Our club has four main areas of interest: Horticulture, Floral Design, Conservation and Photography. Each has its own committee and members are expected to participate in at least one. Perhaps more importantly, our group is involved in various ways in our communities. Remember: you need not be an expert to enjoy a committee, and you may wish to join more than one in order to meet more people and learn what the committees do. Members are expected to be involved in at least one major committee, preferably more than one.
Admissions & Membership See By-laws (Admissions Sections)
for information about proposing a new member.
This committee shepherds the application process and ensures new members feel welcome and get involved as soon as possible. Committee members are elected to a three-year term.
Marilyn Sprague -- Chair
Michele Bolton
Reggie Thomas
Jeanne May Marilyn Sprague
Jen Fryberger
Linda Anderson
to serve through 2020
to serve through 2020
to serve through 2021
to serve through 2021
to serve through 2022
to serve through 2022
Membership/Hospitality welcomes, and mentors new members --Louise Johnston
Archivists liaison between The Weeders and The Philadelphia Historical Society and organizes, catalogs and maintains records and minutes.
Historian -- Maria Thompson
Laura Mitchell, Marty Morse
Awards makes recommendations to the Executive Committee and/or the Membership for Weeders who qualify for the various Club and GCA awards.
Patty Greenhalgh -- Chair
GCA & Other Club Awards
Jackie Burke
Cheryl Cheston
Sonya Driscoll
Ellen Pemberton
Ellie Penniman
Cindy Pierce
Marilyn Sprague
Lorraine Wallace
Sally Wood
Weeders Flower Show Awards -- Melissa Bullitt
Christmas Sale: at each December meeting, Weeders bring homemade comestibles, cut winter branches, holiday decorations, craft projects and assorted goods for sale to one another. The committee organizes and staffs the sale. Proceeds from the sale are used to fund community projects. Some of the winter greens are also used to make holiday tray-table decorations for shut-ins.
Heather Gallagher -- Chair
Linda Anderson --Advisor
Pam Bagby
Wendy Calhoun
Laura Carpenter
Monica Church
Biddie Edwards
Jeanne May
Christmas Decorations -- Polly Garnett
Christmas Wreaths -- Lynn Gibbons
Alice Nacey
Laura Riedel
Weeders Flower Shows encompass three disciplines: horticulture, floral design and photography. All members are encouraged to exhibit, and novice classes are often included. The committee creates the schedules for two or three intra-club shows each year, then sets up and staffs the show with clerks, passers, stagers and registrars.
Wendy Bailey -- Chair Jeanne May --Vice Chair
Melissa Bullitt -- Photography Chair
Tamra Adams
Pam Bagby
Beth Bartle
Michelle Bolton
Chris Cacioppo
Laura Carpenter
Connie Carlson
Cheryl Cheston
Monica Church
Alice Doering
Patricia Doolittle
Jen Fryberger
Heather Gallagher
Lynn Gibbons
Patty Greenhalgh
Jane Kline
Elaine Lisle
Anne Marble
Diane McCallister
Patty Minehart
Alice Nacey
Wendy Quereau
Laura Riedel
Melissa Schweiter
Ellyn Spragins
Maria Thompson
Sally Wood
Community Affairs The Club takes on various community projects in the Philadelphia region, some of them short-term, others ongoing. All members are encouraged to participate as they are able.
Ronald McDonald House (St. Christopher's, Philadelphia)-- group does floral arrangements twice/year at a member's home, then 1-2 deliver to hospital
Laura Mitchell — Chair
Wendy Bailey
Chris Cacioppo
Wendy Calhoun
Laura Carpenter Lynn Gibbons
Ellen Pemberton
Alice Nacey
Ellyn Spragins
Strafford Station maintains plantings and containers; meets Tuesday mornings in season.--
Alice Doering -- Chair, Polly Garnett -- Co-chair
Pam Bagby
Michelle Bolton
Laura Carpenter
Monica Church
Karen Doyle
Beth Hayes
Nancy Holmes
Anne Marble
Jeanne May
Laura Mitchell
Wendy Quereau
Laura Riedel
Melissa Schweiter
Marilyn Sprague
Lesley Undercofler
Gazebo Garden at Bryn Mawr maintains garden weekly during the growing season, 1-2 hours in the morning.
Cheryl Cheston -- Chair
Wendy Calhoun Chris Cacioppo Connie Carlson
Laura Carpenter Patricia Doolittle
Hazel Hannaway
Elaine Lisle
Anne Marble
Marty Morse
Ellen Pemberton Lois Renthal
Anne Rhoads
Melissa Schweiter
Karen Shepard Marilyn Sprague Reggie Thomas Maria Thompson Mariana Wilson
Magnolia Tribute Garden, Philadelphia: group assists with maintenance once/year
The Herb Garden at Pennsylvania Hospital: group assists with maintenance once/year
Conservation/National Affairs & Legislation
Conservation investigates environmental projects for the committee/club members
to act upon, and reports findings to the club at meetings; encourages members to adhere to good gardening practices, and keeps them aware of environmental concerns. The Committee keeps the Weeders informed on current conservation issues and promotes respect for natural resources and responsibility for environmental stewardship. Identifies and carries out conservation work locally; may include a hands-on project that The Weeders could promote in our community. The Chair or a delegate attends the NAL conference in Washington, DC annually. Makes recommendations and manages Conservation Contributions in conjunction with the Treasurer.
Biddie Edwards -- Conservation Chair, Nancy Evans -- Co-Chair
Linda Anderson
Lloyd Brown
Wendy Calhoun
Laura Carpenter
Monica Church Phoebe Driscoll Heather Gallagher
Phoebe Fisher
Kim Frisbie
Beth Hayes
Nancy Holmes
Elaine Lisle
Anne Marble
Diana Mason
Ellie Penniman
Lois Renthal
Anne Rhoads
Melissa Schweiter Marilyn Sprague Regina Wagner Penny Watkins Sally Wood
National Affairs and Legislation (NAL)
Keeps members abreast of environmental legislation, both national and state, and
may suggest action on bills before the legislature when appropriate; sends a member to the annual meeting of the GCA Conservation and National Affairs Meeting in Washington, DC each February.
Biddie Edwards -- GCA NAL Rep.
Data Base -- Ellie Penniman, Lorraine Wallace
Email Manager-- Ellyn Spragins
Finance meets with the treasurer to help create budget and other financial matters.
Jackie Burke -- Chair
Michele Bolton
Cheryl Cheston Sonya Driscoll Nancy Evans
Patty Greenhalgh Jane Kline
Ellie Penniman
Karen Shepard
Ellyn Spragins Marilyn Sprague
Mariana Wilson
GCA Founders' Fund Chair -- Sonya Driscoll
Garden History & Design documents the written, graphic and photographic records of significant gardens belonging to both Weeders and others in the area and submits them to the Smithsonian Institution for permanent recording.
Diane McCallister -- Chair and Rep. to GCA, Nancy Evans -- Co-Chair
Wendy Bailey
Beth Bartle
Michele Bolton
Laura Carpenter
Alice Doering
Kim Frisbie
Jen Fryberger
Polly Garnett
Diana Mason
Laura Mitchell
Sarah Price
Maria Thompson Lesley Undercofler
GCA Bulletin acts as liaison to the GCA to publicize news and activities of the Weeders.
Marilyn Sprague -- Chair
Anne Marble
Governance (formerly known as Nominating) identifies and recruits members for Officer positions and the Admissions Committee.
Ellie Penniman -- Chair
Jackie Burke
Michelle Bolton
Patty Greenhalgh
Karen Shepard
Maria Thompson
Horticulture plans and executes hands-on workshops on a variety of topics such as seed-starting, propagation by cuttings, trough-making and pruning; works with the Program and Flower Show committees to coordinate activities.
Michele Bolton -- Chair, Jen Fryberger -- Vice Chair . Elaine Lisle -- Vice Chair
Tamra Adams
Pam Bagby
Wendy Bailey Jackie Burke Chris Cacioppo
Laura Carpenterl Cheryl Cheston
Monica Church
Julie DeVuono
Alice Doering
Lynn Gibbons Beth Hayes
Nancy Holmes
Elaine Lisle
Diane McCallister Alice Nacey
Cindy Pierce
Anne Rhoads
Laura Riedel
Melissa Schweiter
Maria Thompson Lesley Undercofler Mariana Wilson
Sally Wood
Judging Rep. to GCA Alice Doering
Philadelphia Committee of the Garden Club of America (PCGCA)
A Garden Club of America committee comprised of the GCA clubs in the Philadelphia area. A chief focus of this group is to raise funds from the member clubs, typically for seed money for urban horticultural projects.
Patty Greenhalgh, Lorraine Wallace -- Weeders Delegates attend monthly meetings of the Philadelphia Committee of the Garden Club of America and reports back to the members.
Marilyn Sprague -- -- Fertilizer Fund Representative
Sonya Driscoll, Co-chair Grant Applications and Review
Magnolia Tribute Garden Marilyn Sprague --
Laura Carpenter
Physic Garden
Laura Carpenter, Laura Riedel, Melissa Schweiter
Photography designs the schedule for Flower Show photography classes and may hold workshops. Also takes photos of Weeders meetings and events for inclusion on our website and for GCA submissions.
Melissa Bullit -- Chair
Nancy Evans
Taddy Dawson
Anne Marble
Club Photographers:
Melissa Bullitt
Cheryl Cheston
Taddy Dawson
Nancy Evans
Anne Marble
Lorraine Wallace
Print and Communications requires skill in Word to create documents for the “Blue Book” and other printed materials.
Cheryl Cheston -- Chair Karen Shepard -- Vice Chair
Lorraine Wallace - Advisor
Program This critical committee plans the meetings each year, including topics, speakers, venues and hostesses. Each Committee member is expected to oversee a meeting. All Weeders are expected to act as hostess/helper on a rotating basis. (Sustainers are exempt.)
Patty Minehart – Chair, Nancy Holmes – Vice Chair
Linda Anderson Wendy Bailey Michele Bolton Jackie Burke
Chris Cacioppo Sandy Cadwalader Wendy Calhoun
Laura Carpenter
Cheryl Cheston
Monica Church
Meg Devereux Alice Doering Patricia Doolittle Biddie Edwards Jen Fryberger
Patty Greenhalgh
Anne Marble
Diane McCallister Alice Nacey
Laura Riedel
Karen Shepard
Ellyn Spragins Marilyn Sprague Reggie Thomas Sally Wood
Scholarship identifies and recommends qualified individuals to the Executive Committee for GCA scholarship awards.
Sonya Driscoll -- Chair and Rep. to GCA, Regina Wagner -- Vice Chair
Sandy Cadwalader Wendy Calhoun Connie Carlson
Nancy Evans
Tessa Hooper
Patty Minehart
Ellie Penniman
Cindy Pierce
Melissa Schweiter
Karen Shepard
Marilyn Sprague Maria Thompson
Visiting Gardens arranges occasional garden visits for members and their guests. Coordinates through GCA Zone Rep. visits for members of other GCA clubs who are visiting this area.
Weeder Trips & Garden Tours plans for club visits to local and other gardens on an occasional basis.
Cheryl Cheston -- Chair, Karen Shepard --Vice Chair
Wendy Bailey
Laura Carpenter
Sonya Driscoll
Anne Marble
Diane McCallister Elaine Lisle
Ellyn Spragins
Laura Riedel
Melissa Schweiter
Marilyn Sprague Maria Thompson Sally Wood
