NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE News from Around the State Luana Maxwell was selected as the 2008 Garden Club Member of the Year at the 71st Montana Federation of Garden Club Convention. She joined the Great Falls Flower Growers in 1992 and immediately became involved by becoming environmental chairperson. She has also chaired the yearbook, awards, junior garden clubs and nominating committees in the club. Luana served as Club president and Central District #5 District Director. PAST WINNERS OF THE MONTANA At the recent convention, delegates voted to establish a MFGC endowment fund. Similar to our other long-standing endowment fund, Life Members, only the interest from money in the fund will be used for education and communication. When $500 interest income has accumulated, a competitive grant program will be designed with local clubs and MFGC-sponsored groups as eligible recipients. Money may be contributed in any amount now, with checks sent to Gail Zarr, state treasurer, marked for the endowment fund. This is an especially good fund for memorials, as well as a way to honor someone. There are members who have stated they wanted a place to leave money in a will if they knew the income would be used for special purposes, not for funding the everyday running of the organization. Because of our IRS 501(C)(3) status, any contributions are tax deductible. We will keep a permanent record of contributions, as well as list them in Montana Gardens. Calling All Garden Club Chefs! We are compiling a cookbook to sell at the National Fall Board to be held in Great Falls in September 2010. Do you have several favorite "no-fail" recipes to share? Please send them to Darlene Skari or your District Director, along with your name and garden club. We are especially interested in any stories about the recipe. If it's an old family recipe, tell us about the original cook. We are trying to add a Montana or rural 'flavor' to the book. Thank you! Awards Presented at the 2007 State Convention 2007 Regional Awards Presented in Sioux Falls Gallatin Empire Garden Club, Bozeman Dearborn Garden Club, Cascade Rainbow Garden Club, Great Falls Malta Dirt Daubers Garden Club Great Falls Flower Grower's Club Click Here To Return to the Top of the Page Rocky Mountain Region Meeting State Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl 2008 Poster Contest Winners 2008 Murphy Memorial Scholarship Winners Named Michael O'Brien, a 2006 Moore High School graduate [pictured right], has been awarded a $500 Murphy Memorial Scholarship. Michael is a sophomore at the University of Montana, majoring in forestry and conservation while maintaining a 3.87 GPA. In the past, Michael has worked with the US Forest Service's firefighting team. This summer he will work near his hometown of Lewistown with the Bureau of Land Management - getting rangeland management experience. He comes from a long line of gardeners and over the years at home has helped the family harvest their fruits and vegetables. His grandmother, Muriel Sennett, mother, Karen, and sister, Katie, are all members of the Lewistown Garden Club. Another 2006 graduate, Megan Hildreth of Dillon, Montana, received a $500 Murphy Memorial Scholarship this year. Megan is a sophomore at the University of Idaho majoring in landscape architecture while maintaining a 3.82 GPA. She is the daughter of Mary and Adam Hildreth of Dillon. Early in high school, Megan researched careers and feels helping her grandmother garden guided her toward horticulture. Megan, too, has worked as a US Forest Service firefighter but now works part time at the University's Experimental Greenhouse. There, she's watched experiments on wheats, soils, fertilizers, growth of hybrids and soil stabilization. This summer Megan is joining her peers on a trip to Italy to study classical landscape architecture.
**** The Murphy Memorial Scholarship is named for long-time Dearborn Garden Club member, Mabel E. Murphy and her husband Arthur J. Murphy by their daughter, Joyce-Jackson Hawkes, a member of the Gallatin Empire Garden Club in Bozeman. The 2006 Murphy Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Catherine Coleman. National and Montana Life Members Scholarship Winners Named Michael O'Brien, pictured above, was awarded a $3,500 NGC 2008 college scholarship. The Montana Federation was proud to sponsor Michael in the rigorous national competition because of his superb academic record and achievements. He was also awarded the $1,000 2008 Montana Life Members Scholarship during the Life Member's banquet held in Great Falls, June 2008.
Gallatin Empire Garden Club Announces Sale of Envelope Seals
In Memoriam A FOND FAREWELL
Our Montana Federation of Garden Clubs lost a special member on March 31 when our much-loved Junne Johnsrud passed forever into our garden of memories. She was truly one of the loveliest, most successful "blossoms" in our Montana "garden" and will be remembered by us as a creative, hard working, friendly and vivacious garden clubber. Funeral services were held in Ft. Benton, MT on April 5 with all able gardeners from near and far in attendance. The following is excerpted from the Montana Gardens, Fall 1983 edition: To the top
"Let's Go Native" Project with Principal Financial Group *Read about Montana's Native Plant Project on the Projects page
President's Project: School Gardens Program
Special Project: Manual of Garden Club Programs
Habitat for Humanity
Penny Pines Program
Blue Star Memorial Program
Rocky Mountain Region T-Shirts and Sweatshirts Available for Purchase
To view the "PDF" forms, you will need a copy of the free software "Adobe Acrobat Reader.For a free Adobe Acrobat download (click here)
During her two-year term as president, two $500 Petal Grants were received from Shell Oil Company. These grants were the seed money for the Butterfly Garden at Paris Gibson Square. At the same time, she served as chairperson of the Four Seasons Garden at the Great Falls Public Library. Luana has served as state xeriscape chairman and shared her knowledge on this timely topic with club and state members.
Luana is also an accredited flower show judge, traveling many miles annually to judge at county fairs and Standard flower shows. She has served as co-chair of Great Falls Flower Shows and competes with designs and horticulture locally and in the Montana State Fair.
Her willingness to help others is exempliefied by encouraging her club to donate to many community projects. In 2005, she was instrumental in the Blue Star Memorial installation at the Veterans' Memorial. Her most recent endeavor resulted in a $1000 Principal Financial Group grant to be used at the Benton Lake Wildlife Refuge. The junior garden club group she supervises will work with club members installing native landscaping.
Luana is a very accomplished and productive gardener and club member. At the same time, she works full time but still finds time to visit her grandchildren and participate in her church.
Congratulations Luana!
GARDEN CLUB MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD
2007 - Loretta Day, Rainbow Garden Club, Great Falls
2005 - Marie Jones, Lewistown
2004 - Sherry Corneliusen, Glendive
2003 - Margaret Yaw, Gallatin Empire Garden Club, Bozeman
2002 - Elizabeth Kehmeier, Hamilton
2001 - Carol Neil, Missoula
2000 - Cobi Leo, Gallatin Empire Garden Club, Bozeman
1999 - Jim Sadler, Missoula
1998 - Vivian Deck, Great Falls Flower Growers
Montana Gardener of the Year
Circle of Green Thumb Award for outstanding gardening work within their club and community:
2008 Montana Award Application Form NEW
Cheyenne, Wyoming - September 20, 2008
Sponsored by the Montana Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc.
Congratulations!
Sarah White, 1st Grade, Bozeman, sponsored by the Gallatin Empire Garden Club
Bella Mackey, 2nd Grade, Malta, sponsored by the Malta Dirt Daubers
Karen Jo Philips, 3rd Grade, Bozeman, sponsored by the Gallatin Empire Garden Club
Shelby Brookie, 4th Grade, Malta, sponsored by the Malta Dirt Daubers Garden Club
Tyler Ost, 5th Grade, Malta, sponsored by the Malta Dirt Daubers Garden Club
2006 National Garden Club Scholarship winner - Aaron Henegar, Univ of Arizona Landscape Architecture, of Missoula
2006 Montana Life Members Scholarship winner - Corri Pfeiffenberger, MSU Horticulture, of Bozeman
2005 National Garden Club Scholarship winner - Eric Berg, MSU Landscape Design, of Great Falls
2004 National Garden Club Scholarship winner - Dustin VanDyke, MSU Landscape Design, of Manhattan, MT
2004 Montana Life Members Scholarship winner - Dustin VanDyke
2002 National Garden Club Scholarship winner - Leah Jarrett, MSU Horticulture, of Springdale, MT
2002 Montana Life Members Scholarship winner - Cody Porter of Bozeman
Members of the Gallatin Empire Garden Club are offering items for sale to other club members and the public to raise money to fund their new projects. The mailing seals shown to the right were sold for many years by the Bozeman garden club. They've recently been re-issued and would make a great holiday card sticker for anyone living in Montana as they feature the state flower, the bitterroot (also the logo of this state Federation). The cost is $2.50 for a packet of 25 seals (plus 41 cents for mailing). The background of the seal is silver.
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Junne Johnsrud,
June 12, 1920 - March 31, 2007
Highest honors in the National Garden Club were reached by Junne when she became the 28th President of the largest gardening organization in the world. She had previously been State President in 1961 which made her a member of the National Board. Still later she became Regional Director of the Rocky Mountain Region with its eight states, the eighth being North Dakota after influence by Mrs. Johnsrud.
The experienced ranch-trained young woman with her own working horse ultimately became, please note: a master judge, flower show school instructor, landscape design critic, and served on numerous national committee chairmanships.
Junne's theme of "Forever Gardening" will be carried into eternity by those of us left with this special Flower Farewell, our own Fond Farewell to our loveliest blossom.
Ceridwen Breen, then Montana State Parlimentarian writes of attending the installation ceremonies for Junne Johnsrud of Fort Benton, Montana as she begins her term as President of the National Council of State Garden Clubs (1983-85).
"The moment of Montana's own Junne Johnsrud's installation was impressive, spectacular, beautiful, and one of the most outstanding in my memory book. The stage a veritable garden of flowers with a large bower of flowers center-stage (very symbolic of the winner's horseshoe) served as the focal point of Junne's position as she received her commission to serve as President of National Council, surrounded by the incoming officers of the executive board, they all held a symbolic length of rope representing an unbroken line of communication and of a promise to "pull together."
Following Junne's acceptance speech Mrs. Ray Brennan, presented a large cut glass vase (a gift from the Montana Federation) filled with 36 red roses representing a rose from each of the Montana members present at the convention. A gift from the Fort Benton Garden Club was presented by Mrs. Robert Taylor followed by a slightly tearful moment for Junne when her two sons Carter and Mark presented a bouquet of red roses from her husband Lyle and the boys.
Following the installation ceremony we proceeded to the reception hosted by the Montana Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. to honor Mrs. Johnsrud and the incoming officers for 1983/85. This was a gala entitled "Pink Perfection" with a massive centerpiece on the table of 360 carnations in three shades of pink with pine and cedar, two large silver candleabras with pink candles, swags and more carnations decorated the music balcony. Guests were served champagne punch, finger sandwiches, cheese and fruit trays and nuts. Wish you could have all been there - Montana may be small in membership, but it proved to be very large in love for Junne!"
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