DOGWOOD GARDEN CLUB October 1, 2025
MEETING NOTES (photos only shown in attachment)
Welcome – Theresa Magnuson
Meeting called to order at 11:01
Pledge – Allison Knight
Thank you Allison for arranging our mtg here at Lava Cap Winery, Guest Speaker Joan Fuquay, El Dorado County Senior Services
No guests. Fourteen attendees.
Approval of Minutes from September 2025 Meeting. Sue approved and Val seconded it.
2025 Budget – Anne M.– upcoming exp: Insurance, Dumpster $150, Christmas party entertainment.
We made $155 at the last raffle. We spent $144 on flowers for Lake Jenkinson.
Our balance is $3,018.
We have the Christmas Party entertainment to pay for and we must keep out $1,800 for the club to start the new year.
That means we have less this year to donate to the community than in the past few years. We do have the Christmas Fair which will bring in money.
Coordinators for 2025 – Theresa – Granny Elves Boys/Girls Club. Becky Lamoly volunteered to lead the group. There was back and forth discussion on whether our club should continue being the lead on this event or not.
Birthday Lunch – Celebrating Nov/Dec Birthdays – Hosted by Debbie B. – 11/12 1130am – Sportsman’s Hall Sunshine – Jeri Hartman- No illnesses have been reported. Great news!
Membership – 70 total, 27 lifetime
Raffle – Jeri Hartman, 3rd raffle of the year at Nov mtg. We could use the income so bring treasures to raffle. By-Laws – Will be updated and sent to prior presidents for review. Changes will be open for discussion and vote at
Nov Mtg. Copy to go out to members prior to November Meeting for perusal.
Donations to organizations– How much and to whom? Theresa will crunch numbers to figure out how much we are able to donate this year and donations will be made prior to the Christmas Fair so we will recoup the money needed for the club then. Donations are given to Church, Rotary, FOL, Community Center, Boys/Girls Club, Sierra Wildlife, Trees for Teens. Sugarloaf Station Foundation which provides Art Camps to local jr. and sr. high students was a suggestion for adding to our local non-profit donation list. They are at the Education Center on Sly Park just past the lake and feature classes for music, drama, theater and fine art two weeks each summer. It was suggested that this year we postpone adding another organization to our giving as we have less to give than usual.
Upcoming Activities –
Judy Morgan Park Clean up – Oct 11th (Val, Barbara, Allison K), Nov 8th (Ann, Norma) – Sign up of at least 2 people – Combo to dumpster is 6789. We need to have at least two people to clean up and preferably three. The last clean up only one person went and this was a difficulty, not to mention she didn’t know the dumpster combo.
Holiday Craft Fair – 14/15 Nov – Elva Vendors, Norma has volunteered to do Publicity. Becky L. Will do the raffle again.
At this point we only have 17 vendors and have room for 30-34. Please get the word out to crafters you may know. Each vendor gets 2.5’x 6’ table space.
We need volunteers to set up the tables on Friday and to pass out flyers in the community. We discussed the entertainment and do not want to pay a professional group to come play as that cuts into the fundraising money. It was suggested that we ask at the local schools if they have a choir or theater group that would like to do a short Christmas presentation. This in the past brought in the mothers who drove them there who then went shopping.
Christmas Party location is Apple Mountain Gold Course Dec 3rd. The discussion centered on how to save money at this event and one way was to look into a DJ instead of a professional band. Carol G. Was going to reach out to Opus to see if he would like to come sing again. Becky L. was going to ask a DJ she knows about coming and what the charges would be. Alison will make the appetizers for the party as in the past. Since the golf course does not provide dessert the decision was made that each table hostess would provide dessert for her own table.
Upcoming meetings –
Nov Pollock Pines Community Church Pot Luck, 2026 Board Election/Oath. Theresa will run for president, Becky L. For Vice President, Ann remains as treasurer, and Shelly H. Secretary. If anyone else is interested in serving on the board please contact Theresa M.
Voting on By Laws will take place.
Please bring items to donate to the church’s food bank as that is how we thank them for the use of their building. They could use rice, pasta, TP, canned goods, toiletries, et.
We will have our final raffle off the year so bring treasure and $ to buy tickets.
Dec Party – Dec. 3rd Christmas Party Dinner Bring your significant other.
Need Table Hosts who will set and decorate their table and provide dessert for their table.
Jan 2026 -NO MEETING -Location ideas for the next year will be sent out to members to determine 2026 March thru October meeting locations (Feb will be another Church pot luck as in Nov.)
Other Business – Side Trippers information will be sent out right after each member meeting along with the meeting notes. Send any information to Becky Lamoly of happenings you think would be of interest to members. Also send information of events you are attending and want to include others in.
Community Christmas Wreath making and hanging -Monday December 1st 10am Carol G. Home. Bring a treat to share. Carol will provide hot beverages.
Granny Elves -Boys and Girls Club Dec. 8th, 9th and 10th.
Need workers to work a shift which is 2-3 hours a shift. We need to set up helpers.
You just take a child through the shopping area and assist them as they select gifts for their parents or siblings. They then go to the wrapping station to help them bag and label and then send them off with a cookie. Lauren has 12 ladies hand decorating 150 cookies they will bring. Gift bags for Christmas needed with tissue.
Adjourn – Theresa at 12:06 Agreed 1st by Sue and 2nd by Sandy
Brochure Locations– at fundraisers, Pizza Factory, Nail Solan, Hair Solan, Groomers, South Fork, Community
Center. If you notice any brochure rack is low or empty let Theresa know.
Ideas for new local locations for meetings –
Salmon Falls Trading Post – EDH – experimental nursery/farm
Chateau Davell Winery – Camino – great for speaker mtg
Sherwood Demonstration Garden – Placerville – May-Oct time frame
The Meadow – Placerville – Nursery
The extensive gardens, sculptures and art studio of artist Joyce Martin. April or May
Bushnell Nursery Granite Bay (has gift shop, home and garden and nursery)- Gold Bug Park-a garden with native foothill plants and a short interpretive trail to learn about them.
Verne Pershing, The Art of Gardening-Placerville-native plant gardens with water feature and koi
The Nature Nook- Native Plant Garden at the Placerville Library
Side Trippers –
3H Barn in Rescue – December
Classes at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden (See sidetrippers page)
Our Meeting at Lava Cap Winery
SIDETRIPPERS
Extra Side Trips Garden Club Members are going to and letting you know about. You may contact the person listed if you have questions or wish to carpool.
DIRT TO GOLD – Placerville Memorial Veterans Hall 9-12 Oct. 18th Becky L. going
Master Gardeners Training Orientation Meeting
3H BARN MARKET In Rescue December Theresa M. going (Date and time to be determined) This is a pop up market specializing in handmade merchandise for home, garden and gifts.
EL DORADO COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES Speaker- Joan Fuquay
Joan is a member of the Dogwood Garden Club and is the chairman of the Commission on Aging. In this role she is an advocate and advisor on aging to the board of supervisors. There are 14 volunteers in service to seniors.
There is a Senior Times Newspaper you may subscribe to for $5 a year. Inside you will find articles, senior news, activity news, nutrition menus, senior activities, community events, commission on aging corner, and medicare news. Also listed is the Senior Shuttle Schedule, the Movie of the Month showing at the Senior Center, the weekly and monthly drop in activities at the Senior Center, and Clubs. In Pollock Pines they list a dinner and Bingo Night. In Placerville, fitness, art, crafts, sewing, quilting, knitting, poetry, chess and scrabble groups and ceramics and poetry.
Services that is provided for Seniors:
Sr. Legal- There are 2 attorneys on Spring St. They will help you write a Trust for free but they do accept donations.
HICAP- Medicare Advisor-Health Ins. Counseling and advocacy program
Senior Peer Counseling – Oct. 24th is an upcoming seminar Early Dementia Support Group
Senior Daycare Program
Senior Transportation Shuttle
El Dorado Transit has Dial A Ride
Senior Nutrition Meals
40% of this county is over 55.
Meal Delivery to seniors is looking for volunteers. You would pick up the meals at the community center. You can volunteer for just one day a week. They also need substitutes.
YANO – You Are Not Alone
They make phone calls to homebound seniors. They also need volunteers.
Joan said, “We all need a purpose and we all need to keep busy.” This county really needs low-income housing for seniors.
For housing information go to Housing El Dorado
The Senior Commission on Aging’s next meeting is Oct. 16th at 9:30.
All are welcome. It is open to the public and is also available on Zoom.
Joan said that Sr. Legal, Senior Nutrition, and Senior Daycare are on the list to possibly be cut.
Other services not talked about but listed in a flyer she gave out:
Cal Fresh Program -Helps provide financial assistance for low-income individuals to buy food. ELDER ID – for Alzheimer patients
FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT- provides caregiving training, support groups, respite, and care management.
HEAP- Home Energy Assistance Program
Provides financial assistance towards an energy bill or heating fuel provider.
IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES- Provides assistance to eligible adults 65 and older who are blind or disabled
SENIOR HEALTH EDUCATION- Focuses on disease prevention and health promotion for adults 60 years old or older.
SENIOR RESOURCE ROOM AND COMPUTER CENTER
Offers computer access 8-5 and one-on-one computer learning sessions. Free
WEATHERIZATION- Provides minor home repairs and installation of energy saving devices