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.
Archivists liaison between The Weeders and The Philadelphia Historical
Society and organizes, catalogs and maintains records and minutes.
Historian -- Maria Thompson - Chair
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.
GCA & Club Awards Karen Shepard — Chair
Jackie Burke
Cheryl Cheston
Patty Greenhalgh
Jeanne May
Ellie Penniman
Cindy Pierce
Marilyn Sprague
Lorraine Wallace
Sally Wood
Weeders Flower Show Awards -- Monica Church
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 Annette Toebe – Vice Chair
Linda Anderson --Advisor
Pam Bagby
Laura Carpenter
Monica Church
Jeanne May
Alice Nacey
Christmas Decorations -- Polly Garnett
Christmas Wreaths -- Lynn Gibbons
Laura Riedel
Robin Smith
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.
Gazebo Garden at Bryn Mawr maintains garden weekly during the
growing season, 1-2 hours in the morning.
Cheryl Cheston -- Chair
Connie Carlson
Hazel Hannaway
Elaine Lisle
Marty Morse
Ellen Pemberton
Anne Rhoads
Marilyn Sprague
Reggie Thomas Maria Thompson
Lorraine Wallace Mariana Wilson
Hilltop House Gardens The gardens of this former mainline estate is maintained and enhanced by a group of volunteers Weeders. Now part of Easttown Township, the venue is used for community events, weddings and other social activities.
Nancy Holmes – Chair; Jeanne May – Vice Chair
Tamra Adams
Pam Bagby
Michele Bolton
Laura Carpenter
Julie DeVuono
Jen Fryberger
Heather Gallagher
Beth Hayes
Diane McCallister
Melissa Schweiter Oeth
Laura Riedel
Karen Shepard
Robin Smith
Marilyn Sprague
Annette Toebe
Beth Bartle
Avery Bissell
Nancy Evans
Weezie Johnston
Ellie Penniman
Liz Price
Ronald McDonald House (St. Christopher's, Philadelphia)-- group
does floral arrangements twice/year at a member's home, then 1-2 deliver
to hospital
Ellen Pemberton — Chair
Laura Carpenter
Monica Church
Lynn Gibbons
Diana Mason
Diane McCallister
Marty Morse
Alice Nacey
Lorraine Wallace
Strafford Station maintains plantings and containers; meets Tuesday
mornings in season.--
Alice Doering -- Chair, Melissa Schweiter Oeth -- Co-chair
Pam Bagby
Laura Carpenter
Monica Church
Polly Garnett
Beth Hayes
Nancy Holmes
Gretchen Kiernan
Jeanne May
Wendy Quereau
Marilyn Sprague
Lesley Undercofler
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.
Nancy Evans -- Conservation Chair
Lloyd Brown
Laura Carpenter
Monica Church Phoebe Driscoll
Martha Edwards
Floy Ervin
Heather Gallagher
Beth Hayes
Nancy Holmes
Weezie Johnston
Diana Mason
Ellie Penniman
Anne Rhoads
Marilyn Sprague Reggie Thomas 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.
Nancy Evans -- GCA NAL Rep.
Crazy For Containers -- Ellyn Spragins, Chair
Michele Bolton
Laura Carpenter
Cheryl Cheston
Alice Doering
Floy Ervin
Jennifer Fryberger
Heather Gallagher
Patty Greenhalgh
Jane Kline
Jeanne May
Ellie Penniman
Cindy Pierce
Laura Riedel
Maria Thompson
Data Base -- Ellyn Spragins, Lorraine Wallace
Email Manager-- Ellyn Spragins
Finance meets with the treasurer to help create budget and other financial
matters.
Michele Bolton -- Chair
Jackie Burke
Nancy Evans
Sharon Hermann
Karen Shepard
Ellyn Spragins Mariana Wilson
Flower Show and Floral Design creates the schedules for two Club
Flower Shows each year, runs those shows and organizes occasional
Flower Shows encompass three disciplines: horticulture, floral design and
photography. We have two flower shows plus one photography show. Overall responsibility of Photography falls under FS Chair. 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.
Jeanne May -- Chair Monica Church --Vice Chair
Melissa Bullitt -- Photography Chair
Pam Bagby
Beth Bartle
Michele Bolton Connie Carlson Laura Carpenter Julie DeVuono
Alice Doering
Lynn Gibbons
Jen Fryberger Heather Gallagher Sharon Herrmann Nancy Holmes Coco Jarvis
Jane Kline
Elaine Lisle
Anne Marble
Patty Minehart
Melissa Schweiter Oeth
Laura Riedel
Karen Shepard
Robin Smith
Ellyn Spragins
Lorraine Wallace
Founders' Fund Chair -- Sonya Driscoll
GCA Bulletin acts as liaison to the GCA to publicize news and activities of
the Weeders.
Marilyn Sprague -- Chair
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.
Cheryl Cheston – Chair, 2021-22 Garden, GCA Representative
Diane McCallister – Co-Chair
Lynn Gibbons and Laura Mitchell – Photographers
Beth Bartle
Michele Bolton
Laura Carpenter
Jen Fryberger
Polly Garnett
Diana Mason
Maria Thompson Lesley Undercofler
Ellie Penniman -- Chair
Governance (formerly known as Nominating) identifies and recruits
members or Officer positions and the Admissions Committee.
Michele Bolton
Nancy Holmes
Karen Shepard
Marilyn Sprague
Maria Thompson
Lorraine Wallace
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.
Elaine Lisle -- Chair, Cindy Pierce -- Vice Chair
Pam Bagby Michele Bolton Laura Carpenter Cheryl Cheston Monica Church Julie DeVuono Alice Doering
Lynn Gibbons Beth Hayes
Nancy Holmes Weezie Johnston Diane McCallister Anne Marble
Alice Nacey
Anne Rhoads
Laura Riedel
Karen Shepard Maria Thompson Lesley Undercofler Lorraine Wallace Mariana Wilson
Sally Wood
Judging Rep. to GCA Alice Doering
Admissions
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.
Linda Anderson ...................to serve through 2022
Jen Fryberger ......................to serve through 2022
Monica Church ....................to serve through 2023
Maria Thompson .................to serve through 2023
Annette Toebe .....................to serve through 2024
Lorraine Wallace...................to serve through 2024
Membership/Hospitality welcomes, and mentors new members --
Marilyn Sprague
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.
Karen Shepard, (as Club President)
Sonya Driscoll, Delegate (Second Vice CoChair)
Nancy Evans, Delegate
Weeders Delegates attend monthly meetings of the Philadelphia Committee of the Garden Club of America and report back to the members.
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
Annette Toebe
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.)
Julie DeVuono — Chair, Laura Carpenter – Vice Chair
Michele Bolton Monica Church Meg Devereux Alice Doering Biddie Edwards
Jen Fryberger
Patty Greenhalgh Nancy Holmes Elaine Lisle
Diane McCallister Laura Riedel Karen Shepard
Ellyn Spragins Marilyn Sprague Reggie Thomas Annette Toebe Lorraine Wallace Sally Wood
Meeting
Chairs
Hostesses
Scholarship identifies and recommends qualified individuals to the
Executive Committee for GCA scholarship awards.
Sonya Driscoll -- Chair and Rep. to GCA,
Connie Carlson
Nancy Evans
Tessa Hooper
Coco Jarvis
Weezie Johnston
Patty Minehart
Melissa Schweiter Oeth
Ellie Penniman
Cindy Pierce Marilyn Sprague Maria Thompson
HULL AWARD Julie DeVuono
Cheryl Cheston -- Chair
Laura Carpenter Sonya Driscoll Anne Marble Diane McCallister
Elaine Lisle
Melissa Schweiter Oeth
Laura Riedel
Ellyn Spragins Marilyn Sprague Maria Thompson Sally Wood
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. For further information, to visit gardens as you travel, see the GCA website (www.gcamerica.org) or contact the
Visiting Gardens Chair
