Land O’Sky Garden Club Minutes - December, 2025

December 11, 2025, Monthly Meeting
Proposed Minutes Draft 3 of 3

Co President Anne Lee welcomed and greeted members at the Hendersonville Country Club for end of year luncheon.

Membership Report – Hostess Chairwoman Dee Felice called roll and gave the following report on membership status for Year 2025: New members -- Amy Lynn Holt, May 2025; Anne Waring, May 2025; Sally Gudger, May 2025; Mary Lee Cantey, June 2025; Sue Kampsen, August 2025; and Therrissa Cohen, November 2025. We currently have 34 Active Members and 35 Associate Members. The garden club had several members change their status for the 2025 year: Tricia King became an associate member and the following were listed as inactive: Jenny Brown, Anna Hicks, and Renee McPhail. We have six inactive members. Inactive membership is limited to three years. One member, Fran Shipman, has reached the three-year mark. She will need to reapply for membership if she would like to resume her membership. Lisa Wilson plans to return to Hendersonville in the spring and would like to become an active member again. Sadly, we had one member pass away this year: Susan Frost. We averaged 21 Active members and 2 associate members at our meetings, excluding the December meeting this year. Our November meeting set a 2025 attendance record, with 28 Active members and 3 Associate members present.

2025 Hospitality Annual Report -- The Land O’Sky Garden Club met nine times for our regular monthly meetings, and this year our co-presidents added a new elective event, Fun Thymes. These events allowed members to join for outings to several area venues, including the Peony Fields in South Carolina and member Amy Lynn Holt’s flower farm. Our monthly programs were varied in meeting styles and presentations and met our club’s objectives of fostering knowledge of home gardening, decorative arrangements, and conservation. The programs were informative and enjoyable, providing our members with a wonderful time to learn and work together.

Our programs this year were:

January: No meeting

February: Business meeting at Historic Johnson Farm; Anne Lee, Jean Faulkner, and Sallie Carr

March: Schneider Tree Care, Henderson County Activity Center; Ginger Michel, Margaret Stone and Dee Felice

April: GCNC District Director, Bullington; Patti Little, Maggie Mugan, Denise Layfield and Barbara Gresh

May: Mikey Lively Nursery; Jana Humleker, Ginny Mitchell, Amy Smith

June: Bluebirds, Fred Thompson; Luncheon at Flat Rock Park, Garden Club Board

July: Summer Social; Sky Top Orchard; Lindsey Butler, Melissa Witmeier, Dana Groves, and Jana Humleker

August: Reverend Tim Jones, Sallie Carr’s Home; Sallie Carr, Dana Groves

September: Blue Ridge Community College Horticulture Tour: Ginger Michel, Julie Huneycutt, Melissa Witmeier

October: Succulents with Katie Barry King; Rhonda Donovan’s Home; Ronda Donovan, Sally Gregg and Paula Irving

November: Workshop at Carol Lyne Sumner’s warehouse; Dee Felice, Catherine Banta

December: Garden Club Luncheon & Officer Installation; Hendersonville Country Club

Treasurer’s Report – Treasurer Anne Waring reported that the 2025 Christmas Bazaar raised approximately $16,392.36 on day of bazaar, December 6, 2025. The club had a balance this month of approximately $35,206.49. Co President Anne L also revealed that an anonymous donor gave the club a gift of $3,000 for unrestricted use.

2025 Highlights – Co President Anne L thanked the Ways and Means committee members, and especially Vice President Ginger Michel, for all the work the committee dedicated to reviewing the club’s budget and making recommendations for how the club could balance its budget. Their review resulted in an increase in annual dues which members unanimously approved. She thanked Sallie Carr for being the new liason with the state garden club and also thanked Sally Gregg for creating the club’s new website. This year the club participated in a new activity called Fun Thymes and hosted a New Member Orientation. Club members continued with its tradition of its annual Christmas Bazaar. Co President Anne L also revealed that an anonymous donor gave the club a gift of $3,000 for unrestricted use.

Minutes Approved – Minutes from November 2025 meeting were unanimously approved by a call from Co President Anne L.

Installation of 2026 Slate of Officers – The club unanimously voted in November 2025 to approve the slate of 2026 officers as follows: President, Ginger Michel; Vice President, Chrissy Filka; Recording Secretary, Dana Groves; Corresponding Secretary, Jean Faulkner; Treasurer, Anne Waring; Advisors, Anne L and Jan Wayne. Advisor Sallie C thanked outgoing board members and most especially the “dynamic duo” of Co Presidents Anne L and Jan W. Incoming President Ginger M gave brief remarks, thanking the 2025 board and expressing excitement about working with a new board in the coming year of 2026.

Dahlia Project -- Co President Anne Lee said she was excited about the opportunity to bring dahlias and other flowers to community organizations and nursing homes throughout the year in 2026. Discussions will take place under the Civic Project Committee next year. Inactive member Jenny Brown has offered dahlias from her yard, and Amy Lynn Holt has offered flowers from her flower farm.

Funds from the Bazaar – Members can make suggestions about where donations from this year’s bazaar will go in 2026. There is a place on the website where members can note requests.

Website – A program suggestions icon is also on the website where members can make programming suggestions for next year. A few more locations are needed for meetings in 2026; please consider opening your home and becoming a hostess for a meeting.

Christmas Bazaar Highlights – Co President Anne L made noted that Christmas Bazaar 2025 was a great success despite the last minute move to outside of the J&D Produce building due to roof damage. Most of the products were sold by 1 p.m. She presented the “You Saved my Bacon” award to Julie Huneycutt for rapid tent response. The club sold out of all wreaths for the first time. She most especially thanked all members who were committee chairs as well as the entire membership for all of their work to make the bazaar a success. She also thanked Kenny Saine, husband of member Karen Saine, for being the “best husband” of the bazaar. She also noted that Susan Frost’s husband, Larry, came to help the garden club, saying that his wife, the late Susan Frost, would want him to be there.

The Laura Felt Award --– For the first time in the club’s history, a special award was given to a member who has contributed many extra measures to the club – Laura Felt, who joined the club in 2009. She served as president in 2012 and 2013. Her contributions have included trips to Japan to secure Washi paper that she has used to make gorgeous decorations and crafts to sell at the bazaar; Ikebana demonstrations, recipes, seeds, red twig, and much more. Upon receiving the award, Laura said, “I am undone, to say the least!” Thank you Laura!! This award will be used to honor other Active or Associate club members who demonstrate leadership and high levels of participation in club events and activities with the same passion as Laura, but it is not necessarily an annual award.

Submitted by Recording Secretary Denise Layfield on December 31, 2025.