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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.

June 2009 Annual Meeting

          The annual June meeting of our beloved organization brought so many of us old and new friends together, that the feeling swept over us that we would wait for our meeting in Niagara Falls with great anticipation. So mark your calendars, June 2-6, 2010. I have already put my first change in a sugar bowl to save for the trip. I do this weekly. By June, it helps.

            To report to you all the great ideas actions and plans which took place will have to be done over a period of time. Most important to you, is that Hazel Herring, Margaret Latham and Carol Leonard met frequently over the course of the meeting, to up-date Linda Lowe our liaison with Temple-Ambler about the Visitor Center / Greenhouse Fund. We are almost at out $50,000 goal, due to the wonderful generosity of you all. You must congratulate yourselves, because you will have pledged and made good, a gift of $150,000 to establish this “home-base” for the National Farm and Garden Association. I believe this to be the largest such gift in our history.  You accomplished this in a short period of three years. Our heartfelt thanks to Hazel Herring and her committee and all of you who created fund-raising events, objects and achievements.

          And more thanks to Mary Bertolini, Aileen La Bret, Linda Coughlin and Joanne Harreld who got us all together in our circle of gardening friendship.  Next month I will report to you in some detail the goings on our meeting and travels, and the lovely, intelligent women and yes, men, who made it fun and easy.