Committee Reports August 28 2018 Executive Director’s Report, Sarah Cornwell
Executive Director Report to the Board - New and Notable August 2018
Fund Raising
● Met with Fall Event committee twice. The annual event will bed title “Trending in House and Gardens”. It will be a moderated panel discussion. Theme for 2019 will be “Joyous Living”. Panelists will speak on incorporating joy into the home and garden through color, technology, food, and personal well being.
The event is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2019 beginning at 9:00 am. It will take place at Gamble under a tent that holds approximately 150 people.
Houzz has tentatively committed to provide a moderator for the event.
● Worked with Board Development to welcome two new Spring Tour co-chairs and other Spring Tour committee positions.
● Began work on Annual Appeal and Annual Report (see committee report)
● Planned a Director’s Circle event on Oct 2 for a screening of “FIVE SEASONS: THE GARDENS OF PIET OUDOLF” with an additional screening open to the public on Oct 3
● Working with Membership to have a presence at Second Saturday Finance
At the July Investment Committee meeting and call with Creative Planning, updated committee on close of FY2018, budgets for FY19, and planned future fundraising.
Second Saturday (see committee report)
● July 2018 - FUN FOR FAMILIES: REHABILITATED WILD BIRD RELEASE BY THE WILDLIFE CENTER OF SILICON VALLEY (WCSV)
● August 2018 - EDIBLE GARDEN TOUR AND TASTING Operations
● Worked with Volunteer Chair and Outreach Manager to rewrite and redesign volunteer brochure Facility Rentals
● Installed ceiling mounted projector in Carriage House to improve connectivity for renters Interesting Podcast to listen to: Freakonomics “How to Raise Money without Killing a Kitten”
http://freakonomics.com/podcast/how-to-raise-money-without-killing-a-kitten-a-freakonomics-radio-rebroadcast/
Garden Director’s Report, Richard Hayden
• 32 additional landscape lighting fixtures were installed this month around the house and in the Churchill parking lot. Additional dusk to dawn security lighting fixtures on the bathrooms, the hort office and the embarcadero parking lot are scheduled for installation in September.
• Work on the pollinator garden has begun, thanks to a $3500 grant from the Palo Alto Garden Club and a $5000 annual donation from Betsy Gifford. Many plants were potted up for installation in shadier locations later this fall, the soil was cultivated and 15 cu. Yds. of additional compost amendment was added to improve drainage,
irrigation was reconfigured and changed to more efficient low flow rotator heads. We will now water this area and allow weeds and unwanted plants to sprout, they will be removed, and planting will occur In October to hopefully coincide with the rainy season.
• The willow ‘Hidey Hut’ was removed as part of the Pollinator Garden work, mostly due to its decayed condition.
The Willow Farm in Pescadero has been contacted, and negotiations are underway to have a new Willow Cabin installed in a new location this fall.
• We are in the process of hiring a new garden assistant to replace Sarah Callan who left to pursue her master’s degree. Interviews will begin next week.
• For September 8th Second Saturday, GrassRoots Ecology and hort staff will be doing a program on our Water harvesting demonstrations including the rain barrels and rain garden. Children’s programming will include poppy seed planting and watershed drawings.
Activity Report:
• West Coast Tree trimming was a success, over three days. Palm trees look great!
• Examined palm tree near house for insect infestation, discovered unknown species of probably a social bee…
very unusual! The entemology department at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles looking into it.
• Dr. Lee Klinger, Oak Care Specialist who treated oaks last year, was here on Friday 8/3 and treated Magnolias, Paperbark Maple and 4 oak trees. He suggested that we increase the duration of the irrigation in the woodland area and around the paperbark to soak the soil more deeply.
o He showed his sudden oak tree death treatments from last year and they were all very successful in stopping the spread of the disease. He treated several other oaks this year and I will add the oak by the restrooms to his list when he returns to tint the calcium treatments on the trunks later this month.
• Churchill parking lot lighting is installed, additional lighting fixtures on order and will be installed as soon as they come in.
o Working on security lighting replacement fixture, and hoping to have permanent dusk to dawn lighting on restrooms, hort office path and Embarcadero parking lot.
• Ella and team have done a beautiful job of pruning Camellias, and feeding.
• Hiring new Garden Assistant to replace Sarah Callan whose last day is Saturday 8/11. The job description and listing will go out today, Susan Choi has indicated that she will be reducing her hours as well, and plans on leaving completely later this fall.
Projects to come:
• Pollinator garden prep is gearing up and will likely start in a week or two. We will be adding 12 yards of
lightweight soil and compost to slightly berm up this area and increase drainage. We will convert the irrigation to MP Rotators, and then irrigate and wait 4-6 weeks to do a grow/kill treatment for unwanted weeds or aggressive perennials (Japanese anemone etc.) Planting will occur late September or October.
o Sarah and I have discussed commissioning a new willow hidey hut to be located somewhere near the frog fountain or shady picnic bench area.
• New pots, urns and bench donations curtesy of Gabby and Bernie Flather. Lots for OTGF.
• Hunter Hydrawise is a new weatherbased computerized irrigation controller system that we will look to install this fall. This work will entail running sprinkler wires in conduit from Lathe house to corner of main house near library porch. This will enable us to control the irrigation from our smart phones, and the computer system will read the weather forecast and help us set the proper irrigation schedule.
Garden related programming:
o This Saturday is Edible Garden Exploration and tasting for our Second Saturday o Sarah Callan’s last day, she’ll be doing tomato pollination demos.
• GrassRoots Ecology and I will be doing a program on our Water Capture demonstrations for September Second Saturday. Juanita Salisbury is teaching a pollinator garden design course that day too.
Annual Appeal, Sarah Cornwell Committee: Annual Appeal
Liaison to the Board: Executive Director
Date of last meeting: Monday, July 30 (Fund Development VP/ED Meeting)
Date of next meeting: Thursday, September 6th from 1-2:30pm (Fund Development Mtg) Action Items Completed:
● Timeline/plan of Annual Appeal/Annual Report established
● Initial outline of Annual Appeal written
● Initial layout on Annual Report written Action Items In-progress/Pending/Discussed:
● Items to be complete before next board meeting:
● Draft annual appeal
● Draft annual report
Announcements to the board/Any board support requested?:
● The Fund Development Committee hopes that the board will (again) have a 100% participation rate in the Annual Appeal
● We would like as many envelopes to be hand addressed and letters to include notes. If you are free to address envelopes in early October, please let the ED know if you are available to hand write notes 10/16/18-10/21/2018 Adult Education, Delia Laitin
No report this month.
Archives, Marilyn Sutorious No report this month.
Board Development, Lena Dawson Committee: Board Development Liaison to the Board: Lena Dawson Date of last meeting: June, 13th, 2018 Date of next meeting: September, 13th, 2018 New Spring Tour Chairs have been selected.
Pat Gregory and Ann Kalar have graciously stepped up to be 2019 Spring Tour Chairs.
I am also happy to announce to the Board that Robin Allen will be joining the Board Development Committee in September.
Board Governance, Sarah Burgess Committee: Governance
Liaison to the Board: Sarah Burgess Date of last meeting: August 20, 2018 Date of next meeting: September 17, 2018
Action Items Completed:
• Updated Ecosystem
• Discussed the committee and leadership training Action Items In-progress/Pending/Discussed:
Updating Charters
• Standing Rules
Announcements to the board:
• Approval of attached ecosystem Buildings and Grounds, David Chang No report this month.
Children’s Events, Deanna Wong No report this month.
Community Partnerships, Jane Stocklin No report this month.
Docents, Joan Urquhart No report this month.
Endowment, Pat Davis No report this month.
Executive, Joan Sanders No report this month.
Fall Event, Susann Mirabella and Deanna Wong No report this month.
Finance, Dana Perkins Committee: Finance
Liaison to the Board: Dana Perkins Date of last meeting: June 26, 2018 Date of next meeting: August 28, 2018 Action Items Completed:
Year-end financial results – as of June 30, 2018 July financial results – first month of FY19 Action Items In-progress/Pending/Discussed:
Financial & Accounting Policy Manual to be submitted to BOD for review at September 2018 meeting
Any board support requested?:
• Read FY18 June financial results as shown in Treasurer’s Report/Commentary/Financials
• Read FY19 July financial results as shown in Treasurer’s Report/Commentary/Financials
• Review aforementioned policy manual when issued for review & subsequent approval next month Flower Arrangers, Carmen Pekelsma
No report this month.
Fund Development, Susann Mirabella Committee: Fund Development Committee Liaison to the Board: Susann Mirabella Date of last meeting: May 23,2018 Date of next meeting: September 6, 2018 Action Items Completed:
Organized a social for 50 women at Gamble to encourage membership and volunteer involvement. Results to follow.
Action Items In-progress/Pending/Discussed:
Worked with ED to fill Spring Tour committee roster.
Working with ED on Director Circle event.
Working on new Fall Fund raiser event.
Announcements to the board:
New Spring Tour Co-Chairs in place.
Fund Development Committee in place.
Garden Advisors and Support, Lesley Peters No report this month.
Garden Club Liaisons, Gary Dunker and Kathy Ladra No report this month.
Garden Volunteers, Betsy Gifford and Gwen Whittier No report this month.
Investment, Ian Linford
Committee: Investment Committee Liaison to the Board: Finance Committee Date of last meeting: 7/11/2018
Date of next meeting: 10/17/2018
Action Items Completed:
• Reviewed portfolio performance – performance is in line with expectations given current market conditions
• Reviewed fiscal year-end results that could impact the Endowment and Operating Reserve assets Action Items In-progress/Pending/Discussed:
• Continuous evaluation of the investment adviser (Creative Planning). Next annual review of the adviser will be performed in the January Investment Committee meeting.
Horticultural Library, Mary Jo Levy Committee: Library Committee Liaison to the Board: Mary Jo Levy
Date of last meeting: March 27, 2018 although committee members have communicated on line Date of next meeting: Sept. 2018
Action Items Completed:
• The June member newsletter highlighted new books in the library, including Gardens of the High Line, by Piet Oudolf & Rick Darke. The work of Oudolf is the subject of a film to be shown at Gamble in October.
Action Items In-progress/Pending/Discussed:
• Five new titles purchased & a gift from the Marin Art and Garden Center are awaiting cataloging.
Announcements to the board:
• Take a look at the book on the High Line before seeing the film—it’s on display in the library.
Luncheons, Robin Allen, Lonnie Polizotto, and Marie Immekeppel Committee: Luncheon
Liaison to the Board: Mary Powell Date of last meeting:
Date of next meeting: September 5, 2018 Announcements to the board:
Looking forward to starting up the new year with sold out September Luncheon.
Loved the article Ana wrote for the August Newsletter focusing on one of our favorite Cookbook Desserts!
There will be 2 Luncheons back to back in October.
Holiday Luncheon cooking days are on the calendar for November.
Holiday Menu has been updated on the Website.
Master Gardeners, Judith Cody and David Peterson
The only slight change is that on some days smoke from the California fires is in the air in the Palo Alto area. While the Help Desk has always stayed open on rare occasions it has closed half an hour or so early if an MG has become to hoarse to continue talking.
Membership, Iris Korol Committee: Membership Liaison to the Board: Iris Korol Date of last meeting: June 19, 2018 Date of next meeting: September 6, 2018 Action Items Completed:
Had a table at Second Saturday in July where we spoke with attendees and gave out Memership Brochures and Seed Brochures (incentive to come to our table and to join). Thank you to Sarah for having these made and putting Gamble logo on them. Will do same at Second Saturday in August.
Action Items in-progress/Pending/Discussed:
A New Member event (to welcome all new Gamble members from this past year) is being planned for October 5, 2018 from 5 to 7 PM. Nancy Winn and Bonnie Flanagan from our committee will by chairing this event.
A members-only event (day trip) is being discussed. Target date to be in mid-late October.
Any board support requested:
Will check with Nancy and Bonnie re October 5th event. I will be traveling.
Program, Mary Powell and Donna Bohling No report this month.
Roots and Shoots, Jane Farish, Andrea Gara, and Janelle Fodor No report this month.
Second Saturdays, Sarah Cornwell Committee: Second Saturday
Liaison to the Board: Executive Director
Date of last meeting: Program Committee May 8, 2018 Date of next meeting: Program Committee October 4, 2018 Action Items Completed (Since last report):
July 2018 - FUN FOR FAMILIES: REHABILITATED WILD BIRD RELEASE BY THE WILDLIFE CENTER OF SILICON VALLEY (WCSV)
We have a special event for our July Second Saturday, The Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley will be releasing a
rehabilitated bird back into the wild right here at Gamble Garden! Learn about how WCSV, a wildlife rehabilitation center, treats sick, injured and orphaned wildlife.
article in Palo Alto Online: https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2018/07/14/rehabilitated-doves-released-in-gamble- garden
August 2018 - EDIBLE GARDEN TOUR AND TASTING
Explore our edible garden this August with a tour of our Roots and Shoots beds, vegetable beds, kitchen garden, and fruit trees. Enjoy sampling our tomatoes, beans, figs, apples, pears and plums.
Action Items In-progress/Pending/Discussed:
September 2018 - READY FOR RAIN? JOIN GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY AT GAMBLE GARDEN
Grassroots Ecology teamed with Gamble Garden this year to install a 60-gallon barrel and 265-gallon tank for rainwater capture and to construct a rain garden. Learn about the why and how of rainwater capture and then tour the new installations at Gamble.
October 2018: Second Saturday Highlighting Garden Club Announcements to the board:
We encourage board members to stop by a Second Saturday and enjoy a Nature Hunt.
Please note the Nature Hunts now begin at 10:00am Questions for the board/larger group:
● We will begin to ask for Second Saturday committee members in upcoming newsletters. If you have a person in mind, please pass their name on.
Spring Tour, Pat Gregory and Ann Kalar No report this month.
Special Projects, Susan Benton No report this month.
Strategi Planning, Karen Douglas No report this month.
Summer Garden Party, Colette Rudd No report this month.
Volunteer Development, Toni Wisman
Committee: Volunteer Development Committee Liaison to the Board: Toni Wisman
Date of last meeting: August 23, 2018 Date of next meeting: November 2018 Action Items Completed:
Held Volunteer Appreciation Reception June 21, 2018
New Board Member Orientation – Board Development Chair Lena Dawson and myself held the orientation June 17, 2018.
Action Items In-progress/Pending/Discussed:
• Working on back ground check requirement for volunteers who work with children
• Working with Board Governance Sarah Burgess to organize Board Member and Committee Chair Education Events
• VDC member to help staff the information table at Second Saturday events
• Working with the Garden Club of Palo Alto to increase the volunteer relationship.
• Working with Sarah Cornwell to update the Volunteer Brochure. This is almost completed.
• Working with the Board Development Committee to recruit and mentor a new Volunteer Development Chair.
• Working with Board Development Chair Lena Dawson to complete exit interviews with outgoing Board members.
