2011 Annual Meeting - April 6, 2011

Below is a summary of the Annual Meeting Agenda. Many thanks to Susie Glessner who graciously hosted the meeting at her spectacular home. Carol Williams and Paige Mercer prepared a delicious tea for all.

Just some of the many IGC members who attended the Annual Meeting at Susie Glessner's.

Carol and Paige helped make the tea special

We need your recipes!

1. President's Report - Janet expressed her thanks to all and reviewed the many events and accomplishments of the club this year. She is excited to continue her term as president for another year.

2. Welcome to our New Members -Janet introduced some very special people:
Nancy Howard, Allison Kemmerer, Connie Price, Terri Stephens, and Landi VanAlen

3. Treasurer's Report - Laurie McAleer -- 4/6/11 Checkbook balance $5,933.62

4. Committee Reports

a. Program 2011-2012- Alicia Moore-- April 16th we meet again with Scott Santino to view spring at the Audubon Sanctuary. After Arbor day and the Plant Sale, 35 are signed up to end the season with the June 11th cruise among, and ashore, the Boston Harbor islands. Thanks to Johanna Zabriskie for organizing this.

The new 2010-2011 program so far includes:

September -Supervisor of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation -"State's park lands in and around Ipswich".

October - Catherine Carney-Feldman, "Butterfly Gardens", talk and demonstration.

November- US Fish & Wildlife's scientist/expert on how deer affect the distribution of our native, often-rare, native plants.

December - "Holiday Greens Meeting"

January- Eric Josephson - "Raising Bees"

February- Fred Rice returns with "A World of Small Gardens"

March -Joyce Kippin, a 'hands-on' in her own greenhouse.

April and May - Annual Meeting and Plant Sale

May- to Tower Hill Gardens, or visit local Giant Vegetable Growers and their plants.

June - 2012's annual 'romp' will be an overnight to the garden glories of Portsmouth and around.

Many thanks to members for their suggestions. Keep them coming. Thanks also to the hostesses and coordinators of our meetings.

b. Newsletter/ Blog - Paula Jones -- Look for a June newsletter, bookmark and check the blog often for updates and news, contribute your ideas for the blog to Paula, Therese and Maureen and feel free to make your comments there.

c. Membership- Jani Gunsaulus reports we have 47 active members including 5 new members joining today.

d. Green's Meeting- Paula Jones volunteered to coordinate the event and at the meeting, Annie Pulver said she would be happy to co-chair. Dianne Fishbach will continue to organize the luncheon. Many thanks to Susie Glessner and Laura Larson who have chaired this event for many years.

e. Conservation- the committee has been re-activated under the expert guidance of Kerry Makin. Aldyth Innis, Carol Williams and and Joyce Kippin are joining Kerry to work on the club's behalf in this important area.

f.Beautification - Ann Wright needs more volunteers to help with Spring/Summer plantings of Market Square Island, Getty Station Island and improvements at Hall Haskell beds at the Visitor's Center.

g. Ross Committee- Paige Mercer, Dorcas Rice reported updates about the Washington Street project which elicited many comments. Paige and Dorcas advocated members of the club attend and voice their concerns at town meetings over the Washington Project and other upcoming projects (e.g. North Main renovation).

5. Town Wharf Project- Paige Mercer's plan for plantings and walkway was presented.

6. June 11th Boston Harbor Tour - final plans and payments

7. Library Donation - Club voted to donate a garden book to the Ipswich Library annually with the okay of the library. See this year's donated memorial books that are displayed in the library now.

8. Membership -- Club voted to keep the membership cap at 50 and to contact non-attending members to consider moving their status from "active" to "sustaining".

9. Annual Plant Sale- Laurie Matson and Laurie McAleer passed out sign-ups for "Dig Days" and Friday, May the 13th set up afternoon. Also a sign-up for the Pre Plant Sale "Potluck" dinner was circulated. Members were given postcards to send friends announcing the Plant Sale. Laurie McAleer urged members to show up for the Plant Sale. Gail Anderson is looking for donations of "antique" plants for the sale.

Congratulations to Judy Hallberg who won this year's Greenslet Competition at the annual meeting. Her spring rain boot took the prize over many other charming entries.