About the Board Meeting Minutes

All board meetings start at 6pm, ending between 7:30 and 8 PM. There are no Board meetings in December and February, otherwise, the meeting date is the 4th Monday in each month (note... not necessarily the LAST Monday). Our main task as a Board is to have the 7-9 PM monthly Gardeners Club meetings run smoothly.

We're somewhat informal, liking to spend time in gardens at meetings held during Daylight Savings months.  As further incentive for members to host a board meeting, we showcase their gardens in the Featured Garden section of our website.

During our meetings we try to stay on topic as much as possible, following an agenda. There should always be time to introduce new topics, but it is often necessary to put off decision making until something specific is formulated/researched and put to the Board. The general membership needs to be presented with information and have time to offer suggestions as well. Often, when the Board meeting minutes are read, there is a mention of a "discussion" on a topic, and that's a good time to have the topic brought up to the membership. Another way for issues to be brought to the attention of members is in the newsletter.

Gardeners’ Club Board meeting 10/26/2025
Hosted by Terra Nova Landscaping/Ken and Jillian Foster

Board Members: 
(President) Cherry Thompson
(Vice President) vacant
(Secretary) April Barclay
(Treasurer) vacant
(Membership) Suzanne Caron
(Hospitality) Joanna Hall
(Newsletter) Lise Bixler
(Plant Table) Lupe Allen, Evelyn Zhovreboff
(Refreshments) Marge Gregory (not present)
(Members at large) Debbie Kindle
Guests: Marlena Dufresne

Our October board meeting was at the home and demonstration garden of Terra Nova Landscaping on the west side of Santa Cruz. Ken and Jillian Foster gave us an in depth tour of their lovely and sustainable garden at dusk. We had a picnic dinner on their patio ahead of the board meeting.

Per Cherry: Our checking balance is currently $3739.21. Rent of $88 was paid to the grange. The Fall plant exchange income was $123.00.

We had 24 attendees at the last meeting. Suzanne reports that we currently have 81 paid members.

There was discussion around changing our starting time. We will be discussing this with the membership.

Cherry has gathered soil, bulbs and bulb food for our November meeting activity. We are asked to bring extra pots for those who may not have them. A 6” pot is ideal.

There was discussion around the December pot luck and auction. I still have the table labels.

Debbie and Lupe have volunteered to sort our club cupboards and donate books.

Lise proposed a $10 gift certificate prize for contributing to the newsletter and this was agreed to
We discussed speakers and activities for the upcoming meetings. Names and activities discussed included:
November: Spring bulb planting
December: Holiday party and silent auction
January: Michael Johnson for the Plant Exchange at Live Oak Grange
February: Cultivating Sweet Peas, Rene Shepherd
March: Homesteading, Jessylyn Rigo
Hosts for future board meetings:
November and December: no board meetings

The next board meeting to be held January 26th at a site to be determined, CA at 6PM. All are welcome to attend.