Members of the New Hampshire Federation of Garden
Clubs, Inc. (NHFGC), a community based organization of participating
garden clubs located throughout the state, recently came through in a
“warm and fuzzy” manner for a number of New Hampshire’s needy children
providing them with a new pair of winter pajamas and a book to enjoy
during the long winter months.
Many of the children are currently in transition without a permanent
home and are living in foster homes, group homes or family shelters.
Through the “Pajama Program, a national charitable organization
dedicated to “delivering warm sleepwear and nurturing books to
children in need”, NHFGC donated in excess of three hundred (300)
pairs of warm and fuzzy pajamas and two hundred (200) books, many of
them nature-related, plus $205 in cash donations to the Pajama
Program’s New Hampshire Chapter for distribution throughout the state.
As Karen Downing, NHFGC Youth Activities and Pajama Program Chairman
stated in her “Thank You” to the individual garden clubs who
participated in the program, “There are so many children in the state
of New Hampshire that will now have a new pair of pajamas to keep them
warm and a nature book of their very own!”
For more information on the Pajama Program, go to
www.pajamaprogram.com or go to the NHFGC website of
www.nhfgc.org .
BOW – Approximately half
of the total Bow Garden Club membership was able to take time from
their busy holiday preparations and family obligations to attend the
club’s 45th Annual Meeting held at the Old Town Hall on Saturday,
December 12th.
Club members contributed to a luscious Holiday Brunch which was served
immediately following the club’s 45th annual business meeting and the
installation of two new officers.
President Ginny Urdi reviewed the year’s activities, successes and
addition of new members in her President’s report and several
committee chairmen reported on their committee’s activities for the
year. BGC members Sally Crosby and Cathy Ahrens were installed as
Recording Secretary and Vice-President, respectively and will serve in
those capacities for the remainder of the 2009-2010 term.
Club Past Presidents Mary Boucher (1994-1996), Gretchen Wood
(2002-2003) and Joyce Kimball (2003-2006) joined President Urdi in
cutting an anniversary cake emblazoned with a photo transfer of the
town gazebo in winter splendor (a garden club initiative) celebrating
the club’s 45th anniversary.
The festivities concluded around noon following a spirited Yankee Swap
gift exchange of garden-related items wrapped in recycled or
recyclable materials.
For the first time, the garden club will start up their regular
monthly meetings and programs during the winter months this year
beginning in February. For information about the Bow Garden Club,
please contact President Ginny Urdi at 774-4476 or E-mail: vurdi76@comcast.net
.
CAPTION: L-R, Standing: Michelle Mensinger, Derry; Joyce Kimball, Bow; Joanne Krause, Manchester; Ginny Urdi, Bow. Seated: L-R, Mary Lea Daily, Derry; Marlene Baxter, Kingston; Susan Johnson, Bow.
BOW – Fellow garden club members from around the state and members of the public at-large were treated to a fun evening of floral design and fashion on Monday evening when the Bow Garden Club hosted their “Balsam and Bling” floral program at Bow High School. Bill Graham, owner of Beautiful Things, Ltd. located in Salem, MA was the presenter. Graham, who is recognized in the floral world as a professional designer, commentator, educator and facilitator, entertained the well-attended assembly by creating eight separate fresh floral designs destined for Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve tables and mantelpieces as well as accessorizing “Lily”, his traveling mannequin with unique necklaces, gorgeous scarves and evening jackets from his shop—each one perfect for the occasion as well. Graham’s signature storytelling, humorous observances and commentary throughout the program only added to the evening’s entertainment and eight lucky raffle ticket purchasers went home with one of Graham's festive floral arrangements.
Some previously donated sets of pajamas on display in Uno's lobby.
Bow High School volunteers Abby Geick, left and Sarah Smith, right hold two really cute pairs of pajamas that some lucky little boy and girl will soon be receiving.
Bow Garden Club President
Ginny Urdi oversees the fundraiser display looking pretty comfortable
in her P.J.sThe walk, which began at Memorial Field, was a cold and wet one with the precipitation fluctuating from hard and cold rain to snow as the determined walkers left the Memorial Field starting point and ventured off on their 3 to 5 mile walk up Clinton Street and back to Memorial Field, some choosing to take the shorter route via Langley Parkway. Regardless of its length, their walk was totally symbolic of the participants’ heartfelt memorials to cancer victims, their faithful tribute honoring breast cancer survivors and the pride and satisfaction they derived from earning many thousands of dollars in pledges to fund breast cancer research.
CAPTION: Bow Garden Club members (l-r) Sue Johnson, Joyce Kimball, President Ginny Urdi and Cathy Ahrens upon completion of their “Walk for the Cure.
EAST WINDSOR, CT - The New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. were presented with eight (8) significant awards at the New England Region Annual Meeting of National Garden Clubs hosted by the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut on September 21 & 22. The New Hampshire Federation received the following awards:
The Mildred Black Pettit Award for the highest percentage of increase in membership among the New England States.
The Mary Louise Marks Smith Flower Show Schedule Award was presented to The Ashland Garden Club for their “Floral Fashion Show” Standard Flower Show schedule. The Virginia F. Thurston Landscape Design Award and a check for $100 was presented to The Old Homestead Garden Club, Swanzey Center for their extensive five-year landscape project at the Keene Public Library.
The Virginia Grand Pre’ Wildlife Gardening Award was presented to The New Hampton Garden Club for their refurbishing and expansion of the Betty Huckins Memorial Garden located at the Gordon-Nash Library in New Hampton.
The Lina F. Wagner Perennial Garden Award and a check for $100 was presented to Alice Jorda and the Bow Garden Club for Mrs. Jorda’s design, planting and sole maintenance of the Tempie F. Dahlgren Memorial Garden, a semi-circle shaped perennial garden located at the Town Gazebo.
Awards for outstanding publicity were presented to:
Hooksett Garden Club – Small Club Category, 3rd Place Atkinson Garden Club – Medium Club Category, 1st Place Mountain Garden Club – Large Club Category, 1st Place
The New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. is a member of National Garden Clubs, Inc./New England Region.
In front, Donna Nowac, CT; l-r Vera Bowen, RI; Linda-Jean Smith, MA; Kathleen Thomas, NER Director; Diane McMillen, NH; Rebecca Linney, ME and Stephanie Hockensmith, VT.
The 125 sets of pajamas and books collected by the NHFGC garden clubs last year were distributed to various shelters, foster homes and institutions where children are living, awaiting more permanent homes and the feedback from the social workers and foster parents involved was very rewarding.
Civic involvement and education are mainstays of the Federation’s mission therefore members are excited at the prospect of teaching more children this year about gardening and the wonders of nature through the reading of their new books while keeping them a little extra warm this winter with their new P.J.s.
“The Pajama Program is a 501© 3 not-for-profit organization that strives to create a warm and nurturing bedtime environment for vulnerable youngsters living under difficult circumstances."
For more information about the Pajama Program, please visit their website: www.pajamaprogram.org
WHAT: Is Collecting P.J.s for Kids
WHEN: Now through November 15th
WHERE: Statewide
CAPTION: Just some of the pajamas and nature books collected at the NH Federation’s Fall Conference last year and delivered to needy children prior to the holidays.
