Present: Kay Buffum, Soren Christensen, Jerry Cinnamon, Charlee Curtis, Sherman Curtis, Margaret Edwards, Joan Gotlibson, Roger Gotlibson, Vaughn Hardesty, Claire Homan, Sari Hou, Brenda Peterson, Wayne Peterson, Beverly Ramee, Charles Ramee, Clarence Rhodes, Deborah Rumery, Wilma Sarna

President Jerry Cinnamon and Vice President Joan Gotlibson called the Annual Business Meeting to order at 1:10 p.m.

Old Business

Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Claire Homan reported the society’s current balance, and will prepare a breakdown of the society’s 2004 income and expenses for the January 2005 meeting.

Plant Sale: “We did good,” reported committee chair Joan Gotlibson. The entire supply of roses, bagged potting soil, and compost donated by Winterwood Farms sold quickly at the May sale.

Rose Demonstration: Chair Vaughn Hardesty reported the rose exhibition at Broadway Gardens went well despite inclement weather. Over 80 varieties of roses were displayed.

Flower Show: Jerry Cinnamon, reporting for chair Steve Law, noted record participation by MRS members (25 total) at the March PP&P Flower Show.

Hospitality: Chair Margaret Edwards thanked everyone who provided refreshments this year and encouraged “hosts” and “hostesses” to continue doing so in 2005.

Consulting Rosarians: Chair and District Representative Clarence Rhodes noted that MRS needs to increase its number of ARS Consulting Rosarians. Currently Clarence fields phone calls while Jerry responds to emails from gardeners who contact the American Rose Society about growing roses in Maine.

New Business

RoseBowl Newsletter: Nominee Deb Rumery will continue as editor and requests more submissions from members.

Webmaster: Nominee Sari Hou will continue as webmaster and historian. Following a discussion on website cost, Chuck Ramee made the motion that MRS cover this monthly charge. Kay Buffam seconded and the motion carried.

Plant Sale: Members voted for Joan Gotlibson to again chair this committee in 2005. Joan will appoint members of the committee. Interested members should contact Joan.

District Consulting Rosarian Representative: Nominee Clarence Rhodes will continue to serve in this capacity.

Rose Show/Exhibit Committee: TBD (see discussion below).

Publicity: Members voted for Deb Rumery to chair in 2005.

Hospitality: Nominee Margaret Edwards will continue to chair in 2005.

Election of Officers and Directors

The following were installed with terms beginning January 2005.

President: Jerry Cinnamon
Vice President: Joan Gotlibson
Treasurer: Claire Homan
Secretary: Deborah Rumery

Brenda Peterson was elected to a three-year term on the MRS Advisory Board to join Kay Buffum, and Roger Gotlibson as elected members. Past president Margaret Edwards will join past president Stephen Law as the two most recent presidents to serve by virtue of office on the advisory board.

A number of business items for 2005 were discussed.

• Shirley Ross of the Mid-Maine Rose Society (MMRS) has invited MRS to hold a joint meeting in Augusta possibly in February for a roundtable discussion about future programs. Members agreed that collaboration with MMRS is mutually beneficial. As a result of discussion including input from MMRS member Charlee Curtis, Jerry will get more information from Shirley regarding timing, location, and purpose of the meeting.
• Members voted unanimously to continue to participate in the spring Flower Show and to cooperate with MMRS at the show, citing new members as one of the most positive outcomes of this event.
• Members voted unanimously to hold a plant sale with the Master Gardeners in 2005 provided they are interested in again working with us.
• Members briefly discussed plans for either a rose show or rose exhibit in 2005. Despite the light turnout at Broadway Gardens, the nursery was good to us and members agreed similar public outreach is part of MRS’s core mission. Likewise, the O’Donal’s workshop was viewed a success. Combining the kind of hands-on pruning and planting demonstrations held in the past with a rose exhibit may be a possibility. Jerry put the question of rose show vs. rose exhibit on hold for future discussion.
• Claire requested the group decide the fate of old MRS trophies, floating the idea of returning them to donors. Wayne Peterson suggested a “trophy roundup,” photographing select ones for the website, and bringing a few impressive trophies (e.g., the Governor’s Bowl) for display at the Flower Show. Following discussion, Charlee made the motion that members be allowed to contact past trophy winners and donors or their families and offer to return trophies. Brenda made a “friendly amendment” to the motion, requesting we first conduct an inventory of remaining trophies. The amended motion passed. The “Trophy Roundup and Inventory” will be held at the January meeting. Vaughn will contact Ralph Carpenter to determine whether Ralph still has trophies in storage.
• Ideas for 2005 programs/meetings were discussed including: guest speaker from Winterwood Farms, inviting MMRS members to our garden tours, moving August garden tour dates to late June to better showcase OGRs. Clarence noted that he will be hosting an open house for the New Hampshire Rose Society.

Members voted to have a December 2004 Christmas party and gift auction as suggested by Margaret and Claire, who will co-chair. The party will be held Sunday, December 12. Margaret will find a location.

Brenda and Deb will bring refreshments to the January meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 3 p.m.