Present: Kay Buffum, Soren Chrisensen, Margaret Edwards, Joan Gotlibson, Roger Gotlibson, Rita Lesniak, Frank O’Connor, Marilyn O’Connor, Clarence Rhodes, Vaughn Hardesty, Longtime member, New Member, Guest: Rita Lesniak’s daughter Christine.

• The April meeting was originally designed as a work and education session to prune roses delivered from Roseland Nurseries for the upcoming rose sale. This pruning session was also designed to teach and review correct pruning techniques. Since the roses were not delivered until after the meeting, Clarence Rhodes did a demonstration of pruning with a rose purchased for the occasion. There will be a pruning work session on Wednesday April 30 at Clarence Rhodes house at 3:00 PM.
• President O’Connor will provide information on where to meet and park at the Portland Farmer’s Market, the site of the rose sale on May 10.
• The next meeting will be the rose sale, and the June meeting will be the rose show preparation meeting, July meeting is at the Cinnamon/Hou residence in Unity, Maine, September is the picnic at Wolf’s Neck Park, October is the Founder’s Day Banquet, and November is the Annual Business Meeting.
• Member and founder Claire Holman was unable to attend the meeting due to illness, one of the three or four times that she has missed the meeting in the 40-year history of the Maine Rose Society. Members signed a card provided by Marilyn O’Connor to send to Claire to lift here spirits.
• Rita Lesniak celebrated her 71 birthday at the meeting and her daughter Christine brought a cake to share