Helen Gottschalk Honored For Nearly Three Decades

Of Willing Service And Enthusiasm To Garden Club

By Shannon Hicks

Helen Gottschalk joined The Garden Club of Newtown in 1976. During the club’s annual season-end meeting on June 22, Mrs Gottschalk was presented with a lifetime membership from The Federated Garden Club of Connecticut, of which The Garden Club of Newtown is a member.

Current club president Debbie Osborne presented Mrs Gottschalk with a lapel pin and a Lifetime Membership card. She also delivered a letter to Mrs Gottschalk that had been written by Maria Nahom, the second vice president of Federated Garden Club of Connecticut.

“I would like to welcome you to the honored rank of Life Member of the Federation,” Mrs Nahom’s letter began.

“The Garden Club of Newtown has chosen to honor you with this membership for your many years of willing service, enthusiasm, and involvement

“Throughout those years you have attended almost every meeting, workshops for the Greens Sale, and have been reliable and active in all aspects of your club.

“Helen, you are a garden club member who deserves this special membership, which The Garden Club of Newtown has bestowed upon you. The Federation sends congratulations to you on becoming a Connecticut Lifetime Member.”

Mrs Gottschalk seemed tickled with the honor.

“I just want to take a moment to thank all of you for this,” she told the ladies who were at the home of Kay Cochrane for the meeting and picnic. “I enjoy the garden club more than anything else I’m involved with.”

The club also honored members who had reached special anniversary years as well as its newest members on Tuesday. Pat Benkovich has been in the garden club for 23 years; Kay Cochrane, 22 years; Frances Barrett and Sue Toll, 20 years; Joan Bergquist, 16 years; and Amini Ramachandran and Connie Urso, ten years.

Thirteen ladies joined the club this year. Patty Corelli, Eloise DiCandido, Judy Fuller, Sheila Johnson, Linda Jones, Alma Kearns, Violet Marshall, Ann Montgomery, Lori Moreno, Barbara Taylor, Marie Walker, Kelly Whalen, and Freida Zoon were all honored for their first year of membership.

Tuesday afternoon was also a chance for the club to say farewell to one of its former presidents. Nancy Rowe and her family will be moving this summer to Alabama, and the ladies decided thank her one last time for her years of service and wish her luck with a gift. Mrs Rowe served as president or co-president of the club for four years, serving her final term in 2001-02.

As part of the meeting the club also elected its board for the 2004-05 season. Beth Caldwell-Cluff will be the new president, and Debbie Osborne will serve as both vice president and secretary. Carol Garbarino will be treasurer.

Additional board members are: Program Coordinators, Brid Craddock, Shane Miller and Jo-Ann Scebold; Field Trips Coordinator, Pat Benkovich; Membership, Jo-Ann Scebold; Publicity, Ginnie Carey; Newsletter, Paula Stephan; and Civic, Judy Fuller and Lore Moreno.

Also, Youth, Ardis Gilbert; Conservation, Cheryl Wicks; Horticulture, Kay Cochrane; Birds, Joan Bergquist; Hospitality, Mona Steele; Sunshine, Judy Bolduc; Historian, Shane Miller; Yearbook and Artistic Development (two offices), Marcia Cavanaugh.

Following a picnic lunch the group traveled to Bethel for a visit to an herb farm.

Although the club won’t have another official meeting until the fall, members will remain active during the intervening months. Marcia Cavanaugh is coordinating a group of seven women who will be creating floral arrangements for the upcoming Newtown Historical Society Historic Homes & Gardens Tour on July 10. There is also talk of members representing the club in September in the town’s Labor Day Parade.