With the news of an impending vaccine, it is all beginning to look a little more hopeful that we might get back to a “new normal” at some point in 2021.
Sadly yet again, I have to report the death of a previous member – Pat Downer who was a founder member of the club with her late husband Ken, and was very actively involved with the club for many years. Pat was very knowledgeable in all aspects of showing and growing, specialising in Dahlias. We have on your behalf sent condolences to her sons.
Thank you to all those who turned up on Zoom for the AGM which proved a useful forum to discuss the way forward. We took your comments and had a very useful discussion at the last committee meeting about the merits and pitfalls of trying to run meetings across Zoom until we can get into the Hall again. It is a fine balance to please those that can Zoom and those that are unable or don’t wish to use this programme, whilst recognising that for many club meetings are an important aspect of their social calendars.
We have therefore come up with a pragmatic solution and have made agreement with our February speaker, Ray Broughton to deliver a shortened talk on the 25th at 19.30 ( What Show Judges Look For) via Zoom and we will take notes to send out to our members who are not able to join this meeting. I would however like to encourage as many of you as possible to try out Zoom, you just click on the link supplied in the email and enter the waiting room and your host allows you into the meeting. You can still join even without a computer, by ringing in to a supplied number and entering codes on your phone. Should the rules allow, you may want to join up in small groups and join the meeting through one computer.
Give it some thought and hopefully we will see lots of you at this meeting.
Normally we would be giving you new programmes in December, however as things are subject to change I have included a summary of dates, speakers and talks below planned for the year. As you can see, we are hoping to get back into the hall in April but this will be subject to the latest rules.
IDHS Speakers List for 2020
Jan 28th Cancelled
Feb 25th Ray Broughton What show judges look for – plan to move onto Zoom
March 25th Cancelled
April 29th Gerald Ponting. A Hampshire Calendar
May 8th Plant Sale
May 27th Dave Ewers. The Woodman part two
June 24th Alan Edmondson Q&A evening
July 29th Marcus Dancer New & Existing plants
August 19th Ben Turner The gardens of Tresco
September 11th The Annual Show
Sept 30th John Combs Hilliers gardens paradise through the seasons part one
Oct 28th Bryan Pinchen It’s a plant, it eats meat!
Nov 25th Andrew Harris Tree surgery.
Dec 9th Sandy Dingle The story of Christmas part two
We are beginning to plan for both the Plant Sale in May and the Annual Show next year so please don’t forget to split and save excess plants, sow extra seeds in the Spring or keep nurturing any plants you had planned for this years sale.
It was mentioned at the AGM but we have a lot of changes planned within the committee this year, so please do consider joining the committee, we need new blood and new ideas to keep your club thriving. Just drop me a line if you would like to explore this.
I know some of you have been eagerly awaiting the answers to Pats summer quiz, so wait no longer, the answers are attached. We also have a new quiz from Pat Mouland and an anagram quiz from Ray Wells to test those grey cells over Christmas.
Lastly, don’t forget to look at our Blog IDHS blogspot as we still have some garden equipment for sale and lots of other interesting items and pictures.
Have a wonderful safe Christmas and a happy and healthy 2021
Your Committee
