Secrest Select
The new Secrest Select program was covered in the last issue of All Things Secrest. Thanks to Karen Brenner, MGV Intern, our website at SecrestSelect.com is under construction. If you want to make a recommendation for next year’s selection, please use the online form on the website. Feel free to email questions to SecrestSelect@gmail.com.
Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of Friends of Secrest Arboretum (FSA) will be held at the Secrest Welcome and Education Center at 3:00 pm on Friday, October 6th. Jason Veil and I will be giving updates on Secrest and on the Friends Organization. You will also be voting on the Board of Directors for the organization for the coming year. The current board members, consisting of those listed below, are all running for another term. They are:
- Robert Everett – President
- Julia Wiesenberg – Vice President
- Linda Irwin – Treasurer
- Andrew Cerniglia – Corresponding Secretary
- Merry Gentry – Recording Secretary
- Carol Rakoczy – At Large
- Karen Lesiecki – At Large
Our Bylaws allow for between zero and four At Large members. If you would like to run for a position next term, please contact me at friendsofsecrest@gmail.com.
Fall Plant Sale
The member’s presale is Friday, October 6th, immediately after the Annual Meeting whose attendees will be admitted to the sale before those waiting outside. The general sale is Saturday, October 7th from 9 am until noon or 1:00 pm depending on demand. As a reminder, FSA members receive a 10% discount at the plant sale.
WCCF Grant
Friends of Secrest Arboretum is very happy to announce that we received a $40,000 grant from the Wayne County Community Foundation to make improvements to the John Streeter Garden Amphitheater. Work will take place in the late fall and spring.
Summer Events
I hope you were able to attend the second annual Secrest Garden Fair. We had more vendors than last year along with perfect weather. Planning has begun for next year! By the time you receive this, our third season of four summer concerts will be over. Attendance has been great and the music varied. These free concerts are possible only because so many of you support them with your donations each spring.
As always, please reach out to me at friendsofsecrest@gmail.com should you have questions about FSA or if you are interested in volunteering – whether as a board member or not.
--Bob Everett
President, Friends of Secrest Arboretum