Community Projects and Activities
2009


Special Event: A Gaggle of Games
Fall of 2009 will see community participation in “A Gaggle of Games” afternoon of fun to raise funds for community events.  Garden Club members donate their time and efforts throughout the year to provide floral pieces for a variety of community projects and fund raisers, such as the Gift of Life Foundation, St Gabriel’s and the Veterans’ Memorials. (8 members)

Mini Show - “SWING!”
This fall we will treat ourselves to an opportunity to experiment in trying new types of design arrangements that we might otherwise be reluctant to attempt if it were a judged show.  We can expand our horizons and flex our creative muscles in new areas. We will invite the community to come and enjoy this wonderful “Mini Show” (60 members)

Adopted Spaces
Our little band of roving gardeners, including Christina Cunningham, Paulette Van Vranken and Yioula Van Rynbach, have adopted some very visible spots to clean up and care for. Among these are the Ram Island causeway, the bluff at Clinton Avenue and Wade’s Beach. For example, joined some of the Shelter Island Paulette Van Vranken helped school children to plant grasses for erosion control at Wade’s beach with the Group for the South Fork. (10 members)
 
Civic and Roadside
Jean McClintock secures the new plantings and oversees the team of “Garden Godmothers” that maintain and beautify our Island gardens.  Godmothers’ Gardens include: the George’s IGA Corner, the Center Post Office boxes, the Havens House 350th Anniversary & Herb Gardens, the Heights Post Office flower boxes and tubs, the Whale’s Tale Circle at Manwaring & St. Mary’s Roads, the Shelter Island Library Sitting Garden, the Mashomack entrance sign, the South Ferry Rowboat, the flower boxes behind City Hall, the Shelter Island School Courtyard Garden and Wilson’s Circle in the Center. (18 members)

Community Events
We contribute to and participate in many varied events each year.  These include the Historical Society’s yearly Fall Harvest Festival where we hold a community plant exchange and repotting workshop. We create flower arrangements for charitable fund-raising events. These include the Historical Society’s Heights House Tour every other year, the Gift of Life Foundation benefit, St. Gabriel’s and The Educational Foundation benefit.  We plant trees and share an Arbor Day celebration with the Shelter Island School.  We create Memorial Day wreaths for the Veterans, and we host a Garden Club Memorial Sunday at the Union Chapel as a time to honor and remember our members who have passed away during the current year. We share many of our Garden Club events with the community, such as the Plant Exchange in the spring, the upcoming Mini Show in the summer and the Holiday Workshop to close our Garden Club year in late fall. In addition, we open a select number of programs presented at our Club meetings throughout the year to the community. (60 members) 

Conservation
Yioula Van Rynbach and  volunteers maintain the Native Plant Garden at Mashomack Preserve. They also keep both club and community members aware and informed of environmental issues by writing newspaper articles and giving reports and by introducing wild plants, flowers and invasive species relating to conservation issues during Club meetings. (10 members)
 
Garden Therapy
Ann Diefendorf and Ida Marie Bottone, along with a host of volunteers, create and deliver small bouquets with “Meals on Wheels” trays and conduct flower arranging workshops at San Simeon-by-the-Sound adult care facility.  (12 members))
 
Garden Therapy (Youth Division)
Youth Division members, cheer shut-in community residents with floral gifts that accompany the Meals-on-Wheels program. (15 members)
 
Herb Garden
Carmel Bodner, Elizabeth Munson, Trina Waldron and several other members, maintain a wonderful colonial herb garden at the Historical Society’s Havens House. Mr. Bodner is also an appreciated, loyal helper at the herb garden. (6 members)

Library Flowers
Every two weeks throughout the year, a different Garden Club member graces the Shelter Island Library with a floral arrangement with a list of plant materials on display. This program is a learning tool for the community. Pat Rosenberg recruits members to participate in this much appreciated program. (25 members)

Memorials
Every year we donate an appropriate book to the Library for each member who has passed away. Other memorials, such as benches and trees, are placed in public places for the enjoyment of the whole community.  (1 member)

Website
Patricia Shillingburg has provided members and the community with instant access to all of our activities and events through the establishment of a website, www.shelter-island/garden_club.  Flower Show information, club meetings, events and any information of importance to our members and to the community relating to Garden Club will be found at the website. (1 member)