Chatham Community Garden Program by Dick Plambeck

Marta McDowell and Dick Plambeck at Charlie Brown’s

Plambeck overviewed Chatham Community Garden, which grew from the vision of a small number of leaders who wanted local residents to be able to raise healthy vegetables and flowers with their own hands. Dick described the careful planning and dedicated work that led to the first successful season of the Garden. Also present at the meeting was Master Gardener Marta McDowell who played an important role in planning the garden and making it an important part of Chatham. Many dedicated volunteers from diverse organizations came together to make the garden real.

Dick focused on the process for building and managing a community garden by presenting PowerPoint charts. He said a community garden is a shared area for individuals to plant, grow and harvest. It is also an opportunity to grow community spirit and expand ecological education.

 Existing local and distant community gardens were reviewed to learn from past experience. Working with all involved in the project, Dick established rules for plot-holders to follow. The existing garden has 40 plots which are 10 feet square. Starting early in 2010 the garden was built, mostly by volunteers, on land near Division Ave. leased from PSE&G at $1 per year. Opening on May 1, all plots were planted by June 1.

Produce was harvested and 110 pounds of excess given to the Morristown Food Pantry. (Local press has followed the activities – click here to view ChathamPatch stories.) Tomatoes grown in the garden won the Chatham Farmers’ Market Tomato Cook-off contest during the summer. On June 17 the garden won the Morris Tomorrow McFlowertown Award.

Dick showed many interesting photographs during his program. Some photos were taken by Marta McDowell and you can view them on her ChathamCommunityGarden blog.

Looking into the future, the Chatham Garden leadership wants to build more plots to meet the demands of a waitlist of 48 applicants. Expansion near the present site and other sites is under study.

Dick has been making presentations to people in nearby communities, sharing Chathams’s experiences so that others can plan and build community gardens serving local residents.

Breakfast Announcements September 28

Incoming Kiwanis President Dick Plambeck stepped into his new role a week early while Rich is away. He introduced guest Marta McDowell, reminded members to pick up new membership directories, reported that a Kiwanis leadership reference guide is available and reported on the Builders Club meeting he had attended. Also, Tom Mullen asked members to pay their annual dues quickly.  Betty Anne Keat reported on scheduling for Key and Builders Club meetings. Nancy Boucher handed out pasta tickets to be sold by members and announced that unclaimed tickets will be mailed to members. Dick Ligertwood asked members to bring newspapers to weekly meetings and he will take them to the club’s recycling center near the Chatham Post Office. Gary announced that the Shepard Kollock Park clean-up went well. Joan May handed out sign-up sheets for the Madison Christmas Parade.  Sign-up sheets were also distributed for the Supermarket Nut Sales on November 20 and 21.

Kiwanis Nut Sales begin at Chatham Methodist Harvest Fair

Kiwanis sold the first batch of nuts at the Chatham United Methodist Church Harvest Fair on September 25, 2010. Left to Right are Stu Shippey, Rich Behling and Nancy Boucher. This year, Stu is the Chairman of the Holiday Nut Sales Project. Sales went well and he plans to sell nuts at the Pasta Dinner on October 28.  Grocery store sales will be Nov. 20 and 21.  Use the Nut Sale Form link to order nuts. Also, paper orders can be given to Ron at the Sept. 28 Tuesday breakfast meeting.

CHATHAM-MADISON KIWANIS CELEBRATE 80TH BIRTHDAY



New President Dick Plambeck (Left) takes gavel from Rich Behling

The Kiwanis Club of the Chathams and Madison celebrated their eightieth anniversary at Brooklake Country Club on September 22, 2010. The club, chartered on August 7, 1930, raises funds which are contributed to youth-oriented community organizations and scholarships. Club officers and directors for the new 2010-11 year were also installed at the same dinner. Outgoing President Rich Behling turned his post over to incoming President Dick Plambeck. Officiating at the installation of officers was Joseph O’Neill, Lieutenant Governor of New jersey Division 10, which includes Chatham-Madison Kiwanis.

President Plambeck presented awards to several members in attendance. To Cory Fuller, he presented a Distinguished Member award for her support of the Kiwanis International Foundation. Doug Bryant and Rich Behling were given the Distinguished Member achievement award in recognition of their innovative leadership during terms as President of the club. Bob Stannard won the award for publishing the best newsletter in the club’s district and in the entire state of New Jersey.

Mark Esposito

Also present was Mark Esposito, Governor of the NJ District of Kiwanis International. Esposito congratulated the club on growing the number of members, encouraging all members of the club to participate actively in projects and for generally doing things right. He also officially recognized members who have over 25 years with the club. Marc Litwack, who is a member of the Chatham-Madison Kiwanis, was recognized for being elected to the position of Governor of the NJ District for the 2010-11 year, replacing Esposito.

Year 2010 Officers Pose for a photo.



Front Row: Ron Whalin, Mary Anne Maloney, Bob Stannard, Karen Swartz and Melanie Sze.  Back Row, Joe O'Neill (District 10 Gov.), Dick Plambeck, Rich Behling, Doug Bryant and Monty Montague.



Twelve past Presidents attended the dinner.



Front row: Jerry Fedeler, Bob Huntington, Cory Fuller, Nancy Boucher Alan Robertson and Ken Smith. Back Row: Joe Marcel, Mal Kitson, Tom Mullin, David Lloyd, Doug Bryant and Gary Arnesen.



Entertainment was provided by the Chatham Brass Ensemble



Kiwanis Spruces up Shepard Kollock Park in Chatham Borough on September 16, 2010

On Wednesday September 16, 2010 members of the Kiwanis Club volunteered their time to clean up the Passaic River trail next to Shepard Kollock Park. In warm sunny weather, eight Kiwanians grabbed orange plastic bags and set out into the woods between the baseball field and the river. The club does this work as part of the New Jersey Clean Community program. It took a couple of hours for the team to clean up the bottles, cans and other debris.

Lesley Parness presented a program on "Gardens of Morris County" to Kiwanis on September 14, 2010

Rich Behling with September 14 speaker Lesley Parness, Superintendent of Horticultural Education at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.  Title of her program was "Gardens of Morris County".

Rebeccca Shippey spoke on healthy aging at the September 7 Kiwanis luncheon

Kiwanis President Rich Behling with speaker Rebecca Shippey, Healthy Aging Coordinator at Morristown Memorial Hospital. She spoke at the September 7, 2010 meeting about "Healthy Aging and Community Care-giving".