workshop at the National Meeting in D.C. in May.  It was titled “Hours not Minutes” and covered everything that should, and should not, be included in your minutes.  There were some surprises there for me!
 I have brought back the handout and have run off copies to hand out in Wilmington.  It will help you to streamline the minutes for your club so that you are not spending time that should be devoted to programs and learning on hearing who wore what and what was served.  I have sat through the reading of pages of minutes that took waaaay too much time away from what I was there for.  However, some clubs like to have a diary of what happened and that is ok too.  Whatever fits your club’s style.


Elizabethan Gardens
            Our thoughts were with the Gardens during the recent hurricane.  I am pleased to report that there was no major damage to the property.  But lots of clean up by staff and volunteers was needed.  Unfortunately revenue was lost due to the Gardens being closed during a very busy time of year.  As with the Daniel Boone Gardens and the Martha Franck Fragrance Garden money is always an issue.  Please remember our Gardens when your club is deciding where to send donations.  All donations to these gardens should go through the office in Raleigh so that your club will get credit for their generosity.

Memorials—If a member of your garden club dies during the year please remember to notify our Memorials/Chaplain, Faye Canupp, so they can be remembered at our Annual Meeting in April.  Do not assume someone else will let GCNC know.  Someone asked me why I did not let the membership know that Past GCNC President, Elaine Swaim had died.  That is because I did not know she had died.  No one called or emailed to let Faye or me know this had happened.

A Reminder

Schedule for the District Meetings 2011

October 4     Dist. 10         Raleigh                     October 12   Dist. 1                    Highlands
October 5     Dist. 12         Rocky Mount                       October 13   Dist. 3                    Statesville
October 6     Dist. 8                        Dunn                         October 18   Dist. 9                    Mebane
October 7     Dist. 11                      Emerald Isle                        October 19   Dist. 5                    Julian
October 11   Dist. 1                        Highlands                October 20   Dist. 4                    Winston-Salem          

           
Theme of National Garden Clubs President, Shirley Nicolai for 2011-2013 is “NGC: Proudly Serving our Members and Communities”.      
Theme of SAR Director Mary Dixon for 2011-2013 is “Members are the Link to the Future”.

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