November 4, 2002 Minutes

The meeting was called to order by President Anne Kerfoot.

Treasure's Report
Mae Wolfe gave the Treasure's Report.  The total net worth of the club is $7105.35.  $3750.00 is in the Heritage park CD, $3239.70 in savings, $19.10 in checking, $60 in car wash tokens, $10 in petty cash, and $25.90 in postage stamps.  Activity since the last meeting resulted in a net decrease of $10.  There was an income of $25 (membership of $10 and guest fees of $15) and expenses of $35 ($20 for postage and $15 for printing and copying costs of the November newsletter).  The report does not include last month's approved library expenditures nor the car wash tokens that were recently purchased.

A motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept the Treasure's Report.

Old Business
Library Garden education box - Kim Kiiskinen presented a memo from Susan Pesheck, the children's librarian at the River Falls Public Library.  At the last meeting, it was suggested that the garden club purchase materials for another Garden education box for the library.  Since the original Garden education box is such a popular item in the spring and early summer, Susan has requested materials for a second, duplicate education box.  With a library discount, the books for the education book would be approximately $88. The other items such as a video, a CD, 2 floor puzzles, a puppet, and a flannel board would be $80.88 for a total of approximately $169.  Items that were donated or made by club members include 5 finger puppet sets, a set of 9 stamps, two pairs of gardening gloves for the finger puppets, seeds, and manuals.  Items contributed by the library includes three-ring binders, ziplock bags, the plastic tub, containers, and plastic sleeves.  Margaret Smith made a motion that the club give the library $200 for a second Garden education box.  The motion was seconded by Mae Wolfe.  Motion passed.

Kim will bring an invoice to the December meeting for both the library purchases from the October meeting and for the second Garden education box.  The December meeting will feature the recently purchased library materials.  The materials will be available for club members to check-out so bring your library card to the December meeting!

St Croix Valley Master Gardeners Tour - The St Croix Valley Master Gardener are planning to have a garden tour and would like to include other local gardening groups.  It was suggested that a weekend day or Friday afternoon would be the best day for a tour. It was also suggested that Margaret Smith and Trudy Ohnsorg could help coordinate the tour.  There were many suggestions for possible tours.

Program topics for next year - Other topics suggested for next year included: fall color; pests/invasive species; types of gardens such as rock gardens, Japanese gardens, or meditation gardens; miniature gardening; and having Andi Christiansen as a speaker.  If anyone has any other ideas or suggestions, please tell Anne Kerfoot.

New Business
Heritage Park funds - $500 was budget for Heritage Park services.  Thus far, only $350 has been spent.  As it might be expensive to have services for the park in 2003, it would be better to purchase the services before the end of the year.  Susan Reese made a motion to allot Ursula Peterson whatever is a fair price to have the trimming of the park done in the fall rather than in the spring.  Margaret Smith seconded, motion passed.

New Secretary needed for 2003 - Kim Kiiskinen offered to run for secretary in 2003.

Plant exchanges/give-aways - The club should have news about plant exchanges and give-aways and give-aways will be posted on the white board in the meeting room during meetings.

Gardening contest - Susan Reese told the group that there is gardening contest that needs to entered by April.  She asked if members were interested in her pursuit of possibly entering the Second Street plantings.  Members encouraged her to find our more information.  There was a clarification by Rose Rudd about the gardening contest.  The contest involves an entire city and the cost of the contest is $600.  The contest and whether or not the City of River Falls should be involved will be discussed in a future meeting under old business.

Anne Kerfoot made a motion to end the meeting, motion passed.