Present in-person: Adler, Amato, Beary, Coombs, Dillon, Donahue, Dorin, Duncan, Eyler, Hannigan, Hardis, Hauptman, Julian, Leonard, Macleod, Mark, McGuire, Murray, Porto, Rohde, Straub, Taplett, Valla, Williams (24)

Present via Zoom: M. Collins, Hansen, Hicks, O’Hare, Schmiedeberg, Stewart (6)

Guests: Beth Marren and Elizabeth Tretter

President’s Welcome: Amy called the meeting to order, welcoming all those present in-person and via Zoom to our second hybrid meeting. She thanked Mary for her on-going work to reschedule meetings during the pandemic and for opening her garden for today’s meeting. Amy thanked Pam for handling the Zoom call and video, Chris D. and Marilyn for offering LGCR items for donations at the meeting, and Chris D. for bringing snacks. Minutes for the October meeting were approved by a voice vote of in-person members and Zoom poll.

Committee Reports:

Civic: (Schmiedeberg) Speaking for Phyllis, Mary announced that Library Holiday Decorations will be different this year due to the pandemic. RGC will decorate the outside of the Library and LGCR will provide poinsettia plants for the inside. Connie and Dolores volunteered to meet with Chris Shoemaker, the Library Director, to assess the number, size and location of the plants required. They will purchase the plants, green foil wrappers and plastic saucers, and deliver them to the Library. Librarians will water the poinsettias.

Conservation: (Dorin) Speaking for Andrea, Amy announced that the GCA Conservation Study Group is running a free on-line program on November 17 and 18 with two sessions each day. Members can get information on speakers and sign up on the GCA website. Registrations due by November 16.

Fundraising: (Duncan/Gonzalez-Molina) Chris D. announced the offering of LGCR Ornaments in exchange for donations to the Club, $30 for one or $50 for two. This is in lieu of the traditional WinterGarden fundraiser. The Ornaments were hand painted by a local order of nuns, showing the new Club logo. Chris D. will be sending out an email featuring the Ornaments with a link for on-line orders later today. It is hoped that conditions will improve so that we will be able to hold a Spring Garden luncheon and boutique, with a presentation by Kent Russell on May 5.

Programs: (Julian/Williams) The December meeting is a virtual Holiday Tea and presentation by Kathryn Aalto on the forest that inspired the 100-Acre Wood in Winnie-the-Pooh. Mary reminded members that they must RSVP promptly so that they can receive a goodie bag with tea items—a mug, tea, handmade biscuits (from Cheryl and helpers), local honey and more-- to enjoy during the presentation. Mary canvassed members to see how many would be interested in purchasing Aalto’s book, which costs $30 inscribed. As a result of the count, Mary will order 15 to 20 books for members of the Club to purchase. Mary is working on a replacement for the January program, which must be replaced with a virtual meeting due to the pandemic.

Membership: (Taplett/Leonard) Jean introduced two new prospectives at the meeting, Beth Marren and Elizabeth Tretter. Jean announced a new program proposed by Kate McGough, which would reach out to children and parents in the three Rye elementary schools. With 1000 daffodil bulbs donated by Chris D., 200 interested students will be given bags of daffodil bulbs with instructions for planting and identifying markers. Volunteers are needed to help fill the bags this Thursday, and then to help deliver the filled bags to students. Those interested should contact Jean.

Photography: (McGuire/Rohde) Pam distributed flyers for the virtual Club photography show “The Circle Game” scheduled for May 2021. Registration has begun and entries should be submitted to Pam via email. Pam urged members to start taking pictures using their phones. Cheryl announced that Susie O’Connor, the Zone III Hort. Chair is looking for photos of late fall, early winter gardens for the next issue of The Real Dirt. Photos must be submitted by today, November 10.

Treasurer’s Report: (Donahue) Marilyn reported that there is $94,198 in the combined checking and savings accounts and that the Club has sufficient funds for operations even without our traditional winter fundraiser. She asked that members submit their Club related expenses to her for reimbursement.

Nominating Committee: (Adler) Cheryl will be naming 4 additional members to the Nominating Committee shortly, and the Committee will begin meeting in January to select a Board for the two-year term beginning Summer 2021.

Holy Child Daffodil Program: (Chris D. and Cheryl) Working with Toni Archibald, the Director of Community Outreach at Holy Child, Chris D. and Cheryl have set up this on-going program. They reported that last month 45 fifth and sixth grade girls planted 550 daffodil bulbs at the school. Classroom programs in various academic subjects are planned to accompany the students’ daffodil cultivation project. It is hoped that the students will participate in the LGCR Daffodil Show in the spring.

Daffodil Show: (Amato/Beary) Marianna announced that the Daffodil Show will be held at the Jay House again this year. If an in-person show becomes impossible due to the pandemic, they will work on a form of virtual show.

Thank you notes: Amy read a note from Pam Selden thanking us for the GCA Member Years of Service Award she received in September, which recognized her 35 years of membership. Amy reported that she has received a thank you from the GCA for the LGCR’s donation to the GCA General Scholarship Fund. Amy congratulated Chris D. on her acceptance to the GCA Floral Design judging program.

The meeting ended at 11:05.

Presentation: Brian Bradley, Sky Hunters in Flight.

Next Meeting: December 4, 2020, 2:30 PM, Virtual Holiday Tea and Presentation by Kathryn Aalto, The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh, A Walk Through the Forest that Inspired the 100-Acre Wood.

Karen Coombs, Recording Secretary