Standing Committees
Civic Beautification Committee - Chair: Sheryl Vos
This committee oversees the preparing, planting, watering, fertilization and weeding of town gardens. All Civic Beautification participants are requested to help with Spring/Fall cleanup. Scheduling, designing and purchasing plant material is done by each garden Site Chair. Garden assignments, approving billing and overseeing all gardens is coordinated by the Beautification Chairperson. No participant limit.
Corporation Beach Dory
Site Chair: Patricia Koehler
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Dorothy Craft
Joanne Mockler
Mary Raycraft
Pat Rosenberg
Carol Siegel
Chamber of Commerce
Site Chair: Marie Susen
Eva Brinner
Bethany Gaita
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Dennis Memorial Library
Site Chair: Barbara Norman
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Lauretta Boyle
Marlea Hoelzer
Margo Kay
Barbara Murphy
Trish Rivers
Carol Siegel
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Dennis Port Public Library
Site Chair: Nancy J. Wilson
Colleen Baldelli
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Dennis Port Pocket Park
Site Chair: Colleen Baldelli
Catherine Bonta
Loretta Boyle
Melanie Carlson
Susan Carnathan
Joanne DiFrancesco
Valerie Nichols
Kathy Ozella
Walter Phinney
Patti Sakellis
Peg Sheridan
Marie Susen
Lisa Swansey
Heidi Toth
Nancy J. Wilson
Jacob Sears Library
Site Chair: Karen Smith
Lynn Carlson
Priscilla Cronin
Barbara Drowne
Barbara Fitzpatrick
Bev Petti
Trish Rivers
Cindy St. Amour
Josiah Dennis Manse Interpretive Garden
Site Co-Chairs:
Mary Raycraft
Jan Ward
Dennis Village Post Office
Site Chair: Mary Rahal
Donna Christensen
Jean Forte
Marsha Fredericks
Valerie Nichols
Carol Siegel
Mayflower Beach Dory
Site Chair: Nadine Bradshaw
Jane Brennan
Fifi Gifford
Angela Hagerty
Kate Lazarovich
Mary Raycraft
Nancy Torrente
Beth Texeira
Bonnie Willey
Nobscussett Park
Site Chair: Peggy Lahey
Allison Barnes
Eva Brinner
Kate Lazarovich
Valerie Nichols
Mary Raycraft
Trish Rivers
Pat Rosenberg
Sheryl Vos
Jan Ward
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AWARDS - Chair: Nancy Jamieson
The Chairperson of Awards researches the awards available for the Club from GCFM, New England Regional and National Garden Clubs Inc., and any other applicable sources. This information is shared with our VGCD Committee Chairs who may wish to apply for an award or grant.
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CIVIC BEAUTIFICATION - Chair: Sheryl Vos
The Chairperson of Civic Beautification coordinates garden assignments, billing approval and assigns individual garden chairs.
• Oversees garden preparing, planting, watering, fertilizing and weeding.
• Schedules, designs, and purchases plant material
• Submits expense forms to Committee Chair
• Organizes Spring/Fall garden cleanup
Garden Assignments noted in Committees & Assignments above.
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DESIGN STUDY - Chair: Nancy Jamieson
The Design Study Committee holds club workshops to teach members good Floral Design using the Elements and Principles of Design as put forth by the National Garden Club, Inc. The committee will share techniques used to achieve good designs for Home and Shows.
Committee Members: Priscilla Hutchinson
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ENVIRONMENT - Chairs: Lisa Swansey
The Environment Committee keeps members informed about significant conservation and environmental issues as well as local,
state and national legislation on environmental concerns. The use of the Grapevine, announcements at General Meetings, as well
as email notifications of upcoming Internet programs, allow a variety of ways of keeping the membership informed.
Committee Members: None
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GRAPEVINE - Chair: Elizabeth Ching
The Grapevine is the VGCD newsletter sent to all VGCD members informing them of scheduled activities and noteworthy information pertaining to gardening, nature, all aspects of VGCD and GCFM information and activities.
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HORTICULTURE - Chairs: Colleen Baldelli
The Horticulture committee, in conjunction with relevant committees is responsible for the planning and organizing of field trips, flower shows, December wreath decorating, horticultural minutes, providing center pieces for the December luncheon and Annual Meeting.
​Committee Members: Melanie Carlson, Betty Morse, Nancy Wilson, Beth Teixeira
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HOSPITALITY - Chairs: Susan Carnathan & Patty Koehler
This committee organizes the monthly meeting luncheon refreshments for VGCD members and guests to enjoy. The committee is responsible for proper cleanup and storage of materials. See separate list of hospitality months assigned in next section.
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HYDRANGEA TOUR PLANNING - Chairs: Patty Koehler
This committee organizes the yearly Hydrangea Tour, decides what homes will partake and plans the staffing for the event.
Committee Members: Allison Barnes, Mary DelBuono, Joanne DiFrancesco, Donna Garrabrant, Valerie Nichols, Barbara Norman, Kathy Ozella, Trish Rivers, Patti Sakellis, Cindy St. Amour, Lisa Swansey, Bonnie Willey
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MEMBERSHIP - Chair: Joanne Mockler & Nadine Bradshaw
The Membership Committee coordinates the record keeping for the body of all VGCD members. This includes the creation of new and renewal applications. Members will interface with any new applicants regarding their interests and skills following which applicant names will be presented to the Board for approval. Members of the committee will work with the Vice President (who is a de-facto member of the committee) to assign a mentor to each new member. The committee will take attendance at meetings and maintain records in print and electronic spreadsheet form showing all current members and their status. This information will be used by the committee to manage renewals and in conjunction with the Tech Team, make current membership lists available on the VGCD website under the secure section for other committees and club members to utilize. The committee along with the Vice-President, may take on other activities during the year such as a welcome event for new members, training for mentors or membership promotion events as needed.
​Committee Members: Catherine Bonta, Jane Brennan, Peggy Lahey, Margaret McQuillan,
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PHOTOGRAPHER - Chair: Sheryl Vos
This VGCD member takes photographs at all VGCD events and works with the website editor to display and archive all photos on the VGCD website.
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PLANT SALE PLANNING - Chairs: Marsha Fredericks
The Plant Sale Committee coordinates one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, the annual plant sale. The committee is
responsible for all aspects of the sale including purchasing plants from nurseries, gathering members plants, locating a sale site, obtaining town permits, building a team, assigning tasks, works with various committees (as needed) such as the finance team, treasurer, tech team and publicity to coordinate funding and advertising. Additionally, leads the effort to collect plant accessories and vintage items offered for sale. They are responsible for building a team for the final cleanup and disposal of all site materials at the end of the sale. Lastly, provides the final reporting to include finances and balances of accounts within 30 days of the event.
​Committee Members: Nadine Bradshaw, Margaret Margaret McQuillan, Bev Petti, Cindy St. Amour, Lisa Swansey
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PROGRAM - Chair: Marjorie Dienhart
This Committee researches and arranges monthly programs for the club. The program may include speakers and other gardening, nature, and environmentally related subjects, along with focuses that support our club mission and budgets. Additionally, committee members review speaker’s presentations and equipment needs either in person or via technology before engaging on behalf of the club. This includes being a liaison with the speaker, coordinating contracts, submitting requests for payment, introducing the speaker/subject at each monthly meeting. Prior to meeting day, all equipment requirements, plus equipment set up plan is in place to ensure high quality programs. Also, collaborates with other VGCD Committees members to assist in planning the December Member Luncheon, VGCD special events (anniversary celebrations) and providing updates to the Grapevine Editor and Tech Team representatives.
​Committee Members: Barbara Drowne, Bethany Gaita, Marlea Hoelzer, Karen Smith
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PUBLICITY - Chair: Deb Watson
The Publicity Committee is responsible for managing communications and publicity for notable club events and activities while staying within budget. This includes all forms of written or electronic messaging, internet solutions and/or other avenues of affordable media for promotional purposes. Publicity works with the club photographer and various committees to achieve effective publicity awareness.
Committee Members: Eva Brinner, Caryn Reardon
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SCHOLARSHIP / COMMUNITY OUTREACH - Chairs: Kate Lazarovich
This committee works with local schools and organizations to provide scholarships, tool-ships and grants to residents living on Cape Cod. Working with high school guidance counselors, the committee identifies students who plan to pursue careers in fields that support the mission of the VGCD such as horticulture, landscaping design, environmental science, botany, forestry and other related fields. The committee will meet to review applications and award college scholarships and tool-ships to students to help them meet their career goals. In addition, this group may offer grants and advice to Cape Cod schools and other community organizations to help these organizations create and promote gardens and greens spaces in our town.
Committee Members: Donna Christensen, Priscilla Cronin, Valerie Nichols, Mary Rahal, Peg Sheridan
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SPECIAL EVENT PLANNING - Chair: TBD
This Committee is responsible for determining what and when the next special event will be; i.e. house tour, garden tour, special fundraiser, etc. This committee will decide how much we need to raise and what type of event we will have in the coming year. Planning for the event will be set up at a later point with specific teams set up to handle the various teams needed to sponsor the event.
Committee Members: Donna Christensen, Mary Rahal, Marie Susen, Jan Ward
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TECHNOLOGY - Chair: Jan Ward
This Committee is responsible for audio and video setup at each monthly meeting in conjunction with the Program Committee. Committee members manage and update the VGCD Facebook Page and website. Club laptop administration, including software updates, antivirus and hardware support, are managed by this team. This committee also works on creating media for all VGCD events such as the plant sale, open meeting and other special events in conjunction with the publicity team.
Committee Members: Elizabeth Ching
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YEARBOOK - Chair: Elizabeth Ching
Based on current input from all committees, the yearbook committee creates the yearly VGCD yearbook, coordinates printing with detail to cost and distribution. Committee chairs must submit edits or new material to the yearbook Chair as scheduled to guarantee on-time publication. Yearbook draft(s) must be proofread by committee Chairs before going to print. In addition, committee Chairs must provide these changes to the Technology and Publicity teams to ensure all media is in synch.
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YOUTH GARDENING - Chair: Allison Barnes
Youth Gardening works with a local Elementary School to learn about horticulture and environmental inpact
Each committee member is responsible for sourcing ideas and projects.
​Committee Members: Nadine Bradshaw, Bethany Cassin Gaita, Angela Hagerty, Bonnie Willey
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Hospitality Schedule
Co-Chairs: Susan Carnathan & Patty Koehler
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September Chair - Priscilla Cronin
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Tea Table— Nancy Jamieson
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Elizabeth Ching, Donna Christensen, Barbara Drowne, Marsha Fredericks, Peg Sheridan, Sheryl Vos
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October Chair - Lynn Carlson
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Tea Table— Mary Rahal
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Mary DelBuono, Barbara Fitzpatrick, Caryn Reardon, Marie Susen, Beth Texeira, Jan Ward
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November Chair - Allison Barnes
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Tea Table—Joanne DiFrancesco
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Jean Forte, Catherine Bonta, Peggy Lahey, Barbara Murphy, Bev Petti, Caryn Reardon
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January Chair - Kathy Ozella
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Tea Table - Colleen Baldelli
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Marjorie Dienhart, Angela Hagerty, Priscilla Hutchinson, Margo Kay, Bonnie Willey
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February Chair - Melanie Carlson
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Tea Table - Lisa Swansey
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Eva Brinner, Sue Foley, Marlea Hoelzer, Patty Koehler
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March Chair - Nancy Wilson
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Tea Table— Bethany Gaita
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Fifi Gifford, Walter Phinney, Caryn Reardon, Trish Rivers, Cindy St. Amour
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April Chair - Janet Brennan
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Tea Table - Valerie Nichols
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Nadine Bradshaw, Lauretta Boyle, Mary Raycraft ​
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May Chair - Carol Siegel
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Tea Table— Margaret McQuillan
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Sue Carnathan, Joanne Mockler, Karen Smith, Pat Rosenberg, Patty Sowpel ​
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