Monthly Meeting Minutes - April 9, 2008

President Maria Nowicki presided over the meeting which was scheduled for 6:30 pm in the Conference Center of the Toledo Botanical Garden in the Terrace Room. There were 27 members present and one guest. Maria was still attending a required meeting of Resident Organization officers with the TBG Board, so Program Chairman Irene Leonard called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm. Irene shared printouts of canvas and embroidery stitches which are posted on the member pages of EGA’s website. Irene then presented our educational program on the Rhodes Stitch with variations.
Maria began the business portion of the meeting at 6:55 pm. Secretary Annette Hill reported that minutes of previous meetings have been posted to the NAGT blog and copies were provided for members to review. Treasurer Nancy Wright reported that our savings account balance is $1070.42. Nancy transferred $1000 into a CD account which will pay a $50.00 bonus upon maturity. That account has earned $3.00 in interest, which leaves us with a $1003.00 balance. Our checking account balance is $1490.84.
Outreach Chairman Beth Thompson explained to members that information about our kit donations to the Brooks Army medical center did not make it into the recent Needlearts edition due to space considerations. She has been told that it will be in the next issue.
Membership Chairman Diane Myers provided membership cards to all members present.
Show Chairman Peverley Hormann confirmed that our annual show is scheduled for September 13 and 14 at the Sanger Branch of the Toledo Lucas County Library. We also have the facility reserved for the 11th and 12th for set-up. It was noted that the national seminar is the week prior to the show, so there is no conflict for members.
GLR Representative reported that she will attend the regional meeting at seminar in Madison, Wisconsin.
Library Chairman Katherine Thompson reports that Su Pellitieri has had communication from a ROC member with news from TBG administration and they want everything we own out of the building and all locks removed from the cabinets by April 21. Maria adds that Janet Schroeder asked if we would move our things from our locked cupboards into different cupboards in the storage area behind our current cabinets. They don’t want chains and locks visible in the hallway.
Maria reported regarding the meeting that was held with TBG staff this evening. They discussed the master plan for development at TBG, and the plan for a children’s garden. They have currently raised half of the money they need. Water meters have now been installed in each cottage and there is confusion about who is paying for the water now. The City previously paid its own water department for its own park’s usage. In the future, it is billing the resident organizations instead. However, outdoor spigots on the cottages are being used to water the gardens, which means the organizations end up paying for the city’s usage. The resident organizations will continue to address this problem.
Maria reported that an organizational meeting run by TBG staff for the Arts in the Gardens event is scheduled for April 29. Secretary Annette Hill noted that previous minutes indicate that the Resident Organization Council has scheduled an organizational meeting for that event on April 25. Those members involved with our participation should be aware of this conflict and potential conflicts in planning. May 4 is the first First Sundays event. Our group plans on attending and doing informal exhibits and demonstrations as the public browses. The First Sunday events will be held in the months of May, June, July and August. TBG also asks that we all begin gearing up to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of TBG which will occur in 2014.
Welcoming Committee Chairman Marilyn Freeman introduced our guest, Yvonne Dupont. Maria suggested that we start introducing ourselves each month and share a bit of information about ourselves so that old and new members alike get to know each other better. All members then shared who inspired them as they began to embroider.
Newsletter Chairman Su Pellitieri reported that the next newsletter deadline is April 25 and the publication date is May 1. As GCC Group Leader, Su will mail our check to EGA soon and our first meeting for the Hardanger GCC will be held approximately six weeks later, perhaps in early June. Su also has updated membership lists available for members.
Kay Griffith advised members who are working on The Village Green project to use 4 strands of the cotton floss instead of the recommended 3 when working the houses in order to assure adequate coverage.
The meeting was then adjourned and members shared refreshments and visited with each other.

Respectfully submitted,
Annette Meyer Hill