Committees

Abbot House Herb Garden
Responsible for the maintenance of the Abbot House Herb Garden.
Chairperson: Suzanne Albanese
Committee: Lydia Rogers, Jeanette Bergeron, Maria, Bunda, Karen Neukirchen, Cathy Weber, Cathy Wagner, Victoria Echeverri, Kelly Montesano

Arbor Day/Earth Day
Collaborates with the Hamilton Township Environmental Commission. Chooses a local elementary school and schedules the celebration of Arbor/Earth Day. Helps plant trees chosen by school children.
Chairperson: Trish Polunas
Committee: Jay Derrico, Ealine Bruhn, Eileen Johnson, Jim Huckfeldt, Cathy Wagner, Cathy Weber

Sayen Garden Azalea Festival
On Mother's Day at this event, NGC solicits new members, answers gardening questions, sells plants and advertises the club's Garden Tour.
Chairperson: Jay Derrico
Committee: Kelly Montesano, Patrish Shalestik, Eileen Geoghan, Maureen Rhodes-Rogers

Blue Star Memorials
Honors our New Jersey active and inactive members of the armed forces. The club has two memorials and a committee for each.
Memorial One Chairpersons: Melissa Cacace and Maria Servillo
Committe: Jay Derrico, Joan Dougherty, Elaine Garrison, Kathy Hoffman, Jay Miller, Fran Valpatic, Joanne Wassum, Kelly Montesano, Stacy Pollard, Nancy Finan
Memorial Two Chairperson: Kathy Hoffman
Committee: Joan Dougherty, Trish Polunas

Budget
Executive Board prepares the annual club budget for presentation to members in October for approval.
Committee: Executive Board members Jay Derrico, Nick Truhan, Jane Dahlgren, Cathy Weber and Elaine Garrison

Community Investment Projects
Executive Board determines options for an investment in the community based on general revenue and expenses. When an opportunity arises, the proposed investment will be presented and voted on by members. In 2025, the club donated $500 to the Watershed Institute, $250 to the Garden Club of NJ Scholarship Fund and $250 to the Crocket Middle School Environmental Club.
Committee: Executive Board

Founders' Day Luncheon
February 2026 will mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Nottingham Garden Club in 1956. The celebration will be Sunday, February 1 at Diamond's restaurant in Yardville with good food, friends and fellowship. A special gift will be given to all who attend this important occasion.
Chairperson: Nick Truhan
Committee: Fran Valpatic, Darlene Chaberlain, Jane Dahlgren

Garden Tour: June 2026
Considers suggested sites for this bi-annual event. It is the club's largest fundraising event.
Chairperson: Jay Derrico
Committee: Eileen Geoghan, Leah Ciarka, Maureen Rhodes-Rogers, Esther Whelan, Kelly Montesano, Stacy Pollard, Patrish Shalestik

Flower Containers for Hamilton Township Library, Police Station
Updates and maintains the garden containers throughout the year.
Chairperson: Charlene Miller
Committee: Fran Valpatic, Leah Ciarka, Skip Edwards, Eileen Johnson, Joan Dougherty, Wendy Wintle, Jay Miller, Melissa Cacace, Nancy Finan, Maria Servillo

RWJ Christmas Tree Decoration
Will decorate three trees for Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Hospital. One 6-7 ft. tree at Five Points intersection, one table-top tree in the ER waiting room and one tree in the Out-Patient waiting room.
Chairperson: Lorna Cruz
Committee: Grace Douglass, Eileen Johnson, Pam Bailey, Karen Edwards, Eileen Geoghan

Morven Holiday Decoration
Recommend and set up a themed tree at this National Historic Landmark in Princeton, the former New Jersey Governor's Mansion.
Chairperson: Esther Whelan
Committee: Elaine Bruhn, Grace Douglass, Maureen Rhodes-Rogers, Karen Neukirchen, Elaine Garrison, Lydia Rogers, Joanne Wassum, Kathi Croes

Refreshments
Plans themes for meetings, provides table decorations, dessert, unless it's a covered-dish meeting, and is responsible for beverages, kitchen area, set-up, clean-up and handing off tablecloths to the next month's team to launder and bring to next meeting.
Committee: All of membership

Community Education/Outreach
Invites community gardeners to attend our Tips and Garden Questions events three times a year at the Hamilton Township Library. Date depends on room availability.
Chairperson: Jay Derrico
Committee: Dorothy Donnelly, Karen Neukirchen

Membership and Greeters
Tracks attendance, provides name badges and reports number of members and guests at meetings. Also issues membership packets to new members, collects all dues and maintains updated member roster.
Chairperson: Patrish Shalestik
Committee: Theresa Turner, Joan Dougherty, Alice Stat

Photography, Publicity, Raffle
Responsible for capturing members actively involved in club projects, events and meetings. Shares the club's good work with local media and others to spread the good word. Also collects "goodies" for monthly raffle. Accepts Styrofoam, aluminum and snack bags for recycling.
Chairpersons: Esther Whelan, Faye Rotunda, Charlene Miller

Remembering Military Veterans
Provides wreath forms to members to complete for veterans residing at local nursing homes or assisted living residences for Veteran's Day.
Chairperson: Jane Dahlgren
Committee: Darlene Chamberlain, Sharon Timko, Theresa Turner, Dorothy Donnelly, Diane Uhaze

September Flower Project
Members bring brightly-colored flowers to create beautiful, mini floral arrangements for residents of area nursing homes. Members throughout the year contribute small Musselman applesauce containers and wet oasis for this project.
Chairperson: Patrish Shalestik
Committee: Grace Douglass, Maureen Rhodes-Rogers, Esther Whelan

September Tree Planting
Organizes September-October tree-planting event at Crocket Middle School in coordination with the Hamilton Environmental Commission.
Chairperson: Kristine Geck
Committee: Joe Manger, Jay Derrico, Eileen Geoghan, Cathy Wagner, Kelly Montesano, Stacy Pollard

Sunshine
Sends a bit of sunshine and warm thoughts to our members who are ill or have had a loss to let them know we are thinking about them and their families.
Chairperson: Darlene Chamberlain
Committee: Pat

Telephone Chain
Calls members who do not have email addresses to remind them of upcoming meetings, programs, guest speakers, needed supplies or special announcements.
Chairperson: Terri Tolino
Committee: Diane Uhaze, Eileen Johnson

Website
Builds and maintains the Nottingham Garden Club website, including facebook. Website keeps local area informed of its meetings and accomplishments and helps recruit new members.
Chairperson: Kelly Montesano
Committee: Lynn Cheng-Varga, John Varga, Jim Huckfeldt

Yearbook
Collates information, chooses cover design and submits it for printing/copying. Distributes yearbook at the September meeting.

