Since 1940
Fellowship, Community Ser vice, Beautification http://www.mensgardenclubasheville.0rg December 1, 2008 Donald Dossey, Editor Men’s Garden Club of Asheville
MGC-A HISTORIAN AT WORK President’s Corner One cannot write a message to Gardeners this time of year without exulting in the display of leaves to which we have been treated this year. Truly spectacular! Was it that early snow we had a few weeks ago? By now most o f yo u h ave probably already planted your shrubs and trees, though I must confess my own tardiness there. There is something satisfying about completing those kinds of things before the real cold arrives, sort of like knowing you have enough firewood for the winter. The Garden Club too is completing its chores for the season. The Awards Banquet is but a few weeks away and it marks the beginning of a new year for us. Tom Mills has done an excellent job as President-Elect and will be an excellent President. The Awards Committee has been hard at work for it as well. Details of that banquet are elsewhere in this newsletter. Meanwhile I can only say that it has been my privilege to be your President this year. The success we have enjoyed (one of the best years any of us can remember) is a tribute to a very good Board. My personal participation this year was compromised by my decision to come out of retirement, but your Board did not miss a beat. The Club will have an even better year in 2009. I will see you at the Annual Banquet.
FROM THE CLUB HISTORIAN You will hear from me once a month or every other month. I will be writing about the major movers and shakers who created the club, and molded it into what it is today. History has always fascinated me and I will pour extra effort into bringing you the events that have shaped our club. So walk with me down history’s long road and discover where our club has been-- is now and will be. Our first article will deal with our beginning. Other articles will include The Men’s Garden Club Flower Shows; The War Years; the many awards past and present; Seedpod’s history. Sites past and present plus many more. WHERE AND WHEN DID IT ALL START? MGC-A - THE BEGINNING: The Club had its beginning in 1939 . Bill Krause, a member of the Asheville Junior Chamber of Commerce and an active member of their Beautification Committee got together with other members. Bill had seen an ad for The Mens Garden Clubs of America in The Florist Review magazine and liked the idea of starting a garden club in Asheville. He asked those present their opinions: Dr. C.N. Burton, Dr. G.W. Kutscher, Dr. Westbrook Murphy, B. Ordway. They all agreed, and The Men’s Garden Club of Asheville was about to be born. On November 14, 1939, this small group conducted an organization meeting in the Sun Dial Room of the Vanderbilt Hotel. Bill Krause, acting as temporary secretary wrote “proposed” above the Bill Krause, name Men’s Garden Club of Asheville.. MGC- A Founder The first regular meeting took place on January 2nd, 1940. It was circa 1940 held in the Vanderbilt Hotel with 23 present. Officers were elected and installed. G.W. Kutscher Jr., MD, was the first president. At this time, The Men’s Garden Club of Asheville was chartered with the national organization - Mens Garden Clubs of America. Bill Krause, the originator of the club, did not become president until 1943. He may have been too busy at the time to take on this responsibility since he had his flower shop to run. In 1947, he joined with Charles MacArthur to form MacArthur-Krause Florists. He spent his entire working career in the flower business -- a total of 49 years. Right from the start, a proposal was made and adopted that would be a major money maker for years to come: a Men’s Garden Club of Asheville Flower Show. The flower shows were held once a year, usually during August. The first flower show was held in the city auditorium on September 12, 1940. It continued for 19 years until 1958. More about the flower shows later. Other activities in the early years included swap meets. Members would bring in plants and seeds at each meeting and swap. Many of the meetings were held at members' homes. Club picnics were also a major event. The first picnic was held on August 6, 1940. It was held at the home of charter member Frank Hall, on Shelbourne Road in West Asheville. Milford Shaver, The Historian
Seed Pod 1
Men’s Garden Club of Asheville
Seed Pod
December 1, 2008
Club News and Committee Reports Membership Recruitment News Our current membership is still at 92 as no new membership applications were received since last month. Two of our new members attended the November Membership meeting to be welcomed, recognized and receive their new member package. They were Bob Wardwell who is sponsored by Brian Greenwood and Milton Simpson who is sponsored by Mike Stevenson. We still have (3) 2009 new members that we would like to present their new member packages at the upcoming Luncheons at the First Baptist Church. Membership renewals for 2009 were 60 by the November Board meeting and was up from 55 received by the October Board meeting. At the November 11th Membership meeting (11) members won door prizes and as mentioned last month at the October 7th membership meeting (17) members won door prizes. We still have (18) current members that have not renewed so mail/bring your dues payments so you will be eligible for the door prize drawing at the December Awards Luncheon on December 6th. Please remember you must be present to win and also include your member change information form with your dues renewal. I would like to thank the following for their donation of door prizes: November Meeting: Reems Creek Valley Nursery, Ace Hardware – Weaverville, Flat Rock Playhouse, Asheville Community Theatre, B.B. Barnes, Fresh Market and Thyme in the Garden. October Meeting: Biltmore Estate – A Gardener’s Place, Tractor Supply Co. – Weaverville, Don Neblett, Lois Dossey, Ralph Coffey, Jesse Israel & Sons, Charlie Hopper, Ted Faber, Susan Roderick and the MGC-A Greenhouse. Please take the time to thank these businesses and individuals for their donations. Carl Debnam, Membership Recruitment
CORPORATE MEMBERS B.B. BARNS LANDSCAPE CO. 3653 Sweeten Creek Rd. Arden,NC 28704 Landscape - Hunter Stubbs 828-384-9190 stubbsbb886@bellsouth.net www.bbbarns.com
BILTMORE FARMS, INC Development – George Cecil 1 Town Square, Asheville, NC 28803 828-274-2000
PROGRESS ENERGY Electric Company – Benny Haynes 828-258-4316 cb.haynes@pgnmail.com
GOASHEVILLE.COM Asheville, NC Website Design - Andrew Stevenson 828-230-3751
72 WALL ST. INVESTMENTS 72 Wall Street Asheville, NC 28806 Richard Stiles-Branch Manger 828-255-5227 www.rstiles.wbsec.com richard.stiles@wachoviafinet.com
Cogito Landscape, LLC 93 Church Street Suite 4, Asheville, NC 28801 Charlie Hopper 828-252-9233 www.cogitolandscape.com chopper@cogitolandscape.com
Whitegate Inn & Cottage 173 East Chestnut Street Asheville,NC 28801 Dr. Ralph Coffey - 828-253-2553 www.whitegate.net innkeeper@whitegate.net
Member Relations Do you know/remember club members you sponsored for membership? If not, go through the directory and make a list. Are they participating in club activities? If you have not seen them in some time give them a call or visit and encourage them to attend our meetings and Horticultural Center activities. In addition to recommending/sponsoring a new member, it is our responsibility to get them involved and maintain active membership, if physically active. Member Info Up-date: Dr. Ross Parks --- At Deerfield ( Assisted Living), Phone 277-6191 Dr. Fredrick Test – At Deerfield, 274-1531 Ask Operator to transfer to Dr. Test George Oerke --- Emerald Ridge Nursing, 645-6619, Ext. 4. George is ambulatory, but does not drive. Ray Carter --- New Phone number – 337-0515 Gerry Hardesty, Membership Relations
Seed Pod 2
Men’s Garden Club of Asheville
Seed Pod
December 1, 2008
November Meeting Great with Jay Kranyik Jay Kranyik of the Botanical Gardens at Asheville wowed the audience at our November 11 meeting talking on “Invasive and Exotic Plant Species.” He discussed their effect on the environment and possible control measures. Jay had samples of a few of them to aid in the identification of interlopers in our midst. He also gave advice on native plants alternates to the undesired species. Thanks a lot Jay. And thanks to Tom Mills, our program director for bringing this about.
President elect,Tom Mills, and Jay Kranyik discussin the invasives of WNC.
Publications News The SeedPod Boys wish to thank our news member, Milton Simpson, for joining the Publication team. He knows InDesign and will be a great help. Oh yes, he is also a lot of fun. Welcome Milton. Don Neblett was the sole editor of this month's SeedPod. Thanks Don. It takes a lot of people to publish a newsletter. I want to acknowledge all of the help that goes on behind the scenes. Lee Arnold, Jay Schauer, Cleve Mathews, Dave Fransworth, Mike Green, Jerry Freidman, James Davis. If you see any one of these hard working gentlemen, give than a great big THANKS. Donald Dosssey, Publication Director Seed Pod 3
Men’s Garden Club of Asheville
Seed Pod
December 1, 2008
Awards Banquet on Saturday, December 6 First Baptist Church at 12:30 pm The club has completed a very successful year and we’re ready to celebrate and acknowledge individual efforts! Our December general meeting will be the annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, December 6. It will be held at the First Baptist Church in downtown Asheville at 12:30 pm. The passing of the banner to the newly elected officers and directors will also take place and an acceptance speech by President Elect, Tom Mills, to which we are all anxiously looking forward. The meal will be a choice of citrus grill baked chicken or marinated beef tenderloin, and it will include side dishes, salad, bread, dessert, and drinks. The cost will be $15 per person and we will need to ask for reservation commitments about a week before the meeting. You will be contacted by a caller for reservations. The Awards Banquet is held to recognize members who have put forth notable efforts as well as to formally install new club officers. Guests of honor will also be recognized. Speeches will be short and punctuated with humor. Come and enjoy the camaraderie with members in a bit more formal setting than usual. (Many
CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: WWW.GARDEN ASHEVILLE.COM FOR LOCAL GARDEN DISCUSSIONS, PHOTOS, ADVICE, AND CONVERSATION.
MGC-A Officers and Directors Directors Officers President: Ross Jones 274-7821 Past President: Dennis Murphy 645-3921 President Elect: Tom Mills 350-1897 Secretary: Carl Peterson 650-3005 Treasurer: Bob Sharp 299-9192
BOARD MEETING The next board meeting will be held at the Botanical Gardens Tuesday, Dec. 9th, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. All members are welcome.
Membership Recruitment: Carl Debnam 645-3822 Member Relationships: Gerry Hardesty 299-3315 Horticultural Center: Ted Faber 236-9865 Beautification Sites: Art Hulse 645-5658 Plant Sales: Nelson Sobel 225-0473 Public Relations & Publicity: Open Special Projects: Mike Stevenson 254-5227 At Large: Tom Wright 505-1174 Publications Director: Donald Dossey 258-1311
Men's Garden Club P.O. Box 633 Asheville, NC 28802 www.mensgardenclubasheville.org Since 1940
INSIDE: Membership news Seed Pod 4
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