Minutes from the March 1, 2004 Meeting
Attendance : 28
Weather : low 40's, raining, not freezing

President Susan R called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.

December 2003 Minutes
A motion made by Carolyn B, and seconded by Lori N, to approve the minutes from the December 2003 meeting. Motion passed.

Treasurer's Report - March 1, 2004
Total net worth as of today is $7,691.56.

This consists of the following accounts:

Activity since the last report on February 2 was as follows:
Net increase of $178:

Income of $215:

Expenses of $37:

Proposed Budget for 2004:
Income: The proposed budget plans income for the year of $4449. Of this amount, $3850 is expected to come from the plant sale, $465 from memberships (assumed 50 members), $114 from interest on savings and CD, and $20 from guest donations (slightly lower than last year due to proposed change from fixed $2 fee to a donation basis). The plant sale income assumed sale of 2200 plants @ an average of $1.75 (2002 had 2226 plants @ $1.65 and 2003 had 2884 plants @ $2.01).

Expenses: The proposed budget includes spending $6,205. The largest component is $1925 payout for half of plant sales. In addition, this budget has $2350 in community projects, including $800 for two scholarships, $675 for Heritage Park pruning, $150 for landscape design for the Academy entrance, $350 library donations, $200 Share the Bounty, and $100 Habitat for Humanity. Other significant items include $585 in speaker fees, $180 in production expenses for the newsletters, $191 in postage, $210 for liability insurance, and $355 in plant sale supplies and postage. The net result of this budget would reduce our bank accounts from $7456 at the end of 2003 to approximately $5700 at the end of 2004. Of this, the CD would be about $4032.

Treasurer's Report
February 2, 2004

Total net worth as of today is $7,513.80.

This consists of the following accounts:

Activity since the last meeting on December 1 was as follows:

Net increase of $112:

Income of $149:

Expenses of $37:

Old Business
Renaissance Academy Proposal
At the officer's meeting, the idea was to offer financial support for expert planning for the Freemont Street side garden and not become involved in the entire project. Diana Alfuth will create a plan for $150. Ursula P made a motion to approve $150 for Diana's plan, motion seconded and passed.

SOS (Save Our Smokestack)
The club discussed purchasing two bricks at the cost of $130 each. Kim K made a motion was made to purchase two bricks at $130 each, with one brick reading "River Falls Garden Club, established 1957" and the other bring dedicated to Ursula P for her hard work and dedication to the club. Susan G seconded. Motion passed.

Scholarships to UWRF Horticulture students
The club members discussed offering two $400 scholarships to UWRF Horticulture students for 2004. A motion was made to offer two $400 scholarships, seconded and passed. In a letter to UWRF, the club will state - Since the River Falls garden Club had a successful plant sale, we are able to offer... More discussion on this at a future meeting.

Suggestions for the Budget
Habitat for Humanity Funds
SCVMGA was not able to budget funds for Habitat for Humanity since the house is given to a private party. There is $100 in the 2004 RFGC budget. A suggestion was made that the club budget $300 for landscaping for a Habitat for Humanity House built in River Falls. Funds could be available from a future budget.

Lori N made a motion to keep $100 in the current budget for Habitat for Humanity with a provision to add funds in the future. Motion seconded and passed.

New Business
Changes to the Constitution and By-Laws
The club needs to have an updated constitution and by-laws as printed in the draft in the February newsletter. Nancy S made a motion to accept the constitutions and by-laws as printed. Motion was seconded and passed.

Plant Sale
The 2004 plant sale is on May 22. On March 20 at 4pm, there will be a meeting at the River Falls Public Library to discuss details of the plant sale.

Speaker Changes
Since the February meeting was canceled due to the weather, Susan Wilkins will be the December 2004 speaker. The May and June speakers are switched. The previously scheduled June speaker of Susan Reese on composting will be in May and June meeting will feature Growing Perfect Tomatoes with Jim and Deb Baron.

2004 Budget
The 2004 budget was discussed. Anne K made a motion to accept the budget as printed in the February newsletter. The motion was seconded and passed.

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