Due to a death in the Bumgardner Family, our Glove and Trowel Garden Club met on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at 3 P.M. at the home of Elizabeth Jordan instead of the home of Kathryn Bumgardner.
Our President, Julie Sawyer, called the meeting to order, thanked Elizabeth for being our hostess, welcomed members back since our last meeting in May, and welcomed our two guests: Glenda Williams from Westminster, SC who is the mother of our member Natalie Wallace, and Linda Siceloff, our new GCSC Coastal District Director from Little River, SC.  Linda’s goal is to visit every garden club in her district!
President Sawyer asked us to remember the Bumgardners in their time of grief in the death of their sister-in-law.  She then expressed birthday greetings for Marilyn Zunk (July 17), Molly Pittman (Sept. 23), Kathryn Bumgardner (Sept. 26), and Natalie Wallace (Sept. 27)
President Sawyer led in the Reading of our Garden Club Collect with the sixteen members present.  Suzanne Lewis is now an Honorary Member!
In the absence of Molly Pittman, Secretary, the minutes from our May Meeting were read by Fay Sloan, Acting Secretary.  
After the approval of our minutes, she read a letter from Bobby McIntyre, a Korean Veteran, thanking us for the recent article and picture of him on the front page of The Dillon Herald taken at our Blue Star Memorial Marker located at the Triangle of Flags on Highway #9 honoring all Veterans.
Our Treasurer, Ellen Jordan, gave a financial report.  Committee Reports were given.  The Yearbook Committee (Dawn Arnette, Julie Sawyer, Kathryn Bumgardner, Fay Sloan, Julie LeChette) was thanked and received compliments on the new layout.  Marilyn Zunk, Cheer Chairman, will send cards.  Civic Projects: Linda Dutton and Julie LeChette reported that next month when the weather is cooler, pansies will be planted around the urn at the Train Depot (planting changes twice a year) and members will be contacted to help with the planting. We maintain the “Edible/Pollinator” educational node located along the walking path at the City of Dillon Wellness Center and will be working with Todd Hayes who is now the new Grounds Supervisor.  Our Butterfly Project for second grade classes will take place in the Spring.  Amy McColl, Conservation Chairman, explained our “Nickels for Natives” project.  It is a fundraiser to establish the GCSC Native Plant Garden in the new Children’s Garden at Riverbanks Botanical Garden. Contributions will go directly to support the establishment of the garden which will promote the education and enjoyment of our Native Plants.  Our youth are our future and we want to provide this special area in the new Children’s Garden for everyone to enjoy!  Amy passed around a container for donations, and this will be done at each meeting.
Becky Lyell is our 2015  South Carolina Garden Club Life Member and Natalie Wallace is our 2015  South-Atlantic Region Life Member.
Old Business:  A reminder that each member is responsible for three wrapped gifts, each valued at $10, for our Coastal District meeting hosted by the three Garden Clubs in Dillon on March 9, 2016.   – Rosemary Bethea and Marilyn Zunk were thanked for the beautiful fresh arrangement placed in the Dunbar Memorial Library along with a plaque and a proclamation signed by Mayor Todd Davis in the presence of all three Garden Club Presidents proclaiming June 7 – 13, 2015 as National Garden Week.
Four of our members (Fay Sloan, Linda Dutton, Julie LeChette, and Julie Sawyer) attended the GCSC “Summer Expo” held at the SC State Farmers Market in July. President Sawyer encouraged us to use the GCSC website to receive information and learn about upcoming Garden Club Tours and special events.  Arbor Day is December 4, 2015.
Julie LeChette, Program Chairman, presented an outstanding and very informative program on “RAIN GARDENS – PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT.”  Her objective:  “Our Club will learn how rain gardens are used and their importance to the environment.  We will also learn how to construct one and what type of plants to use in one.” A handout was given to each member showing pictures of rain garden designs, and a list of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses that can be used in the planting.
NEW BUSINESS:  After Julie’s program presentation, our club voted to “Create a Rain Garden at the City of Dillon Wellness Center using Native Plants” as our New Civic Project!  Jamie Sue Stephens and Natalie Wallace are Chairmen for our Christmas Social.  
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by President Sawyer