Atlanta Speech School

Business Meeting

Hostesses: Sophie Mason, Jackie Cushman, Sissy Davis and Elkin Alston

Call to Order: Emily Jordan

Emily called our meeting to order and thanked everyone for using the shuttle. She reminded everyone to please sign in.

She then thanked our hostesses, Sophie Mason, Jackie Cushman, Sissy Davis and Elkin Alston for providing lunch.

She also thanked our friend and Executive Director of the Speech School, Comer Yates, and the Director of Development, Haven Long, for making us feel so welcome.  She thanked them for their hospitality, including the flowers and the beautiful birthday cake to celebrate our 80th anniversary.

She said that we (Mimosa) are all so thankful for the important work Comer and staff does here at the Speech School.

She said that everyone should have received the minutes from the November meeting.  The minutes will be approved as submitted.

Guest speaker: Comer Yates

Comer commented on the Speech School being 76 years old and how they are teaching the children the Power of Empathy. He thanked Sarah Kennedy for her contributions and gave her a Speech School t-shirt.  Comer mentioned the development of the Cox online campus coming to the Speech School and how they are working on a “language nutrition campaign.”

Business meeting:

Treasurers Report: Julie Harlan reported that we have 3 accounts in great standing. We donated $54,000 to the Atlanta Speech School and the Atlanta History Center the past three years (raised these funds through parties.)

Dues: Shelby Nealy reported that duesare past due. She is here to collect and you can also pay on the website visa paypal. There are 16 members that have not paid.

Quarry Garden: Nancy Powell reported that the Bartrams’ exhibit through the Atlanta History Center will run through June 17, 2014. Our logo is printed on the flyer as a sponsor.

Party: Mandy Culpepper reported that the party is Thursday, May 1, 2014 at the Atlanta History Center in the amphitheater (overlooking the Quarry Garden.) They are still working on the theme. There will be tours of the garden.

Speech School: Terri Alston reported they are working on a date for the spring workday. The fall one was cancelled due to weather.

Membership: Lois and Wawa have completed the chart for next year.  Thank you!

Programs: Leslie Morgan announced that the May meeting will be going to the State Botanical Gardens and that everyone can carpool. It is Thursday, May 15th.

Flower Show: Shelby Nealy reported for Claire Marie Huff’s absence. She said that in lieu of the flower show, there is a ______ from April 25-27 (in Buckhead at the Roxy across from the Charlie Loudermilk garden?)

New Business:

There were nominations for the Nominating Committee- Susan Virgin nominated Lindsey Jones and _____________ nominated Claire Marie Huff.  The committee will be Catherine Fleetwood, Jackie Cushman, Lindsey Sones, Claire Marie Huff and Emily Jordan.  If anyone is interested in serving on the board, please let one of them know.

New Members: There will be 3 openings available for new members.  The new member forms are available online. Margaret Warren told us all about the forms and the ballots and that they are online. If you submit one, please check with Emily to make sure she received the nomination.  After the March meeting, Emily will email us. The votes will be due April 15th. Please vote online (after you have created an account.)

Please remember if you sponsored or endorsed a member last year, you cannot endorse or sponsor this year.  Also, you must be a member for 3 years before you can endorse or sponsor a new member.

By-law Changes:

Emily suggested changing the wording on several of the Mimosa By-Laws. All of her suggestions were approved.

1 – She suggested that we use ballots via the website to vote.

2 – She suggested that we omit the two (2) year limit for the Treasurer.

3 – She suggested that we omit that the VP is in charge of the flower show and/or party.

4 – She suggested we change the fiscal year to a calendar year because of taxes.

5 – She suggested that all the meetings start at 10:30 am.

She reported that Jennifer Calhoun has resigned.

The business meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Parker Tekin

Caroline Millican’s Home 89 Brighton Road

Hostesses: Caroline Millican, Libby Lanier, Margaret Glenn, Amanda Brady

Call To Order: Emily Jordan

Emily called our meeting to order and welcomed everyone to Caroline’s lovely home. She thanked the hostesses for providing Lunch and organizing the meeting.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Emily Jordan

As there were no corrections to the meeting minutes from October’s meeting, they were approved and submitted.

Treasurer’s Report: The announcement was made that dues in the amount of $50.00 are due by December 1, 2013. Members may use the PayPal link on the Mimosa website for a service fee of $1.75, give their check to Emily Jordan, or send their payment to Shelby Neely: 2083 Bohler Rd. NW. Atlanta, GA. 30318.  Members were also reminded, that if they are paying for someone in addition to themselves that they need to write that in the Memo line of the check. Please remember that a late charge of $25.00 will be charged to Members who have not paid by December 1, 2013.

Speech School:– Kendrick Williams reported that the workday on November 7, 2013 at the Speech School was cancelled do to weather. They may try to reschedule for the spring. All of the fall and winter plants have planted in the Speech School Garden and look beautiful

Member History: Sallie Smith -Sallie Smith spoke briefly about founding members Louis Richardson Allen and Anne Alston Glenn. Louise R. Allen was the project chair of the Quarry Garden and received a bronze plaque in 1971 for all of the work she did with the Quarry Garden. Anne A. Glenn was instrumental in getting the founding members of Mimosa Garden Club to fund the full construction of the playground at the Speech School in 1971. Sallie Smith had wonderful newspaper clippings from when Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Glenn made their debuts in the Court of St. James in London, she mentioned that the girls at the time were concerned that their voyage by boat may be dull, but much to their delight the US. Men’s Tennis team were also passengers on the boat.

We also learned that Mimosa only met every other month during WW2 due to gas rationing. In 1942 the ladies decorated the rooms at the USO with flowers for the soldiers.

Sallie Smith encouraged members to share any historical tidbits and or photographs about Mimosa and its members.

Quarry Garden: Mary Mac Southerland-  The Quarry Garden received the check from Mimosa and Sarah Roberts said they were able to purchase many native Georgia plants for spring planting.    Sarah was very excited to get the hard to find Georgia Aster with the large blue flowers, Georgia Heartleaf, Maiden Hair ferns and Columbine to add to the already beautiful garden.

The business part of the meeting was adjourned and Lori Kennedy then introduced her friend and florist Holly Bryan who gave an informative demonstration on how to make a traditional Williamsburg Christmas decoration for over a door entrance.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jennifer Euart

ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN

HOSTESSES:  Karen Brown, Claire Marie Huff, Claire Benedict, Lori Kennedy

Call To Order: Emily Jordan

Emily called our meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the meeting. She thanked the hostesses for providing lunch and organizing the meeting and thanked Sara Roberts for directing the work day.  She also started a new tradition by asking each hostess to stand up and name the Mimosa members in her family.

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES:  Emily Jordan

As there were no corrections to the meeting minutes from September’s meeting, they were approved as submitted.

Treasurers Report–  The announcement was made that dues in the amount of $50 are due by December 1, 2013.  Members may use the Paypal link on the Mimosa website, give their check to Emily Jordan, or send their payment to Shelby Neely, 2083 Bohler Road, NW, Atlanta, GA  30318.  Please remember a late fee of $25.00 will be charged to all Members who have not paid their dues by December 1.

Party  Mary Huntz reported that the party will be at the Atlanta History Center in the amphitheater overlooking the Quarry Garden. The party will be May 1st, 2014.  Weather permitting, there will be tours of the Quarry Garden and a blue grass band.  We are also considering having all the ladies wear wellies with their party dresses.  Sign up sheets will go out in November for party committees.

Speech School –  Terri Alston reported that our workday at the Speech School is scheduled for Thursday, November 7th.  All members who attend should bring rakes.  A sign up sheet was passed around, and a reminder email will go out closer to the date.

HOSTING DUTIES FOR NEXT YEAR:  Emily Jordan reported that we will start signing up for hosting duties for next year soon.  We are working on the possibility of signing up online.

The business meeting was adjourned, and Lori Kennedy introduced Kelly Whitfield from the Atlanta History Center, who gave a talk and showed a video on the farm that was relocated to the Atlanta History Center campus.

Respectfully submitted,

Liz Irby

ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN

HOSTESSES:  DEE MCELROY, SARAH MCELROY, ESTER GARGES AND MAGGIE FISCHER

Call To Order: Emily Jordan

Emily called our meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the year. She welcomed our new members Sharena Hall, Rae Knox and Louise Moore. She thanked the hostesses for providing lunch.

Website: Margaret thanked Eileen and Jackie for their work on the website. The website is www.mimosagardenclub.com with username: mimosa and password: atlanta. Each member will need to create their account because the general login will be deactivated in December. You can pay your dues via Paypal on the website.

Dues:: Shelby Neely was available to collect them or you can pay via Paypal.

Corresponding Secretary – Rawson Grobety reported that if you have any correspondence, please send it to her as you would like it sent.

Speech School – Terri Alston reported that Planters came to the Speech School so everything looks good and that Comer is pleased. Our workday is scheduled for November 7th.

Quarry Garden–  Jinny Keough and Mary Mac Southerland reported that there is a new exhibit scheduled for March-June at the Atlanta History Center. As Director at the Atlanta History Center, Sarah Roberts’ proposal was for Mimosa to fund the Quarry Garden $6000 ($3500 for plants and $2500 for signage.) Our budget allows us to make this donation and we will receive recognition.

Membership:  Wawa Hines and Lois Yates passed the hostess chart around and asked everyone to check it.

Flower show –  Claire Marie Huff and Shelby Drinkard reported that there is no flower show this year. They are the mentors for the new members and there was a luncheon last week for them.

Party –  Mary Huntz and Mandy Culpepper reported that they are working with Sheffield Hale and the Atlanta History Center to have the party outside in the amphitheater overlooking the Quarry Garden. The party will be May 1st, 2014.

The business meeting was adjourned Lori Kennedy introduced Garnie Nygren of Serenbe, who gave us a thorough overview of the history, operations and vision of Serenbe.

Respectfully submitted,

Parker Tekin

THE ALLEN’S PLAYHOUSE

Catherine called the last meeting of the year to order and thanked our hostesses:  Tricia Allen, Parker Tekin, Sally Allen, and Lois Yates.

The new members were recognized and welcomed. Sharena Hall (sponsors Linda Maddox, Claire Marie Huff, Mary Mac Sutherland), Louise Allen Moore ( Tricia Allen, Marcy Mctier, Sally Allen), Rae Knox (Lois Yates, Emily Jordan, Maysie Beeson).

Treasurers Report– Please send any expenses to Julie Harlan to be reimbursed.

Speech School– Terri Alston reported on the workday  May 7th where members came to weed and detail the garden.

Quarry Garden– Jinny Keough reported that there will be a replanting of a bed by the pond and advised us to visit to see the spring flowers which are in bloom.  The Quarry Garden will be featured in a TV show filmed at the History Center to be  shown on PBS.  Look for an email telling us when to tune in.

Yearbook – Emily Ferguson will be sending an email this summer requesting your information for our new website.  We will not be printing a yearbook next year.

The past presidents of Mimosa are holding meetings to discuss and recommend changes of some of the antiquated by-laws.

Announcements:

We voted that all of our meetings will start at 10:30 next year.

Mary Huntz asked for members to consider their home as a location for our spring party next year.

After thanking her board, Catherine introduced Emily Jordan who will be our next President and passed the gavel to her.

Then Shannon Reese Hill gave a very informative and interesting presentation on the Nature Conservancy.