JULY 28, 2009
MASS. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AT ELM BANK
WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS
The meeting was called to order at 10:05 by NER Director Kathy Thomas. She expressed her desire to receive input from all members so that we can work together on projects sand bring awards back to NER.
The Director introduced the Board. She stressed the importance of getting in touch with the person who formerly held the position, sharing information, and learning what worked or didn’t work for that chair.
A. Candace Morgenstern, NER co-chair of the NGC President’s Renee Blaschke’s three projects described the projects. De Feldman is the co-chair.
a. Golden Days: a competition will be held among the 6 NER states to see which state can plant the most daffodils. The bulbs need to be planted by Dec. 1, 2010, and the winner will be judged “per capita” by state, the award will be given at the NGC meeting in May, 2010. Raffles will be held at the 2009 and 2010 NER Annual meetings.
b. Beautify Blight: There are 4 elements that are necessary to comply with this project, Garden Club, Community Group, Youth and vegetables. As our growing season has pasted we will plan and work next year on this project.
c. Plant it Pink: The project was explained and individuals are encouraged to buy the bird house which benefits the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Fund and NGC.
All of the above information is on the NER and NGC websites. Passwords were shared for each.
B. The NER Budget was presented with the following changes:
a. Candace Morgenstern made a motion to delete the NER Directory from Expenses and put that $100 towards the Daffodil Raffle award. The motion was carried.
The budget was voted upon and accepted.
C. Ways and Means
a. Elaine Dates, Chair, explained a fund raiser with NER members selling Danforth Pewter (made in Middlebury, VT.) items that are in the vault of the business as “retired” pieces. Examples were available to look at and a vote was taken as to which item(s) we will agree to sell. The company was agreed upon by vote.
b. NER pins will continue to be sold in the future.
D. NE Wildflower Society
A motion was made to accept The NE Wildflower Society Award for an educational program or project using Native Plants. Discussion on the validity of an award not created by a NER Director was discussed. The motion was amended; that the NEWFS Award be in honor of Sonia Cianchette be accepted in concept as it must go back to NEWF Society with the proposed changes. The motion was passed.
E. A motion was made to allow advertisements on the NER Web site. Motion passed. Stephen Dates will be responsible for ads on our NER web page.
F. Bobbie Lingard, Website Chair, stated that all NER material is on our website. All communications will be by e-mail. The NER newsletter will be on line on the site. The newsletter will be released on Sept. 1st and March 1st, so information should be sent to Pat Snyder by Feb. 1st and Aug. 1st respectively.
G. Chairman Reports
a. Candace Morgenstern There will be a WAFA Flower Show in Boston June 15-19, 2011 with 600 designs. Interested volunteers should contact Candace.
b. NER Project
Kathy Thomas, Director, put the question of the NER project out to the members. Her project title is Responsible Stewards of the Land. Several ideas included NE is Growing Naturally IPM and pest management involving our public spaces including community and schoolyard fields. It was decided that all states would find a chairman and contact their Garden Club to investigate the policies in their towns and documents such policies.
c. NER Life Membership
A discussion followed on how to build up our scholarship fund. It was moved to table the discussion.
d. Ginny Grand Pre announced the NER Symposium is next week in NH and 135 members have registered.
e. The NER fall meeting is 9/21st & 22nd in East Windsor, CT, according to Liz Stanley. Registration forms may be found on the Web site.
f. Maria Nahom, Chair of Blue Star Memorials, is trying to locate all NE memorials and would appreciate each state’s Chair.
g. Joyce Capobianco, Energy Chair, will be focusing on the conservation of all energy: oil, gas and electricity.
h. Heidi Koss, MA. Gov’t Action Education Chair,
reminded us of the Clean Water Act before Congress.
i. Susan Robinson, Chair of the NER fall meeting in 2010, is working on a date for the meeting. Several conflicts have recently arisen.
j. Jean Marie Parks announced an Environmental School to be held Nov. 7th and 8th in Massachusetts.
k. Cathy Felton, Horticulture Chair, stated that the Lily Beetle may be disappearing.
l. Terese D’Urso stated a Landscape Design study program, Course IV, will be held Oct. 15-17th, at Regis College, MA.
m. A Course II Flower Show will be held in Maine, Oct. 22.
n. Many new instructors have been accredited in NER: Kaye Vosburgh, Ginny Grand Pre, Cathy Felton, Kathy Thomas, Mary Huntoon.
o. Cheryl Collins, an accomplished photographer for Visions of Beauty Calendar can be contacted to photographs of your arrangements.
H. A motion was made and passed that the Danforth Pewter items to be sold by NER members will include a trowel and shovel earrings and keychain. They may be sold separately at $20.00 and $15.00 respectively or both for $30.00 for the next year. Elaine Dates will order 100 of these and they will be available at the Symposium as well as the Fall meeting in September.
I. The meeting was adjourned at 1:45 by Director, Kathy Thomas.
Susan Robinson
Recording Secretary, NER
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