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EAST PALESTINE -- The Town and Country Garden Club of East Palestine met April 10 at the First Church of Christ in East Palestine, with 15 members in attendance. President Debbie Hall opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and Darlene Exposito said the blessing. Exposito, Hall and Lavonne Hutchinson provided an array of refreshments.
Hall talked about the library display case which the garden club will be responsible for doing in June. Diana Holzer, Donna Holzer and Hall will be in charge of this project.
On March 27, a meeting was held at Exposito's for the sole purpose of discussing the grant that the Norfolk Southern Railroad has offered the club. Those in attendance that day were Bonnie Davis, Susan Dellavolle, Diane Holzer, Donna Holzer, Bev Leake and Exposito.
Co-Vice President Donna Holzer discussed the tax issues with the IRS. The club is currently a 501C4 and have to pay a $600 fine for not filing tax returns. Donna Holzer noted that the status needs to be a 501C3, so that the club can accept any donations. Norfolk Southern has given the bluc the opportunity to receive a grant, but the club must be a 501C3 first.
Davis has taken on the task of getting this 501C3 up and running and she told club members that the club's articles of incorporation and bylaws need to be changed. Both sets of names in them need to be matching and correct. The garden club must file a statement of continued existence every five years and the next time it is due will be February 2025. The club also needs to amend all the articles of incorporation and also the bylaws and they must match exactly and also add an (article 13). This would state that if the club dissolves, the remaining money must be given to another organization of a 501C3 status. Michelle Telischak made the motion and Laura Garvin second the motion to amend articles and bylaws; the vote passed. Davis said that in order to file a 501C3 the club must have five years of financial records to submit with its application.
Davis mentioned that the club also needs a post office box as this will prevent mail from going to the wrong persons. The cost is $39 every six months and $10 for the key. With past mail going to the wrong person, it has been the main reason the club is having all its problems with filing with the IRS. Donna Holzer made the motion and Bonnie Davis seconded the motion and it was passed by the club.
The ramp at the club's shed, to be used for the golf cart, has been completed by Tony Holzer who did all the work at a cost of $110.30. This was approved by the executive committee because the club wanted to have the ramp done and approved before the next meeting.
McKim's Winery has offered the garden club the opportunity to serve wine on Friday nights when they have events. They would pay per hour plus the tips. They would need two people each night and the hours would be from 4:45 to 10 or 11 p.m. This money would go to the Garden Club fund, in place of the annual plant sale. Motion made by Barb Webb seconded by Susan Dellavolle.
The garden club will not be having the annual plant sale on Mother's Day due to a $150 fee for a vendors' license. The club will replace the income for the plant sale by doing the McKim's Wine serving. Donna Holzer made the motion and Pam Figley seconded it and it was passed by the club.
This year's meat raffle will be a Sparkle $250 gift card because Doyle's Meat Market is going out of business as he will be retiring. Pam Figley made the motion and Heather Lloyd seconded it, and it was passed by the club.
The garden club will be having a tea party at the May meeting and Davis offered the use of her decorations. Everyone received invitations to pass out to potential members.
Davis read the minutes from the March meeting. The minutes that were approved, with a motion made by Lara Garvin seconded by Telischak and passed by the group.
Dellavolle gave the treasurer's report. The budget was approved by Exposito and seconded and by Leake.
A sheet was passed around for members to sell the Sparkle Market Tickets at the Street Fair in May.
Horticultural Talk: Leake gave an interesting talk about German Ivy.
The meeting was adjourned.
Following the meeting, Diana Holzer brought a craft for everyone that brought a clay pot. She brought napkins, tissue paper and wrapping paper and decoupage and brushes. Those who made the pots had fun with some pots being from 1 inch to 10 inches.
As always, the club welcomes new members. It meets at 6 p.m. the second Monday each month at the First Church of Christ in East Palestine.