EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2026
President............................................................................................Ruth Claiborne
First Vice Presidents (Programs).................................................................Michael Burel and Sandy Barrow
Second Vice Presidents (Membership)....................................................Laura Ames and Kyle Roberts
Corresponding Secretaries.............................................................Mary Catherine Council
Recording Secretary.........................................................................Cathy Crosby
Treasurer........................................................................................Cindy Trevathan
COMMITTEES
Conservation/Land Stewards
Chairs: Melanie Mauldin, Martha Dupuis
Sally Caffery, Pam Drummond, Florence Holmes, Jan Hughen, Cathy Temple
Works with other like-minded groups, including Highlands Biological Station, the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, the Town of Highlands, the Highlands Historical Society, the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society, and the Highlands Plateau Greenway to promote responsible land stewardship, protect the native plant species, and educate the community. Land Stewards is a partner with the Coalition for Non-Invasive Plant Management. CNIPM holds educational workshops for professionals as well as the public and assists with work days for eradication of non-native invasive plants. Stewards inform the Club monthly with an oral report and provide resources and articles of interest to be posted on www.laurelgardenclubhighlands.com.
Dahlia Festival Entry for 2026
Chairs: Peggy Boruchow-Arnette, Kim Daugherty
Libby Eustis, Pegsie Payne
Encourages participation by Laurel Garden Club and by Club members in this annual event held at The Bascom. The festival includes the single bloom competition, interpretive floral designs displayed adjacent to art at The Bascom, speakers, and related events such as parties and receptions.
Field Trip
Chair: Minnie Bob Campbell
Carol DeBolt, Patty Hutchins
Develops and prioritizes field trip ideas, determines interest in a field trip, and plans the trip if there is sufficient interest.
Grant Fundraising Project 2027
Convenor: Pat Buchanan
Ann Flynn, Jan Hughen, Pegsie Payne, Karen Price, DeeDee Thompson, Elizabeth Rodgers
Considers feedback on the 2025 fundraising project and ideas for 2027. Recommends the fundraising project for 2027 and begins preliminary planning for the project that will fund the Club’s grants.
Grants
Chair: Joyce Fleming
Libby Eustis, Rachel Fraser, Delores Rosebrock, Cindy Trevathan
Manages the grant application process, reviews applications for grants, makes site visits, and recommends grantees and amounts to the Club. Coordinates with the Publicity Committee to call for grant applications and to notify the community of grant awards.
Historian
Chairs: Betsy Hehn; Anne Abbott
Formerly known as Historian/Scrapbook, this committee preserves the minutes of Club meetings as provided by the Recording Secretary or President. It maintains collections of the Club’s photographs, newspaper articles, and other records, working with the Technology Committee when appropriate.
Horticulture Gardening
Chairs: Ruthie Oliver, Glenda Bell
Sally Caffery, Sally Copeland, Cain Haley, Lyniece Talmage, Wyn Shoptaw, Dollie Swanson
Stimulates the fine art of gardening and encourages civic beauty through horticulture and gardening. Informs the Club monthly with an oral report. Provides resources and articles of interest to be posted on
www.laurelgardenclubhighlands.com.
Hospitality
Chair: Linda Carter
Gina Averett, Price Connor, Paula McDonald
Arranges meeting locations in collaboration with the Program Committee at suitable locations. Enlists hosts for meetings and reminds them each month in a timely manner. Plans the September luncheon, December holiday party, and other special events.
Membership
Chairs: Laura Ames, Kyle Roberts
Manages the membership process. Coordinates with Technology and Yearbook Committees to keep accurate, updated records of members and their membership status.
Programs
Chairs: Michael Burel, Sandy Barrow
Plans programs for meetings throughout the year. Reminds speakers of meeting dates and plans for replacement programs when necessary. Introduces the speakers at the meetings and follows up with a thank you email and requests for handouts and information for possible posting on the website
www.laurelgardenclubhighlands.com.
Publicity
Chairs: Pat Archambault, Karen Price
Responsible for public relations and communication with the press. Informs the Highlands community about the Club’s grants, activities and programs.
Sustainable Floral Design
Chairs: Sam Bartenfeld, Lynn Ezell
Anne Abbott, Gina Averett, Mary Catherine Council, Linda Carter, Lisa Dailey, Libby Eustis
Encourages the art of floral design, bringing the beauty of nature indoors, and the use of sustainable designs and techniques in floral arrangements. Informs the Club with oral reports. Provides resources and articles of interest to be posted on www.laurelgardenclubhighlands.com.
Technology
Chairs/Webmasters: Kyle Roberts, Cindy Trevathan
Our website, www.laurelgardenclubhighlands.com provides general access to the Club’s history, programs and special events. It also posts information about conservation, horticulture, garden and floral designs, and other matters related to the Club’s purposes. Access to members-only information, including the Yearbook, is password protected.
Design and Photography
Trish Foor
Creates designs and takes photos for Club materials. Coordinates with Publicity and Yearbook Committees to share photos.
Audio-Visual
Michael Burel
Researches and recommends audio/visual equipment for meetings and subscriptions for remote meeting capability.
Yearbook
Chairs: Trish Foor, Glenda Bell, Kyle Roberts
Organizes and designs Laurel Garden Club’s Yearbook, including administrative maters; meeting information; membership directory, rules, bylaws, constitution; and general information. Proofreads, corrects, and updates information. Coordinates with Technology and other committees to share all updated information.
President............................................................................................Ruth Claiborne
First Vice Presidents (Programs).................................................................Michael Burel and Sandy Barrow
Second Vice Presidents (Membership)....................................................Laura Ames and Kyle Roberts
Corresponding Secretaries.............................................................Mary Catherine Council
Recording Secretary.........................................................................Cathy Crosby
Treasurer........................................................................................Cindy Trevathan
COMMITTEES
Conservation/Land Stewards
Chairs: Melanie Mauldin, Martha Dupuis
Sally Caffery, Pam Drummond, Florence Holmes, Jan Hughen, Cathy Temple
Works with other like-minded groups, including Highlands Biological Station, the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, the Town of Highlands, the Highlands Historical Society, the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society, and the Highlands Plateau Greenway to promote responsible land stewardship, protect the native plant species, and educate the community. Land Stewards is a partner with the Coalition for Non-Invasive Plant Management. CNIPM holds educational workshops for professionals as well as the public and assists with work days for eradication of non-native invasive plants. Stewards inform the Club monthly with an oral report and provide resources and articles of interest to be posted on www.laurelgardenclubhighlands.com.
Dahlia Festival Entry for 2026
Chairs: Peggy Boruchow-Arnette, Kim Daugherty
Libby Eustis, Pegsie Payne
Encourages participation by Laurel Garden Club and by Club members in this annual event held at The Bascom. The festival includes the single bloom competition, interpretive floral designs displayed adjacent to art at The Bascom, speakers, and related events such as parties and receptions.
Field Trip
Chair: Minnie Bob Campbell
Carol DeBolt, Patty Hutchins
Develops and prioritizes field trip ideas, determines interest in a field trip, and plans the trip if there is sufficient interest.
Grant Fundraising Project 2027
Convenor: Pat Buchanan
Ann Flynn, Jan Hughen, Pegsie Payne, Karen Price, DeeDee Thompson, Elizabeth Rodgers
Considers feedback on the 2025 fundraising project and ideas for 2027. Recommends the fundraising project for 2027 and begins preliminary planning for the project that will fund the Club’s grants.
Grants
Chair: Joyce Fleming
Libby Eustis, Rachel Fraser, Delores Rosebrock, Cindy Trevathan
Manages the grant application process, reviews applications for grants, makes site visits, and recommends grantees and amounts to the Club. Coordinates with the Publicity Committee to call for grant applications and to notify the community of grant awards.
Historian
Chairs: Betsy Hehn; Anne Abbott
Formerly known as Historian/Scrapbook, this committee preserves the minutes of Club meetings as provided by the Recording Secretary or President. It maintains collections of the Club’s photographs, newspaper articles, and other records, working with the Technology Committee when appropriate.
Horticulture Gardening
Chairs: Ruthie Oliver, Glenda Bell
Sally Caffery, Sally Copeland, Cain Haley, Lyniece Talmage, Wyn Shoptaw, Dollie Swanson
Stimulates the fine art of gardening and encourages civic beauty through horticulture and gardening. Informs the Club monthly with an oral report. Provides resources and articles of interest to be posted on
www.laurelgardenclubhighlands.com.
Hospitality
Chair: Linda Carter
Gina Averett, Price Connor, Paula McDonald
Arranges meeting locations in collaboration with the Program Committee at suitable locations. Enlists hosts for meetings and reminds them each month in a timely manner. Plans the September luncheon, December holiday party, and other special events.
Membership
Chairs: Laura Ames, Kyle Roberts
Manages the membership process. Coordinates with Technology and Yearbook Committees to keep accurate, updated records of members and their membership status.
Programs
Chairs: Michael Burel, Sandy Barrow
Plans programs for meetings throughout the year. Reminds speakers of meeting dates and plans for replacement programs when necessary. Introduces the speakers at the meetings and follows up with a thank you email and requests for handouts and information for possible posting on the website
www.laurelgardenclubhighlands.com.
Publicity
Chairs: Pat Archambault, Karen Price
Responsible for public relations and communication with the press. Informs the Highlands community about the Club’s grants, activities and programs.
Sustainable Floral Design
Chairs: Sam Bartenfeld, Lynn Ezell
Anne Abbott, Gina Averett, Mary Catherine Council, Linda Carter, Lisa Dailey, Libby Eustis
Encourages the art of floral design, bringing the beauty of nature indoors, and the use of sustainable designs and techniques in floral arrangements. Informs the Club with oral reports. Provides resources and articles of interest to be posted on www.laurelgardenclubhighlands.com.
Technology
Chairs/Webmasters: Kyle Roberts, Cindy Trevathan
Our website, www.laurelgardenclubhighlands.com provides general access to the Club’s history, programs and special events. It also posts information about conservation, horticulture, garden and floral designs, and other matters related to the Club’s purposes. Access to members-only information, including the Yearbook, is password protected.
Design and Photography
Trish Foor
Creates designs and takes photos for Club materials. Coordinates with Publicity and Yearbook Committees to share photos.
Audio-Visual
Michael Burel
Researches and recommends audio/visual equipment for meetings and subscriptions for remote meeting capability.
Yearbook
Chairs: Trish Foor, Glenda Bell, Kyle Roberts
Organizes and designs Laurel Garden Club’s Yearbook, including administrative maters; meeting information; membership directory, rules, bylaws, constitution; and general information. Proofreads, corrects, and updates information. Coordinates with Technology and other committees to share all updated information.
