Orinda Garden Club
General Meeting
January 26, 2012
President Carole Wolfman called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.
Jan Formanek introduced the speaker Juliet Lamont who spoke on “Water Wise Land Use in a Warming Land.”
A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes to the November 17, 2011 general meeting. The minutes were approved.
Lorene Quist reminded members to sign the attendance sheets at the front entry table.
Bouquets will be held at the home of Diana Caldwell on February 13, 2012.
Sandy Barnett provided the treasurer’s report.
Diana Kennedy reported on the Centennial Tree Project. The second phase of the restoration of the cork oaks at Lake Cascade will cost $3,675.00 for clearing and pruning approximately 366 feet. The area is on Camino Sobrante at La Cuesta. Diana has written letters to the Orinda Rotary and Lions Clubs and the Mayor requesting donations to the project. She will be writing more letters to additional service organizations and clubs and to the neighbors living near the Lake suggesting a donation. Diana has also met with the Chamber of Commerce. There will be a walk at Lake Cascade on April 21, 2012 to bring greater awareness of the cork oaks project to the general Orinda community. Diana met with the general manager of the Orinda Country Club to discuss a fundraising golf tournament in order to raise the funds needed to complete the second phase. The proposed date of the tournament is April 9, 2012. It was decided the tournament does not have enough support from the Garden Club members and it will be tabled for now.
Gina Field noted the cork oak awareness walk date coincides with the Orinda in Action event. She suggested Diana attend the planning meetings for the event in order to coordinate the walk with other activities that are being planned.
Lisa Jorgens presented a summary of Community Affairs activities in Orinda. Miramonte High School will have a kitchen tour on February 9, 2012. Six kitchens will be on the tour and the cost is $35 per ticket. Chip and Carolyn Herman and Barbara Denny have been selected as the Orinda Volunteers of the Year. The mural at BART is moving to the Orinda Community Park. Michelle Lacy has been hired as the new Director of the Orinda Park and Recreation.
Gina noted Beautification will gather on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 to work on the containers. She said planning for the proposed new bench near the Orinda Theater is continuing.
Joyce Nelson said there is a timing conflict on February 7th with Beautification at 9:30 a.m. and the Horticulture meeting at 10:00 a.m. It was agreed to move the Beautification earlier to 9:00 a.m. so Garden Club members could attend both activities. This timing change is only for this date.
Marty DeJonghe provided an overview of her plans for the Conservation program which will focus on water. She is currently researching several field trips in the Bay Area.
Judy Shallat noted the February 21, 2012 Flower Arranging Workshop is at 9:30 a.m. at St. Stephens Church. There are a few spaces still available. The fee is $45.00.
Carole reminded Garden Club members the clip boards are now on the front table in the main room.
June Cunningham said the February Forget-Me-Nots deadline is February 1, 2012.
Midge Zischke reported the Orinda Garden Club entry for the Garden Club of America Founder’s Fund Award was not selected as a finalist. She read the letter from the Zone XII representative notifying the Garden Club members of the decision. Next year, there will not be a Founder’s Fund Award program as the money will be used to support the Central Park Centennial Project. The Orinda Garden Club can re-submit their proposal in two years.
Due to time constraints, Nita Roethe noted she will give her report on the Shirley Meneice Conference at the next general meeting. Dena Raffel announced the next Horticulture meeting will take place on February 7, 2012 at the home of Lorene Quist. Attendees will build a terrarium. The fee is $20.00 and the workshop is limited to 20 people.
Margie Murphy announced the deadline for submitting new membership forms is March 15, 2012. Proposed new members will need two sponsors and four letters of recommendation. Any current Garden Club members requesting a change in membership status should submit their request to Margie no later than March 1, 2012.
There will be merchandise sales at the February General Meeting.
Dona Snow said the mini-luncheons will take place after the March 22, 2012 General Meeting.
Sheila Wendt announced the raffle profit from the Ron Morgan program was $1,435.00.
Kirsten Whitsett noted the Heather Farms rose garden pruning will take place on both January 30th and February 8, 2012. Patrice Hanlon, Garden Manager of Heather Farms, will be there to demonstrate rose pruning methods.
Carole announced the memorial service for Alvin Ziegler will take place on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. at the Orinda Community Church.
Carole read a letter from Bobbie Landers that was published in the Orinda News acknowledging the Orinda Garden Club for their efforts to beautify Orinda with the holiday wreaths project.
Old Business:
Carole reported on a meeting with the Visions Flower Show Board where it was decided to give $2,000 to each of the five participating garden clubs, $2,000 to the Carmel Sunset Center, and $1,000 each year for five years to the Save the Redwoods League. The remaining balance will be retained for future flower shows. Carole noted she has emailed a questionnaire to Orinda Garden Club members asking for their thoughts about future flower shows.
New Business:
Special guest Carla Preisler, President of the Board of The Gardens at Heather Farms, presented the Volunteer of the Year award to Orinda Garden Club member Joan Andrews. Carla described Joan’s many contributions to Heather Farms. Joan’s volunteer efforts at Heather Farms started in the 1970’s and have included initiating a membership drive, raising funds to build a deck where school classes are held, and the inception of the rose garden. Joan received a standing ovation from the Orinda Garden Club for her volunteerism and the receipt of the award.
Other Business:
The February Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at the home of Dena Raffel.
The February 16, 2012 (Note 3rd Thursday of the month) General Meeting will be a joint meeting with the Piedmont Garden Club. The speaker is Amy Stewart and her topic is “Wicked Bugs.” There will be a buffet luncheon following the meeting. The cost is $17.00 per person. Members can sign up for the luncheon with Betty at the Orinda Country Club front desk.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:14 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Cinderey
Recording Secretary