Happy Valley Garden Club

Meeting Minutes – November 11, 2025

9:30 – 10 am   Social Time – Meet, Greet & Eat.

Hosting Today –Priscilla Robinson, Donna Simonson, Donna Endicott, Katherene Kerner, and Sue Gilbert

ATTENDEES: Pat Allen, Sandy Ahlquist, Lona Azar, Rita Baker, Diane Bryant, Karen Burmester, Mike Burmester, Elizabeth Cathey, Barb Decious, Gail Ely, Donna Endicott, Mary Lou Epperson, Jan Ferguson-Bresee, Sue Gilbert, Sheila Greer, Mary Horton, Katherene Kerner, Yvonne  Kochanowski, John Kochanowski, Julie Lund, Pat Marshall, Leona McDonald, Bob Mell, Carol Mohr, Helen Nolen, Sandy Platz, Ray Platz, Mike Rasher, Priscilla Robinson, Donna Simonson, Claudia Taylor, Patti Taylor, Leta Wyler, Wendy Young

Cheryl Mixson attended the meeting as a guest and joined the club today.

10:00 am

Speaker:   Audrey Sauble, author of several children’s books about nature, talked about journaling nature.  She shared some of her journals, discussed the different ways of keeping journals, and demonstrated using “measured drawing” to illustrate a maple leaf. She referenced the Wild Wonder Foundation (www.wildwonder.org) and John Muir Laws (www.johnmuirlaws.com) as sources for more information about nature journaling.

Business Meeting

  1. Treasurer’s Report: Sandy Platz reported that we have $2839.57 cash on hand. She tallied today’s donations for the new Gold Star Marker, and, along with earlier contributions, $640 has been raised.
  • Minutes of the August Meeting: A final draft of the minutes was emailed and stands approved.
  • Updates:
  1. Katherene Kerner said that she, Priscilla Robinson, and Sandy and Ray Platz decorated markers for Veterans’ Day.  Julie Lund suggested that we organize a field trip to see some of the markers.
    1. Priscilla Robinson reported that Harry Landers intends to continue to lead Garden Club and Master Gardener members in maintaining the Sara Hite Gardens. Next work party is November 17, starting at 8 a.m. This will be an easy end-of-season pruning effort. Please bring loppers.
    1. Yvonne Kochanowski discussed the Sustainability Committee, which includes Mike Burmester, Jan Ferguson-Bresee, Julie Lund, and Priscilla Robinson. She asked members to invite friends to a meeting. The committee is working on a survey to find out what members would like to do to encourage growth and connect with the community. Jan is creating a sign to display outside our meetings, and new business cards are coming.
  • Reminders:
  1. Christmas luncheon is 11:30 a.m. Tuesday December 9 at The Springs, 3160 SE 172nd Ave, Happy Valley (SE 172nd and Sunnyside). Price is $35, payable to Sandy Platz or check mailed to HVGC, PO Box 1204, Clackamas OR 97015.
    1. Field trip to Al’s Garden Center in Sherwood on December 2. Meet at the parking lot across from Leona’s at 10 a.m. to carpool.
    1. There are new updates on the website – check them out at www.happyvalleygardenclub.org.
    1. Work party at Sara Hite Gardens November 17 starting at 8 am. Bring loppers.
  • Horticulture: Mike Rasher brought in one of his outstanding sculptures, this time a wood-sculpted vase, with a floral arrangement.
  • Happy Birthday to our November Birthdays: Mary Horton – 7th, Connie Evans 15th
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Lou Epperson