PMGC Minutes
PMGC Meeting Minutes 120325
Potomac Mecklenburg Garden Club (PMGC) — December 3 2025 Meeting
Attendees: Carolyn Thomas, Aileen Boyd, Jane Gamble, Suzie Patrick, Karen Fitzpatrick, Evelyn Gettys, Kathy Bilton, Peggy Bowers, Kate McClellan, Christine Dorsey, Sally Thomas
WELCOME: President Carolyn Thomas ((buffet of festive refreshments served first)
As the greens, berries, dried flowers, etic were laid out, Carolyn asked members to consider the varied possibilities of where to give a donation. Next, she shared previous giving, passed to her from prior treasurer Jill Daniel as follows:
Last December: $250 PVAS for camp scholarships, $100 Nature Conservancy, $250 WV Rivers Coalition, $500 for Shepherdstown Library (where we meet). In February: $100 Race for the Birds. Carolyn reported the Race for the Birds is now discontinued. Members discussed the projects/organizations in need of support.
Dec. 2025 Motions passed:
- Motion by Jane Gamble and second by Peggy Bowers – $500 to PVAS
- Motion by Evelyn Gettys and seconded by Peggy Bowers – $500 to the Shep Public Library
- Motion by Peggy Bowers and second by Karen Fitzpatrick – $350 to WV Rivers
- Motion by Jane Gamble and seconded by Peggy Bowers – $100 to Nature Conservancy
Welcome Center Planters: The PMGC group thanked members Suzi Patrick, Elise Bach, and Karen Fitzpatrick for decorating the planters with greenery and berries. This was a request of the town.
Greenery: Members made varied pieces for their homes and friends. Wreaths, swags and vases of different evergreen species, red bark twigs, berries, herbs and flowers were created. Over a dozen vases will be delivered to Shepherdstown Shares for distribution. Karen Fitzpatrick will be post photos on the PMGC Facebook page.
Next PMGC meeting: Febrary 25 at 1:30pm in the Shepherdstown Libary. The program will be a presentation by member Jane Gamble.
Respectfully submitted by Karen Fitzpatrick, Secretary PMGC
PMGC Meeting Minutes 102225
Potomac Mecklenburg Garden Club (PMGC) — October 22 2025 Meeting
Attendees: Carmen Slater, Carolyn Thomas, Aileen Boyd, Pat Stine, Jane Gamble, Terry Thorson, Nancy Kautz, Suzie Patrick, Karen Fitzpatrick, Diane Oddenino, Evelyn Gettys, Sue Kemnitzer, Kathy Bilton
WELCOME: President Carolyn Thomas (Refreshments served first)
- Last meeting trip to gardens in Frederick went well
- Thank you notes were sent
Treasurer report: Treasurer Nancy Kautz
- Checking: $1,518.61
- Savings: $2,430.12
- CD: $5,000.00
Nancy and Karen met at Jefferson Security for the following:
- $5,000 out of savings at .05 % to a CD at 4%
- Took extra checking account money to a premiere acct at 3.75%
- Karen Fitzpatrick is now authorized to sign, Jill Daniel removed
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Welcome Center Planters
- Suzi Patrick reported 4 members have been watering and maintaining the planters this spring, summer and fall.
- New plants including coral bells and foam flowers were purchased from Grasshopper Perennials. Motion by Aileen Boyd to reimburse Karen F for the $37.63 purchase of new flowers was approved with a second by Diana Oddenino.
- Annette, center employee, believes the Christmas decorations there will be taken care of by a different group. She will let Suzi know. (PMGC had decorated in the past.)
Scholarship
- The committee will be holding a Zoom meeting Oct. 23. Contact person Terry Thorson, explained the Jefferson Co. High Schools have given a deadline of Nov. 7th for confirming the application form.
- Please help spread the word of the PMGC scholarship of $1,500 awarded in the spring to a Jeff. Co High School senior pursuing education after high school in a related field.
Membership
Please be sure to log in to our website, pmgardenclub.org. Visit the member section with our special password. Meeting and member information abounds there. If you have difficulty, you may contact Terry at pmgcmembers@pmgardenclub.org
PROGRAM
Floral artist Pat Stine presented a hands-on program of how to arrange small fall dried flower bouquets in cups/vases. Tips included: use a filler that will spill over the lip, place floral foam so that it is above the lip- then cover with dried pieces, glue acorns on sticks, use peony centers dried, when drying try a rubber band and paper clip to hang. Everyone enjoyed the session and shared a bounty of dried pods/seeds/flowers/stems to create lovely fall decor. We appreciate Pat sharing her expertise!
Next meeting: December 3 — GREENS! (No meeting in November.)
Respectfully submitted by Karen Fitzpatrick, Secretary PMGC
PMGC Meeting Minutes 082725
Potomac Mecklenburg Garden Club (PMGC) — August 27 2025 Meeting
Attendees: Susan Wolcott, Kate McClelland, Erika Best, Carmen Slater, Karen Fitzpatrick, Pat Stine, Nancy Kautz, Terry Thorson, Esther Murphy, Janet Deal, Suzie Patrick, Christine Dorsey, Sally Thomas, Cheryll Statham, Carolyn Thomas, Karin Field-Smith, Peggy Bowers, Jane Gamble
WELCOME: President Carolyn Thomas (Refreshments served first)
- Please sign card for Jil Daniels
- Overview of programs (handout) including dates/descriptions, online
- Committees: please sign, and elect a chair – notify Terry of chair
- Refreshments: simple, handheld, include drinks but encourage bring your own cup
Treasurer report: Treasurer Nancy Kautz
- Checking: $3131.42
- Savings: $5,421.69
- We earned $1.81 so suggest we get a CD at 4% earnings.
- Motion by Pat Stine to move $5,000 into a CD with a second by Janet Deal, motion passed.
- Jill Daniels has resigned as treasurer after holding the position for many years. She is to be removed as an authorized signer. The club decided to replace her with another member as an alternative signer. Motion by Terry Thorson and seconded by Peggy Bowers with approval from the members to have Karen Fitzpatrick, PMGC secretary, take the role as a second signer.
- Motion by Karen Fitzpatrick, second by Sally Thomas to make Jill Daniels an honorary lifetime member (no dues to be paid). Motion passed. Dues were collected.
Minutes: Secretary Karen Fitzpatrick
- Notes from the June 11th executive meeting were shared. (See report)
Presentation on PMGC Website: Terry Thorson
- Members were presented with an online presentation on navigating our PMGC website. Programs are listed along with photos from Jane Gamble. Included in the slides were directions about updating personal information as well as finding resources on the site.
- Additionally, announcements may be sent to Terry. She will be sending out reminders of meetings the week before and week of our meetings. Suggestions or questions may be directed to her too. The group thanked Terry for all her hard work.
PROGRAM: The group did a “speed dating” session of getting to know each other. Folks shared favorite tools, resources, etc. in lively pairings. FUN!
OTHER: Town Run Garden will need our helping hands. Karin Field-Smith is planning on a weeding work session there (behind Knutti hall on Shepherd Campus) the third week of Sept. An announcement will be sent.
Varied items were given away/shared from the group. Veggies, plants, tools etc.
Suzi Patrick, Karen Fitzpatrick, Elise Bach and Diane Eldridge are tending to the planter boxes at the Welcome Center in Shepherdstown (the old library).
Respectfully submitted by Karen Fitzpatrick, Secretary PMGC
PMGC Meeting Minutes 061125
Potomac Mecklenburg Garden Club Executive Committee Meeting — June 11 2025
Attendees: Carolyn Thomas, Jane Gamble, Diana Oddenino, Nancy Kautz, Terry Thorson, Karen Fitzpatrick
Calendar Dates: 1:30 at Library (Carolyn has notified library) carpooling encouraged
- 27: Speed date – time to socialize, share /show/tell, describe club too
- 24: Offsite tour – possibly High Glen in Frederick, connection through Becky Phipps
- 22: Floral arrangement – perhaps Green Hill Farm, Sharpsburg
- 3 (no Nov): Greens workshop – possibly create for nursing home, etc
- 25 (no Jan): Attracting birds, Jane G – photos and presentation
- Mar 25: Trees – possibly Sean?
- April 15: Spring flower walk, plant sale prep
- May 2: Annual plant sale
- May 27: Nursery tours near Rohersburg, MD
- June 24: Garden party – Carmen Slater’s home
Other ideas: Pollinator gardening, bees (already did), lavender, mushrooms, blueberry or fruit picking, wilderness walk, share internet sites
PMGC Website: Terry T reported: going to create a PDF for current information, can be printed, update own name/email/phone/address, a reminder of dues and sign up for committees/hostessing will go out soon. Carolyn/Jane will create descriptions of the committees. Yearbook information is on the website. Determined an RSVP for meetings is unnecessary. Karen & Carmen still on Facebook as managers, Terry will do distribution emails to whole club.
Refreshments: worded as “simple, handheld, include drink”
Notes: succinct, email to officers and read at meetings (shared notetaking Diana & Karen)
Committees: reviewed list, decided each should have a chairman
Finance: Nancy asking Terry to send notice for dues, Karen F to join her in co signing checks
Next: Karen to type and send executives notes from today, Diana and Carolyn confirm programs, Jane send photos to Terry for programs, Terry-email dues/hostess sign & committee sign ups, ask for update contact inform, Karen check with Canterbury about plants/flowers/glass
Respectfully submitted by Karen Fitzpatrick, Secretary PMGC
