President's Message

Dear GCI Friends,

For our 83rd year of existence, we are 67 members strong! We are fortunate to have signed up several enthusiastic new folks who joined us over the summer. Your board has been working hard to ensure the fun and educational year ahead. All that is needed is your participation!

With our revised calendar in play, we enjoyed an August trip to Aqualand in St Charles, where we were treated to the inner workings and fabulous outside displays of this thriving water feature business. Mid-tour, we dined al fresco with a sumptuous potluck lunch. So many desserts! Thanks again to Lauri Mitchell for facilitating the extra special tour and bonus presentation with Aquascape President Colleen Heitzler. 

Our first general meeting is on September 21 This is one of the most critical and action-packed meetings of every year. It is time to reconnect, turn in your whole-table reservations for the Holiday Luncheon, and sign up for outings, committees, and hospitality. So please be sure to bring your checkbooks and your calendars! We’ll also be handing out our newest directory! Please arrive 10-15 minutes early for catch-up conversations so that we may begin our meeting promptly at 9:30, and allow the speaker her full allotted time. 

We are very pleased with the variety of speakers and special events that are lined up for this year! Special thanks go out to Patty Branhan, Kathy Zweidinger and Deb Dompke, who have been tolling through the summer to secure speakers and events! Our first speaker on September 21 will be Barbara Collins: What’s the Fuss? Hemp & CBD explained. This should be very enlightening! Deb has also arranged for a visit to Cantigny Park in Wheaton, IL on Friday, September 22. All of the details will be at our meeting! 

Our Holiday Luncheon will be held on Thursday, December 7, at Medinah Country Club. With a small army of volunteers, Chair Shirley Putman has been very busy creating crafts to highlight our theme, ‘Celebrate the Season of Light’.  As our only fundraiser, the Holiday Luncheon provides a festive ‘not to be missed’ opportunity to shop for unique holiday gifts, score engaging and delightful baskets and silent auction offerings, share a delicious meal and enjoy a floral presentation by Robert Neri. The proceeds underwrite our outstanding programs and, more importantly, fund GCI’s legacy of providing horticultural scholarships! 

I’ve included the following message from Shirley: 

‘It’s hard to think of the holidays – right around the corner, when the weather has been so hot but please, be prepared to purchase full tables of 10 at the September general meeting for our annual holiday luncheon at Medinah, for the opportunity to select prime seating for the luncheon and presentation!  

September Full Table requirements: 

1)  The full table amount must be paid at the time of purchase.  Tickets are $75.00 each, ($750 per 10 person table) and are non-refundable; 

2)  The largest table group that can be accommodated is 11 ($825).

3)  Complete table reservation needs to include each known person/guest seated at your table, with printed first & last names, phone numbers and email addresses. (Please type or print names & details clearly as we will be making seat assignments from these lists.)

4)  Example, If prepaying for a 10th guest ‘yet to be determined’ note as such. 

You can purchase small group or individual tickets at the October and November meetings until we have reached our maximum capacity by forwarding your payment and guest details to Lauri Mitchell, our registration volunteer. 

For those of you new to the club, you may organize your table with friends and family. Or let us know that you’d like to join an existing table and we will work to assist you should an opportunity presents itself, such as combining with a committed 8 or 9 person group during this meeting. 

Also, it has been our tradition that members make a financial donation towards the purchase of items for our general raffle, so we would really appreciate any assistance you might be willing to give. Make checks payable to: The Garden Club of Inverness with the note line indicating ‘Holiday Luncheon’. We will be sharing some of the details and planning that have taken place for the luncheon at our September meeting.  See you in September!’                                                               ~Shirley

I am genuinely delighted to welcome you to the ‘2023-24 Garden Club of Inverness’ as I’ve had an inside view to the immense planning and preparation that our board,  committee members and volunteers have put forth this summer!  We have a tremendous year in store for you!

Best wishes to all, 

Janet Sweno 

Garden Club of Inverness

President