The information to make your room reservations for the Spring National Meeting in June. You’ll find the links and instructions on the main web site. Please pay careful attention to the instructions so that you can successfully complete your room registration.
Click Here to go there now.
As the old year closes and the new year begins, you are probably marking your 2010 calendar with the important events that are coming up.
Please be sure to set aside June 2 – 6, 2010 for the WNF&GA Spring National Meeting in Grand Island, New York. A summary of the meeting schedule can be found on our main web site along with information and a reservation form for the Bus Tour. There’s also a link to the hotel if you’d like to make advance reservations.
As soon as the Spring Meeting Reservation Form is ready we’ll update you again. In the meantime, reserve those dates!
Celebrating In Style!
Foreground L-R: Bamberlee Barnes, MaryJo McInerney, Kim Vance, Elly Wilson Background L-R: Mary Hemmer, Marilyn Karpicke, RaeAnn Krauss
The Saginaw Branch of the WNF&GA had a tea on the 31st of August this year celebrating the 80th Anniversary of this Branch! The tea was held at the historical Castle Museum here in Saginaw. The Castle Museum was at one time Saginaw’s stately post office in downtown Saginaw. It is a beautiful building with its majestic turrets and marbled halls designed after a French Chateau. The castle was completed in 1898 and was saved twice through the years from demolition. Just visiting the castle is a pleasure in itself. Walking through the castle is so much of Saginaw’s past. You can almost imagine yourself standing there in the past at those places all but forgotten by the people of the here and now. It was such a fitting place to hold our anniversary tea.
We were pleased to have two guests from outside our branch attend our tea, Carroll Thomson (the Michigan Division WNF&GA president) and Claudia Scioly, who gave us a very remarkable and interesting recount of her Frysinger Exchange to Iceland at a lunch we held last year. It was so nice to have guests from the Division!! I think the tea topped everyone’s expectations of an old-fashioned tea. Each table was decorated by a different member of our Branch. Some were very fancy while others reflected a simpler tea you might have at home with your best friend. Each table had its own individual centerpieces, table settings, and teapots, provided by the table hostess. Finger foods were provided by members and their own recipes for the most part. They were amazingly good! Everyone had their best dresses on, some of us with hats and gloves. What a site to see! I think the ladies who founded our Branch would have been so proud of us!
On Saturday, October 10, 2009, a first of its kind event is taking place and you don’t want to miss it!
The Pennsylvania – Mongomery County Beekeepers’ Association and Temple University/Ambler Campus & Arboretum are joining together to sponsor the first ever public Honey Bee Symposium.
There will be plenty of great opportunities to learn about
PLUS …
There will be Guided Garden Tours, Guest Speakers, Books, T-shirts, Beekeeping Supplies, Seeds and lots more!
Space is limited, so be sure to Sign Up Now ( Registration Form in PDF format will open in a new window)!
You can look over the Bee Fest Schedule (or print it out to share with fellow gardeners) HERE
(PDF Schedule will open in a new window).
For all the details and a great-looking Bee Fest Flyer that you can print and share with your club members, Click Here. (PDF Flyer will open in a new window).
For More Information including Speaker Biographies and a Synopsis of each talk, visit the Pennsylvania – Montgomery County Beekeepers’ Association web site.
This sounds like such a fun and informative event! Hope you can make it.
Be sure to add to the message on your website, that not only did the Troy Branch in Michigan win a $500 cash prize for the “Plight of the Bee” program to help bees, but so too, did the Pennsylvania Keystone Ambler Branch. The judges were so impressed by the two top entries that a second award of $500 was made. How wonderful that there was a tie. An award also went to Audrey Ehrler’s New York Division.
Many awards went into our history. Jean DeDecker and Marla Diamond honored members throughout our meeting.
Barbara Hochstettler’s great knowledge of our organization kept our deliberations moving forward, her gracious tact and clear explanations always on point. Betty Monahan of course, kept us on the straight and narrow and offered many good ideas when not acting as Parliamentarian.
The entire meeting went smoothly under the watchful eye of Mary Bertolini who managed to be everywhere at once, even greeting members as they went to the registration desk, manned by Aileen LaBret with her skilful performance of duty and with the aid of the host Mayflower Branch. The members greeted everyone in black and yellow bee costumes, and with useful bags that could be used as at home tote bags with tasteful green decorations. These were filled with “Welcome to the Meeting” gifts.
Congratulations to Carol Leonard and Mary Merten on the “Silent Auction” … great success!!
Susan Hunt got all of us on historical [and sometimes hysterically funny] “Duck” tours of Boston and then to the Harvard Club in the midst of the Harvard University campus. There, after a splendid luncheon, we heard Allyson Hayward present excerpts from her book on landscapes designer Norah Lindsay.
At night, a nice tented clambake, garden tour and music at the home of Faith and Joseph Tiberio. Next! Our meeting will be at Niagara Falls.
Mayflower Farm and Garden wrote:
Good afternoon,
I am enjoying a quiet Sunday afternoon after spending three busy days
at the WNFG Annual Meeting. Everyone had a great weekend from the
moment they were greeted by buzzing bees at the registration table,
thanks to a few of our brave MFG members. Our gifts bags were a real
HIT! On Wednesday night, Susan served a delicious fried chicken
dinner accompanied by a variety of delicious vegetables. The dinner
ended with a dessert of frozen honey and lavender custard, circled with
fresh strawberries laced with rose water, and little bees topped the
custard. Bright and early Thursday morning, we met at the Natick
Crown Plaza and made our way into Boston for the famous Duck Tour and
lunch at the Harvard Faculty Club with a speaker who educated us about
the very talented gardener, Norah Lindsay. The heavens were with us,
we managed to get through the day without a drop of rain despite the
forecast.
Friday, we got down to business, heard reports from other divisions
and branches, brainstormed ideas on increasing membership, and
marveled at the wonderful branch projects. The rich history of WNFG is
one to be admired along with the dedication of its members. We hope
to be able to share this with the women of Mayflower FG. We were
very fortunate to sell some of our bags as well as raffle tickets to a
two night stay at Hotel Sofitel of Philadelphia. As the day went on
the rain to came and went. We hoped for another blessing from the
heavens, which was answered, the sun shined and the temperatures
warmed as the large bus, which brought the majority of members to the
annual meeting, once again carried them down the windy, back streets
of Sherborn to Faith’s home for a traditional New England clambake.
We strolled the magnificent gardens listening to a jazzy, blues
singer, sipped white wine and shared conversation with our new friends.
It was truly an unforgettable evening.
Bright and early on Saturday, we continued our business meeting with
our WNFG President, Faith Tiberio presiding. After lunch we headed
over to the amazing Garden in the Woods. Our member, Sylvia Anderson,
aided the guides with her great breadth of knowledge on native plants.
It was wonderful to walk among the natural beauty of nature. What we
assumed was native to New England, we soon learned that our friends
from Ohio and Michigan had similar plants as well. It was fun to
share our gardening stories with each other.
Saturday evening the ladies dressed in their finest and we shared in
the frenzy of a silent auction, a presentation of awards and the
drawing of the raffle. Barbara Hochstettler was delighted to have
her name picked. Hugs all around, we said our good byes and promises
to meet next year in Buffalo.
We hope many more of you can join us next year.
Keep a lookout for more news this summer.
Fondly,
The Lisas
Our meeting in Pennsylvania was a huge success! Everyone enjoyed the 3 days of touring, meeting and networking. After a few glitches were fixed, our time in Plymouth Meeting was perfect. The Keystone Branch, hostesses for this event, treated all attendees to a lovely basket of treats chosen specifically for this event. It included such items as a plant “Monkey”, antique handkerchief, Tasty Cakes, seeds and an aloe plant. Each basket was unique, making choices hard on the recipients. Lucky for us, Jorie Nailor, President of Keystone, was there to help guide us. Rebecca Bakker and Elaine arranged the baskets for us. What perfection! Thursday found us touring Ambler College to visit the Head House and gardens. We saw firsthand the possibilities for our new WNF&GA Exhibition Center. We will still call our project the Ambler Greenhouse, and fundraising suggestions were rampant at a brainstorming meeting that evening. As Hazel Herring said so succinctly: We WILL raise the money. Let’s get busy, as we have only 11 more months to raise this year’s goal of $49,000.00. Following the visit to Ambler, we moved on to the Highlands. After a very satisfying lunch, everyone marveled at the historic home and beautiful gardens. A peek at the Pink Room was on every one’s list of things to do outside. It was warm in the sun, so we gathered back into the bus or vehicles and were off to Wyk. This historic home, just inside the Philly limits, is an oasis of green. The home is filled with lovely furniture, decorative accents and boasts a beautiful rose garden. The heady perfume of antique roses greeted everyone as they stepped into the warm summer air. A special spiced tea and scrumptious cookies refreshed our souls and spirits. It was time to return to the hotel for a quick swim, nap or relaxation before our floral seminar.
The participants selected one of three container styles filled with pre-soaked oasis. The Keystone Branch provided flower stems and greenery which were arranged by members under the guidance of our Floral Designers Branch. The masterpieces were grouped together at tables as centerpieces that evening at dinner. Later, the arrangements were taken to Northview to accent the nooks and crannies of the garden on Friday evening. Our guest speaker, Michael Tooley, gave us an unusual look at the life of Gertrude Jekyll. His slides and wit were informative and entertaining.
Friday morning saw an early start to our National Meeting. Much business was covered by the Council, Officers’ reports, Chairman’s reports and new business. Later that day our hostess, Jenny Rose Carey, welcomed everyone to a perfect evening at her home, Northview. The dinner prepared and served by members of the Keystone Branch was a gourmet delight. Our attendees owe a huge thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this dinner a memorable event. As the evening grew long, those who wished to participate in the Challenge Class for arrangers migrated to the Carriage House. An array of flowers, greenery and fruits and vegetables were available to make an arrangers choice of design. The empty baskets placed on tables were ready for use as containers. Six arrangements were completed, all beautiful and unique. These were transported to the hotel to be used as centerpieces for our gala installation dinner on Saturday. Members returned to the DoubleTree hotel fully sated and ready for rest.
Saturday morning found us under a heat advisory with temps expected to be in the dangerous range for heat index that afternoon. Everyone left for their choice of Longwood Gardens or Morris Arboretum armed with plenty of advice to keep cool, drink water and watch over each other. The heat didn’t dampen any one’s spirits and enhanced the gardens. Lunch was included for all, as was a stop in the gift shop. The buses returned to the hotel by 2:00 PM, giving all time to rest, nap, swim, shop at Plymouth Meeting Mall, or relax and visit in the lobby. A farewell reception for outgoing National President, Marla Diamond was held in the hospitality room. This was followed by our usual silent auction and cocktail reception. Members enjoyed fast and furious bidding wars on a few items. As dinner progressed, so did the bidding. Just prior to dessert, the auction was closed and high bidders were proclaimed aa victors on their purchase. Recognition awards by Past President Hazel Herring were followed by Marla Diamond’s Farewell address. The installation ceremony conducted by Past President Barbara Hochstettler was quite moving. Our new National President, Faith Tiberio, gave a resounding address that charged everyone to reach new goals and heights. A congratulatory reception for our new President marked the end of a wonderful three day event.
Early Sunday morning, members from Michigan and Ohio boarded the bus to return home. Other members from the New England area, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas said their farewells until next year.
Plan on joining us for a wonderful event next June. Watch this website, or the National Magazine for details.
The national meeting is so close! We are planning a wonderful 3 days of information, networking, touring, and sharing.
Those new to the national meetings will find many exciting events along with an astounding array of ideas. Long time members have much to share in both history and traditions. Members who have attended a few meetings in the past will find friends to greet them and will want to catch up with personal details of family and Branch progress. Everyone brings new ideas, a new way of looking at Farm & Garden.
Our Hostess Branch, Keystone, has worked to bring this year’s event to the next level in technology and touring. With only one day of meetings, we have a whole year’s work to review. There is planning for our future, not only next year, but 10, 20, even 30 years from now. We must remember our past to chart our course for the years ahead. Everyone who attends a National meeting makes a difference in their local Branch.
I can hardly wait to meet this year’s ambassadors of National Information. You are the most important link between National and local. Pack your bags, members, we have lots of work ahead!
