Co-President’s Message -October  2025

 I started out this gardening season with 27 miscellaneous plants from last summer that wintered over in their pots under a pile of leaves in my vegetable garden. They were gifts from friends and perennials I split and potted up or bought be-cause they were irresistible. They never got planted because I either ran out of time or had no idea where to put them. Now it’s mid-October, the first frost is coming and the Fall cycle in my garden starts again. Cleaning up the vegetable garden for its winter crop of potted up cranesbill, rudbeckia, 2 penstemon leftover from last year’s crop and that beautiful ‘Sunset’ Agastache rupestris that I love but don’t know where it’s going. 

Fall for Hoe & Hope means preparing for next year too. The Nominating Committee led by Sally Bootz will present the slate of officers and Board Members for 2026 at the October meeting with the election taking place in November. Our current officers are staying on next year with the exception of our co-president, Connie Melvin who has served in this role since 2022, more on that in a second. The Board is made up of the 4 officers and three members- at-large who serve a 2-year term. At the September meeting we misspoke and said there was one position open but there are two. Ellen Beery and Cherylyn Oss are completing their second year. Let Sally know if you are interested and if the position is filled already there will be plenty more things to get involved in next year. And say yes, if she calls you! 

Now…. back to Connie. Connie served as President in 2022 with Debbie Arnold as her assistant. She went on to be President in 2023 & 2024. When she recruited me, she stepped right up and said let’s do it together. We split the newsletters in half, the meetings in half and everything in between. When I procrastinate, she plans; when she worries, I don’t. It has been such a fun and productive year. She thinks she is retiring but there will be no slipping quietly into the night as she takes over as chair of the Scholarship Committee and will be forever my first call and right-hand friend. Thank you, Connie! 

Our meeting this month is at the church, details in the directory and this newslet-ter. Remember, we start collecting dues for next year in October. Membership fee is $25 and a 2026 membership directory is available for an additional $5. The membership fee will include 2025 and 2026 for any new members that join now through the end of the year. 

See you in a few weeks. Enjoy this glorious Fall weather. 

 Mary