9:30 – 10 am Social Time – Meet, Greet & Eat.
Hosting Today – Shelley Fenton, Jan Ferguson-Bresee, and Wendy Young, with coffee by Katherene Kerner and Donna Endicott. Rena Ackley was unable to attend the meeting but sent snacks.
ATTENDEES: Sandy Ahlquist, Lona Azar, Rita Baker, Diane Bryant, Karen Burmester, Mike Burmester, Jennifer Buss, Elizabeth Cathey, Barb Decious, Gail Ely, Donna Endicott, Mary Lou Epperson, Shelley Fenton, Jan Ferguson-Bresee, Sue Gilbert, Sheila Greer, Mary Horton, Katherene Kerner, Yvonne Kochanowski, John Kochanowski, Julie Lund, Pat Marshall, Leona McDonald, Roberta Mehta, Bob Mell, Carol Mohr, Helen Nolen, Sandy Platz, Ray Platz, Janet Rasher, Mike Rasher, Priscilla Robinson, Donna Simonson, Claudia Taylor, Patti Taylor, Leta Wyler, Wendy Young
Guests: Michael and Diane Morrow and Cheryl Mitson visited today’s meeting.
10:00 am Speakers:
Priscilla Robinson and Justin Dune, both Master Gardeners, gave a comprehensive talk about “Gardening Tool Essentials.” The talk included information about using the correct tool for specific tasks, cleaning and disinfecting tools during and after use, sharpening, and separating pest management from plant feeding tools. They also talked about methods of avoiding injury and muscle strain when gardening. Lastly, they described winterizing garden tools. They invited everyone to attend a Master Gardener meeting, at the Milwaukie Center, 5440 SE Kellogg Creek Drive, second Monday of each month, 6:30 p.m. Our website, happyvalleygardenclub.org, will include the slides used during the presentation.
Inspiration from Mike Burmester:
I’ve learned that friendship is incredibly important. I’ve learned that living alongside people who are different from you — even people you disagree with — is incredibly powerful. It feels like something we’re losing.
I suppose I’ve learned that this capacity — for curiosity, for new adventures, for new friendships — is something we risk losing if we don’t use it. Like local shops or like our arm muscles. If you don’t exercise it, it disappears. As we age, we’re told to focus on strength training for our bodies. I think the same applies emotionally. We need to train ourselves to deepen friendships, to discover new things, to find new avenues. That feels just as important. –Richard Osman, author of Thursday Murder Club series
Business Meeting Agenda
- Treasurer’s Report: Sandy Platz reported that, as of September 25, we had $3,337.31 in the treasury. Sue Gilbert distributed the Plant-a-Tree (formerly Pennies for Pines) can for contributions.
- Minutes of the September Meeting: A final draft of the minutes was emailed and stands approved.
- The District Meeting took place on October 9, with HVGC having the largest participation of any club. Leadership asked for feedback from all members regarding programs, recruitment and community outreach. The silent auction, sales table and raffle generated over $700.
Wendy Young reported that the district will develop a pollinator project this term, and asked club members to begin collecting materials (plates, stones) to make water stations for pollinators.
- Sara Hite Gardens: Priscilla Robinson said that Harry Landers will continue to have work parties for another year. Work parties will be on October 23 and 30, 10 a.m. to noon. Contact Priscilla for more information.
- Announcements:
Don’t forget to check our garden club website
happyvalleygardenclub.org
for additions and handouts from meetings, schedule updates, and pictures from get-togethers!
Claudia Taylor asked for a show of hands for attending a field trip to Al’s Garden Center in Sherwood, and it was decided to cancel it. She said that since Roberta Mehta cannot help in the field trip planning activities, she needs another volunteer.
Sign up to host 2026 coffee and refreshments at the monthly meetings.
Sign up to attend the Christmas party, to be held December 9 at The Springs.
Sign up to receive the District Newsletter.
Clipboards were circulated for the sign-ups.
- Reminders:
Coffee Chat at Elka Bee’s October 28 at 9 a.m.
- Horticulture: John and Yvonne Kochanowski brought in money plant starts to share.
- Happy birthday to our October birthdays: Claudia Taylor – 2nd, Jennifer Buss – 13th, Margie McDonald – 15th, Lona Azar – 18th, Sandy Ahlquist – 28th.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m. .
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lou Epperson