President's Travel Log

President's Hot Flashes                  November 18, 2008


I know this is a long edition BUT there is a big finish, so don’t give up on this article. I’m just back from a Blue Star Memorial Marker Dedication Tour.  Immediately prior to the tour, on Thursday, November 6 I attended La Casa GC’s fundraiser luncheon in Hanford. I had reported in an earlier edition of Hot Flashes that La Casa GC had made so much money for a small club and wondered how they did it. So this year they decided to invite me and show me how they did it. The event was held in the auditorium of the city courthouse and it was decorated like an outdoor patio. There were vendors and members selling all sorts of holiday gift items. Hanford residents obviously look forward to the event each year as so many turned out to shop and most stayed for the wonderful luncheon! Good job, La Casa GC! I had a great time.

I left home on Friday, November 7 and spent the evening with Gloria Aminian. We had a great time and then left early the next morning, Saturday, November 8, for Sequoia Foothills District’s Blue Star Memorial Marker Dedication in Fresno. They had 1200 +/- attendees and a military band and cake!
That’s Carolyn Villi (CGCI Air Chairman), Gloria Aminian (Sequoia Foothills District Director and Liability Insurance Chairman), Barbara Dodge (La Casa GC) and yours truly.

Then it was off to Judy & Jim Laird’s home in Merced. We had a great dinner and watched football on the largest TV screen ever made. We left the next morning, Sunday, November 9, for Santa Nella where Yosemite Gateway District dedicated a large Blue Star Memorial Marker at the San Joaquin National Cemetery.   (I’ll add pictures when some are emailed to me.) The setting was magnificent and the grounds crew had created a planter and filled it with flowers. There was a nearly full-page interview with Judy about Blue Star Memorial Markers. There were a lot of garden clubbers, some (not counting me) driving two or more hours to attend the dedication. A little windy would be the understatement of the year. Judy’s mom and dad, Doris and Roy joined us and we enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Pea Soup Anderson’s before I headed north.

Then it was off to Ruth and Ed Angevine’s home to report in to the Blue Star boss (Ruth, not Ed) about the two great dedications. We went to dinner and ran into Jane (CGCI Member Services Chairman) and Stuart Berger coming out of the bar at the restaurant. So now you know, I’m watching all of you….I have eyes everywhere!

The next morning I was happy to be invited to visit the Walnut Creek GC for their November 10 meeting. We sang Happy Birthday to Betty Taylor for her 91st birthday on November 17 and enjoyed cake! I have a bunch of notes from their meeting. The club maintains a directory of their members – not just a roster in the yearbook but each member has a page – it includes a picture and the member’s birthplace, birthday, the year they joined Walnut Creek GC as well as other places they have lived, children and grandchildren, gardening interests, hobbies and activities, traveling experiences, and past employment. You can really get the essence of a new member and it gives you a conversation starting point.  The directory is in a 3-ring binder and is on a table at every meeting.  The program was on pruning and a good rule-of-thumb or good rule-of-green-thumb when pruning, is don’t leave a stub you can hang a hat on. Members are going to make pine cone and peanut butter treats for the birds with their youth group. The Gardening 201 class will be meeting to learn about poinsettias, forcing bulbs and they will make cranberry vinegar. Might your club start one of these activities?

Then Monday afternoon I meandered up through Napa Valley and Calistoga to Sharon Thorne and Don Smith’s home overlooking Clear Lake. Several members of Mendo-Lake District and Director Gina Belle Smith took me out to dinner at an historic hotel and inn and I got to visit with Jerry and Jo Shaul – who served CGCI on the Board of Directors for several years. The next morning, even though rain threatened the Blue Star Memorial Marker Dedication, I kept maintaining that, “It doesn’t rain on Blue Star days.” And true to my theory, the day was gray and windy but no rain. We had marvelous attendance and a good write up in the local newspaper and a wonderful recap in the paper following the dedication.

Do you think I’m done? Nope, I went back to Judy & Jim Laird’s that evening, November 11, in time to collapse into bed and attend Merced GC’s meeting the next morning. We had a great time at their meeting. They attach an envelope inside the back cover of their yearbook – to hold their name tag – isn’t that clever? The club decorates a Christmas tree for their clubhouse (which they share with other clubs and groups). The club also has a Toadily Terrific award. It is a toad planter, beautifully planted that is passed from one club member to another in honor of something they did for the club. The winner gets to keep the planter and enjoy for a month before bringing it back to club and awarding it to another member.

Every time I called Greg he’d say, “Will you be home for Thanksgiving?”  I am home and this Thanksgiving I sure have a lot to be grateful for – my family and the many courtesies and warmth extended to me – I thank each of you for making this the most special two years of my life!

Don’t forget that the Principal Financial Group has again donated $1750 in grants in the amount of $250 to clubs for Blue Star Memorial By-way Markers, if dedicated by June 2009.The application is on our website.

Grants for $100 are available for refurbishing old Blue Star Memorial By-way Markers and $250 for Highway and Memorial Markers. Nobody has asked for that money yet and there are still some markers that need refurbishing, so maybe we can get some clubs and districts working on this project too.

CGCI thanks and congratulates all clubs and districts that have sponsored Blue Star Memorial Markers.  All citizens appreciate the sacrifice of members of the armed forces presently serving as well as those who have served and who will serve.  Blue Star Memorial Markers are a symbol of our gratitude. The goal of garden clubs nationwide is to keep those blue stars shining!
        
The outdoor patio Christmas tree – the 7’ snowflake tree –goes up tomorrow!  And now for the big news – there I was, slumbering peacefully in Sharon Thorne’s guest room when Sharon came bursting in, GET UP! GET UP! And there, right outside my window were a doe and her two fawns. They traveled right on by and we followed them from room to room but they were so beautiful and while I still don’t believe moose exist, I do believe that there are at least one or two deer in the northern half of our state.

Robin  

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President's Hot Flashes                  November 2, 2008


I’m just full of good news – the Southern Comfort Tour is being reworked to be less expensive, shorter and not conflict date-wise with the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show (SFF&G Show). It will go to Savannah and tour several spectacular gardens. Complete information will go on the website as soon as the itinerary is finalized and all will be available at the Winter Board Meeting in Ridgecrest.

And speaking of Ridgecrest, those who wish to go on the tour during Winter Board Meeting to see the weapons museum and learn about petroglyphs on the base need to complete the form (whether you’re retired military or not) to get clearance to get on base. Joanne Latimer needs your completed form by November 15 – click here for the form. 

And speaking of the SFF&G Show, I am thrilled to announce that Gwen Nansen has volunteered to coordinate the design portion of our presence at the Show and Sara White has volunteered (jumped at the chance is more like it) to coordinate the membership table. If asked, please help both of these brave souls who are helping to bring our CGCI name to the public. They will need designers and membership table staffers – George Speer and I will be there, reelin’ in those new members so come and spend a day with us and enjoy the Show as well!

How many of you receive WACONIAH? “W” is the newsletter for the Pacific Region. Every CGCI District Director receives a complimentary copy. Geri Mae Thirloway forwarded the email version of the latest issue of “W” to everyone in her club on email. What a great idea to expose her club members to the next level. I know the editors and they work tirelessly to publish an interesting and informative newsletter! Ask me and I’ll send you an email version.

How many of you participate in the Ralphs grocery store Community Contributions program? My club enrolled and the first quarter we received over $100 for doing nothing more than our regular shopping. Look into it, it’s easy to enroll and then sign up your members and friends and family and soon your club could be receiving checks from Ralphs. Your club must be a 501(c)3 organization and if you aren’t you may be eligible  to sign up through CGCI for a nominal fee. Contact Maryanne Lucas for information on your club’s 501(c)3 eligibility.

Awards deadlines are approaching:
            NGC Awards – December 1
            FS Awards – December 1
            Yearbooks – December 1

The Pacific Region Convention will be in Las Vegas at the end of March. Convention information is on the website: PacificRegionGardenClubs.org 

The Christmas bedding went on our bed yesterday – all signs point to Christmas for me!  

Robin  

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President's Hot Flashes                  October 29, 2008

Julie West, your 2nd Vice President, has been working very hard on CGCI 75th Anniversary History Book which will make its debut at the CGCI Convention in San Mateo in June. A Pre-Sale order form is available on our website – click here.
Another fabulous announcement is that Tony Todesco, renowned floral designer and chairman of New Design Development on NGC’s Flower Show Schools Committee, will be the guest designer at the Judges Council Banquet at the CGCI Convention in San Mateo in June. Furthermore, Tony will present 3 advanced floral design workshops on the Monday afternoon and Tuesday following convention. The workshops are limited to 20 people each for a total of 60. The workshop is $125 and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Get your $125 check, made payable to Founders Council, to Shane Looper to reserve your space.

President-elect Maryanne Lucas and I just returned from an official visit to Santa Clara Valley District. District Director Gwen Nansen and Assistant Director Sara White took us to a fantastic Italian dinner and put us up at a great hotel next to the HP Pavilion in San Jose. Maryanne and I were their program but we may have gotten as much out of the meeting as they did from us! For example… Furyu (few-you) Floral Designers had a program solely on floral design mechanics…..a Las Jardineras member, who is also a flower show judge, taught a design workshop and everyone went home with a design they had created….South Valley Fleurs members maintain 3 gardens (butterfly, fire safe); members brought fruits and vegys to share to a meeting and they held a Floral Fun Day and made arrangements which they delivered to local convalescent homes….Sunnyvale GC held a tool sharpening program and they collect food and money for their local community center at Christmas… Carmel Valley Garden Association has grown from 30 members when they organized 4 years ago to more than 120 members. They hold a flower show with the support of local businesses and sponsor educational lectures for the public…San Jose GC cares for San Jose’s municipal rose garden and collects stuffed animals for a local shelter at Christmas.

There’s so much information and ideas to be gained by attending your local district meeting. I hope you share and network with the other clubs that attend.

I took my 6-pack plastic rings that I had made into snowflakes and though I endure much mocking about those snowflakes since the garden therapy workshop at the 2007 Fall Board Meeting in Long Beach, Santa Clara Valley District members were delighted to get a sample. I have more, save me your 6-pack rings and I’ll make you a sample……..my garden club saves the rings for me and so I have new supply every month.

Soon it’ll be time to start my Christmas countdown but I guess I can wait a little longer. 

Robin

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President's Hot Flashes                  October 19, 2008

Again, a great reason for this column as I have breaking news……the Environmental Studies School in San Mateo has been postponed. New dates will be published upon confirmation.

The Marek fire came within 1.25 miles of our home but we are all safe – thank you for your prayers and concern. But it served to remind us of what we hold as valuable.

Joyce Dean, Pat Clayes, George Speer, Greg, Deedee                                                                                     
Speer and I spent a fantastic day manning a membership table at the Palm Desert Community Garden Day on October 11 in Palm Desert. Pat and Joyce put together a wonderful display complete with floral designs.  We met lots of people and brought our CGCI name to their attention. I gave a talk about garden clubs in general while George designed 3 arrangements. The audience loved George’s finished designs.

Then on Wednesday I was privileged to judge Oasis GC’s flower show, “We’re Nuts About the Fair” at the Kern County fair.
They had lots of horticulture, which can be “squirrelly”  in the desert with their frequent winds. But the designswere “nutty” and a lot of fun and they “cracked” me up.

This weekend (and I now have 33 weekends left before I leave office, but
who’s counting?) I stuffed two events into one day. I had the pleasure of
joining Riviera GC members on their tour of gardens in the Hollywood
Riviera. What a treat! One garden had a lovely 3-foot tall stone bird bath that
had been planted with succulents and edged with string of pearls,
Senecio rowleyanus, which spilled attractively over the bird bath. At least two
of the gardens on the tour displayed a certificate for landscape excellence
given by the Riviera GC – obviously the homeowners were proud of their
award because both were displayed prominently for visitors to see.

After strolling through five gardens we dashed out to Whittier to enjoy a Harvest Garden Party at
Marie Zimmerman’s home.  Dessert, besides, her fabulous cheesecake, was ice cream cups with their tops sprinkled with cocoa in a small clay flower pot and a short straw stuck in the “dirt” and a fresh flower in the straw. The children assembled our dessert and served everyone their masterpieces. Very clever and delicious! Marie and her brother, Vance, are installing a pagoda in her Japanese Garden in their spare time.

I’m so often asked “what does NGC do for us?” Here is another answer to  that question. In the latest issue of The National Gardener, President Barbara May’s message refers to garden clubs
work with respect to effecting state legislation. I think every club should read this
message – it is informative and is another reason we belong to NGC. Our Parent
organization has the resources to identify our concerns and address them in a
reliable source of information.
Every club president receives this magazine and I hope you will
urge your president to read and share the information with your club.                      

My wish is for a green Christmas day (not flame orange). 

Robin

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President’s HOT Flashes             October 12, 2008

Regrettably the CGCI Water Conference has been cancelled due to lack of interest. But on a happier note….

Greg and I and 6 others from California attended the NGC Fall Board Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island. The weather could not have been more spectacular – blue, blue skies with white puffy clouds – gorgeous. President Barbara May had arranged an Education Day in Newport during the Board Meeting. We spent the day enjoying “Rhode Island…Naturally.” Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs members served as our tour guides, giving info on the local history and landscaping practices. We visited private gardens, The Elms and the Green Animals Topiary Garden, highlighted by lunch on the terrace of Marble House (one of those little “cottages” that the Vanderbilts built in Newport).  Enjoy the photos courtesy of Bob Noth.

 

Highlights of the NGC Fall Board Meeting include:

• The NGC CPA issued a guide to “How Long Are You Required to Store Records”  - Click Here for Records Information.
• Adoption of an NGC water conservation platform 
• Adoption of a Girl Scout patch for planting native plants
• Initiated Gardening Study School Course I as an on-line educational program, which is targeted to be available next spring 
• Changes in Flower Show awards and procedures
• Distribution of colorful posters and pins showing the yet-to-be named canna cultivar for the NGC membership contest “Grow NGCd, Inc.”
• Input was solicited via a “Dialogs” session – like CGCI held in Redding and will hold again in Ridgecrest at the Winter Board Meeting
  

One of the other big things that happened at this meeting was the presentation by the Nominating Committee of the slate of elected officers for 2009-2011:
            President Renee Blaschke, Texas, 1st Vice President Shirley Nicolai, Washington, D.C., 2nd Vice President Linda Nelson, Oregon, 3rd Vice President Sandra Robinson, Kentucky, 4th Vice President Nancy Hargroves, Virginia, Recording Secretary Robin Pokorski (oops, did my finger slip and the font get larger?), California, Treasurer Barbara Mikkelson, Minneasota. 

 

The election and installation will be held at the NGC Convention in Houston, Texas, May 13-18. Y’all come, y’hear? California needs to make some noise to get our first elected officer on the NGC Executive Committee in over 25 years. So I got back on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning I was off to Orange County District where I enjoyed a floral design program by your Corresponding Secretary Pat Clayes and Scholarship Co-Chairman Joyce Dean.

 

And then it was off to Point Loma GC in San Diego. I gave a program on garden club (my favorite subject). I was able to answer their questions and they seemed to enjoy it. The club gave me a beautiful large cut glass bowl – it will be stunning with Christmas lights and tinsel in it in a few weeks (remember I put up Christmas decorations in November but the lights don’t go on until the day after Thanksgiving). We completed our day with a luncheon at the Yacht Club where we watched boats (big boats) coming in and out of their slips. The Point Loma GC recognized its new members with a corsage for each of the three new members present on Wednesday. They have a mentor program in which each new member is assigned a long-term member. The mentor makes sure that the new member feels welcome and gets them involved if they’re interested. Are you making sure your new members feel welcome enough to renew their membership? Don’t forget the zip code search facility on our website. Every single club that wants new members should be listed. And remember the club and district with the most new members this  year (percentage-wise and raw numbers) will get an extraordinary cake served to them by yours truly and a floral design program given by George Speer. I personally know of two clubs who are actively working to get this award.

 

It’s still Christmas every day at my house.  Robin

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President's Hot Flashes             September 28, 2008

I’ve got so much to share with you. Your President-Elect Maryanne Lucas and I attended 50^th Anniversary Parties for The Gardeneers in Costa Verde District and for Foothill GC in Valley Lode District last week. We celebrate these clubs that have done and are doing so much in our communities. Last week Maryanne and I attended Flower Show School in Modesto. The instructors were Elayne Gilhousen and Char Mutschler and both were marvelous. Judi Picinini did a wonderful job of coordinating the school.

Has your club signed up on the zip code search facility on our website? On the Home Page look for:

ATTN: Clubs
Click here to sign up for Zip Code listing

It’s easy and most of our “I’d like to find a garden club in my area” inquiries are coming in through the internet. It takes 5 minutes to sign up and our crack staff (not cracked staff) will get your club added. Not a single visitor to our website should leave without a club or two to join or visit – make sure YOUR CLUB is on that list.

Last call on the Southern Comfort tour – get your deposit in by October 1 to Bob Gordon.  And have you signed up for the WATER Conference on October 23/24 in Encino?

For a registration form – click here.

Next Wednesday, October 1, Greg and I will be on our way to Providence, Rhode Island for the NGC Fall Board Meeting where I will be representing CGCI.

A list of those who have donated money to the Trail of Trees is now on the President’s Project page under What’s New on our CGCI website home page. Click here for that list.  I am so grateful for the donations these generous people have contributed – I truly thank you most sincerely. And while we’ve done a lot, there’s still more room on that hillside.  Let’s keep planting trees on the Trail.

The autumn sun sparkles – just like holiday tinsel!  Merry Christmas. 

Robin

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President’s HOT Flashes             September 17, 2008

The deadline for the Southern Comfort Tour deposit is October 1, 2008 – get your checks to Bob Gordon ASAP.  And don’t forget the WATER Conference on October 23/24 in Encino.  We’ve got a fantastic line-up of speakers and programs and an excellent tour of the WATER reclamation facility that includes an outstanding Japanese garden. For a registration form – click here.

Since we last chatted I have been to Flower Show School at Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas and Landscape Design School in Temecula. At least five new members joined CGCI clubs because of the Landscape Design School. Our NGC Schools are a proven method for educating our members and gaining new members.

San Pedro GC’s annual Membership Tea and Hat Parade made the end of my August a lot of fun. More than 80 members and guests attended with magnificently decorated hats. Master Flower Show Judge Helen Gates and yours truly and, Meredith Grenier, the home and garden editor of The Daily Breeze, were the hat judges. Subsequently Meredith wrote a great article that appeared in the following Saturday’s paper – excellent publicity.  Have you thought of inviting your local paper’s editor or garden section writer to attend your meetings or special events? Give them cake and I’ll bet they write something nice about your event and/or club.  (I know that works with me!)     

There was such a fantastic response to the snowflake jewelry that I will be placing another order for NGC snowflake pins and earrings that NGC President Barbara May was wearing at convention. The earrings are pierced (no clip available); the large pin is approximately 2” in diameter and the small pin is approximately 1” in diameter. The proceeds from these will go to the President’s Project – Trail of Trees. By ordering in bulk, we are receiving a 20% discount which I will be passing along to you!  The large snowflake pin sells for $14; the small snowflake pin for $9 and the earrings for $14. Deadline for your order (preferably by email) is 9/21/08.  I will deliver when I see you. Checks should be made payable to Robin Pokorski.

On Sunday, September 7 Greg and I left for Grass Valley. We celebrated Myrtle Findley’s 89^th birthday and since we were there we also held our Fall Board Meeting that boasted the best attendance in a long time (over 140 board members and guests). During the Grass Valley meeting we:

• Held our 4^th Parliamentary Workshop
• Dedicated a Blue Star Memorial Byway Marker at the Holiday Inn
• Hosted our Pacific Region Director Jeanette Pruin from Washington
• Enjoyed two great tours
• More than 20 consultants refreshed their certificates at a Tri-Refresher
• I received the first NGC 5-STAR MEMBER certificate in California
• Harriet Behrens qualified as the second NGC 5-STAR MEMBER in California
• I was surprised to receive my own President’s Banner
• And I have several new watering cans to add to my collection – unfortunately one watering can didn’t make it home – it was chocolate and I ate it 
• The final count for the number of times we sang Happy Birthday to Myrtle?  89.

I left for Grass Valley with a 1^st Vice President but I came home with a President-Elect – at the close of the Fall Board Meeting Maryanne Lucas became your President-Elect. Congratulations!

Yesterday was my club’s first meeting of the year.  We had such a good time – we ran out of chairs we had so many guests. Ten first-timers and four joined and I think we’ll get three more of the others.  Southern California GC has an interesting name tag ritual I thought I’d share with you. When a new member joins us they receive two name tags – one white and one bright green. They wear the bright green tag, signifying they are new, until they feel that they are truly a part of the club – when they feel they really belong, they are invited to tear up their green tag and wear their white name tag. Our goal is that ‘greenies’ want to rip up their green tags within three club meetings – otherwise we need to think about welcoming our new members more aggressively!

Where am I off to? On Thursday, I will attend the 50^th Anniversary Party for The Gardeneers in Costa Verde District and then on Friday, President-Elect Maryanne Lucas and I are off to Foothill GC for their 50^th Anniversary Party and zooming back home for a birthday party (for me so I really should be there) and then Monday President-Elect Maryanne Lucas and I turn around and go back to Modesto to the Flower Show School.

An update on my President’s Project – the generous donor who was matching funds in the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden has extended his offer through the end of this year and if he continues to see response, he may very well extend through the end of this term! Please let’s keep his matching funds coming. In addition, a member of the CGCI Board of Directors is donating money to the Trail of Trees every time he/she sees me at a CGCI event or meeting – since I can’t tell you who it is – I’m hoping I receive plenty of invitations all over the state – we aren’t done planting trees on the Trail.

The air is taking on a bit of crispness in the evenings – must be Christmas on its way!  Merry Christmas. 

Robin

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President’s Hot Flashes                      August 7, 2008

I have more news to share with you. Banner bags will be available at the Fall Board Meeting in Grass Valley. What are banner bags, you ask? Heavy bags that will hold your club, district or council’s vinyl banner AND the stand. The bags were the inspiration of Denise Davis, President of Walnut Creek GC. Rita Desilets, President of Southern California GC (my club) has volunteered to make bags based on Denise’s design. Bags will sell for $5 and the proceeds will go to the Membership Team to develop and obtain promotional materials for our clubs and districts. To get an idea of how many bags we might need, would you send me an email if you intend to purchase a banner bag, so we will have enough for everybody who wants one! Let me know by 8/29/08.

But that’s not all the good news I have. I will be ordering the NGC snowflake pins and earrings that NGC President Barbara May was wearing at convention in time for delivery at Fall Board Meeting in Grass Valley. The earrings are pierced (no clip available); the large pin is approximately 2” in diameter and the small pin is approximately 1” in diameter. The proceeds from these will go to the President’s Project – Trail of Trees. By ordering in bulk, we are receiving a 20% discount which I will be passing along to you!  We will sell the large snowflake pin for $14; the small snowflake pin for $9 and the earrings for $14.

So again, would you be so kind as to send me an email by 8/20/08 with your intended order and I’ll order for everyone. I will not be able to mail them to you so have someone else pick them up for you if you aren’t attending Fall Board Meeting (and if you aren’t attending, why not??) or I will deliver when I see you (but then I’ll need money early to pay off my credit card!). If you will pick them up at Fall Board Meeting then you can pay me then. Checks made payable to Robin Pokorski.

Guess what else I’ve been doing……go ahead, guess….I’ve been busy, that’s what. So I last told you about my activities through mid-June. On June 21 I was happy to judge the Costa Verde District Flower Show – they’ve got some great designers in that district. On June 23 I drove up to Hanford GC and participated in a stepping stone mosaic class. It was great fun and I went home with red, white and blue flag stepping stone for my garden. The next day I joined the Palms to Pines District for their annual picnic. We enjoyed a warm day in a spectacular garden – I got to give my speech standing in a swimming pool.

Then I did something very unusual for me – I gardened for two whole days – I only peeked at my email those days – what fun.  It was a wonderful reminder of why I joined garden club 19 years ago! I got to see Julie Andrews perform (yes, really sing) at the Hollywood Bowl in July. Then I went to the Flower Show Symposium in San Mateo. The hotel was lovely (you’ll all enjoy it next June when you attend convention at the same hotel). I love ROSES and lucky for me the horticulture subject was roses. We learned about creative HORTICULTURE staging in a flower show. Then Marilyn Oberti, Joan Craig and I worked, with the help of pizza, organizing and writing the grant applications for the fire disasters around the state. We will be sending in the first bundle of 10 very soon. I hope to hear from National before our Fall Board Meeting.

Most recently I attended the Gardening Study School in Aliso Viejo. The instructors were excellent and I enjoyed the classes. We learned about bugs (oops, insects, not bugs according to our CGCI Bugs Insects Chairman Dick Gaspari) vegetable and water gardens. Saturday’s instructor advised picking your three favorite veggies and just concentrating on them – learning about the varieties and the culture requirements. You need to rotate your crops but not just plant a different variety in the same place, rotate by plant family. In other words, don’t plant tomatoes one year and potatoes in the same spot the next year because both are in the solanaceae family. And don’t skip just a season, rotate every year. I had a great time and I left Maryanne Lucas, your 1st Vice President to clean up.

 

Sharon Smith, President of Canyon Crest GC in Orange County District, shared a great idea with me that I am sharing with you. We present one or two exceptional members each meeting who have distinguished themselves in service to their club with a “Golden Glove” Award. They take a simple pair of gardening gloves and tie them with gold ribbon for presentation. Each month’s newsletter highlights those who generously contributed their time and talents in support or their club.  People like to be recognized for their contributions and are more likely to help when they realize it is noticed and appreciated. Is this something your club could do?

No matter that it is 94 degrees on my back patio, it still feels like Christmas to me.  Merry Christmas. 

Robin

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President’s Hot Flashes    June 15, 2008

I have lots to report since I last checked in with you. I had a couple of days to finalize everything and it was off to Convention in Woodland Hills.  From all accounts and according to the evaluation surveys turned in, most everyone had a great time and learned a lot to take back with them to their clubs and districts. That’s what we hoped we could provide. Our special guest was our NGC President Barbara May and she delighted us with her good humor and information about NGC. Fifty some members went on the tour which included a continental breakfast followed by Southern California GC’s Blue Star Memorial Marker Dedication before heading over to Conejo Valley Botanic Garden to see my President’s Project “The Trail of Trees.”

There was a special presentation at convention for donors to the President’s Project – “The Trail of Trees” –  each individual, club or district that had donated to the project took home a specially decorated tree and a thank you note from me.  Marie Zimmerman and her It’s Garden Thyme GC crew decorated 60+ trees mostly in a patriotic theme. The room looked so festive with the trees everywhere.  

Then it was off to Ramona GC’s Blue Star Memorial Marker Dedication and installation of officers on June 11. The marker was placed as the focal point of the club’s native plant garden in a park in town. It was the fastest installation on record but we got our job done (one of the officers had to appear for jury duty – and I wasn’t sure the courts would accept second place to a garden club installation).

Then I filled up the gas tank and zoomed up to Tuolumne County GC in Sonora. Truly spectacular scenery and the garden clubbers are special up there. I visited the club’s Blue Star Memorial Marker in Tuolumne. As we drove into town I noticed somebody’s laundry hanging across the street (up pretty high). “Odd,” I thought but this is rural California. Then another street had overalls and flannel shirts hanging across the street – ahhhhh, it’s Lumberjack Festival that was a-comin’ to town soon. Then members took me to the Black Oak Casino where I rode the only escalator in town but more importantly I strolled in the Heritage Garden that would be receiving a Landscape Design Commendation the next day at the club meeting. It was a lovely garden. And no, I didn’t lose any money at the casino – I gamble less than I drink!

After staying at a club member’s B & B (Sterling Gardens – I sure can recommend it to anyone), on Friday, June 13, I attended the Tuolumne County GC meeting where I installed officers and made Bettie Ries a President’s Winner. I have corresponded with Bettie since my first issue as editor of Golden Gardens in 1995 so I was delighted to finally meet her.  We had a great time and I left with a new pet goldfish, Tuoly (rhymes with Wally) which was part of the centerpiece theme, Fishing for New Members, President Linda Santos’ theme for this year.

Back home the next day, I attended It’s Garden Thyme GC’s Flag Day party at the Hathaway Ranch and Museum in Santa Fe Springs. There were plants for sale and activities for the kids. It was a fun day with a lot of red, white and blue clothing and décor!

And now we are officially halfway through this term. I’ve loved every minute and I’m looking forward to the second half. You are all so special to me. Merry Christmas. 

Robin

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President’s Hot Flashes       June 4, 2008

There will be a special presentation at convention on Sunday, June 8, for donors to the President’s Project – “Trail of Trees” – if you haven’t done so but are thinking about contributing, bring all your spare cash to convention!

I had a wonderful April. I attended the Canyon Crest GC spring tour – check out the beautiful roses behind Paddee Neff and me. It was a spectacular day of gardens ended with a very special boat ride on Lake Viejo.

Check out the beautiful behinds ON Paddee and me. Who took this picture???

Later in April I was lucky enough to judge the fantabulous (my word) Redlands Horticultural Improvement Society flower show.

Then I visited Anaheim GC’s flower show. I saw a knockout hybrid tea rose at the show, Moonstone. It had been grown by club president Sue Schairer. And guess what, my kitties gave me a Moonstone rose for Mother’s Day. And my final flower show judging was out in Morro Bay at Montana de Oro District’s flower show. We had a great time! I installed officers out in the desert for the Oasis GC of Indian Wells Valley (shall I talk to them about shortening their club name to Oasis GC??)

May found me headed north on I-5 or CA-99 every week!  The second week of May brought me to the Golden Foothills District in Roseville. Several district members joined us for dinner the night before the Golden Foothills District garden party. Before the garden party Rosemary & Dick Gaspari took me to the Maidu Interpretive Center where we met Ed Dempsey and I got to see the Jubilee Grant and the NGC/Principal Grant native plant gardens (see picture) that had been planted. Dick took me to see probably the best petro glyphs anywhere – amazing!  Then off to the party where they gave me a warm welcome – really warm – over 100° F. I was on the panel that judged the decorated hats and I got to see rope made from twine!  I came home with a donation to my President’s Project – Trail of Trees and a watering can for my Christmas tree.  I enjoyed every minute except the very last one when Greg called to say Mom was in the hospital. Wanna know how fast I can get from Roseville to San Fernando? As fast as Maryanne Lucas can do it (and that’s really saying something!) Happily, Mom is home and recovering and will be at convention – come over and say hello to her on Awards Night. 

The following week, Corresponding Secretary Pat Clayes and I journeyed yet again up the I-5 to Diablo Foothills District. Pat and I stayed with Kay & Paul Palmbaum and were treated to a Reception at Nelda Champion’s lovely home overlooking a canyon – we got to see wild turkeys and deer grazing through the field. Horticulture Wonder Woman & and our CGCI Herb Chairman on the Horticulture Team, Karen Mahshi was presented with a Landscape Design Commendation from our Landscape Design Council for her work at the Markham Arboretum, which I was pleased to be able to tour.

Mary Lou Goodwin was guest at the district meeting and Virginia Bennetts and Betty Hedtke were both there as well – all former CGCI Presidents (see picture – I’m the tall one).

I learned that if you want an informational display for your flower show or education table at a meeting or event; contact your local Vector Control (Google Vector Control for your county). Discovery Bay GC reported that the boys at the ranch which the club supports are excited to eat what they’ve grown. Sowing tomorrow’s seeds…

Livermore-Amador Valley GC mentioned that their Tomato Tasting event was successful as was its Daffodil Show (1 of only 3 in the state). Diablo Women’s GC netted $800 from a tag sale (Keitha DeMara who reported this must have come from the east where their yard sales are tag sales).  Montelindo GC sponsored a speaker’s series of events. Each program had 90-100 attendees and the club gained 25 new members from EACH program! Layfayette GC held its first garden tour and sold 344 tickets – their first time out of the chute – way to go!

Then it was off to Vista GC’s Blue Star Memorial Marker Dedication on May 26. The dedication was in conjunction with the solemn local VFW’s Memorial Day ceremony. The ceremony was moving and I caught my breath several times. The annual ceremony is Special Order #11 in the VFW charter and I was so glad I was allowed to observe it.

And finally, I concluded May with an exceptionally special event: the celebration of San Pedro GC’s 80th Anniversary! The club awarded three local students scholarships of $800 each (in recognition of the club’s 80th anniversary). Then the biggest surprise of all was that the club bestowed an Honorary Membership on me. One of the biggest honors I’ve received and I am very proud to be associated with this special group of garden clubbers!

So I’ve had a wonderful May – hope yours was as productive and enjoyable. We’re not quite halfway through my term but I am enjoying it as much as I did Installation night and am learning so much from all of you.
Merry Christmas. 

Robin

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President’s Hot Flashes       May 31, 2008

There will be a special presentation at convention on Sunday, June 8, for donors to the President’s Project – “Trail of Trees” – if you haven’t done so but are thinking about contributing, bring your check to convention!

I returned from the National Garden Clubs, Inc. Convention with awards in hand and lots of information for our chairmen and directors. We stayed at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis where our NGC President Barbara May was invested as the Honorary Duckmaster on the last day of Convention. Anyone coming to our CGCI convention should bring a duck call – it may be needed.

I have noticed in going to NGC conventions for the past several years that on Awards Night the Georgia state president brings a lawn chair and a mint julep onto the stage and does her nails while the long list of awards that Georgia has won is read to the audience. Some states (who don’t enter for national awards) don’t even need to slow down. They are introduced, shake hands with the NGC President and move right off the stage. For California, while I didn’t need to bring a nail file to do my nails while I was up there, I was able to stand for a bit swelling with pride at the list of California winners! Do I have your interest piqued?  Then come to our convention in Woodland Hills and see what we won.

Early May found me in Stockton at the home of Lucille Soleagui. We enjoyed an Italian dinner the evening before the Valley Lode District meeting. The reports from the clubs and committees were so interesting. Valley Lode supplies each club with a great Club President Report form on which the club’s activities, projects and events may be reported. Click here to view the report.  Valley Lode clubs are certainly busy. Calaveras County GC is planting natives (plants not people) at their local museum. The club has purchased eight Penny Pines Plantations and 85 trees besides and celebrated Arbor Day with the planting of a tree. Ceres GC members tend the Masonic Lodge gardens in exchange for meeting space and they hosted more than 500 children at their Arbor Day celebration.  Linden GC members are working on their civic beautification project. I hope they are taking pictures to enter for an award later this year! Lodi GC members work on the Lodi Lake beautification and butterfly garden project. They should be taking pictures and entering the Butterfly Conservation award. They had 15 members of their youth group at their Arbor Day celebration. They also held a successful Game Day as their fundraiser and purchased three Penny Pines Plantations.  Members serve Meals on Wheels to those in need in Lodi. Aren’t garden club members really wonderful people?!

Manteca GC is holding a garden tour and tends a local memorial rose garden. Newman  GC was pleased with their yard sale fundraiser. Oakdale GC offered a bus tour to the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show in March and invited the community. They gained several new members from that trip. Patterson GC is 49 years old (though the club doesn’t look a day over 39) and members are offering their expertise to the city on civic plantings. Stockton GC reported on a fun project of making paper roses from coffee filters. I recycle my used coffee filters in the bottom of pots so the planting mix doesn’t all get washed out. I hope someone from Stockton GC will send me the directions and a completed rose – sounds like a project I’d like!  Tuolumne County GC maintains a Blue Star Memorial Marker garden. The club has purchased four Penny Pines Plantations and planted two native trees at a school for Arbor Day. Members donate blood in exchange for meeting space. There sure are a lot of ways of getting free meeting space. If your club needs meeting space - check to see if your members have any spare blood they aren’t using.

Modesto GC joined the Chamber of Commerce and realized $27,000 in proceeds from their Spring Tour. Members have planted 211 roses and four trees, installed four benches and replanted 440 planters, 140 hanging pots and the flower clock for their downtown area (Modesto must be in full bloom!). The club planted seven trees for Arbor Day.

You can see why I come home all fired up with wonderful ideas and my bag of pride in our CGCI clubs measurably increased at what is reported in only their three minutes of time. Valley Lode District honored me with my first Penny Pines Plantation as well as a generous donation to my President’s Project, the Trail of Trees. I sure had a wonderful time with you all, Thank you, Valley Lode District!

It’s only 6 days to Christmas…oops, no 6 days to convention….well, it’s the same thing in my book!

Robin

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President’s Hot Flashes          April 17, 2008

Pacific Region Convention was great! I learned so much. Do you remember I told you I love going to convention because I get all fired up with ideas? It’s happened again! A club in Alaska increased its membership from 10 to 55 through local publicity. They have no moose in Alaska (as far as I’m concerned – I hear about them, but I NEVER once saw a moose when I was there) but they have great ideas for membership increase. That’s just one of the reasons to participate on the Pacific Region Board. 

Greg and I joined the Post Convention Tour through the Columbia River Gorge and spent a delightful three days (in the rain) enjoying spectacular scenery and waterfalls. Al Finegold took this splendid picture of the gardens at the historic Columbia Inn, where we stayed our first night.

Russ Ford took this picture of Multnomah Falls. I guess there are lots of things taller than me – I look positively frozen but tiny!

I had to come home, if nothing else, to thaw out.

On April 9, I drove to Highland’s Environmental Learning Center to participate in the check presentation of Arrowhead GC’s NGC/Principal Financial Group grant. I got to view the fabulous rooftop garden. They can be so proud of this project.

On April 12, I joined San Dieguito GC for their flower show at Quail Botanical Garden (www.QBGardens.org). They had arranged for me to join the kids for flower arranging and then we enjoyed a private tour of the Garden. A wonderful place to stroll for an hour or two. After the Garden I was treated to a tour of THE GARDEN – Palomar District Director Jerry Thirloway’s back yard.

Don’t forget to order your club, district, or council’s banner. There’s still time and we want to see how many banners can be displayed on the Parade of Banners at our convention at the Woodland Hills Hilton.

Year Around GC encourages members to bring their own cup to club meetings, to reduce the amount of disposable cups going in to the landfill. 

When Temecula Valley GC held a garden workshop for members to make wind chimes, attendees made two wind chimes, one to keep and one for the club’s flower show marketplace. That’s a clever way to obtain inventory.

Stockton GC’s newsletter, The Rotiller, announced the start up of a horticulture group that would meet monthly and discuss gardening problems (and solutions).

San Clemente GC lists each month’s club activities (date and time) on the back page of their newsletter so members can quickly note all the events and projects.

Clayton Valley GC marched in their July 4th parade distributing seed packets stapled to garden club flyers.

Are you saving stamps to bring to convention? Have you purchased a new flag and folded your old ragged flag to bring to me at convention? Are you bringing a friend to their first CGCI Convention?  Are you bringing new and incoming club officers to the Parliamentary Workshop? There are a lot of awards to be given amid glitz and glamour on Awards Night – don’t miss a single event!

As this first year of my term winds to a close – the sparkle and excitement of being your CGCI President has not worn off – in fact, the lights in my heart twinkle ever more brightly like Christmas.  

Robin

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President’s Hot Flashes          March 30, 2008

I have so much to tell you. I want to catch you up on my last two trips. I’m calling them the Call of the Wild Northern Tour. I was invited to Modesto GC’s March meeting and so went up the night before to stay with
Judi (CGCI Judges Council Chairman) and Ron Picinini – their cat Scruff brought a mole to the back patio door for dessert. We enjoyed a wonderful evening and then the next morning we were off to Modesto GC’s clubhouse and meeting. Penny Binney, President, welcomed me warmly and I got to experience the Magic of the Modesto GC.

From Modesto I drove to the Cow Palace and the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show. 3rd VP George Speer set up our CGCI Membership Table and Dolores Moffat and Shane Looper, each an Organizer Extraordinaire had coordinated the magnificent floral designs displayed in the Cow Palace’s lobby!
Click here for stunning photos of our talented members! Your 1st VP Maryanne Lucas had her Kids Growing Strong display there as well. Click here to go to the website.  

I was at the Membership Table until the Show closed Sunday evening. Then I packed up the Highlander and was off to Santa Cruz where Rosa Radicchi opened her aunt’s home to me. After a delightful breakfast on the Santa Cruz wharf we headed off on a one-lane road to Big Basin sighting a red fox strolling down the lane ahead of us. At Big Basin we visited the California Garden Clubs, Inc. planting sights. It was very impressive!  Finally found something taller than me!

                                                       

From Big Basin Rosa invited me to “drop in” on the Las Jardineras GC meeting. We decorated wooden hearts that hold a vase for cut flowers. I’m taking the example to my club. Some wood,
some paints & wire and you’ve got a great therapy project!   

A fun group greeted me at Las Jardineras GC – can you find the three puppy-dogs in the crowd?

Then I got home, caught up on my email and re-packed for the second half of my Call of the Wild Northern Tour. This time 3rd VP George Speer came along for the ride. George and I stayed with Carolyn (CGCI Air Chairman) & Ron Villi. At Carolyn’s country home we admired peacocks; breathed deeply the scent of lilacs;   two horses (one Icelandic and one regular horse horse); one exuberant puppy named Stinky, no, it was Tuffie; one sweet and gentle Doberman named Annie (who ate walnut shells and caught a gopher); the tuxedo kitty Punky; wood ducks in the morning on the pond and one brown mouse!  

We went out for dinner with Carolyn & Ron and Sequoia Foothills District Director Gloria Aminian (who drove 100 miles for dinner and then returned home) and then came dessert. We went to Hanford’s Superior Dairy and innocently ordered a single scoop of lemon ice cream and look what happened! 

The next morning we were off to Caruthers and the Sequoia Foothills District meeting. I got lots of ideas from the club presidents’ reports. Such as: Porterville GC collects magazines and hotel soaps and such. They label the magazines “Compliments of Porterville GC” and bag up the hotel soaps and sample size items with the same label and give the magazines and bags to senior centers, shelters and the like – a great way to get your club’s name out there. A good rule of thumb? Never let anything go out to the public without your club’s name and a method of contact on it. Porterville GC also held a card party with the proceeds going to Penny Pines – how much did they make?  $2300!! 

Visalia GC holds plant swaps – you bring a plant and you get a plant – extras are sold. They also have a Landscape of the Month award.  Evening GC holds round table gardening discussions. La Casa GC makes generous donations to Habitat for Humanity. Hanford GC plants trees and roses and veggies – everywhere! Twenty trees at a school, 32 roses at the Memorial Wall in Hanford, and built six raised veggie beds for their youth group.

Caruthers GC, only two years old, participates in the last Free-Gate Fair in California and had interesting programs on white gardens and weed control. Sequoia GC is planting beds at a local shelter and is proud of their Smokey Bear Poster Contest winner. Four Seasons GC meets in the evening and manages a 2-acre Nature Trail that includes 140 trees. They also host an Arts and Crafts Fair that netted the club $3K.  Bakersfield Green Thumb GC has a table at meetings with jewelry or garden-related items for sale – proceeds going to Penny Pines. They report getting on average – one new member each month!

 From the District meeting, I had the incredible honor of presenting Ralph Moore with a CGCI Commendation for his extraordinary work in horticulture. Mr. Moore and I chatted for a long time – at least one of his roses is on every continent except Antarctica. I told him I had last visited his nursery in 1995 when I was in Visalia for the CGCI Convention. And he said to me, “Don’t wait so long to come back and visit.” Amazing 101-year-old gentleman.

Then we loaded up and caravanned to see the Monrovia growing grounds and then on to Woodlake Pride (http://news.ucanr.org/storyshow.cfm?story=153&printver=yes). Woodlake, California has good reason to show their pride. The demonstration agriculture display of more than 450 cultivars is impressive. Planned and planted by Woodlake’s youth under the direction of Manuel Jimenez, the garden gives you goose-bumps to see. From Woodlake Pride we had dinner that included Bleu Cheese ice cream and George and I scooted on home that night.

April 15 approaches. If you are on the CGCI Board of Directors and need a letter indicating the necessity of your attendance at board meetings, please click here.

Banner orders are coming in like crazy. We are going to have quite the Parade of Banners at Convention in Woodland Hills in June. I hope your club, district and council will have a place in that parade. Orders placed are generally delivered within two weeks. Click here for the order form.

This weekend I attended Orange County District’s Gardening Study School in Aliso Viejo at Soka University of America. They had a great line-up of instructors, wonderful facilities and a whole bunch of donuts! Maybe you’ll join us for Course II in August.

I’m off to the Pacific Region Convention in Portland, Oregon this week where I represent CGCI and TRY, in a mere three minutes, to report all the wonderful projects and events happening in California.

The thrill of hearing and seeing what CGCI clubs and districts are doing in our state is astounding – very much like Christmas. You keep me inspired. Merry Christmas!

Robin

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President’s Hot Flashes          February 18, 2008

And now I can justify this column. I actually have late-breaking news to report. The news of is that the dates of the 2008 Fall Board Meeting have been changed. The new dates of the meeting are September 9 - 11, 2008. There will be a Tri-Refresher at which everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend – they have lined up wonderful speakers and pending NGC approval, eligible Consultants can refresh their certificates.

You know the banners, Maryanne Lucas created? With the stunning poppies and your club, district or council’s name vertically presented along the side? Let’s have a Parade of Banners at our Convention Hotel in June. If everyone would bring their banner and their stand, we can make quite an impression, I bet. Place your order now with George Speer so you will have yours in time for Convention!

I made several notes from the reports at the Winter Board Meeting in Redding that I want to share with you. Boron GC, in Desert Empire District, has seven members and yet they created 250 stockings for distribution when Santa made his appearance at the 20-Mule Team Museum. I found small stockings at my local Big Lots store and bought all they had for a nickel each and donated them to Boron GC when I heard what they were doing. I think that’s amazing that a club of seven members can make such an impact!

Also interesting to note was that Costa Verde District is working on distributing their District newsletter to as many district members as possible – not just the officers and committee members. Email makes this financially feasible. Could your district do this?

Willits GC, in Mendo-Lake District, enters a float in local parades. Wish I could see pictures of their float.

Four clubs have availed themselves of the Blue Star Byway Marker grant money. That means four more clubs can still get in on the moola offered for this year from Principal Financial Group. Contact Ruth Angevine, to reserve your space on this list.

The air still has a bit of a chill to it. Reminds me of Christmas.  And speaking of Christmas and gifts…..the NGC/Principal Financial Group Grants have been announced and FIVE California clubs and our state project received funding. However, there are no losers this year. The remaining 15 clubs and 1 district will be receiving $250 CGCI grants. Merry Christmas!

Robin

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President’s Hot Flashes          February 7, 2008

So it’s been awhile since we chatted. All 12 trees went up at Christmas and everything was down in time to travel to Redding for the CGCI Winter Board Meeting. I enjoyed seeing the snow-covered Mount Shasta reigning regally outside our hotel windows and the tour to the Turtle Bay Exploration Park (www.turtlebay.org) and walking across the magnificent Sundial Bridge. Very cool. We presented a commendation from the Landscape Design Council for the Park’s excellent land use and design. We handled our business and I hope everyone felt the meeting was productive. I sure did.

On January 26, Greg and I went out to San Luis Obispo where I judged the Battle of the Bloom for Bob Gordon. Bob orchestrated a fantastic and profitable event featuring floral designers from our garden club world and the other world (non-garden clubbers). George Speer, our 3rd Vice President, did us proud and arranged several outstanding designs, some with a time limit, some with pre-selected materials and container. The finale was the Celebrity Design – the guest designers had their hands tied behind their backs and the San Luis Obispo mayor, councilwoman and your CGCI President (a known floral designer of negative talent – I can judge them but I cannot arrange them) then with only the verbal help of the guest designer created a design. I was surprised but had a great time! 

I enjoyed the hospitality of Palomar District on January 28 and a great floral design program (I can enjoy ‘em, just can’t arrange ‘em). On January 29, my mom turned 94 years old and we had family dinner and cake!  Last Monday I had a great time when I visited Orange County District and enjoyed some fantastic cookies that Director Carole Lung brought me (the world’s best cookie maker).  That brings us current.

This weekend I am off to Banning for the Palms to Pines District’s Winter Gathering. I am narrating their student design competition (I can talk about ‘em, but I can’t arrange ‘em.) Next week I offer my talents for Valentine’s Day at my friend Diane’s florist shop. Oh, calm down, I take the phone orders, she doesn’t let me near the roses unless it is to de-thorn them. I am looking forward to attending the 50th Anniversary party of Oasis GC of Indian Wells Valley on February 16. The following week I’ll be visiting Roadrunner District.

Have you heard of the Blue Star Memorials Grant money available? Two grant opportunities are offered and I have a short explanation of both programs – click here.

Those who attended the Winter Board Meeting were asked to complete Evaluation Surveys. Submitted surveys have been tallied and a recap is available – click here.

I have left a small 10” Christmas tree up in my office. It reminds me of how much fun I am having serving you these two years. Only 321 days till Christmas. Don’t believe me?  Then click here…http://mysite.verizon.net/vze201j5/countdown.htm

Robin  
            “Garden Club: A Natural Place to Grow”

President’s Hot Flashes November 17, 2007

I returned home this week from a “Presidential Tour” full of ideas and pride in the many accomplishments of our CGCI member clubs. My first stop was in Ripon at the Valley Lode District meeting. I stayed at Judi Picinini’s home. Judi puts up 12 Christmas trees and I know Bob Gordon puts up a dozen or so themed trees – so your President isn’t looking quite so odd now, is she?

Ruth and I then dashed back home that night to attend Walnut Creek GC’s meeting on Monday morning. We recognized the LD Commendation winner and we all participated in creating a candle centerpiece which was a lot of fun. I was honored with a donation to my Trail of Trees project and I was off again to Hanford. I stayed at the home of Barbara and Dick Dodge that evening and enjoyed a fantastic dinner created by Chef Dick. The next day I celebrated La Casa GC’s 55th Anniversary. Charter member Lilia Giacomazzi related the history of the club. President Barbara Dodge reported that the club made nearly $5,000 at the Fair. But I didn’t get to hear how they made so much money (maybe I can report that in another Hot Flashes). After eight wonderful days, I happily went home and introduced myself to my mom and husband. I wouldn’t have traded a single minute, though. Thank you all for a wonderful experience!!!

The outdoor lights went up yesterday (but they don’t get turned on until the day after Thanksgiving) and the Garden Tree goes up today. Oops! I got elfed! “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…”

Robin

My first “tour” is history and I came home with wonderful ideas and goodies. My first “tour” started in Fairfield at the Geranium City GC meeting. Lucky for me, the club was dedicating its garden which was a gift to the Senior Center. (You should see the wonderful 2-foot diameter, lighted, hanging Christmas sphere ornament I got at the Craft Store in the Center!). The garden was just beautiful and the mayor of Fairfield spoke to the club and thanked everyone involved and he pinned me with a Fairfield pin. 

Then I was off to Davis and the next morning visited Sacramento River Valley District at the Iva Shepard Art and Garden Center in Sacramento where we enjoyed tea and presented two Landscape Design Commendations. Bob Bigham was the guest designer and 75 attendees thoroughly delighted in Bob’s floral creations.

Then I made my way to Rohnert Park and had a great time with Luther Burbank District members. I presented a program, Black Magic in the Garden, and their raffle brought in $200.  Gayle Davis and the Rohnert Park GC (the meeting hosts) circulated a basket. All donations in the basket were matched 100% by Rohnert Park GC with the proceeds going to the Trail of Trees President’s Project. Luther Burbank District meeting members donated $100 so with the matching $100, a check has been sent to the CVBG for $200. Thanks, Rohnert Park GC and Luther Burbank District Members!! After the district meeting we all went to Gayle Davis’ home and had a bit of the grape and some yummy cheese.  Then District Director Cathy Biggins and I went to the mall where the Men’s GC of Santa Rosa was holding its semi-annual plant sale. I was able to leave some of my money with that club and brought home a wonderful alstroemaeria. Of particular note is that every pot in the sale contained a plant stick with the plant’s name and a second stick with the club’s name and contact number. I’ll bet they had a bunch printed and my guess is that’s an inexpensive way to make your club and contact information visible in the community.

Rohnert Park GC and Hesperia GC both had the same idea. They formatted their club yearbooks on 8.5” x 11” paper which can be easily inserted in the CGCI yearbook for those that had one and for those that did not have a state yearbook, the club yearbook was enclosed in a plastic theme binder which should be able to be purchased inexpensively and should last a few years. Hesperia GC’s yearbook included a one-page history of the club. That way, new members get a feel for the club and its past as soon as they join.

I’m off to Ripon for the first Valley Lode District meeting of this season then to Chicago Park GC for its Victorian Tea (have just been waiting to be President to be invited!) then to Walnut Creek to pick up Blue Star Memorial Markers Chairman Ruth Angevine. We’re going to head up to Trinidad for an Official Visit in Humboldt District and a Blue Star Marker Dedication with Patrick’s Point GC. Then we’ll dash back to Walnut Creek to attend the Walnut Creek GC meeting and then on my way home I’m happy to attend the 55th Anniversary of La Casa GC.

When I get home, Christmas goes up – all 14 trees!

Happy Christmas Halloween.

Robin  

October 14, 2007

The next deadline fast approaching is December 1 – yearbooks to CGCI Awards Chairman Nancy Lee Loesch. Our average is 100 yearbooks – can we break all records and get 150 clubs and districts represented?  All you need to do to enter is to clip an Evaluation Form (click here) inside the front cover and postmark by December 1 to Nancy Lee Loesch. I’ve offered to be on the judging team – come on, show me your stuff!

The Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl Poster Contest deadline – January 15 – is fast approaching. Will your youth group enter some posters? How about your kids’ or grandkids’ or their classmates?  Linda Riddle is looking forward to judging lots of posters – maybe she’ll ask me to help??  I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Have you thought about encouraging a student to apply for the CGCI, Pacific Region and NGC scholarships?  California is eligible for two $4,000 NGC scholarships. Click here for the CGCI scholarship form – CGCI offers two $2,000 and a Wil J. Tebo Scholarship of $1,000. Click here for the Pacific Region scholarship form – Pacific Region offers one $1,000 scholarship. Click here for the NGC scholarship form.

Some tidbits from your newsletters…..

From the newsletter of Garden Study Club of the Peninsula, Bay Ocean District: Spraying “Wilt-Pruf” on newly carved pumpkins will keep them from shriveling, collapsing and turning black. It will also keep holiday greens fresh longer. The product is made from pine oil and is more commonly used to guard against moisture loss through leaf transpiration in growing plants.

Colfax Garden Club News printed an excerpt from the club’s report to the Golden Foothills District. It was divided into state, district and local levels. This is a great way to keep club members aware of everything going on.

Temecula GC, Palomar District, has an Associate Member class of membership.  The class was created for those individuals and organizations unable to attend meetings but wishing to receive the newsletter. The dues are $10 which covers the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter.

It won’t be long before I have Greg drag out all the Christmas boxes.

Robin  

Were you at the Fall Board Meeting and meant to complete an Evaluation Survey but forgot to turn it in, or didn’t know where to turn it in?  Click here to download the survey and send it to me.

Have you seen the new CGCI banners? We ratified the purchase of three at the Fall Board Meeting. These banners are available for your club and district to use. Each of the vice-presidents has custody of one available for borrowing. You can also order a banner with your club or district’s name on it for $75 and a sturdy but lightweight stand to display the banner for an additional $20. Have you seen the new CGCI bookmarks? They display our name, logo and website. Order a quantity from your Membership Chairman George Speerwhose goal is 40,000 members! 

  The new CGCI banners
are 2 feet wide by 6 feet tall.

Mary Lou Goodwin hosted an Ice-breaker at the Fall Board Meeting. Mary Lou cleverly gave each person a card that had eight categories listed – attendees were to introduce themselves to others until they found a person that fulfilled each category. Their new friends in each listed category signed their names and listed their garden clubs on the card. Categories included: District Director, state chairman, sprays roses, Environmental Consultant, loves geraniums, etc. I was in the Executive Committee Meeting but I’d have loved to participate.

Some tidbits from your newsletters…..

Lake Forest GC, Orange County District, included a page with their newsletter that listed the officers and committee positions and associated duties for each. Members can consider holding an office or chairing a committee knowing what is expected of them. 

West Valley GC, San Fernando Valley District: Plant a couple of ‘Sunshine Blue’ blueberry bushes. For those in Southern California, add peat moss or plant with azalea/camellia planting mix. Maryanne Lucas says her bushes provided enough berries for her (and Bob’s) breakfast cereal. So I’ve planted 2 bushes that I got on the Post Fall Board Meeting Tour at Roger’s Gardens and I’ve got Mom on alert to be ready with a pie crust.

From The Desert Breeze, newsletter of Hi ‘N’ Dri Gardeners,
Roadrunner District

The Gardener’s Morning
The robin’s song at daybreak
Is a clarion call to me
Get up and get out in the garden,
For the morning hours flee.

I cannot resist the summons,
What earnest gardener could?
For the golden hours of morning
Get into the gardener’s blood.

The magic spell is upon me,
I’m glad that I did not wait.
For life’s at its best in the morning           
As you pass through the garden gate.

The air has that Christmasy feel about it, doesn’t it?

Robin  

September 22, 2007

I’m unpacked and the laundry is finished from our Fall Board Meeting in Long Beach. Diane Charbonneau and Costa Verde District outdid themselves putting on a fantastic meeting.

Forty people attended the Parliamentary Workshop given by Gerry Olsen–several returned after lunch   to   take   the   membership  exam. I  have  it  on  good   authority that 9 people passed the exam – some with perfect scores! Congratulations!

Many enjoyed a fun harbor boat trip before returning to lunch and a garden therapy program of making snowflakes from plastic six-pack rings. Excellent programs on dahlias and gesneriads punctuated our meetings. An auction of a few special CGCI historic items raised over $200 for the President’s Project. I was thrilled to receive on behalf of CGCI a letter from President George W. Bush congratulating CGCI on our 75th Anniversary and a U.S. flag flown over the Capitol Building in honor of CGCI. Click here to view letter

After the close of business, 14 of us went on the Post Tour & Tri-Refresher which included tours of a Japanese garden, a rancho garden, Sherman Gardens, Roger’s Gardens and Soka University of America’s campus landscaping where a Landscape Design Commendation was presented to Soka’s president.

In case you think I don’t read your newsletters…..

Petaluma GC, Luther Burbank District, held a Coffee Hour for new club members – a total of 37 members attended. Board members and committee chairs outlined their jobs, answered questions and welcomed the new kids. It was reported as “a very pleasant and productive morning.” It must be working as their newsletter reported that 7 guests attended the June meeting and 4 of them joined.

Fallbrook GC, Palomar District, distributed a member survey. The results are posted on the club’s website. Do you wonder what they asked and the feedback they received? Visit www.geocities.com/FallbrookGardenClub Fallbrook also holds a New Member Coffee – should your club try this?

From The Roadrunner, newsletter of Roadrunner District: Take a small pumpkin (any size will do, the mini ones are especially cute) and cut off the top as if making a Jack-o-lantern for Halloween. Scoop out the insides. Fill the cavity with potting soil. Plant a mum in the soil and water. If using for a display indoors, place the pumpkin in a dish as the bottom can get mushy. After the need for the decoration is over (and the pumpkin starts to decay) plant the whole thing (pumpkin plus the mum) outdoors keeping the soil level in the pumpkin even with the outdoor soil. The pumpkin will break down and provide fertilizer for the plant. The editor said, “I saw this idea in a magazine years ago and it works!! My mums came back the next year. This makes a great fall centerpiece, especially when several are grouped together. They are also pretty when several sizes are lined up on outdoor steps.”

3rd VP George Speer gave the members of the Executive Committee fancy name badges – thank you, George! On the box mine came in were the words, “Every day is like Christmas – Have a Merry CGCI Term.” I am indeed enjoying a very merry CGCI term.

Robin

A Fact Sheet on CGCI is available for download in MSWord format (click here)l. It has “just the facts, ma’am.” Include it with your press releases for background information.

State Pins and Misc Sales Chairman Jackie Jackman presented your President with a set of the new CGCI license plate frames which will debut at the Fall Board Meeting in Long Beach – may I say they look great on my new 2008 white pearl Highlander? Contact your District Director or a CGCI Chairman to pick up (at the Fall Board Meeting) a set for your car.

                         

Sharon Smith, President of Canyon Crest GC shared an idea for secretaries and treasurers. Sharon suggests that minutes and financial reports be stored on CD to be passed on to the next officers.

I promised to tell you how I grow onions – because I think it’s so ingenious I can’t stand myself some days! After the Northridge earthquake in 1994, there were many ceramic chimney flue liners out for the waste haulers to collect. I snarfed up several that were in good condition. The liners are 3-feet tall. Two liners make a set. I left one as is and got a friend with a diamond-bladed saw to saw off 1-foot of the second liner leaving a 1-foot, a 2-foot, and the uncut 3-foot liner. I lined them up stair-step-like and put a bunch of Styrofoam packing peanuts in the bottom of the 3-foot liner. But now here comes the magic….I filled the remainder of the 3-foot liner and the other two with a rich mixture of compost and planter mix.

I plant onions in the liners year round and always have fresh green onions and I leave a few to get substantially larger. Carrots grow long and straight in the rich, unpacked soil in the liner. Lots of vegetables grow well this way. So after the next earthquake…

Only 120 days until December 25 but it feels like Christmas every day in our house!

Robin

August 12,2007