Committees Descriptions, Chairs, and Members Click on a committee button, or scroll down to read about them all. Avis Campbell Facilities Hospitality Awards Finance Membership Botanical Arts Flower Design Nominating Ways & Means Church Street Garden Boutique Open Gardens Workshops Civic/Environment Garden Therapy Program Communications Horticulture Properties Youth Avis Campbell Gardens Reports 2019-2025 Maria Matesanz, Chair; Kem Louie, Vice Chair; Barbara Meyer, Rose Chair Members 2026-2027: Olga Bequillard, Karen Carter, Ellen Colton, Marie Donnelly, Susan Dumont, Donna Karanja, Ana Moore, Deborah Moran, Betty Murphy, Patricia Rodio, Maggie Rothman, Grete Scheidl, Lisa Schweitzer, Elizabeth Seebode-Zazzali, Pat Sullivan-Perry, Valerie Slamka, Maureen Sprong, Michele Trevenen, M ichele Tomasik, Pamela Turre, Donna Uher, Jane Wallace, Susan Yu, Loren Zodel, and Provisionals. The Avis Campbell Gardens and Grounds Committee maintains the grounds and the display gardens located behind 60 S Fullerton Ave. The gardens are open to the public. Designed by landscape architect and Garden Club member Avis Campbell and installed in 1952, the gardens are inspired by the Wheel of Life and feature a pedestal fountain surrounded by roses and beds of flowering perennials and annuals. The grounds include a memorial to Essex County residents who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Volunteers are welcome to join committee members who garden every Tuesday morning from April through mid-November. Awards Tova Narrett, Chair Members 2025-2026 : This group of members is responsible for managing which members receive Garden Club awards. Click here for the full list of awards and recipients since 1980. Member of this committee are appointed. Reports 2019-2025 Botanical Arts Reports 2019-2025 Florence Leyssène, Chair; Debbie Moran, Vice Chair Members 2025-2026 : Kathy Bachmann, Barbara Baletti, Karen DeLuca, Karen Fricke, Debbie Moran, Tova Narrett, Floss O’Sullivan, Susan van Inwegen. Recently joining the line-up of Club activities, Botanical Arts (BA) offers additional opportunity for creative expression and presentation of other types of horticulture, design and exhibits. Included under the BA umbrella are Botanical Horticulture, Botanical Design, Artistic Crafts, and Photography. Church Street Gardens (formerly Triangle Gardens) Reports 2019-2025 Kathy Bachmann, Chair; Maggie Rothman, Vice Chair Members 2025-2026: Charlene Connolly, Nancy Foster, Betty Murphy, Deborah Hirsch, Anna Lee, Sara Olson, Janet Oscar, Maggie Rothman, Valerie Slamka, Kathy Sorkin, Wendy Stahl, Nancy Stroud, Pamela Torre, Jane Wallace, Sue Young. Church Street Gardens include the raised planting beds along Church Street and the traffic circle at the corner of Valley Road, planted in the summer of 2025. Active and provisional Members plant in the spring and maintain through the summer and fall, turning downtown Montclair into an oasis that residents take for granted. The Business Improvement District partners with the club, supplying funds and maintenance assistance during the growing season. Civic/Environment Reports 2019-2025 Deborah Hirsch, Chair; Sarah Olson, Vice Chair Members 2025-2026 : Kathy Bachmann, Karen Carter, Jacoba Coes, Marie Donnelly, Susan Dumont, Karen Kadus, Anna Lee, Maria Matesanz, Sydney Milliken, Sheila Oakes, Sarah Olson, Imke Oster, Susan Straten, Jane Wallace, Sue Young. The mission of this Committee is to encourage environmentally responsible beautification of our town’s outdoor green spaces. This Committee’s goal is to act as a resource for individual and organizational stewardship for planning and plant selection and to provide physical help where appropriate. We will offer advice on ways to beautify town businesses and create floral displays when requested. We will search for existing gardens that exemplify sustainable practices and businesses whose plantings or containers show significant effort in the use of pollinator friendly and native plants. We will highlight these examples on social media and website platforms. We will interface with other committees of our club to learn, educate, and share ideas. Communications/Publicity Reports 2019-2025 Celia Radek, Chair; Sue Young, Vice Chair Members 2025-2026 : Janice Benton, Karen DeLuca, Deborah Hirsch, Tova Narrett, Tracy Reilly, Amy South, Allyn Young. Not only do we need to inform members of all our activities, but we need to reach out to new gardeners. This committee runs this website, blasts out social media, updates our history online and with an annual printable Yearbook, communicates with blog updates and emails, and links with the public and press through social media and event notifications. It also helps all committees with publicity and other communications requirements. Facilities Reports 2019-2025 Karen Whitehaus, Chair Member 2025-2026 : Deborah Hirsch. Members of this committee oversee the very important maintenance of the Club’s physical plant. They are responsible for maintaining the Club's meeting rooms, whether at 60 South Fullerton Avenue or elsewhere. Finance Reports 2019-2025 Bob Chapman, Chair; Vice Chair TBD Members 2025-2026 : Class of 2026—Nancy Stroud, Imke Oster; Ways & Means—Gretchen Prater (non-voting); Class of 2027—Lissa Barrett, Karen Kadus; President (ex officio)—Fran Ackerly. As in any organization, this committee is responsible for collecting dues, creating and managing a budget, and ensuring we meet all legal and ethical standards concerning our finances. Members are appointed. Flower Design Reports 2019-2025 Barbara Baletti, Chair; Florence Leyssène, Vice Chair Members 2025-2026: Fran Ackerly, Barbara Baletti, Susan Brady, Carol Callahan, Cynthia Corhan-Aitken, Karen Fricke, Florence Leysènne, Tova Narrett, Deborah Moran, Amy Poster, Michele Quinn, Cheryl Slutzky, Sarah Stransky, Flower Design is an integral component of the Garden Club. Monthly competitions provide opportunities for new and experienced designers to showcase their designs, receive feedback from judges, and earn ribbons and design credits. By attending the many workshops offered each year by our expert designers, members can improve their design skills, learn about the different design types, staging, and mechanics. Garden Boutique Reports 2019-2025 Susan Benner, Chair Members 2025-2026 : Susan Brady, Ellen Colton, Marie Donnelly, Susan Dumont, Dorothy Meissner, Sara Olson, Brigitte Padberg, Nancy Stroud. The Garden Boutique not only provides gardening and flower design tools, caps, aprons, and other eye-catching gifts to members, but it makes a profit and contributes to our annual budget. Our chair is always open to new ideas for items. Garden Therapy Reports 2019-2025 Olga Bequillard, Chair; Sheila Oakes, Vice Chair Members 2026-2027 : Fran Ackerly, Susan Benner, Betsy Burgess, Ellen Colton, Susan Dumont, Anna Lee, Maria Matesanz, Betty Murphy, Sheila Oakes, Sara Olson, Imke Oster, Denise Silverman, Cheryl Slutzky, Wendy Stahl, Michele Tomasik, Jane Wallace. The Garden Therapy Committee brings nature, creativity, and connection together through a variety of engaging programs, including Aromatherapy, Floral Design, Botanical Arts, and hands-on rooftop gardening. These initiatives offer a meaningful way to give back to the community through visits to Oasis in Paterson and the Montclair Public Library, where we will inspire and engage participants from Life Long Montclair’s dementia program. Through the healing power of plants and the arts, we cultivate moments of joy, discovery, and well-being.” Horticulture Reports 2019-2025 Heidi Muschick, Chair; Susan Straten, Vice Chair Members 2025-2026 : Jacoba Coes, Celia Radek, Denise Silverman. Horticulture involves the cultivation of fruits, flowering plants, vegetables, and ornamental plants with opportunities for members to exhibit specimens from their gardens or potted plants from their homes. Hospitality Reports 2019-2025 Florence Sinofsky, Chair; Betty Murphy, Vice Chair Members 2025-2026 : Betsy Burgess, Carol Callahan, Charlene Connolly, Karen Kadus, Dorothy Meissner, Betty Murphy, Amy Poster, Michele Quinn, Elizabeth Seebode-Zazzali, Pat Sullivan-Perry, Cheryl Slutzky. One of our three goals is "Fellowship," and the Hospitality Committee ensures that it is never far from any Club event. Our members look forward to the tradition of delicious lunches, teas, and all kinds of comforting fare conjured — apparently — out of nowhere. Membership Reports 2019-2025 Cheryl Slutzky, Chair; Susan Dumont, Vice-Chair Members 2025-2026 : Sarah Olson, Brigitte Padberg, Kathy Sorkin, Sue Young. This committee is responsible for recruiting and welcoming new members and managing all aspects of membership in the Club. Nominating Reports 2019-2025 Marie Donnelly, Chair Members 2025-2026: Barbara Baletti, Susan Benner, Karen Fricke, Sarah Olson, Florence Sinofsky, Fran Wong; Membership (ex officio)—Cheryl Slutzky; President (ex officio)—Fran Ackerly. The Nominating Committee prepares slates of candidates for Club officers and fills vacancies should they occur. Members of this committee are appointed. Open Gardens Reports 2019-2025 Marilyn Zaret, Moderator Connecting our Members, Open Gardens provides an opportunity to share knowledge and creativity. With friends included, these periodic social gatherings continue to expand in popularity, and serve as outreach to our community. Program Reports 2019-2025 Cynthia Cohan-Aitken, Chair; Karen Fricke, Vice Chair Members 2025-2026 : Barbara Baletti, Charlene Connolly, Sydney Milliken, Amy Poster, Sarah Stransky. Program meetings are held monthly from September to April for members and guests. Speakers come with an extensive knowledge of gardening, flower design and horticulture as well as topics as varied as the history of Essex County parks, color theory, tree therapy, and the relationship of the fashion industry to gardening. Properties Reports 2019-2025 Pam Turre, Chair; Melody Brown, Vice Chair Member 2025-2026 : Angel Pollack These behind-the-scenes troupers are responsible for making sure our exhibitions and shows have the right equipment to make everything run smoothly. Ways & Means Susan Benner, Chair; Olga Bequillard, Vice Chair Members 2025-2026 : Cynthia Corhan-Aitken, Marie Donnelly, Deborah Hirsch, Anna Lee, Janet Oscar, Amy Poster, Cheryl Slutzky, Amy South, Susan Straten, Nancy Stroud, Michele Trevenen, Marilyn Zaret, This committee searches for ways to generate revenue to support the various club projects. Reports 2019-2025 Workshops Reports 2019-2025 Karen Fricke, Chair; Tova Narrett, Vice Chair Members 2025-2026 : Barbara Baletti, Susan Brady, Florence Leysenne, Dorothy Meissner, Barbara Meyer. Workshops are organized throughout the year to help members — provisionals in particular — learn about flower design, cultivating and exhibiting horticulture specimens, as well as other topics related to gardening. Youth Reports 2019-2025 Jacoba Coes, Chair; Susan Yu, Vice Chair Members 2025-2026 : Nancy Foster, Sarah Olson, Susan Straten, Allyn Young. This committee is unique — offering the opportunity to spark the same enthusiasm that brought us to join the Garden Club in a new generation. Through activities that introduce young people to the basic principles of gardening, design, ecology, and conservation we hope to encourage participants to develop a life-long love of gardens, a direct appreciation of horticulture's therapeutic effects and an understanding of the importance of plants to our planet.

The Garden Club of Montclair is dedicated to sharing knowledge and practice of conservation, horticulture, and the artistic use of plant material. We beautify the Township of Montclair and sponsor and support projects in the schools of our town. And, not least, we foster fellowship and friendship through our work and our social activities. The Garden Club of Montclair proudly celebrates its 100th anniversary. See the list of planned events throughout the year. In the News Click here to see ALL "In the News" posts Art in Bloom 2026 May 17 100th Birthday Party: The Event May 10 100th Birthday Party: Designs for the Decades May 9 Julia Smith Berrall May 8 March Competition Results Apr 18 Tiny Jewels Apr 15

Apply for Membership We are delighted that you are considering Membership in the Garden Club of Montclair. Please email Tova Narrett , our Membership VP. She will contact you, and answer any of your questions. In the meantime, read "In the News " or noodle around this website to get an idea of what we are up to. Provisional Requirements and Information Note: If you have a friend in the Club, she/he will be your "mentor," that is, your guide through the first year. If you found us online, we will assign a Garden Club member as your mentor. Mentors join Provisionals at program meetings, competitions, the Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation in May, and social events, and keep track of their progress. You'll find that everyone is more than willing to help you through the year. Provisional members are responsible for completing the following requirements to become Active members: One Program meeting Two workshops Two sessions helping our gardeners in Avis Campbell Gardens One work session in Church Street Gardens or the Church Street Circle, helping our gardeners maintain our plantings One Garden Therapy session Two of the following: ― One Flower Design entry (not judged) ― One Horticultural specimen (not judged) ― One Botanical Arts entry (not judged). Provisional Dues: $100. The official Provisional year begins on April 1, but applications are accepted throughout the year. Provisionals are encouraged to attend all Program Meetings and Workshops where they will get to know and be greeted by our members and learn about all the things that we do.

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Committee Reference Guide for 2026-2027 ease sign up ONLY for the committees to which you feel you can ACTIVELY contribute. The list below is not a general description of our committees, but a request for volunteers. CLICK HERE for a general description of all our committees to see whether you feel you can contribute. CLICK HERE to return to the Annual Dues Form. CLICK HERE for a general description of all our committees and members.. Avis Campbell Gardens and Grounds: Maintain the perennial gardens and shrub plantings, April through early November. Committee members meet as a group every Tuesday morning, with other days and special events scheduled as needed. Committee members will fill one of these three roles: 1. Bed Captain, 2. Bed Partner, 3. Garden Floater. Botanical Arts: Committee members will work with the Chair(s) to help create the schedules at the beginning of the year and help set up the monthly exhibitions. Church Street Gardens: Plant and maintain the raised beds in the downtown Montclair Church Street area. The schedule of work days will be created by the committee. Spring: Prune shrubs and perennials, pull spent tulip bulbs and plant annuals. Summer: Weed and water as needed. Late Fall: pull annuals and plant tulips. The fall and spring workdays (8:30 am - 12:30 pm) are scheduled on Mondays in late October and May. Civic/Environment: Several new joint projects with the township are currently in planning stages. Physically able committee members will assist with the planting and initial maintenance of these projects. Environmentally committed members will search out examples of sustainable practices both within our town and globally, and work with the committee to highlight these on the Club’s social media and website platforms. Be prepared to interface with other committees of our club to learn, educate, and share ideas. Communications & Publicity: We are looking for Members who are interested in the art and science of modern communications. We are also looking for those who can contribute short accounts and photographs of Club activities for inclusion on the website and social media. Facilities: Assist Chair in the maintenance of the Club’s physical plant. Ensure spaces (Club Room and Auditorium or outdoor space) are set up as needed. Interface with building management, i.e., communicate GC needs for use of space, garbage disposal, cleanliness of space. Flower Design: Attend committee meetings to help decide yearly theme, schedule, workshops etc. Assist Design Chair at monthly design competitions and workshops as well as assisting with other responsibilities associated with Flower Design. Garden Boutique: Assist Chair in maintaining the Club’s boutique store. Help set up off-site Boutique events and coordinate outside vendor sales twice a year, and perform other duties as needed. Garden Therapy: Garden Therapy is an opportunity to "give back" to the community with visits to nursing homes, senior centers, specialized schools, and refuges. Garden Club members work with the institutions to design programs that will interest participants and members alike, ranging from hands on workshops covering floral design, aromatherapy, botanical collage art and raised garden bed planting of annuals and herbs. Committee members will participate in purchasing materials, mentoring participants at events, helping to set up and break down the workshops and arranging car pools if needed. Horticulture: Attend committee meetings to help develop the horticulture schedule, choose the Horticulture “Project of the Year” and workshop. Assist Chair with set up and breakdown at monthly competitions, workshops and share your knowledge of exhibiting with new members. Hospitality: One of our three goals is "Fellowship," and the Hospitality Committee ensures that it is never far from any Club event. Members of this committee help organize lunches and teas, and provide all kinds of comforting fare for members and for judges at our competitions. Committee members should also help with set up and breakdown of these events. Membership: Volunteers on this committee are the welcoming faces for Provisionals. Their job is to mentor and make sure new members feel comfortable during their first year. As ambassadors for the Club, they publicize and recruit new members. They will also meet and greet members and visitors at program meetings and other events, and are expected to attend at least one program meeting where they will hand out and collect name tags. Programs: Yearly: Assist Chair(s) in suggesting and selecting interesting speakers for the monthly program meetings. Monthly: Solicit raffle items from speakers and/or purchase items for raffles. Confirm speakers 2 weeks prior to program meeting, confirm their needs for presentation. Check in members/guests at program meetings and sell raffle tickets. Send written thank you notes to speakers after each program. Learn how to set up audio and video equipment and assist Chair(s) with set up and break down at monthly programs. Be available to attend to guest speaker’s needs. Properties: Make sure our exhibitions and shows have the right equipment to make everything run smoothly. Committee members will set up and breakdown for competitions. Ways & Means: Plan and implement fundraising activities that are needed for specific projects. Members have the opportunity to lead specific projects. Workshops: Attend planning meeting over the summer to assist Chair(s) in selecting and organizing monthly workshops and recruiting instructors. Help Chair(s) with set up/break down/clean-up of meeting room. Crane House Decorating Sub-Committee: Assist with pick-up and delivery of greens; assist with set up/clean-up for wreath and swag making; provide refreshments on decorating day; assist with clean up on decorating day. Youth: Help plan and lead activities that introduce children to basic principles of gardening, floral design, floral arts, ecology, and conservation.

Standard Flower Show September 25-27, 2026 A Standard Flower Show "A Century in Bloom" continues our centennial celebration. The Show will take place September 25 - 27 at Van Vleck House & Gardens and feature Horticulture, Flower Design, Education, Botanical Arts Artistic Crafts, Botanical Arts Photography, and Youth exhibits. The Show is an opportunity to showcase and share the many talents of our club members with the community. Click here for the latest version of the schedule.

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Garden Therapy Committee Reports Committees 2024-2025 — Susan Dumont, Chair; Karen Kadus, Vice Chair The Garden Therapy Committee organized four large events this year. Our programs were dedicated to the organization, Oasis, a haven for women and children, in Paterson, NJ. Our objective was to maximize our impact on a select group of participants, provide a sense of accomplishment, promote social interaction and improve a participant’s mood, sense of well-being, and satisfaction in a safe and supportive environment. An aromatherapy workshop opened our season of programs. Fragrant therapy jars were filled with lavender, dried roses, calendula and sunflower petals. February found us celebrating “Galentines’ Day” with a flower design workshop using floral themed material and roses. April’s workshop engaged participants in the technique of creating collages using dried flowers and leaves. Wrapping up our scheduled events for the season was the planting of the Oasis rooftop garden. We provided both planting guidance and education on horticulture care. Working side by side with the Oasis clients, 16 raised beds were successfully planted for a summer’s bounty of blooms! Members 2024-2025: Maria Matesanz, Betty Murphy, Sheila Curry Oakes, Sara H. Olson, Imke Oster, Floss O’Sullivan, Helene Peck, Patricia Rodio, Grete Scheidl, Wendy Stahl, Suzy Straten, Eugenie Temmler, Michele Tomasik, Susan van Inwegen, Jane Wallace, Sue Young. Provisionals. 2023-2024 — Susan Dumont, Chair; Karen Kadus, Vice Chair The Garden Therapy Committee organized four large events this season, engaging both Club members and clients in therapeutic activities. November found us gathered in the Garden Club room, where we created beautiful floral arrangements with a fall holiday theme for the Toni’s Kitchen dining tables. In-house dining had happily returned after a three-year Covid closing and it was a joy to be part of welcoming Toni’s clients back to their dining room to enjoy their meals. Aromatherapy, a new outreach program offered in February to our clients of Oasis, allowed them to take away a breath of spring after creating their fragrant therapy jars filled with lavender, dried roses, and sunflower petals. April found our volunteers meeting in Paterson to hold a flower design therapy session for members of the CUMAC community. Both men and women learned about basic design technique and then indulged in using five different types of flowers to create their own masterpieces. Our final event of the season in May found us back at Oasis to help clients plant herbs and annuals in 16 large rooftop planters. Providing both planting guidance and education on horticulture care, volunteers and clients worked side by side to install over 200 annuals and herbs! 2022-2023 — Sarah Olson, Chair; Susan Dumont, Vice Chair This season Garden Therapy continued to build relationships with organizations we worked with in the past and added outreach to several new facilities. We reinstated monthly deliveries of flower arrangements designed by our members for the nurses at Mountainside Hospital, to recognize their commitment to healthcare. Our very popular flower arranging workshops were held at The Cliffs at Eagle Rock and Freedom Village, both senior living facilities, as well as at Oasis - A Haven for Women and Children. We created almost 300 seasonal floral arrangements for our Sharon's Harvest Thanksgiving event for Toni's Kitchen patrons, and seasonal winter arrangements for Park Methodist food pantry patrons, and Human Needs Food Pantry shut-ins. And we got back in the dirt for our workshops with a visit to Freedom Village where we guided clients in creating windowsill herb gardens, and a repeat visit to Oasis to assist in planting their rooftop containers. 2021-2022 — Sarah Olson, Chair; Floss O'Sullivan, Vice Chair This season, Garden Therapy expanded outreach to serve additional populations. Our work included projects creating content to be used virtually, cheerful floral gifts for those high-risk groups that couldn't risk in-person contact, and, when appropriate, spreading cheer through active project engagement. September 2021 saw us working outdoors with a small group of clients at the Canterbury Village Senior Center, planting succulent cactus container gardens. In October, we began a new monthly program for the nurses at Mountainside Hospital to recognize their commitment to healthcare. GCM Members worked alone or in small groups to design a floral arrangement that was delivered to nursing stations at the hospital. Our outreach in October was leading a flower arranging workshop at Oasis; again, a huge success as we worked with 19 clients. We repeated our Thanksgiving event for Toni's Kitchen, with a new twist to honor GCM member Sharon Karlson. Renamed "Sharon's Harvest," we teamed up with Van Vleck House & Gardens "Good Grows Here" event. GCM Members sourced and prepped materials and then assisted families on the day of the event in the design of their flower arrangement. Over 180 arrangements were delivered to Toni's Kitchen. February saw the launch of our YouTube video, "Botanical Journeys." Beautiful botanical images were set to music for the enjoyment of seniors. GCM Members supplied and curated the photos and then created the video. Connections at Home, an organization that caters to "shut-ins," was one of the recipients. March and April were active with additional flower arranging workshops for two organizations: Nassan's Place, an autistic youth program, and Oasis. In addition, GCM Members made 100 May Day baskets for Canterbury Rehab Center in Cedar Grove. We got our hands dirty with our season wrap up on June 1st by planning and planting six raised rooftop containers at Oasis. Clients and GCM Members enjoyed planting annuals and herbs. Thank you to the Garden Therapy committee for all of your support this year. And a huge thank you to the Club membership for their enthusiastic support and participation in all of our events! 2020-2021 — Sarah Olson, Chair; Floss O'Sullivan, Vice Chair Like so many other aspects of our lives, the COVID-19 pandemic affected how Garden Therapy was able to operate and achieve its mission. Our face-to-face interactions with clients had to be curtailed but we were able to spread floral good cheer due to the terrific participation of our Club members. In September 2020, Club members prepared 60 bundles of flowers for Toni’s Kitchen which had become a food bank site for the community due to COVID-19. Much of the plant material was cut from the Club’s Avis Campbell Gardens. In November, the Club delivered a windowsill hydroponic edibles project to the seniors at Canterbury Village in West Orange so those who had been confined indoors for months could enjoy a garden brought to them. Our 2020 Thanksgiving project offered an abundance of beauty to the clients of Toni's Kitchen. Club members, with foliage from Avis Campbell Gardens, designed 150 Thanksgiving floral arrangements that were given to the clients. Our Club delivered 140 May Day flower baskets to the seniors at Job Haines in Bloomfield and Canterbury Rehab in Cedar Grove. After a winter of minimal in-person interaction, our members enjoyed the social, therapeutic affects of this outdoor work session, and the seniors were thrilled to receive the cheerful arrangements. Also in May, a small group of members assisted residents of First Montclair House in planting windowsill herb gardens. The residents enjoyed talking to fellow plant lovers and showing us their raised beds planted with vegetables. Thank you to the Garden Therapy committee members for all of your support this year: Betsy Burgess, Ellen Colton, Susan Dumont, Donna Karanja, Vicky Kearns, Maria Matesanz, Maureen Michaud, Helene Peck, Peg Scott-Fleming, Wendy Stahl, Patt Sullivan-Perry, and Sue Young. And a huge Thank You to the Club Membership for your enthusiastic support and participation in all of our events. 2019-2020 — Sarah Olson, Chair; Floss O'Sullivan, Vice Chair Garden Therapy reviewed its mission and established the goal of expanding its outreach to include not only nursing homes and assisted living facilities but other groups facing personal challenges or where garden therapy would make a positive impact. To that end we created new activities and reached out to more groups in a wider geographic network. In August, four GCM members played flower Bingo with eight residents at First Montclair House in Montclair. Amy South's Moss & More supplied the succulent plants that were awarded as prizes. Canterbury Village in West Orange was our destination in September. Eight GCM members assisted thirteen senior residents in crafting artificial floral arrangements in raffia pouches that would hang on their apartment doors. Residents made their own choices from our offering of artificial and dried flowers and live greens. Our group visited Job Haines in October. Seven members assisted nineteen senior residents in creating floral arrangements for their rooms.We worked with a combination of artificial and dried flower material as well as live greens. Residents were encouraged to select their own materials from the assortment brought by the Club. In November, we shifted gears and visited Oasis in Paterson, a domestic violence support center. Our mission was to teach and create live floral arrangements with their clients. Fran Ackerly led the demonstration and six additional GCM members assisted 14 clients with their creations. Everyone was able to take home their beautiful designs. Vases and flowers were generously donated by Bartlett's Florists . Eight GCM members visited SOFIA in Montclair in February and celebrated "Gal-entine's" Day with 11 clients at this domestic violence support facility by creating live floral arrangements that the ladies could take home with them. Susan Benner led the demonstration and taught the basics of floral design. Vases were donated by Bartlett's Florists . Our March event at The Safe House was canceled due to Covid-19. We want to thank all of the GCM members who participated in our events and are counting on your support as we accept the challenge of continuing our mission of outreach during the Covid-19 era. We are grateful for the Garden Club's warm support to expand our program this upcoming year.

Awards Committee Reports Committees See also the full list of GCM awardees and other awards since 1980. Earlier awards are listed in Yearbooks dating back to 1951. 2024-2025 — Sarah Stransky, Chair Many thanks to our dedicated Awards Committee—Fran Ackerly, Deb Hirsch, Floss O’Sullivan, Suzy Straten, and President Sarah Olson—who handled unexpected changes with grace. After much thought, the Committee retired the tradition of hand engraving the Silver Awards, as our longtime engraver passed away and the craft faded. At the May 22, Awards Meeting and Luncheon, 2024–25 Silver Award winners received certificates, and their Silver Awards were loaned to them, as usual. Also at the Luncheon, engraved glass trophies for special recognition were presented to Jacquelin McMullen (55 years) and Brenda Bingham (50 years), along with community partners The Montclair Foundation and the Placek Foundation. Our new crowd favorite, the just-for-fun “Bloomies,” was a festive closer. Although we didn’t win an award this year, we proudly submitted applications to the GCNJ and NGC, often honoring us in the past. 2024-2025 Committee : Fran Ackerly, Deborah Hirsch, Floss O'Sullivan, Susan Straten, Kate Khachaturian 2023-2024 — Deborah Hirsch, Chair Thank you to the Awards team of Floss O’Sullivan, Kate Khachaturian, Celia Radek, Maureen Sprong and Florence Leyssène. Your collective knowledge, wit, compassion and attention to detail were so important to the process. And thanks, too, to Sarah Olson for attending our meetings. As of this writing we are waiting on the State, CAR, and National Clubs for responses to our five applications. We are delighted to announce the following GCNJ award: Certificate of Merit with Gold Seal for our Yearbook 2023-2024. Award Application: Floss O’Sullivan, editor in chief of the Yearbook.. The Garden Club of Montclair Awards were distributed at the Glen Ridge Country Club on May 30, 2024. We introduced a new category, The Bloomies , to recognize many unsung heroes who stepped in to make a difference during the year. Emeritus Awards 2024: Susan Straten, Gretchen Prater, and Barbara Meyer The Till Beatty Allis Award 2024: Deborah Moran The Bauer Horticulture Award 2024: Karen Whitehaus The Louise D. Mann Award 2024: Sue Young 2022-2023 — Celia Radek, Chair Ribbons, rosettes, and silver. This was a very full awards year that included a Flower Show and competitions in Horticulture, Flower Design, and Botanical Arts at monthly meetings. The Club inaugurated a new award in the Botanical Arts Division, joining top point-scored honors in other categories. Thanks to Susan Straten for her gift of the silver bowl for this new award. Silver bowl perpetual trophies earned at the Arts & Flowers : A Design Specialty Flower Show were among the Club awards and special tributes presented at the Annual Meeting in May. The President's Award for Horticulture —Sarah J. Olson The Amy Hatrak Herb Award —Denise Silverman The Barbara Meyer Rose Award —Denise Silverman The Estelle Leibrecht Horticulture Award —Debbie Moran The Bauer Horticulture Award —Maureen Sprong The President's Trophy for Flower Design, lntermed .—Sarah J. Olson The Garden Club Award for Flower Design, Adv .—Barbara Baletti The Kay Maclane Van Deusen Rose Award —Fran Ackerly The Betty B. Merriam Silver Bowl —Debbie Moran The Barbara Slockbower Schaeberle Award —Tova Narrett The Botanical Arts Award —Floss O'Sullivan The Till Beatty Allis Award —Fran Ackerly The Louise D. Mann Award —Deborah Hirsch Special Tributes —Susan Benner, Marilyn & Peter Zaret 2023 President's Special Recognition Award —Sue Young Congratulations to the Yearbook Committee and Editor Floss O'Sullivan for the Garden Club of New Jersey Certificate of Merit for Yearbook 2022-23. Many more GCNJ and NGC Awards are detailed in the report on Arts & Flowers : A Design Specialty Flower Show . With appreciation to the 2022-23 Awards Committee members: Cynthia Corhan-Aitken, Florence Leyssène, Sarah J. Olson, Maureen Sprong, and Sarah Stransky, ex officio. 2021-2022 — Sarah Stransky, Chair The Awards Committee is to be applauded for their work on GCM Awards and active participation in National and State Award/Grant applications writing. Many thanks to Cynthia Corhan-Aitken, Sarah Olson, Celia Radek, and Fran Wong. We also appreciated the guidance of the GCNJ Awards Chair, Peggy Morrissey, who helped facilitate our application process. We are delighted to announce the following GCNJ Awards: Certificate of Merit with Gold Seal 1st Place YB-1 Yearbook 2021-22 (100-299 members). Award application by Editor, Claire Stepleton. Score 100%. Hanover Garden Club Trophy for outstanding innovative project: Website 2021-22. Award application by Sue Young, 1st Vice President and Website Webmaster, and Sarah Stransky. GCNJ Special Award/Large Club for Triangle Gardens (a Civic Beautification project since 1952). Award application by Susan Yu, Triangle Gardens Chair, and Sarah Olson. The Garden Club of Montclair Awards were given at the Annual Meeting held at Avis Campbell Gardens on May 25, 2022, with the help of the Properties Chair, Nancy Stroud, Membership Chairs, Deborah Hirsch and Cheryl Slutzky, the Awards Committee, and Marilyn and Peter Zaret, who set up and dismantled chairs and tables for the event. The venue location was revised to be outdoors because of a recent outbreak of COVID-19. Emeritus Award 2022 - Brenda Bingham. Dedication to GCM, GCNJ, and NGC through focus on flower design since 1975. Tribute 2022 - Sue Young . Webmaster/renovator of current website. The Till Beatty Allis Award 2022 – Floss O’Sullivan . Flower Design Education through the creation of virtual workshops and exhibitions. The Louise D. Mann Award 2022 - Sarah Olson . Garden Therapy development and expansion of programs involving many more Members and reaching out to more people facing personal challenges in our communities. 2020-2021 — Sarah Stransky, Chair Many thanks to the 2020-21 Awards Committee including Cynthia Corhan-Aitken, Karen Kadus, Kate Khachaturian, Michele Tomasik, and Fran Wong for their Zoom input, and collection and cleaning of the silver awards. Special thanks to Michele Tomasik for her assistance writing and editing several of the Emeritus and Tribute Awards. We also appreciate the support of GCNJ Awards Chair, Peggy Morrissey, whose guidance facilitated our state and national award application processes. We are thrilled to announce these GCNJ and NGC Awards received in June 2021 for outstanding achievements in 2020 during the pandemic: Yearbook 2020-21 — Award application by Celia Radek, Editor. Score 100%. Certificate of Commendation First Place YB-1 Yearbooks (100-299 members) awarded by National Garden Clubs, Inc. Certificate of Merit with Gold Seal YB-1 Yearbooks (100-299 members) awarded by Garden Club of New Jersey. Virtual Flower Design Education 2021 — Award application by Workshop Chair, Floss O'Sullivan, Florence Leyssène, and Sarah Stransky. Certificate of Merit First Place and Overall Winner Award FD-2 (Aiv) Floral Design Program/Single Club awarded by National Garden Clubs, Inc. Garden Therapy 2021 — Award application by Garden Therapy Chair, Sarah Olson, and Sarah Stransky. Myra Brooks Garden Therapy Trophy #15a Renovated Garden Therapy Program awarded by the Garden Club of New Jersey. The Garden Club of Montclair Awards were given at the 2020-21 Annual Meeting held in Avis Campbell Gardens on May 26 with the help of the Hospitality, Properties, Membership, and Avis Campbell Gardens Committees. A celebration for Connie Young’s 100 birthday was an important part of the agenda! The Bauer Horticulture Award 2021 — Debbie Moran The Louise D. Mann Award 2021 — Floss O’Sullivan The Till Beatty Allis Award 2021 — Florence Leyssène Tributes — Cynthia Corhan-Aitken, Sandy Sorkin, Karen Whitehaus, Fran Wong Emeritus Award Members 2021 — Bonni Babson, Betty Ann Cannell, Chris Cowles, Firth Fabend, Joan Larkin, Mary McGeown, Fritzi Mills, C.Y. Treene. 2019-2020 — Sarah Stransky, Chair T he 2019-2020 Awards Program, held annually in May, was postponed until fall of 2020. Because we have chosen to honor the recipients in a timely fashion, it is with great pleasure that we announce the following 2019-2020 awards: The President's Award for Horticulture — Denise Silverman The Amy Hatrak Herb Award — Denise Silverman The Bauer Horticulture Award — Maureen Sprong The Elsie Bristol Novice Award — Ginny Demoreuille The Garden Club Award for Flower Design, Advanced — Fran Ackerly The Kay Maclane Van Deusen Rose Award — Sarah J. Olson The Louise D. Mann Award — Claire Stepleton Special Tributes — Sarah J. Olson and Floss O'Sullivan All Awards will be presented at the Awards Program in the fall of 2020. The Awards Committee congratulates the above listed, and all our members, as you further our purposes of Education, Beautification, and Fellowship! And a big Thank You to the 2019-2020 members of the Awards Committee: Fran Ackerly, Karen Kadus, Kate Khachaturian, and Michele Tomasik.

Botanical Arts Schedule Open to all levels. All tables are 30" high and covered with ivory linen. See monthly schedule, below. As dates pass, they move to the bottom of this page. Check all rules for Botanical Arts - Horticulture, Design, Artistic Crafts, Photography. See also NGC Handbook for Flower Shows . Need a refresher prior to GCM's monthly competitions? We have online videos to help, featuring Florence Leyssène and Debbie Moran, NGC accredited Master Flower Show Judges. October 20, 2025 Register with Florence Leyssène by Thursday, October 16 . ARTISTIC CRAFTS: Breast 'In Plants' 4 entries October is Breast Cancer awareness month. A Decorated Bra or Sports Bra. Hung on a hanger provided by exhibitor, staged on metallic grid; frame of reference: 20” L x 10” H. Viewed from front. Bra or sports bra may not need to be all covered with plant material. Designer’s choice of plant material and components. Plant material must be identified with binomial names on a 3” x 5” index card. November 17, 2025 Register with Florence Leyssène by Wednesday, November 13. ARTISTIC CRAFTS: Sharing With Guests 4 entries A Decorated Bottle of Wine to bring to your friends for the holidays. Label may be visible, bottle no bigger than 750 ml and must be unopened. Non plant material may be used for construction, but must not show. Designer’s Choice of plant material and components. Plant material must be identified with binomial names on a 3” x 5” index card. Staged on table 30”high covered off-white; frame of reference: 18” x 18” . Underlay optional. February 2, 2026 (rescheduled from January 26.) Register with Florence Leyssène by Thursday, January 29 ARTISTIC CRAFTS: Getting Ready for Valentine's Day 4 entries A Decorated Purse provided by exhibitor, no larger than 10”. Purse should be standing in an upright position, staged on table 30” high covered with off-white. Purse should be completely covered with plant material and optional components. Designer’s choice of plant material and other components. Plant material must be identified with binomial names on a 3” x 5” index card. Staged on table 30”high covered off-white; frame of reference: 18” x 18” PHOTOGRAPHY: Winter Weekend 4 entries A black and white photograph of a winter scenery. Must be 8” x !0”, matted in white, with a maximum size of 11” x 14” including the mat provided by exhibitor. Staged on a table using an easel provided by exhibitor. February 23, 2026 Canceled, due to snowstorm. March 23, 2026 Register with Florence Leyssène by Thursday, March 19. DESIGN: Ides of March 4 entries A Collage, an abstract design, See Handbook for Flower Shows , p.93, created on a background panel no larger than 8” x 10” provided by exhibitor, with a dominance of components attached in a non-realistic manner. Components include plant material and other found objects. Staged in upright position on easel provided by committee. Designer’s Choice of plant material and components. Plant material must be identified with binomial names on a 3” x 5” index card. Staged on a shelf at approximate eye level. Exhibitor must provide easel for display. PHOTOGRAPHY: Through the Magnifier 4 entries Macro photograph of flower or foliage. Must be 8” x 10”, matted in white, with a maximum size of 11” x 14” including the mat provided by exhibitor. Staged on a table using an easel provided by exhibitor. April 27, 2026 Canceled, due to our entrants participation in our anniversary party.

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Letters from current and previous presidents of the Club Letters From Our Presidents Fran Ackerly, Incoming President 2025-2027 The Garden Club of Montclair Dear Members and Provisionals, I am honored to be the President of the Garden Club of Montclair for 2025–2027. I became an active member in 2015 and as each year goes by, I grow more proud to be a part of this wonderful organization. I am in awe of what our members’ determination and teamwork can accomplish, as evidenced by the transformation of the Church Street Circle, the successful Bricks Campaign, and the beautiful Avis Campbell Gardens and Triangle Gardens (about to be renamed the Church Street Gardens). This same determination and teamwork goes on “behind the scenes” by the Committees planning and presenting the many varied Club activities and programs. I am excited as I look ahead to the upcoming year. In 2026 the Garden Club of Montclair will celebrate its 100th Anniversary! Special events are being planned for our members and in our community. I know that together we will continue to move the Club ahead in new directions but always remain true to our mission of Education, Beautification & Fellowship. With warmest regards, Fran Ackerly Sarah Olson, Outgoing President The Garden Club of Montclair Dear Fellow Garden Club Members and Provisionals, What a remarkable year it has been—full of growth, change, and exciting accomplishments! We returned to our longtime home at 60 South Fullerton Avenue for programs, meetings, and workshops. Despite some challenges with construction and filming on-site, we adapted smoothly. Although we no longer have our dedicated Garden Club Room, the large properties room has been refreshed and reorganized, thanks to the efforts of our members. We also embraced a major shift in communication, moving away from multiple emails, the printed Yearbook, and the Potpourri newsletter. Instead, we have consolidated communications through our website —streamlining how we share information. Our social media presence has expanded significantly, with engaging posts and reels that showcase our activities and events. We have created a real buzz and have even been featured in the Montclair Local. In September, we kicked off the year with a vibrant Small Standard Flower Show. The creative, sustainable floral designs and beautiful horticultural exhibits were a highlight. October brought us another win—our “Mother Nature” scarecrow earned first place and a $500 prize. Throughout the year, our Garden Therapy and Youth Committees continued their meaningful outreach, and our garden volunteers worked hard to enhance the Avis Campbell Gardens and Triangle raised beds with new native plants. Thanks to a grant from the Montclair Foundation and our successful BRICKS-to-BRICKS Campaign, we will begin renovating the Avis Campbell pathways this fall for better accessibility. Our presence in the community has never been stronger. We participated in local events such as Montclair EarthFest, the Glen Ridge Eco-Fair, and the Montclair Art Museum’s Free First Thursday. We also began collaborating with the town to transform the Church Street roundabout into a native plant garden—our first of several upcoming community beautification projects. We closed the year with our Annual Meeting, where we celebrated members and honored The Montclair Foundation and the Placek Family Foundation with Community awards. Our coveted perpetual awards and our Bloomie awards for unsung heroes capped off the event. As I step down, I do so with deep appreciation and pride. Thank you for the opportunity to serve this incredible club. I look forward to supporting you as we celebrate our 100th Anniversary together. With appreciation, Sarah

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