Category: News from National

 

Dear friends this is your invitation to  Rhapsody in Bloom.

“WNFGA members are invited to attend for a special fee of $50.

 

A Brave New Farm & Garden

 

It is a new year and a new look for our organization! The Board of Directors met in St. Augustine, FL over the recent Holiday Weekend. The date coincided with Founder’s Day. We accomplished so much business.  Louisa King and Jane Haines were looking over our shoulder. The Board covered many items on the agenda at the one-day meeting, among them:

• Proposed budget for 2012
• Findings of the Strategic Vision Planning Committee
• A By Law Amendment presented by Beacon Hill Branch (see Spring Magazine issue)
• Funding for Web Site completion
• Horticultural Therapy vs Recreational Therapy
• Chronicle Update
• Restructuring of the Organization (see Spring Magazine issue)
• 100^th  Anniversary Gala Celebration

There were other items that merited discussion, too. The above will be presented for final approval at the Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, PA this June. It is imperative that members attend; it is your organization, your ideas and your commitment that make Farm & Garden work.

If you have questions, please call your Division/Branch President.

Our plans for the 100^th Anniversary Celebration are taking shape. The dedication of the Hilda Justice House at Ambler College in November of 2011 was just the beginning. We now have permanent protected storage for our memorabilia. Our Giving Tree is leafing out; the lovely doves perched within the branches make it beautiful to behold. Make plans now to represent your Branch at Ambler College in 2014.

I wish each of you a very productive Spring season filled with sprouts, leaves and blooms.

Mary
Bertolini

National
President

 

The first weekend in September always marks the end of Summer. This past season has been a study of extremes. Too hot, or dry, or wet or you-name-it! Yet through it all, we persevered and reaped the benefits of our labors. Perhaps we should celebrate Labor Day as gardeners, too. For some, it is time to freeze and can, putting up jams and jellies, getting those fruit pies into the freezer for use during the cold months that will surely come along. It is such a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when we have worked hard on a project that is complete. Who doesn’t love a pat on the back? Wouldn’t we all like to hear Job Well Done!

Many Branches and Divisions are starting to meet after a long summer hiatus.  The reunions are such joy; what have you been doing? Any new grandchildren? Which trip did you enjoy the most? Tell me about the gardens you visited. Any new ideas for speakers this year or next? Can you suggest a good book/movie for us to review? These are but a few of the conversations that buzz about the room as members connect with each other and renew friendships.

There is much work to be done this season. We have all had occasions that caused us to delay clean up until Spring.  Oddly enough, the work waited patiently until we were ready for the task. This year, Farm & Garden needs work, too. We don’t have the luxury of waiting for the Spring season, our tasks are more pressing. The nominating Committee will be hard at work searching for  new officers for the next two year terms. We will need two Treasurers, two Secretaries, a Vice President and other Committee Chairmen to complete our list of officers. Perhaps you can say YES to the phone request. Don’t under estimate your qualifications for the job.  Many years ago, I had a teacher that rarely gave an A grade to any student. She had the reputation of a tyrant in class. I was unlucky enough to have her for English Literature.  Included in the syllabus was a study of poetry. Our mid term paper was due; we were given 3 topics from which to choose. I strayed from the beaten path, again, and chose my own theme: Comparison of 2 poems.  A few days after the deadline, the teacher announced 2 papers would be read by the authors to the class: one with grade A, the other a failing F. My paper was chosen to be read, and I was red-faced as I walked to the front of the class. I waited patiently while the “A” paper was read, sure that my renegade topic had failed miserably. At the end of the first reading, I walked to the podium and looked to the back of the room at the teacher. Rather than instruct me to begin, she asked for comments about the first paper. There were none. She then said: “And now, we will hear the “A” paper. You will all notice a difference.”  I nearly floated to the ceiling as I read my paper to the class. That vote of confidence from one individual was one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. From that day, I have been able to share with gratitude and self-belief that I had never experienced prior to that accolade.

Each of our members, too, has a talent to share. The National level hasn’t always communicated well with the Branch members. We are trying hard to change that perception. As Branch Members, you can meet us half-way by stepping up to jobs that need to be filled.  We will give you confidence to complete tasks, help with your “topic”, and accolades for a job well done. I wish everyone a pleasant and beautiful season filled with wonderful fruits of your labors.