From the Director
Greetings from Ohio! I am your new C.A.R. Director and feel very privileged to serve in this capacity. I am fortunate to network with seven great Presidents in our region who are from Delaware, New York, New Jersey, National Capital Area, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio. They are an outstanding group of women as well as all of you - our devoted and loyal members.
Let me take this opportunity to thank Marilyn Whitmore our past C.A.R. Director for her outstanding leadership, service and support. She has been a wonderful source of help to me in this transition.
Shirley Basista, who is from Cleveland, OH, will be your Alternate Director and serve as Parliamentarian. I look forward to working with Shirley and I know I can count on her as she is important to this new administration as well as the former C.A.R. Directors. Joy Ericson a past C.A.R. Director, will serve as C.A.R. Secretary/Treasurer to this Executive Board.
I am from a small city of Canton, OH, which is between Cleveland and Akron (going North), Columbus is south of us. I am a huge and loyal "Buckeye" fan and I can hardly wait for O.S.U. to begin football. Canton is home to the "Football Hall of Fame" and the National First Ladies Library.
I have chosen for my theme "Because of You and What You Do - Make Our World a Better Place". It should fit in nicely with our National President Renee Blaschke theme: "The World Around Us - Love It - Beautify It - Protect It". Renee has several outstanding projects which she is promoting such as "Beautify Blight" which involves cultivating a community garden whether with children or adults. In my own area, Master Gardeners have worked with jail inmates to do this and I know other states in our region have done this as well. The Planting of Daffodils ("Golden Days") across our nation as well as "Plant It Pink" in the fight against Breast Cancer in alliance with the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I have seen publicity with our endorsement of "Plant It Pink" in the "Family Circle" as well as "Better Homes & Garden" magazines. You will hear much more from each of your state presidents on our NGC presidents projects. You will also hear about "Garden Time", an education in gardening. National Garden Clubs Courses are going online! There is absolutely something for everyone if you want to get involved!
I am very much interested in 'MEMBERSHIP'! It is vital to our organization! I have chosen as our "Unified Project" - 'MEMBERSHIP'. I would like each of you to "Invest in a Member" - Reach Out! Who invited you to join a garden club? What a kind person that was! Look what you have learned! You have become the person you are today because you joined a 'Garden Club'. It is now your turn to do the same. We have these baby boomers who have worked hard most of their lives and now they are ready to retire and are looking for something to do. They have the time to get involved and we must be there ready to reach out, invite these women, give them good programs, friendships and time saving meetings, entrust to all that is around us, the joy of gardening and belonging to this world class organization! Let's give it a try!
In two years, the Central Atlantic Region will have a National President, Shirley Nicolai from the National Capital Area. Chairman Dale DeFeo and her committee are now working on this event. Please support these women in their awesome task of bringing a Classic National Convention to our area in Washington D.C.
It is my pleasure to invite you to Tarrytown, New York and the C.A.R. Conference - "Half Moon Over The Hudson" on October 30, 31 and November 1, 2009. It is a celebration of Henry Hudson's sail of the Yacht the "Half Moon" - 400 Years Ago.
Lynne Arnold and her committee have worked hard to bring you a first class event! Wonderful tours, exciting programs, workshops, spouse's tours, and a dinner masquerade! Please come, I would love to meet each of you! I promise you, our members in the C.A.R. Region, an enjoyable event and conference!
Thank You!
In Friendship,
Carmie DeVito
C.A.R. Director
