Garden Club of Windham
Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 4-6  pm
Community Room, Willimantic Public Library

Minutes

Attendees: Ursula Roskoski, Barbara Wright, Faith Kenton, Amy Marwood, Jean de Smet, Pam Wright, Patty St.Louis

Call to order: Ursula Roskoski called the meeting to order at 4:09 pm.

Approval of minutes: Faith Kenton moved to approve the minutes of the Board meeting of September 4, 2025, Jean de Smet seconded, and theminutes were approved unanimously with one abstention.

Treasurer’s report: Barbara Wright presented the report in Patty Spruance’s absence. She provided the following account balances:

• Garden Club checking:           20,570.99
• Garden Club savings:              8212.39
• Friends’ checking:                   18,641.95
• Friends’ CD:                             16,016.72
  
  
• 325 Trees, High Street Hillside and Wildlife:             0
• Holiday Lights                                                              182.00
• 2025 Pageau grant:                                                 7,442.54
• UConn/EPA grant:                                                    1,220.48
• Urban Forest grant:                                                  3,321.94                       

There was a brief discussion. Barbara acknowledged that account balances for the grant-funded projects do not reflect the most recent expenses.

Committee reports: Pam Wright, speaking for Wildlife Habitat, announced that effective December 31, she would resign from co-chairing the committee and from the Board. She believes the club more than fulfills the requirements to be certified by the National Wildlife Federation, but the paperwork required to maintain annual certification has become burdensome and she will no longer maintain the club’s certification. She is happy to roll the Wildlife Habitat Facebook page into the Garden Club FB page and continue to serve as a resource on native plants, habitat creation, and related topics. Club members expressed their appreciation for her service in this role over the last 14 years.

Faith, speaking for Public Spaces, noted that Jana Roberson had recruited Eastern students to reset a large stone, removing a trip hazard. Faith praised Jana’s stewardship of the Footbridge Garden over many years, saying that the garden always looked great.

Amy Marwood, serving as unofficial steward of the Mill Museum gardens, reported that she had requested assistance from Public Works in removing a dead tree but got no response. Patty St. Louis offered to help, both with the tree and stewardship.

Barbara, speaking for the Friends of the Garden on the Bridge, reported that over the last 6 weeks chrysanthemums had been planted and mulch spread. Kathleen Mangiafico and ACT students had spray-painted the park benches a fresh dark green, greatly improving their appearance, and Green Valley Tree removed two elm trees growing out of the walls of the Bridge. A new bike rack has appeared near the arch, apparently installed by Public Works without consulting the Friends. Instead of removing the two large river birches in crumbling planters, the Friends are now hoping to incorporate them into the new design for the Threadway and Plaza. There will be a work party to weed, prune, deadhead, and plant tulip bulbs, donated by Jean, on Friday, November 14.

Amy offered to help with installation of Holiday Lights, a project that Dan Phipps will take on, although he has resigned as a member of the Board.

Jean, as co-chair of Wildlife Habitat, reported that work continues on reclaiming a trail along the Willimantic River in an area once known as Burdick Park. Bob Andrews, of Connecticut Forest and Park, has offered to repair a bridge over a frequently flooded part of the trail.

Next on the agenda were Bylaw changes. There was lively discussion of suggested additions. These included new sections on “Representation,” “Assent,” “Conflict of Interest,” and minimum terms of membership as a requirement for serving on the Board or as club president. There was strong disagreement about obligatory terms of service, and “assent” was seen as already covered in the club’s policies. Jean moved and Pam seconded to forward the additions dealing with representation and conflict of interest to Barbara McGrath for her opinion. The motion passed with four in favor, one opposed, and one abstention.

Next on the agenda was purchase of Directors and Officers insurance. Barbara and Ursula argued that it would provide protection to Board members in a situation like the recent conflict, when there were numerous accusations of wrongdoing and threats of lawsuits. Other members of the Board did not think such coverage was necessary. Ursula moved to purchase D&O insurance, and Barbara seconded. The motion did not carry; the vote was one in favor, four opposed, and one abstention.

Regarding spending practices, Ursula informed the Board that there will be a more detailed discussion of spending practices at the next Board meeting, and the issue will be dealt with at the policy level. In the meantime, she and Barbara would like to request paper statements from Liberty Bank, so it will be easier to track where money is going. There was a discussion of the expense of paper versus online statements, and agreement that statements should be shared with the entire Board. Barbara will look into doing so online. She and Ursula are also free to request paper statements, if that is their preference.

Next Barbara provided an update on numerous efforts to regain access to the club’s Google Workspace and Wix website. So far nothing has worked, and the club needs to consider alternatives. She reported that Mike McDaniel, the town IT director, has offered to host the GC website. A discussion of pros and cons followed, with strong support for moving to the town platform. Pam moved and Amy seconded to approve up to $3,000 to build a new website and to allow Barbara to take necessary steps to do that. The motion passed unanimously.

Ursula shared progress on the UConn/EPA project, “School Based Green Infrastructure Initiative.” The greenhouse has been built, and administration and teachers at Windham Middle school have plans for using it to teach students about plants and water management. Ursula has not yet been paid for her role in the project; the consensus was that she should receive the budgeted $1200 for her work. This will close out the grant.

Ursula introduced a short project process form that should help officers and the Board to stay informed about individual members’ plans for new projects. The goal is simply better communication.

Finally, Ursula raised the need to begin planning for a membership campaign and called the Board’s attention to a list of actions to grow membership that she found on the website of the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut. Patty St. Louis offered to work on such a campaign, and Barbara agreed to work with her.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:58 pm.

Respectfully submitted, Barbara Wright, secretary