The President’s Tea
Those lazy, hazy days of summer are almost over, and to this, because of the oppressive heat we have endured, the Hammond Garden Club is very thankful! Ahhh yes, we know there are many more to come but when that first day of September arrives there is something in the air that just feels different! Makes you want to get in the yard and plant some chrysanthemums!
As usual it is also time to renew our commitment by starting our year with the President’s Tea. So many new ideas are whirling about in our heads, some of our old members have returned, our yearly scholarship is donated, Member of the Year is awarded as well as other awards and many other events that will take place in the coming year. So much to tell you and some we will want to keep a secret a little longer!
President Mary Thornhill called on our Chaplin Paulette Hebert to open the meeting with a prayer and after a few words of welcoming all back she called on member Jennifer Allen to present the Scholarship Award.
Jennifer stated that after the committee went through all of the applications the student that won our yearly scholarship for 2019/20 was Caleb Charpentier. Caleb is a sophomore at Southeastern University majoring in Ecology. He believes that many of the problems caused by climate change and environmental degradation can be solved through research in the plant related sciences. We are so proud to present this year’s scholarship to him.
Mary then called on Juanita Pearson and her committee to present the Member of the Year Award which was conferred on our Parliamentarian Peggy Dunn for all she contributes for this and many, many years in the club. Her bell always rings loudly to quiet down 40 plus members! A beautiful Fall wreath was her award.
Next on the agenda was our member and District VI Director (we are so proud of her), Carolyn Todd (we’re also getting used to her new name). Carolyn began with informing us about the District VI Fall Meeting being held at Nottoway Plantation on October 22. She had registration forms for all to fill out and hoped that many of us would attend.
Her speech then turned to “I’m sure we all know the song “Wind Beneath My Wings” and we have a couple of members in our club that are just that. They are always there “To Do” whatever is asked of them and moreover…..what isn’t even asked of them! And they work so well together…..and that’s Karen Nelson and Linda Broussard! Would you please come up and receive your award of Lifetime Membership in the Louisiana Garden Club Foundation donated anonymously by a benevolent member. You are the wind beneath the wings of this club”.
Mary then asked if anyone needed to announce anything old or new. Club Activities Director Linda Ryan, also one of our Artiste’s in Residence, that stated, “Our Road Trip as seen in our new yearbooks is to go to Bellingrath Gardens in April. We are trying to get together enough people so that we can rent a bus, this is in Theodore, AL. Can we have a show of hands to see how many are interested?” That being said many ladies raised their hands excited at what seems to be an upcoming Beauty of Life Event! Let’s not forget our deposit at the September meeting.
We also thanked Linda Ryan for the gorgeous arrangement of a tree that graced the table of delicious gastronomic delicacies giving the whole room the ambiance of a shaded, cool garden. Thanks also went to Phyllis Mire for the front and back cover of the yearbook which was also of a tree (Keeping It Bright And Beautiful) and Glenda Nelson for all her hard work on the yearbook too.
All of our business taken care of Mary announced, “Let’s Eat”! The Executive Board has prepared so many good things for our nourishment and our detriment too depending on how many of the desserts you indulge in".
What a splendid day it was being with our friends once again as we begin our new year. A wonderful quote by Saint Thomas Aquinas comes to mind: “Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious”.
The Hammond Garden Club is a proud member of the 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 the wonderful city of Hammond!
by Linda Broussard
she is a member of the Hammond Garden Club
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