Our History  THE BEGINNING
Excerpts from the
History of RIWPS, 1987-1997 by Mary E. Finger Sometime in the early spring of 1986 a congenial group gathered in the cook house at the Audubon Eppley Refuge for a
workshop in wild-plant gardening offered by Lisa Gould and Doris Anthony. Those present that day were Marnie Lacouture,
Nancy Magendantz, Martha Marshall, Betty Salomon, and Johnny Stone. In the course of the day's conversation Lisa described
the wildflower garden club to which her mother belonged in North Carolina. Her mother's group, she explained, had three primary
areas of interest: growing wild plants, working toward their conservation, and going on walks and trips to see natives in their
native habitats. The Eppley group began to talk about starting a wild plant organization in Rhode Island. Several ideas emerged.
They did not want another garden club, a Rhode Island wild plant group should have a strong conservation component. It should
have a broad enough base to interest many people, ranging from highly qualified professionals to those who simply liked to walk
in the woods and fields and it should be fun for its members. Although Irene Stuckey and Millie House were not at the workshop,
they encouraged and supported the forming group. The New England Wild flower Society also responded with interest, and a
native plant sale sponsored by Betty Salomon's generated even more enthusiasm. The seed had been planted and the ground was fertile," Lisa Gould said, "people were ready for it." READ MORE (1987-1997)
- MARCH 1987 TO MARCH 1990
Presidents: Lisa Gould 1987-1989, Gilbert George 1989-1990
- MARCH 1990 TO MARCH 1993
Presidents: Martha Marshall, 1990-1991, Kathleen Barton, 1991-1993
- MARCH 1993 TO MARCH 1997
Presidents: Joan Pilson, 1993-1995, Joan Pilson & Richard Hull, 1995-1996, Richard Hull & Sindy Hempstead, 1996-1997
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