9:30 – 10 am Social Time – Meet, Greet & Eat.
Thanks to hosts – Barb Decious, Claudia Taylor and Sandy Platz
ATTENDEES: Rena Ackley, Pat Allen, Sandy Ahlquist, Diane Bryant, Karen Burmester, Mike Burmester, Jennifer Buss, Elizabeth Cathey, Barb Decious, Donna Endicott, Mary Lou Epperson, Shelley Fenton, Sue Gilbert, Sheila Greer, Mary Horton, Katherene Kerner, Yvonne Kochanowski, John Kochanowski, Julie Lund, Pat Marshall, Leona McDonald, Roberta Mehta, Sandy Platz, Mike Rasher, Donna Simonson, Claudia Taylor, Wendy Young
10:00 am Welcome Guests and any New Members to our meeting
- Mary Davis, Milwaukie Garden Club
- Julie Lund’s dad, Chuck
10:00 – 10:30 Yvonne Kochanowski’s website presentation:
Yvonne has developed a very comprehensive, feature-rich website. She used the projector screen as well as guiding us to the website on our phones to follow along. The website name is www.happyvalleygardenclub.org. Password to be used by members is Crocus57%, and must be entered twice when prompted.
Yvonne encouraged members to provide memoir material, interviews with members, including audio and/or video clips. Discussion of whether additional mementos should be scanned for inclusion in the “Scrapbook” section.
Since the current website is fully password protected, a discussion regarding a public “About Us” page with general and membership contact information resulted in a straw vote in favor of adding this option.
10:30 – 11 am Indoor House Plant Exchange Game conducted by Shelley Fenton and Sandy Platz.
11 – 11:15 am Horticulture:
Julie Lund brought garlic starts that she developed using store-bought garlic bulbs and garlic cloves in water. The cloves can be planted and will provide both bulbs and “scapes” that can be used both raw and cooked or grilled.
Michael Rasher brought Janet’s dwarf fig plant which provides abundant fruit that doesn’t require a ladder to harvest.
Wendy Young brought gourd seeds to share. These gourds can be used as birdhouses.
Sue Gilbert brought several Crown of Thorns plants to share. They are a euphorbia species.
Business Meeting
- Treasurer’s Report:
Sheila Greer reported that as of January 27, 2025, there is $2765.31 cash on hand. All of the donations specified in the budget have been disbursed.
- Minutes of the November Meeting: The secretary’s final draft of the minutes was emailed and approved.
- Committee Reports / Project Updates:
- Membership: Wendy Young reported that there are 43 members from 39 households.
- Nominating Committee has been formed for next two-year term:
- Sandy Platz, Wendy Young, Shelley Fenton and Jennifer Buss
- Looking for members to fill the following positions:
- President, two VPs splitting planning duties (one VP plans speakers and serves as back-up to President, another VP plans field trips and coffee chats.) Treasurer, Hospitality Coordinator, who manages hostess list. Mary Lou Epperson has volunteered to serve another term as Secretary and Sandy Ahlquist has volunteered to serve another term as Sunshine Representative.
- Candidates will be introduced at the March meeting. New officers are then elected in April’s regular meeting and installed in May.
- Garden Club Updates and Info to share: Jennifer Buss
- Gardener of the Month Article for website: Rena Ackley volunteered to interview a member and provide material for the website to Yvonne.
- Clackamas district Lunch will be held on April 3rd Elks Lodge in Milwaukie
- Each club is to bring a centerpiece which will not be raffled off, although that decision may change.
- The sales table will only feature potted plants with a value of $5-$10 dollars???
- Registration will be managed by HVGC
- Speaker is slated to be: Chad Harris, well known for Irises and growing them.
- Happy Birthday to our February Birthdays – Diane Bryant (February 1st,) Donna Simonson (5th,) Leta Wyler (9th,) and Karen Burmester (10th)
- The March meeting will be at the church.
- Raffle: Katherene Kerner’s raffle prize was won by Donna Simonson. A straw vote determined that the majority of members favor eliminating the monthly raffle from this point forward.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at noon.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lou Epperson