Yay! It’s October! Time to turn the calendar page! (I don’t know about you, but I look forward to changing the scene on my pictorial calendar!)
This month marks the first District V meeting for all us newbies and the responsibilities that come with it. On the local front, it’s time to introduce more ideas to test in our own garden club. But more on that at the meeting.
Being in garden club has, for me, been a process of self-discovery. I had volunteered myself (once!) to take on a committee chair position because the need was there and no one else was raising their hand. I thought, “What am I doing? I have no idea how to go about this!” I don’t even consider myself a naturally child-centric person, but here I was, chairing “Youth Gardeners”. As usual, I threw myself into it head first and *my* approach was more “teacher-like”, because that is my line of least resistance and every committee chair puts a personalized “stamp” on their position during their tenure. However, I was so glad to have other people volunteering alongside to give stability, comradeship and feedback. That’s how I met one of my favorite “gotcherback” people who can really give a boost when the feeling is kind of down–yes, K.B.!
We all have our own paths as members. For me, it has been going from a “back bencher” to a willingness to take on more responsibility because *I* have to progress and find new challenges. For you, it could be something quite different because we are individuals, after all!
As I get to know all of you little by little, I am finding that I have my heroes and mentors that are influencing that “stamp” we each have within garden club. They have the characteristics that I lack and am trying to build into my own character. My heroes now are those persons who seem to be able to “do it all” and are actively engaged within the greater community and in educating themselves. They are the uncomplaining toilers in the background who keep on going because there is a need. They are the people who have developed a wonderful sense of design in their gardens that is unique and those floral artists among us. They are the persons who are willing to try new things–speaking both of gardening and more broadly. They are the people who possess a natural grace towards others. I salute all of you and am learning as I go! Having heroes has made me want to be wear the “activist” stamp for our club instead of just going along as I might have before. Thanks for being such fine women.
