“AN INSIDE LOOK AT WNF&GA: IT’S HISTORY AND LEGACY”
Founder’s Day was celebrated by neighboring branches Juliet, Troy and Warren having combined their meetings to share in the significance of the day.
Opening remarks to the 76 in attendance were made by Michigan Division President, Carroll Thomson and a defining letter was sent by National President, Faith Tiberio:
“Our founders certainly knew the importance of a system of independent Branches which are connected with each other and become one under a unifying umbrella known to us as “National.”
“National” provides legal protection, guidance and goals. Branches by themselves do wonderful, important work within a limited circumference of service. Together, the Branches multiply and extend service and influence.
Consider National’s “Bee Project”. Each Branch succeeded in doing what it could to ease this terrible nation-wide agricultural crisis; together all the Branches, all the members communicating, exchanging ideas and plans of action under the leadership of National truly made a difference.
I congratulate you. I thank you and cheer you on. Your founders knew that your combined Branches truly made a “Tree of Life.”
“Plight of the Bumblebee” Challenge Winners
WNF&GA president Faith Tiberio recognizes the “Plight of the Bumblebee” which threatens our fruit and vegetable crops. With this in mind, she sponsored a contest in the fall, 2008 issue of Farm & Garden magazine in which a $500.00 prize would be given to the branch who has done the most to publicize and promote help for the bees locally.
The Troy Garden Club in Michigan is proud to be the winner of this award.
The picture shows some members gratefully toasting President Faith with a glass of Mead (honey) wine upon learning of this award. You can check the Troy, Mi website Wild Bee Program page to learn more about the efforts to promote bee education.
The prize money will be used to purchase items for the Troy Outdoor Education Center where instructional beehives have already been set up and will further promote this cause.
In addition, two of our members, Susan Vette and Mary Hrynik won $50.00 prizes for their recipes using honey.
News From Michigan: Bees
Bee-cause we want to share some information that was provided at our April meeting about wild bees, we have put the outline of the program on our website. It is titled “Wild Bee Pollination” and was given by Julianna Tuell, PhD., Research Associate, Pollination Ecology, Michigan State University.
You can access it at the WNF&GA site, Michigan Division, Troy Garden Club Branch and selecting the Wild Bee Program page. OR you can simply click this link: Wild Bee Program for the pictures and this one: Wild Bee Program Presentation for the presentation in PDF format.