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How did you all fare in the snow last week? That was a surprise.

COMING EVENTS 2008

Thursday 20 November AGM

We will be reporting to you on local and national developments.  In the last Newsletter Helen Haran outlined some of the changes at Headquarters with particular effort on defining the top ten genera that need conserving.  She touched on the cost of this new approach which together with a 4 year freeze on our subscriptions has resulted in the proposal that subs are increased to £25 a year.  This sum is still well below many other charity membership charges.  We will be welcoming Richard Gant who is on the NCCPG Board of Trustees. It will be a good opportunity to speak to someone from headquarters and ask about policy without the need to travel further than St. Albans. We are planning some special refreshments and hope it will be a really enjoyable occasion.

We are hoping to make some changes in the committee and would welcome anyone who would like to join us. We particularly need a helper to join Leo with the refreshments as she is hoping to concentrate rather more on growing and propagating plants for sales (our chief money-raiser).  It is a light and sociable job providing an opportunity for meeting and getting to know other members. There are other jobs available as well – do come along and see what you would like to do for the Group.

National AGM 5-7 June 2009

We also need helpers for the National AGM next year. We hope you have all seen the programme in the centre pages of Plant Heritage and would like to be involved as a helper or a delegate.

Note that we will be reducing the charge for helpers. As Helen put it in the last newsletter:  "it will be good fun providing an ideal opportunity for members to meet members from other parts of the country whilst helping out with jobs such as manning the reception table or helping in one of the gardens which will be opened to members on the Friday."

NCCPG Herts & Beds Events for 2009

15 January - Stephen Crisp, Head Gardener American Embassy

19 February - John Tyler: Life in a nutshell 

19 March - Oonagh Kennedy: History of the Luton Hoo Walled Garden 

16 April - Visit to Little Heath Nursery in Potten End, Berkhamsted -
                pub lunch and plant buying.

14 May - Geoff Hales, who is an actor, will be telling the tale of 
                The Chinese Gooseberry man (E H Wilson) 

5-7 June - National AGM at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Hatfield

18 June - Summer Social for AGM helpers and members at a local pub. 

17 September - TBA

15 October - Sue Davis: Quinces

Sunday 18 October - Apple Day at Shenley Park

19 November - AGM + winter social + quiz and questions

17 December - Margaret Easter: For the Love of Thyme

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OUR CURRENT COMMITTEE

Chairman: Helen Haran (01727 869437)

Collections Co-ordinator and Publicity: Margaret Easter (01582 768467)

Treasurer: Cyril Harling (01582 792276)

Vice Chairman, Secretary, Events and Newsletter Editor: Penny Morgan (01727 765420)

Membership Secretary and Branch Representative on Council: Hilde Wainstein (020 8953 3022)

Plant Exchange, plant propagation and refreshments: Leo Vaughan (01923 854650)

Committee members:

Mick Thompson (0144 2841042);

Janet Howell (01582 767643);

Angela Rowney (01582 414377).

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