Table of Contents25 Anniversary Useful documents

Annual dinner Planning Committee

Dinner attendance list

Dinner Task schedule

Expenditures

Honored guests

Minutes of July meeting

Minutes of November wrap up meeting

Program for 25th anniversary dinner

Program timetable

Recognition of MGs

Timeline in photos

To do list

VIP invitees list

THE TEAM

Catering Team Captains: Katie Girandola and Lynne Harwood Bonnie Ferriolo Janet Sheppard Ursula Wooley

Décor Team Captains: Linda Shorthouse and Lee Nissen Mary Lee Eldridge Carol Bencivengo Dottie Prudhomme

Slide Shows: Betty Scarlata and Theodora Wang

Historical Team: Greenie Neuburg, Theodora Wang, Ursula Wooley, and Barbara Gliddon

Funding: M and M - to cover cost of: Venue AV set-up Tables and chairs: 15 tables & 150 chairs Table Linen? Cake Awards (certificates/pins)

Budget: $500

Attendees: Cater for 150 + Emeritus Guests : Freeholders, Rutgers Staff, Extension Staff and BJB

Dinner: Pot luck

Lynne Harwood Suggested: ask for certain types of dishes. i.e. chicken, beef, pasta.

Greenie suggested looking at the recipes given in the old newsletters.

Décor: Linda Shorthouse/Lee Nissen

Lobby: Lanterns and flowers

Exhibits: Historical documents, photographs, and cake

Gym: Table decorations; terrarium as centerpiece

Bonnie and Dottie looking into hanging large paintings and quilts on the walls.

Enquire whether we can raise basketball nets and dim the lights.

Event set up: Greeters in Lobby - take dish from guest to Entrée set-up in Lobby Mtg Rm.

Coats in classroom

Appetizers and Exhibits in Lobby – 45 minutes

Entrees in Lobby Meeting Room

Desserts kept in kitchen until needed but cake on display in Lobby

Seating arrangement in gymnasium will be organized by committee

Meeting attendees:

Greenie Neuburg Dottie Prudhomme Lee Nissen Lynne Harwood Ursula Wooley Carol Bencivengo Mary Lee Eldridge Margaret Pickoff Bonnie Ferriolo

Alikhan Salma

Anatale Stephanie

Arents Doris

Batjer Ishrut

Bennett Karen

Berlinger Elana

Butts Andrea

Chamberlain Darlene

Ciuffani Rosemarie

Cooper Terry

Danser Christine

Delahanty Michelle

Duggan Angelina

Eldridge Mary Lee

Foran Sherri

Frawley Pat

Gernhardt Roberta

Girondola Katie

Gliddon Mike

Gliddon Barbara

Hannawacker Ann

Hannawacker Joe

Hansson Denise

Harwood Lynne

Henkin Gayle

Holmes Bob

Horgan Catherine

Hurly Jim

Innes Rosanna

Jellinek Susan

Kanter Debbi

Kellich Ellen

Kemler Samantha

Kleis Carol

Knight Priscilla

Kraska Jane

Lagunas Pat

Larsson Ruth

Lee Lynda

Leone Tina

Loetscher Mary

Maack Charlie

Maley Susan

MGs & Guests Attendance

Malick Gordon

Mann Ann

McGeachen Tom

Meriam Marjorie

Miller Tara

Montplaisir Margaret

Mroczko Jeanne

Muehleisen Angelika

Murtaugh Kathy

Nagele Sonya

Neuberg Greenie

Neville Fran

Nicosia Nancy

Nissen Lee

Nowrey Harri

Orland Orland

Osterlund Annette

Panek-Tobin Anastazja

Pannone Joanne

Papastephanou May

Payne Ruth

Petruska Doris

Pickering Linda

Prager Karrie

Prudhomme Dottie

Rabitz Andrea

Rauch Julie

Rickman Marie

Sagers Keith

Saltman Jennifer

Scarlata Betty

Schnitter Pamela

Senior Louise

Sheppard Janet

Shorthouse Linda

Simmons Debbie

Sinibaldi Maria

Sirbaugh Nora

Solomon Sudi

Steffee Wayne

Steinberg Marjorie

Thompson Kelly

Truitt Tarry

Valentine Dan

Vaurio Ann

Verbeyst Trish

Wagner Mary

Wang Theodora

Ward Linda

Warfield Debbie

West Bronwyn

Wojciechowicz Carolyn

Wooly Ursula

Yurwit Kathleen

Zeman Anne

Zompa Diane 99

Extension Staff

Melendez Meredith

Pickoff Margaret

Thompson Dana 3

Rutgers Staff

Zientek Jan 1

VIPs

Floyd Leslie 1

104

Dinner Task Schedule

GreetersFront Door - Go to car, collect and take dish to Entrée roomMary Wagner

Andre Butts

Tom McGeachen

Trish Verbeyst

Ann Vaurio

Back Door - direct guests to front lobby

Marjorie Steinberg

Ursula Wooley

Entrée ServersPamela Schnitter

Jim Hurly

Angelika Meuhleisen

Tina Leone

Nancy Nicosia

Chris Danser

Dessert ServersCarolyn Wojciechowicz

Linda Ward

Clean UpHarri Nowrey

Dan Valentine

Sonya Nagele

Charlie Maack

Chris Danser

Dish WasherRosanna Innes

Silverware CleanupAngelina Duggan

Budget: - $500

Expenditures $

Decorations

12 glass containers, banners, stencils & foam board 48.64

lights for table decorations 38.49

Decorations 121.00

208.13

Dinner

Silverware 15.25

Water Jugs 15.00

Napkins 9.00

Cups 16.00

Coffee, creamers, sugar 34.06

Plates 137.81

227.12

Total so far 435.25

Extension Staff

Ripberger Chad ripberger@njaes.rutgers.edu

Pickoff Margaret mpickoff@mercercounty.org

Melendez Meredith melendez@njaes.rutgers.edu

Thompson Dana dthompson@mercercounty.org

Kaufman Erica ekaufman@mercercounty.org

Mercer County Administration Building

Melker Nina D. 640 South Broad Street

Frisby Samuel T. Trenton, NJ 08650-0068

Colavita Pat Board Chair

Cimino John A. Board Vice-Chair

Koont Andrew

Walter Lucylle R.S.

Cannon Ann M.

Leslie Floyd Director of Planning As above

RutgersBrian Schilling schilling@njaes.rutgers.edu Director, Cooperative Extension

Nicholas Polanin polanin@njaes.rutgers.edu Chair, Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Jan Zientek zientek@njaes.rutgers.edu Statewide Coordinator, Rutgers Master Gardener Program

Barbara Bromley See Dana for Address

Honored Guests

Mercer County Freeholders

RMG of MC - 25th Anniversary Dinner - Meeting, 16th July 2019

Minutes

Attendees: Barbara Gliddon, Greenie Neuburg, Theodora Wang, Margaret Pickoff, Carol Bencivengo,

Bonnie Ferriolo, Linda Shorthouse, Mary Lee Eldridge, Lynne Harwood, Katie Girandola, Dana

Thompson, Janet Sheppard

Invitees: Interns & Emeritus (21 guests of honor). Catering for 150

256 to be invited but estimate 150/175 attend. Invitations will be sent out in September by

Katie Girandola and Lynn Harwood. Margaret will check the invitation list before sending out.

Having decided to extend our invitations to the new interns, our numbers have grown and

there is concern that the attendance could be higher than expected. We’ll discuss further,

after invitations have been dispatched.

Budget: $500

Meredith to cover cost of tables, cake, beverages

Décor: Linda Shorthouse/Lee Nissen

Have enough glass vases for terrariums as table decorations. Lanterns with flameless candles

will be used to decorate the appetizer tables in the lobby.

Margaret Pickoff confirmed the basketball nets can be raised.

Artwork: Hanging artwork in the gym has been given initial approval by Chad but need to test Command

Strips which will be done by Dottie Prudhomme, upon her return from vacation.

MGs (active) 209

Emeritus 6

Guests 21

Interns (so far) 20

Total 256

Dinner: Katie Girandola/Lynne Harwood

Not much to report until attendance numbers confirmed.

We discussed and favored having a one-way traffic flow into the entrée room (lobby

classroom).

Because of possible high attendance we should extend the appetizers/displays along the

corridor by the helpline office and enter the gymnasium via the door by Chad’s office.

Have someone to organize traffic flow and prevent long food lines forming. Will also need

some signs

Discussions are ongoing with regard to the serving of food and whether we should have MGs

sign-up as servers. Reason is two-fold: help the line move faster and prevent over helping

oneself!

Set-up: Round tables – 10 per table

Dana is in consultation with Rental Company, will also enquire about table cloths. It might be

cheaper to purchase.

Flatware: Thrift shops?

Plastic cutlery is not favored. Will ask for donations and shop in Thrift shops. Carol Bencivengo

will take charge of this.

Margaret will seek permission to utilize the dishwasher and to be able to store cutlery at

Extension.

Plates/cups: Paper?

Katie and Lynn will purchase paper plates and cups.

They have already purchased 15 water jugs at the dollar store.

Historical Theodora Wang/Greenie Neuburg/Nancy Putnam/Barbara Gliddon

Will use Time-line and extract documents for display Photographs of Presidents and classes Display photographic “25” banner Display past State award winners with descriptions

Skit: A Helpline theme; Greenie and Nora will present the Echo Song. Slide presentation, “what not to do/say/wear in Helpline” and ask the audience what is wrong with the pictures? Play out helpline phone conversation.

Set-up: Theme for the evening: Back To Our Roots and Growing Forward!

Program: Carol Bencivengo/Barbara Gliddon/Pat Frawley

This should match the invitations. We’ll discuss the program in September.

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, September 5th in the lobby classroom at 1:30 pm

25th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Dinner

Wrap-Up Meeting – Tuesday, 19th November 2019

Present: Theodora Wang, Betty Scarlata, Pat Frawley, Margaret Pickoff (partly), Barbara Gliddon, Carol

Bencivengo, Lee Nissen, Linda Shorthouse, Katie Girandola, Mary Lee Eldridge, Ursula Wooley, Dottie

Prudhomme.

Barbara opened the meeting by thanking all Committee Members, particularly those that played a key

role, putting in many hours. The membership had been very complimentary and no criticisms or

complaints were received. All present agreed that the event was a huge hit.

Budget: $500. Total expenditure: $435.25. Barbara thanked all committee members who kindly

donated various things to the event without which we would have gone very much over budget.

Margaret Pickoff: Margaret was very happy with how everything went. She commented on the room

being beautifully transformed, the attention to detail was excellent, and felt that we set a precedent!

She also enjoyed mingling with everyone.

Décor: All commented that Linda Shorthouse did an outstanding job of taking charge of the décor.

Linda was disappointed that the table cloths were black and felt it made the tables too dark. She

commented that next year they will add more color to the table decorations.

Art Show: All agreed that Dottie Prudhomme’s idea of turning the gymnasium into an art gallery proved

to be not only a brilliant idea but hugely successful. It brought an extra component to the event and

one that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. Dottie remarked that if we are to repeat this next year we

should start to hang the art work a week before the event. Hanging the art work and setting up all the

tables, in two days, was exhausting.

Appetizers: Linda’s set up in the lobby was excellent; the decorations were beautiful, complemented by

the historical table. The appetizers were good. It was suggested that perhaps we should have had a

third table to ease the flow a little better. A few members suggested, through Carol Bencivengo, that

perhaps we should keep the event in future to just finger foods, to enable people to spend longer

mingling, rather than having a formal sit-down dinner. We decided to review this idea next year.

Dinner: The dishes were superb and a wonderful variety. Lynn Harwood and Katie Girandola did a great

job of setting out the various dishes and keeping them all warm. The set up that Katie and Lynn had

thoughtfully arranged, with a good flow of people, made the dinner serving process run very smoothly.

The apple cider wasn’t so popular but the water with sliced fruit was very successful. After a comment

made by one of the “guests” about using Trenton’s tap water, it was decided that next year we should

use bottled water. None of the bread sticks were eaten so we agreed not to provide bread of any kind

next year. The prisoner cookies were too dry, lacked flavor, and there were many left over. The cake

was very successful and beautifully displayed.

The plates were all taken home for washing by Rosanna Innes, Ann and Joe Hannawacker.

Program: Everyone felt the content of the program was good.

Music: This was appreciated in the lobby during appetizers but needed to be turned off in the gym

because the echo interfered too much with conversation.

Silverware: It would have been preferable to have the silverware placed in a bucket of soapy water

rather than in the trays that were provided. The trays were extremely heavy and awkward to carry

down to the teaching kitchen, for washing.

Friday morning: Carol Bencivengo and Barbara Gliddon put half the silverware in the dishwasher (that

was all it would hold) at Extension; Barbara Gliddon took the other half home to wash. Mary Lee

Eldridge suggested, for next year, we look for additional dishwasher cutlery baskets so that we can put

all of the silverware in at one time. After consultation with Altaira, she allowed us to store the

silverware in the gray cabinet in the little kitchen next to the lobby meeting room.

All 43 table cloths were taken home to wash by Barbara Gliddon.

The displays and appetizer tables in the lobby were put away.

Coat racks were put away.

Conclusion: We need much more help in all areas next year. We should set up a roster for things like

washing plates, silverware, and tablecloths.

Theodora requested we ask for more photographers next year.

We discussed reasons why only 100 MGs came and mentioned a few factors that may have been the

cause:

Driving at night

The earlier announcement that we could only fit 120 people in the room, (on the night we

observed that another couple of tables could easily fit into the room.

We discussed bringing the event forward next year, to October, and possibly combining it with

graduation but did not discuss in any detail.

All present appeared eager to do it again next year!

This is Barbara Gliddon signing off!

25th Anniversary Dinner Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County

November 7, 2019, 5:30 – 8:30 pm

Welcome and Introduction……………………………….Pat Frawley

Opening Remarks ……….………….…………..Meredith Melendez

Dinner Proclamation ………………………………….……….……..Ann Cannon

Nine Minutes …………….…………………………… Margaret Pickoff

Recognition of Master Gardeners

Hail To The Chiefs!

Dessert/Coffee/Tea

A Helpline Ditty …………..…Nora Sirbaugh/Greenie Neuburg It Seemed Like A Good Idea ……………………...……Pat Frawley

Presentation and Recognition of Service Awards

By Margaret Pickoff Tributes ……….………..…………….…………………………….Jan Zientek Closing Remarks ………………………………………..Margaret Pickoff

25th Anniversary Dinner Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County

November 7, 2019, 5:30 – 8:30 pm

Welcome and Introduction……………………………….Pat Frawley

Opening Remarks ………….……….…………..Meredith Melendez

Dinner Proclamation ……………………….………………….……..Ann Cannon

Nine Minutes …………….…………………………… Margaret Pickoff

Recognition of Master Gardeners

Hail To The Chiefs!

Dessert/Coffee/Tea

A Helpline Ditty …………..…Nora Sirbaugh/Greenie Neuburg It Seemed Like A Good Idea ……………………...……Pat Frawley

Presentation and Recognition of Service Awards

By Margaret Pickoff Tributes ……….………..…………….…………………………….Jan Zientek Closing Remarks ………………………………………..Margaret Pickoff

25th Anniversary and Awards Dinner - November 7th, 2019, 5:30 – 8.30 pm

Emcee:- Pat Frawley

Time Name Activity& timing Instructions 5:30 Barbara Appetizers in lobby (45 mins) Ring bell at 6:10 to proceed to gym

6:15 Pat Welcome & Introduction (3 mins)

Introduce attending Guests: Ann Cannon: Mercer County Freeholder Leslie Floyd: Director of Planning, Mercer County Jan Zientek: MG Statewide Coordinator Introduce next speaker – Meredith

6:18 Meredith Opening Remarks (5 mins)

6:23 Pat Dinner To all: Enjoy dinner. Give a brief run-down of what is to come. Invite special guests up to Entrée room, Katie Girondola will then invite tables up.

6:55 Pat Introduce Ann Cannon to read the Proclamation 6:55 Ann Cannon Proclamation 7:00 Pat Introduce Margaret Give definition of the title of her speech. 7:00 Margaret Nine Minutes! 7:09 Pat Introduce Meredith to present MGs

7:09 Meredith Recognition of all MGs by class By year, starting from Class of 2018. As each class is called they should stand.

Meredith Hail To The Chiefs Past Presidents starting with Pat Frawley 2017/18/19. Each President should stand. Slides will also be shown.

7:25 Dessert/Tea/Coffee Servers will bring desserts to tables

7:30 Nora/Greenie A Helpline Ditty (5 mins) Nora, before singing, please explain the origin of the song. 7:35 Pat It Seemed Like a Good Idea (15 mins) Narrative with slides

7:50 Pat/Margaret Presentation & recognition of service awards.

Pat to call out names and Margaret to present awards. Pat, ask long service recipients, after receiving award, to go to the mural for photographs. At the same time slides will be shown of all recipients. Pat, introduce next speaker, Jan.

8:15 Jan Zientek Tribute (5 mins)

8:20 Pat Give away table decorations Suggest: Birthday closest to event. The person to their right will receive the prize. Introduce Margaret for closing remarks.

8:25 Margaret Closing Remarks (3 mins)

Recognition of Master Gardeners (Starting with the class of 2018, ask them to stand up, applause, then move on to the next class)

2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012

2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005

2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998

1997 1996 1995 1994

Hail to the Chiefs! (Presidents: starting with Pat)

2017/18/19 Pat Frawley

2015/2016 Ann Calder

2013/2014 Catherine Horgan

2011/2012 Marie Rickman

2009/2010 Carol Bencivengo

2007/2008 Kathy Enquist

2005/2006 Nora Sirbaugh

2003/2004 Bob Robinson

2002 Joanne Meehan

2001 Carole Armel

1999/2000 Evy Roberts

1997/1998 Greenie Neuburg

1996 Nancy Johnston

1995 Pat Begel

1994 Collette Menasion

1 of 1

Here's the info from the ornaments used at Morven in 2013 – Linda Shorthouse

1994 launched Hotline for residents’ horticultural problems

1996 partnered with Grounds for Sculpture to identify trees and Shrubs

1999 and 2003 for Excellence Award given by the Int'l MG Assoc. for public programs at

the Compost site

2001 Held first public Plant Sale at Compost site

2001 "Search for Excellence" Award given by the Int'l MG Assoc. for Helpline Training

Program

2003 First Insect Festival held

2004 MG of MC celebrates their ten-year anniversary

2006 "Search for Excellence" award from MG Northeast Regional Conference for their

Annual Insect Festival

2006 Compost site name Changed to MEG "Mercer Educational Gardens"

2008 received the Holden Grant for meadow restoration at MEG

2008 Organize their first symposium "Responsible Gardening with Pizzazz"

2011 Mercer Educational Gardens becomes hub for Lawrence-Hopewell Trail

2012: First Midsummer Night in the Garden held at MEG

2013: Trent House project begins, using Mary Jane Trimmer’s bequest

2014: MGofMC celebrate their 20th anniversary at Grounds for Sculpture

2015: MGs partner with 4H to use Boys and Girls Club for the monthly meetings

2016: MG recording of hours switch from paper to electronic

2017: Garden Core becomes a new category for recording “public education” hours

2018: Barbara J. Bromley, Mercer County Horticulturist, retires after 25 years and is

feted at a luncheon in July

2019: MGofMC relocates and welcomes Margaret Pickoff as the new Mercer County

Horticulturist and MG advisor.

30 Appetizers

15 Chicken

8 Beef

8 Pork

6 Vegetarian

2 Gluten free

6 Pasta/grain salads

8 Vegetables

6 Green salads

Round 1 9/23 - 10/08 All Active MGs/Emeritus, Extension staff and BJB

Round 2 10/09 - 10/20 Rutgers Staff

Round 3 10/21 - 31/10 MC Freeholders

4 Door greeters

13 Servers

Cake cutters

Take down

Food

Invitations Timeline

Helpers

Mercer County Freeholders

Nina D. Melker

Samuel T. Frisby Sr

Pasquale “Pat” Colavita, Jr, Board Chair

John A. Cimino, Board Vice- Chair

Andrew Koont,

Lucylle R.S. Walter

Ann M. Cannon.

Mercer County Administration Building

640 South Broad Street

Trenton, NJ 08650-0068

Director of Planning Leslie Floyd

Mercer County Administration Building

Planning Dept.

640 South Broad Street

Trenton, NJ 08650-0068

Brian Schilling Director

Cooperative Extension Martin Hall, Rm. 309 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 88 Lipman Dr. New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8525

Phone: 848-932-3591 Fax: 732-932-6633 Email: schilling@njaes.rutgers.edu

Nicholas Polanin

Chair

Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources Martin Hall, Rm. 326 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 88 Lipman Dr. New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8525

Phone: 848-932-3590 Fax: 732-932-6633 Email: polanin@njaes.rutgers.edu

Jan Zientek

Program Coordinator County Extension Dept. Head

Cooperative Extension of Essex County RCE of Essex County - Roseland Office, Rm. 296D Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station 621a Eagle Rock Ave. Roseland, NJ 07068-1501

Phone: 973-228-3179 Fax: 973-364-5261 Email: zientek@njaes.rutgers.edu

Statewide Coordinator, Rutgers Master Gardener Program

Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources RCE of Essex County - Roseland Office Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station 621a Eagle Rock Ave. Roseland, NJ 07068-1501