Standing Committee and Current Chairs
Budding Ideas -- Anne Southworth
Budding Ideas is our newsletter. It is distributed to members at each meeting and mailed to those who
could not attend. The Editor attends Executive Board meetings to gather news and information about
coming events. She writes the text, adds photos or graphics if needed. Then she takes the master
copy to a printer to have a sufficient number printed. She distributes Budding Ideas at the
meeting and takes the remainder to mail to absentees.
Civic Projects -- Gerry Emmert
Over the years our Garden Club has donated plants, trees and garden items to the town. The Civic
Projects Committee is in charge of seeing that these remain sites of beauty. The Committee currently
maintains nine sites around town. The Committee Chair organizes teams of members and assigns
them a particular site. In spring, they meet at the site to clean up winter debris and at some sites they
plant annuals. Then the team members take turns tending the site all summer. Some sites only need
watering, some need weeding and deadheading. This is a large committee so that the amount of work
is not overwhelming for any individual. Please consider signing-up for this committee in addition to
another one. Many hands make light work. Your help to keep Brewster beautiful is much needed. And
it is a great way to contribute to the town in a meaningful way.
Conservation -- Alyce Favreau and Irma Rendina
The Conservation Committee keeps an eye on national, state and local issues concerning the
environment in order to alert the membership if action is needed. The Committee Chair brings this
information to our attention by speaking at meetings. Some town warrant articles, for example, might
need our support (or opposition). The Committee also keeps us informed of news from local
organizations such as the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, the Brewster Conservation Trust, and
others.
Horticultural Education -- Ursula Gainty and Diana Ovian
This Committee does a variety of things:
- They write the Horticultural Hints in the Yearbook.
- At each meeting a member presents an informational "horticultural minute."
- Every year they decorate a Christmas tree for the Brewster Ladies' Library.
- Every year they choose the winner of the Annual Beautification Award and present a certificate.
- And every summer, they arrange a tour of members' gardens.
Hospitality -- Julie Deloye & Karen Thurber
The Hospitality Committee is responsible for supplying refreshments at our meetings. A Chair is
assigned for each month, and she organizes the team of cooks and bakers (already assigned by
month). The Chair phones team members and arranges what each is to bring. She gets to the
meeting early to set up the refreshment table and start coffee and tea. Her team helps organize place
mats, paper goods, cream, lemon, etc. Two people bring floral centerpieces. After the meeting, the
Chair and team members clean up and stow away the equipment.
Membership -- Gail Hanson and Karen Matthews
The Membership Committee keeps accurate and up-to-date records of membership and attendance.
They supply name tags for members and applications for new members;they work at the registration
table to greet members and guests. At each meeting the Membership Chair introduces new members
and gives them a welcome gift. She is also in charge of committee sign-up every year.
Program -- Jane Wick and Sheila Garran
The work of the Program Committee starts early because next year's schedule of speakers must be
set in time to go into the yearbook. Committee members meet and discuss various speakers that they
have heard or that have been recommended. They decide on a tentative list, then the Chair contacts
the speakers and arranges date, time, and payment. The Chair prints up flyers for distribution around
town. Beginning in October, members of the committee take turns introducing each speaker, then
thanking and paying each. Speakers are also given a complementary copy of our Cookbook. At the
end of the year, the Program Committee may distribute an evaluation questionnaire to members to
gauge member reaction. Then it is time to start the process all over again for the next year.
Publicity -- Janet Husband and Donna Hill
The Publicity Chair writes and mails or emails news releases about each Garden Club meeting to local
newspapers and radio stations. She publicizes all special events or activities--preferably with an
accompanying photo. Keeping our club in the public eye is a way of attracting new members and
gaining the respect of the town. The Publicity Committee also keeps a scrapbook of Garden Club
activities.
Raffles -- Joy Motisi and Mae Trapasso
This Committee is in charge of the in-house raffle that we have at each of our meetings. Tickets are
available at the door and at least four prizes are given away each month. The Committee makes or
buys the raffle items--usually a plant or other garden related item. Each month, a designated "crafter"
designs a flower arrangement for the raffle. Other raffles may be held throughout the year at events
such as the Annual Plant Sale, held the Saturday before Mother's Day.
Remembrance -- Donna Hill
This Committee, usually a small one, is responsible for sending get well cards, plants and/or
condolence cards to Garden Club members and their families. The Chair relies on all club members to
relay relevant information to her. She also keeps members informed by announcing at meetings when
a fellow member is in need of support and good cheer.
Telephone and Email -- Louise Crane & Mary Biondi
Members of the Telephone Committee send an email or telephone message reminding members of
each upcoming meeting and any special events or instructions that may be necessary.
Special Committees and Current Chairs
Annual Luncheon -- Donna Hill
This Committee plans our club's annual luncheon in June. They evaluate and choose a local
restaurant. Then they contract with the restaurant for the date, time, number of attendees, and cost.
They they produce and distribute a registration form to each member. They collect pre-payment and
tally food choices, coordinate with and pay the restaurant and purchase floral table decorations which
will also serve as door prizes. On the day of the luncheon, Committee Members arrive early, set up a
registration table with name tags and raffle tickets and greet attendees. After lunch, they raffle off the
door prizes.
Auditor -- Ann O'Connell
The Auditor (usually only one person) reviews the club's finances annually and advises the Treasurer.
Bylaws -- Jane Wick
The Bylaws Chair keeps track of changes that may be necessary and advises the Executive Board.
She formulates and reads the proposed changes to the membership, explains any background and
answers questions. Then at the next monthly meeting, she takes a vote on the proposed changes.
Community Holiday Decorations -- Dot Barnard and Anne O'Connell
The Co-chairs of this Committee organize a workshop in November (usually at the VFW Hall) and invite
members to come and help make swags and wreaths to decorate the street signs and public buildings
in Brewster. Members bring fresh greens and work all morning to make lovely seasonal decorations.
Supplies and bows are provided by the Committee. The swags are installed on street signs along 6A
by students at the Cape Cod Vocational High School. Members usually deliver the wreaths to the
public buildings. In 2009, this Committee made 65 swags and 16 wreaths--a new record!
Cookbook Sales -- Pat McLeod
This Committee (usually only one person) stores copies of the club's cookbook, "A Taste of Brewster,"
and sees that local merchants (primarily the Brewster General Store) are well supplied. She keeps
track of our stock and tells the Executive Board when more need to be printed. She also brings copies
to sell at meetings and various club functions.
Education Grants -- Maureen Perri and Sue Johnson
The Garden Club started a new program of annual grants to Brewster's elementary schools to support
garden related special activities. The Chair of this committee delivers applications to the schools and
serves a liaison for the grants. Applications are reviewed by an ad hoc committee and award
recommendations are presented to the Executive Board.
Festival of Tables -- Joy Motisi and Sam Gardiner
The Club has presented a number of these public exhibits in the past (frequently held at the Ladies
Library). The Chair coordinates the event. 20 members of the club each create a themed table
setting--with cloth, napkins, china, serving dishes, candles, etc. and a coordinating flower
arrangement. Themes can be holidays, special events like wedding anniversaries, or something more
creative. The public is invited, refreshments are served, donations at the door are encouraged.
Finance Committee -- Susanne Sullivan
Always Chaired by the Treasurer, this ad hoc committee prepares an annual budget in March and
presents it to the membership at the April meeting, to be voted on at the May meeting. The committee
advises the Executive Board and the membership about all financial matters.
Plant and Bake Sale -- Gerry Emmert
This Committee is responsible for organizing and managing the Plant and Bake sale held annually on
the Saturday before Mother's Day. All club members are expected to contribute at least 5 plants and
one baked good for this effort. Committee members work in groups at various tasks--publicity, set-up,
pricing, sales, cleanup, cashier and general helpers. Volunteers from the club are scheduled to help
for several hours during the day of the sale and the day of preparation before.
Scholarship -- Liz Jayes
The club offers an annual scholarship of $2,000 to a local student who is studying in a field related to
gardening--conservation, landscape design, ecology, etc. The Chair of this committee takes
applications to the local schools and colleges and publicizes the scholarship. Together with an ad hoc
committee, she reviews the applicants and selects a winner who is announced at the annual luncheon.
The check is presented to the winner after his or her first completed semester of schooling. A photo of
the presentation is taken for publicity.
Website -- Pauline Marry
Establishes and maintains a website to provide information and photos about the Club and its activities
to club members and to the public. The website contains information about meetings, membership,
programs, history, bylaws and special events.
Yearbook -- Julie Mahoney
This Committee produces the Annual Yearbook which is distributed at the first meeting in the fall. It
contains a schedule of programs, list of officers and committee members, bylaws, directory of
members, and many other items of information. The Chair must gather information from numerous
committees, do the fact checking, typesetting, proofreading and graphic design. The master is then
taken to a printer (usually the Cape Cod Technical High School).