Pennsylvania Gourd Society

Pennsylvania Gourd Society Summer Business Meeting Saturday, August 20, 2016

Attendance: Claudia Hill, Lorraine Haggard, Linda Cancelliere, Linda Stoltzfus, Levi Stoltzfus, David Welsh, William Peoples, Jenn Avery, Crystal Lemmon, Bob Shatto, Jane Reed, Susan Nonn, Sue Meyers, Susan Zanella, Donna Hillbish, Hillbish, Betty Laevey, Sylvia Bisker, Rod Muthard, Diane Conrad, Helen Olena, Mariellen Hittner, and Reagan Bitler.

 Meeting called to order at 10:10 AM by PAGS President, Reagan Bitler.  Spring meeting minutes read and approved.  Treasurers’ report read and approved.  President’s report: o The new website is up and running…still being updated and added to…changes made to simplify editing process and cost savings. Pagourdsociety.org o Thank-you to Linda C. and Brenda R. for instructing and hosting a great summer workshop. o Fall workshop is on September 17th – information on the pagourdsociety.org website. Members will need to bring a cleaned and colored gourd. Address: 419 Bossardsville Rd. Stroudsburg, Pa. o Plan ahead and save the date for the PAGS Holiday Luncheon – Saturday, November 12th..details coming soon on the website for sign-ups and details on the ornament and gift exchange. o Election of PAGS officers and board members will take place at Fall Business Meeting on October 15, 2016 (Beiler Gourd Farm)  Committee Reports: o Membership (Claudia Hill) – 89 members o Education (Helen Olena)/Farm Show (Brenda Riggs) – it was decided that Helen would have 500 fact sheets printed in preparation for the farm show. Fact sheets will also be distributed at the three gourd farms as well. o Pennsylvania Gourd Gathering (Fest Committee) . Committee meeting held August 20th, 9am  Vender letter and application ready to go  PA Gourd Gathering Website is linked to PA Gourd Society Site  Most walk-in registrations at one fest in last 4 years  New committee members needed and welcomed . June 15-17, 2017 Lebanon Valley Expo Center, (rental fees for next year did not go up) set-up on the 14th . Jim Story Award . Susan Zanella in charge of vendors

o Ad Hoc Committee Reports: . Newsletter (Susan Zanella) – submissions to the newsletter are due by September 30th . Librarian (Linda Cancellierre) – 4 new library books; Linda would also like to replace those books that were never returned. . Historian (Betty Laevey) – Pictures were added from the fest . Patch/Gourd Group Update:  Tri-county meets the last Monday of the month at the Flower and Home Market Place from 10-1 pm. They work on unfinished projects. Contact Helen or Gloria  Mason – Dixon meet the first Saturday of the month. Contact Pru Reichart to be added to the contact list  Pocono usually meets on Monday nights; contact Claudia Hill if interested  Maryland Gourd Group meets the last Wednesday of the month. August 31st will be speed gourding.  Old Business - o Storage shed has been secured and Farm Show/Gourd gathering items stored o Web site is up and running. Would like every member to send an email with their favorite gourd they have created to add to the website. Please contact Reagan with suggestions, concerns, and items you want added to the website. o Angie Wagner – PA Gourd Society Jim Story Award Winner for 2016. 2017 Jim Story Applications will be on the website under PA Gourd Gathering Tab  New Business: o Nominating Committee for elections for PAGS officers: Susan Nonn & Lorraine Haggard volunteered o PAGS Sponsors and Donors Program – Welborn donated $150 to the fest. It was put forth to the group to allow Welborn to have an ad in our newsletter for their donation: example: $50 for ¼ page ad, $100 for a ½ page ad, and$200 for a full page. Excepted 1st by Crystal, 2nd by Linda o It was suggested to draw a name of a student each day at the fest for up to $50 to use at to use at the fest. Excepted 1st by Crystal, 2nd by Lorraine o Printing of 500 copies/each of education flyers; 1st by Sue, 2nd by Bill  Next business meeting: October 15, 2016 at Henry Beiler Gourd Farm – 10AM  Fest Committee Meeting: November 12th prior to the Holiday Luncheon  Fall Business Meeting Demo: Linda C.  Fall Workshop: September 17th – Jayne Wright – Decoupage on Gourds  Adjournment at 11:40 PM