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CEGC Meeting Minutes

March 24, 2026

 

The March meeting was held at the home of Justine Reginier:

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President Becca Settles opened by mentioning that she had neglected to give credit to Karen H’Doubler and Cathy Shaifer whohelped with the ABG Flower Show.

Thank you ladies!!!

 

Melissa Longosz read an inspiration from Chat GTB on Spring as a time of renewal.

 

Cheryl Durham and Becca Settles read off the 2026-2028 Slate by position.  Those in attendance voted yes on all nominations.

 

CEGC Slate for 2026 - 2028

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PRESIDENT - Leigh Eigel  

PRESIDENT ELECT - Patti Thomas

VICE PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP - Jolie Maxwell

VICE PRESIDENT PROGRAMS - Kim Huhman, Natalie Wilson

RECORDING SECRETARY - Jan Pearlman, Jackie Combahee

TREASURER - Allison Peavy

PARLIAMENTARIAN - Becca Settles

HOSPITALITY - Stacey Johnson, Lisa Wargo, Kitty Correll, Colleen Lane

PHILANTHROPIC GRANTS - Diane Moffett, Erin Sjostrom, Elizabeth Payne, Jennifer Bridges

NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION GRANTS - Bonnie Copeland, Toni Rhett 

INSPIRATIONS - Jennifer Van Horn 

FLOWER SHOW - Ellen Adair Wyche

HORTICULTURE - Lauren Jackson

DECEMBER PHILANTHROPY MERCY CARE - Diane Jones, Leanne Shaw, Charlene DeBorde

HOLIDAY PARTY - Mary Chambers, Joan Smith, Courtney Loudermilk, Jennifer Hall

SPRING TRIP - Christy Roberts, Julie Train

AUCTION FUNDRAISER - Kim Boyd, Karen Riddell

DOGWOOD DISTRICT LIAISON - Christy Roberts

HBNA LIAISON - Cathy Boston 

OLPHH - Deb Proctor, Shea Rowley, Lydia Mays 

PHOTOGRAPHER - Betsey Wiens, Lydia Mays

SOCIAL MEDIA – Cheryl Durham, Lisa Smith

COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY (WEBSITE) - Donna Davidson

GCG PR AWARDS & GRANTS - Christy Roberts

Due to a last-minute emergency for Recording Secretary Dey Mathews, Becca Settles requested approval of the January 27th meeting.  Motion was seconded and voted approval.

 

Treasurer, Allison Peavy announced what we have $28,518.64 in the bank.

 

Jolie Maxwell updated the membership report.  We have 15 people on our waitlist!  For those who need meeting credits, there are several options to work in Vermont Park for 2 hours (2-4 or 3-5)

Mondays: 3/30, 4/6, 4/13

Tuesdays: 4/7, 4/14, 4/20

Saturdays and Sundays are also options.  Please reach out to Ann Culley. Also, those who came to the auction received a meeting credit.

 

Leigh Eigel spoke about our Spring luncheon which will Tuesday, May 12th at CCC Belvedere room, from 11:30 to 1:30.  Invitation to follow.

We need volunteers to do table flowers!

 

Tricia Rosenbaum announced this year’s grant recipient.  We gave $4,000 to Hillside, mental health treatment provider for children, adolescents, and families.  It’s located in Virginia Highlands, and the children go to school and receive therapy at their location.  The grant will go toward replacing their raised garden beds used in horticulture therapy.  Flowers are also used in art projects.

 

Becca Settles announced the new grant deadline for Neighborhood Beautification: May 12th

 

Jennifer Van Horn spoke about the April 28th field trip to Shepherd Center.  We need to meet there at 9:30. She sent an email regarding where to park and meet and will send that information out again.

Then she Introduced guest speaker Brady Midkiff who showed everyone how to decoupage a plate.

 

Afterwards, Bill Stallworth served another one of his yummy lunches!

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February 19, 2026

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CEGC auction fundraiser was held this month.  

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CEGC Meeting Minutes

January 28, 2026

 

President Becca Settles welcomed all 62 members in attendance and thanked Colleen Lane for hosting the meeting.

Becca opened the agenda by speaking about the nominating committee for the new CEGC Board to be installed in Fall 2026. Becca encouraged members to consider serving on the new board and/or nominating another member.

 

Inspiration Chair Melissa Longosz read “The Quiet Work of Winter.” Wintertime is part of our year-round relationship with Nature, teaching us to plant with intention, not urgency, to rest in stillness and to use quiet time as a renewal in anticipation of Spring.

 

Horticulture Chair Lauren Jackson encouraged members to plant seeds in winter between February 22 and March 1.  Arugula, radishes, lettuce and beets and other frost-loving plants thrive during cold months.  Lauren brought a wire hummingbird nesting house which can be purchased on Amazon.  Hummingbirds will nest in these to hatch their babies in mid-March.

 

Secretary Dey Mathews moved to approve the November 2025 meeting minutes as they appear on the CEGC website.  Said minutes were unanimously approved.

 

Treasurer Allison Peavy reported that currently our CEGC account balance is $13,843. Allison reminded members to rsvp to the auction invite and Venmo or pay by check $55 to attend the event.

 

Membership Chair Jolie Maxwell reported no change to last month’s membership report.  Currently we have 13 prospective members on our waiting list.

 

Auction Chair Kim Huhman asked members to turn in donation forms ASAP.  A paperless post invitation to the auction has been sent out to all members and your email rsvp is your confirmation to attend.  The auction February 19 is at Christy Robert’s home and will feature fun group activities, parties, gift baskets, original artwork and vacation home rentals.  Kim reminded everyone that this is our primary fundraiser and participation is key to our success so please donate, attend and/or bid on auction items.

 

Deb Proctor spoke about our club entry in this year’s Atlanta Botanical Garden Show.  The theme is “Chapeaux de l’Epoque” and CEGC will represent the 80’s with a Western cowboy hat.  Deb asked members to help with display installation for the show on the afternoon of February 18, between 5:15 and 6:15 pm.

 

BJ Crabtree also is working on a Botanical Gardens show entry using keepsake China.  Please contact BJ to help her with transporting the display and receive meeting credit for your time.   

Christy Roberts asked members to save aluminum can pop tops. She and BJ will collect these yearlong to help with a Ronald MacDonald House fundraiser.

 

Deb Proctor shared photos of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home property and all the projects we have funded for this cancer hospice center over the years. CEGC has donated approximately $130,000 to the home since 1939.  CEGC installed an intercom system in 1965, built the Meditation Chapel and gardens, built a 10-foot fountain and St. Francis statue in the 70’s, as well as a comprehensive landscape project for the grounds in 2014.  The newest project completed this year was landscaping and lighting the OLPHH entrance sign, as well as installing irrigation with the help of an angel donor. Deb is writing an article on CEGC and our work with OLPHH for the next Garden Club of Georgia substack.

 

Finally, Program Co Chair Patti Thomas introduced guest speaker Laurene Mauro.  Laurene is a leather handbag designer from Paris and the owner of Boschi handbags. Her love of leather craftsmanship is rooted in her family history.  Her ancestors were saddle and leather bag makers for the Monaco royal family for six generations.  After attending law school in Paris,  Laurene decided to follow her passion for design. She interned at a couture boutique, learned to sew, worked at Chanel and ultimately started her own designer handbag line.  Her exquisite lambskin bags were displayed at the meeting and are available for purchase and pre-order while Laurene is in Atlanta this week.

 

Following Laurene’s presentation the meeting was adjourned.