COASTAL MAINE BOTANICAL GARDENS Voluntee® ±ews 2010 Dear Gardens Volunteers, This has been a summer to remember. Next year, I will be developing a new aspect of the Vol- With the opening of the Bibby and unteer Program: recruiting volunteers who run the day-to- Harold Alfond Children’s Garden and day operations of select programs. I began a pilot project the cumulative effect of everyone who this year in the Courtesy Shuttle Program, hitting the jack- has ever been involved with the Gar- pot when Alison Lowell agreed to oversee that program. I dens getting the word out, our visitor- recruited, trained, and scheduled the shuttle drivers; Alison ship skyrocketed in July and August, kept them on track with reminder phone calls. It worked and as I write this in September, it looks like a charm to have volunteers directing volunteers. Next like it will in September, too. Thank goodness for volun- year, I will be expanding the concept and adding Volunteer teers! Your passion for this place gave you the flexibility Trainers to the overseeing team. While I will never be a Eand the work ethic to make programs and events happen hands-off volunteer coordinator, I definitely want to bring in while we tweaked nearly everything to accommodate the the strengths and talents of those volunteers who are perfect 80,000 visitors. You were patient (especially those shuttle for a leadership role in the Coastal Maine Botanical Gar- drivers!) and professional and caring. This is the year I, as dens Volunteering Program. It’s great for volunteers, great Volunteer Coordinator, heard over and over again from for my time-management, and, most importantly, great for visitors how much they loved “my” volunteers, how much the Gardens to have yet one more aspect of volunteer energy “my” volunteers helped them, how much “my” volunteers making the Gardens even more efficient and exciting. were critical to the enjoyment of their day. It was so great to Finally, I want to invite back all the veteran volunteers hear, because I have known it all along and was just waiting whose lives, for whatever reason, prevented them from vol- for the accolades to pour in from our visitors. They poured unteering in 2010—because 2011 is right around the corner! this year! Please call or e-mail me! Every facet of the Gardens grew this year—number of Thank you to all who made 2010 a wonderful year for admissions, number of volunteers, number of programs, volunteering at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. and number of volunteer hours, to name a few. More than 100 new volunteers joined the Gardens Volunteer Pro- Thank you Gardens Volunteers! gram. At the time of this writing, volunteers are on target to Your Volunteer Coordinator fulfill nearly 10,000 hours of volunteering. New programs, new gardens, new events—they all happened with you and because of you. Quite an accomplishment! 2010 Volunteer Appreciation Event n August 18, the Gardens Staff gathered to say “thank you” to volun- teers. The wine and cheeses from TREATS were nice, but seeing all the volunteers gathered together was even nicer. It’s a small sort of thank you we offer, but the Gardens tries hard to thank you every day Oand every hour, because you are so critical to the running of this place. I’d like to offer you all wine and cheese at the end of EVERY day here at the Gardens! This year, we thanked the many talented volunteer chairs and co-chairs of events and committees: Mollie Moore (Gardens Teas and monthly Mailing Pro- MaineGardens.org gram); BJ Dobson (Native Plant Sale); Stephanie Bacon (Plant Sale at the Ernie CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 • FALL 2009 SPECIAL EVENTS or my fourth Volunteer News of served hot cider and grilled hotdogs. their wares. Music (by our own Mary my fifth year being the Volun- Carole LaFountaine helped pass out the Chase!), decorations, and a festive atmo- teer Coordinator here at Coastal prizes—those turkeys are heavy! Carole sphere all added to the fun. There were Maine Botanical Gardens, I will, McCarthy, Jane Lunt, and Anne Butler complimentary beverages and desserts, Fonce again, begin the year with those decorated cookies with the children. which Jane Lunt, Dick Chase, Cathy 2009 events that missed the publication Thanks for joining in the fun! We hope Miller, and Sarah Strouss tended to. date of last year’s newsletter. to see you again on November 20 for this Philippa Morton, BJ Dobson, and Anne For our first annual Fall Bulb Sale, in year’s Frozen Turkey Hunt. Butler tended the gift shop. October 2009, we recruited many volun- A week or so later, Mollie Moore AND about a week after THAT teers to break down the orders, pack the directed the Winter Wonderlands Holi- (Phew!), volunteers took care of the pre-orders, and be on hand for the live day Tea. Mollie makes the scones, picks S’Mores and More Holiday Bonfire. Bill orders. Dick and Mary Chase, Shelly up the salmon, and reviews procedure Cooney tended the fires where families Hanson, Stephanie Bacon, Anne Marie every time teatime comes ’round at the roasted their marshmallows and s’mores. Kurzius, Leigh Sherrill, Carole LaFoun- Gardens. Dianne Ward was the Over- Tom Hilton and BJ Dobson provided taine, Jane Lunt, Sarah Strouss, and seer for the Plate Presentation of the their night-time docent tours. Carole Doug Zyskowski all chipped in. In fact, tea sandwiches and other goodies on McCarthy and BJ were in the gift shop they were so efficient, they ran out of jobs each plate that Cathy Miller, Pat Jer- (BJ, how can you do two things at once?) to do for their allotted time commitments emiah, and Bonnie Ginger prepared. And Jane Lunt helped make s’mores and had to go home early! Thank you for BJ Dobson and Judy McAllister helped while Mary Chase played Christmas such a great job! me brew the tea that Wanda Hendrick- tunes on the piano. Then, at the November 21 Frozen son, Shelly Hanson, Carole McCarthy, Finally, on December 20, the Volun- Turkey Hunt, we had hundreds of chil- Sarah Strouss, and Pat Jeremiah served teer Caterers took over in the Home for dren hunting for the special apples signi- to each guest. Philippa Morton made the the Holidays Brunch. Carole LaFoun- fying that they’d won a free frozen turkey, sweets—a batch of her famous “lemon taine, Jane Lunt, Sarah Strouss, Sue all donated by Hannaford in Boothbay. things.” Teatime is fun! Sefcik, and Claire Hunt cooked up the Other apples came with prizes, too, so And a week after the tea, volunteers delicious brunch goodies, and Carole every child was able to take something made Christmas Market at the Gardens McCarthy came in to help replenish the home for the Thanksgiving table.Leigh happen. This new event offered visitors a impressive buffet. Sherrill and Jane Lunt helped hide chance to purchase gifts that are top qual- To all those volunteers pitching in apples. Shelly Hanson, Wanda and Andy ity and not mass-produced. In addition throughout the Fall of 2009, a huge thank Hendrickson, and Dick and Mary Chase to the Gift Shop, select vendors marketed you! • other volunteers, but also to all the staff volunteer appreciation event here at the Gardens. Your enthusiasm • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 and hard work rub off on us and, in turn, Egan Rhododendron Festival); Marissa Home at the Gardens, Overseer); Jean make the Gardens an even more special Carmolli (Garden Fair: Vendors); Suzy Hamilton (Down Home at the Gar- place than it ever could be without you. Mace and Beth Lewis (Garden Fair: dens: Food/Entertainment/Decorations); Thank you to: Carole McCarthy, Plant Exchange); Joni Sherman, Nancy Larry Townley (Down Home at the Gar- BJ Dobson, Anne Butler, Pat Jeremiah, Tindal, Susan Miller (Garden Fair: Con- dens, Auction). Mary Chase, Jane Lunt, Pam Rawden, tainer Gardens); Sarah Strouss (Garden As each event matures, chairing and Polly Gibson, Nick Caristo, Anne Var- Fair: Overseer); Rebecca and Thad co-chairing are easier and easier, which tabedian, Nancy Whitehouse, Lee Hutcheson (Plein Air Painting); Martha equals more and more fun. Please con- Gevaudan, Pat Neely, Mollie Moore, Pat Heald (Bibby and Harold Alfond Chil- sider either chairing or co-chairing or Kiley, and Philippa Morton. Honorable dren’s Garden Grand Opening); Jane being the right hand to a chair next year. Mentions went to Mike Connelly, Alison Lunt (Bibby and Harold Alfond Chil- We also thanked 16 volunteers who Lowell, and Bob Gilbert for their work in dren’s Garden Grand Opening Parade); have each volunteered hundreds of hours the Shuttle Program and Maggie Newton Rebecca Welsh (Antiques in the Gardens since the beginning of 2010 (and in one who baked and frosted 500 cupcakes for Preview Gala); Carole McCarthy (Co- case more than 1,000 hours!). The list of the Children’s Garden Grand Opening Chair of Maine Fairy House Festival); participation by event for each of these all by herself! Look for the names of each Peggy Pennabere (Maine Fairy House volunteers would take up this entire of these special people throughout this Festival: Arts & Crafts); Pat Jeremiah newsletter (I am not exaggerating!), so I newsletter. You’ll feel as if you know them (Maine Fairy House Festival: Arts & am simply going to list these special indi- by the last page. All at the Gardens are Crafts and Down Home at the Gardens: viduals here; but before I do, I want to say certainly glad we know them! Food/Table Tidiers); Claire Hunt (Down that you are an inspiration not only to To all volunteers: Thank you! • 2 Voluntee® ±ews 2010 polo shirt will answer all your questions Ambassador Program about the map and the Gardens.” With the success and need for this his year with the expected rise worked! Not only that, visitors loved program, next year I will be recruiting in visitorship for the Bibby the Volunteer Ambassadors, and the heavily to fill each shift every day and Harold Alfond Children’s Ambassadors loved to talk to visitors (10:00-1:00 and 1:00-3:30ish).