We’re Back! The Hammond Garden Club that is! And we are giving…and getting…lots of awards to start the new year off with a bang! The new, and some old, Executive Board is here and ready to go. Our two month hiatus has given us new energy and after the opening prayer and we reverently said the Pledge of Allegiance we’re ready to get the ball rolling!
Just the beginning for more than the Garden Club, our first award was also a beginning for Devin Schexnayder the winner of receiving our Scholarship Award for his next semester. Devin attended Southeastern and his last semester was in Plant Sciences. He now will be attending LSU for his Master’s Degree in the Department of Wetlands and Environmental Sciences. As Sue Parrill, Chairperson for the Scholarship Award was introducing Devin she also told of the letter he wrote and quoted in part something dear to our hearts, he said, “Being a scientist gives me purpose but being an environmentalist gives me pleasure!" We thoroughly agree Devin!
Next it was an award given to someone in our own club, it was the Member of the Year Award. This award is given to a member that has gone over and above her duties as a member of the club, has attended all meetings, she’s been there whenever someone needs a helping hand and has volunteered to help on committees whenever she can and that award was given to our Secretary Karen Granier! Karen is the epitome of all the qualifications mentioned and I for one have used her secretarial skills many times when writing this column because she gets all the info at the meetings and I may miss a name or address needed, so I know I can get it correct on the phone to her! Congratulations Karen Granier, you’re the bestest!!!
And the last award presented to our new President Jennifer Allen was just sooo great it was two checks from the President of the Northshore Arts Foundation Colleen Scarle for our clubs participation in the Arts In Bloom Gala last April. And we have all intentions of participating to an even bigger and better degree this year. It will be April 28-29-30 and held at the Columbia Theater. And according to our Creative Director Pat Graves, HGC Member, it will surpass last years. More good news about this in the coming columns.
After the in-house awards had been given Jennifer called on Pat Graves for the Garden of the Month award which was given to Mrs. Patricia Klein at 44156 West Pleasant Ridge Road. Pat said it was absolutely wonderful what this lady had done for the landscaping to this home. If you get the chance when you’re out and about go by and see it.
When all the awards were over, since this is not a regular meeting it was time for our luncheon fixed by Mary Monteleone and her crew that was absolutely wonderful. We had a choice of a creamy potato and shrimp or a tomato basil soup both were absolutely delicious! They were served with a huge salad of all kinds of greens, tomatoes, eggs, onions, turkey, ham, etc, etc!! Everything was great including the tables all decorated with bouquets of summer flowers and long white linen tablecloths. After all that pampering it must be time for my afternoon nap!
No but it was time for talking with our friends some of which we hadn’t seen for the past two months. Time to catch up on what was happening in our/their lives. So good to see everyone again, almost the whole garden club attended, so much fun!
I’d like to leave you with a little ditty I saw on line the other day because it’s so pertinent to a garden club. “May all your weeds be wild flowers”.
The Hammond Garden Club is a proud member of District VI, Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc. and the Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc. doing our best to unify and beautify our homes, gardens, our city and our nation every day to the best of our ability. God Bless America and God Bless the City of Hammond!
by Linda Broussard
She is a member of the Hammond Garden Club
Newly elected President of the Hammond Garden Club Jennifer Allen, (left) receives two checks from Colleen Scarle, (center) President of the Northshore Arts Foundation for the garden clubs participation in last years Arts In Bloom.On the right is Pat Graves, Artistic Director of last years Art in Bloom and President-Elect of the Garden Club. The presentation was held at the President's Luncheon at the Oak Knoll Country Club.
Former Hammond Garden Club President Sue Parrill presenting winner of Scholarship of the Year Award to Devin Schexnayder whose last semester at Southeastern was in Plant Sciences and he intends to use it to attend LSU to get his Masters in the Wetlands and Environmental Department this first semester.
Juanita Pearson, (left), Chairperson for the Member of the Year Committee, handing Secretary Karen Granier (center) the award for Member of the Year! On the right is member Linda Ryan also on that committee.The presentation was given at the Hammond Garden Club's President's Luncheon at Oak Knoll Country Club.