GROW OUR GARDEN GROUP

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING

July 15, 2025

Minutes

Mary called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.

Present: Mary Gollakner, Sue Lawrence, Bonnie Rochefort, Gordy Lownds, Polly Belcher

Secretary's Report  Minutes of the previous meeting were approved and will be posted on the website. 

Treasurer's Report  Balance is $8,646.07 as of today.  Garden Christian Fellowship made a $500.00 donation.  Mary will put everyone’s name in a thank you card.

Old Business

1)  Flower boxes, hanging flower brackets, tree/flower watering, weeding tree enclosures.

There continue to be issues with brackets breaking and a box by the farmers market started falling apart.  Some of the older poles lean and there are sometimes problems with the wood developing cracks/splinters. 

Per Bonnie, waterers no longer need to water the flowers by the flower meter.  They will be watered using a sprinkler.  There was a consensus to move the donated boat to the area. 

Tree enclosures need to be weeded.  Gordy recommends mulch to keep weeds away.  He is also planning to stake some of the trees at the top of the hill. 

2)  Banners, brackets, signs. 

All agreed that the new banners look great.  Sue said that the poles are big enough for them, but the support brackets don’t go all the way around the poles. Mark and Sue ordered an 11th banner and she and Mark want to pay for it.  The original estimate was $2869.00.  Currently the total is $2495.00 (after the $1000.00 donation).  They will come down at the end of September and be stored for the winter. 

A suggestion was made to move the Garden welcome sign into town.

3)  Fall Festival Updates - music, pumpkins, raffle baskets, children’s games, cake walk, cider press, chili, pickleball, drumming aerobics, etc. Compare Mini Mart prices to Gordon Foods to save money on food.

There will be corn hole again.  Chuck has made a new set. 

Pickleball is still up in the air.  We will need better signage if we decide to have it. 

Tee shirts are in the works.  They will be standard tees, not V-necks. 

We currently have 3 groups committed to music at the festival.  The proposed schedule is Margaret Richard’s band from 2-3:30, Tony & Eric from 3:30-5, and Sarah from 5 until things wind down. 

Sue Mueller is open to doing 2 cake walks, assuming we have enough baked goods.  Gordy plans to spray numbers in a circle on the ground for the walks.  

Colleen and Mary will be getting rocks from Fayette for painting.  Pumpkins (for decorations) will come from Klink’s. 

Gordy said that the new cider press will allow for grinding one basket while pressing another.  We will need to get donuts. 

Baskets.  Bonnie is considering raspberry jam, pasta, or coffee for basket themes, and possibly a fall quilt.  Mary is thinking of a pasta basket, and possibly a games basket with popcorn.  Gordy suggested pesto as a theme.  Sue Lawrence is thinking of cheese and jerky.  Polly has a children’s books basket, and is working on a fire-starter basket with smores ingredients. 

We will need 3 certificates for the winners of the chili contest.    

Sue Lawrence will approach the Dock for a donation.  Bonnie will check with Nahma Golf.  Jen Sydlik is checking with Garden Golf.  Mary will ask at the Mini Mart, Garden House, Port Bar and Garden Grove.  Mary reported that she had texted Jenna Silkworth re possibly donating a carving.  Polly had gotten a gift certificate from The Mill in Manistique. 

4) Float for GOGG in the 4th of July parade.  Jen Szydlik did a fantastic job of organizing the decoration of the water tank trailer for the parade on July 5th.  Polly pulled it with her truck and Jen and Mary were in the truck bed throwing candy. 

5)  Shed repair/painting.  Still in the works. 

The gazebo has not been moved yet.  There was a suggestion to have a cement base poured for it before moving it.  Sandy and Pete Miller donated it, and there was a suggestion to have a wall plaque in the gazebo in their honor after it is moved.  We need access to water in the park in order to pressure-wash the gazebo.  It should be addressed at the next Village meeting. 

6)  Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Schedule for 2025.  The July pickup was completed.  The fall  session is scheduled for Sept 20-28.

7)  Buy the lot next to Gordy’s brother?  It was decided not to pursue this. 

New Business

Watering schedule. We are good through August 16th.  Mary brought the watering schedule.  Colleen and Tim are next.  We will water thru the end of September at least.

New memorial plaques.  Mary reported that 5 different people approached her regarding adding plaques to the flower boxes. 

The American flags on the poles are tattered.