RECOGNIZING OUR VOLUNTEERS The RI Wild Plant Society gives out awards to honor the good work of our volunteers. We value their contributions. Volunteer of the Year Award This award is given to a Rhode Island Wild Plant Society member who has unfailingly dedicated their efforts toward the betterment of the Society as a whole. 2005 – Garry Plunkett 2006 - Kim Bothelo & Jules Cohen 2007 – Mary Lou Upham Lifetime Service Award This award is given to a Rhode Island Wild Plant Society member who has unfailingly dedicated their efforts toward the betterment of the Society as a whole for a minimum of 10 years. 2005 – Betty Salomon, Betsy Keiffer & Dorothy Swift 2006 – Jerry Melaragno 2007 – Lisa Gould, Rick Enser & Jules Cohen

 RIWPS NEEDS YOU!
The RI Wild Plant Society needs volunteers to assist with a wide range of activities throughout the state. You can choose to help occasionally or regularly, as your schedule permits. No experience is necessary.

This is a great opportunity to learn, make new friends, share with others who have similar interests, while promoting the conservation of native plants in RI

These are a few committees that could use your help:

• Education
• Garden Tour
• Harvest Dinner
• Membership
• Plant Sales
• Publications
• RI Flower & Garden Show
• Seed Starters

 EDUCATION COMMITTEE
This committee undertook an exciting new initiative last year in adult education. We developed a slide show entitled "Gardening with Wildflowers." RIWPS has brought this excellent presentation to senior centers, community groups such as Rotary clubs and libraries throughout the state. We need volunteers who may be retired teachers or others who are comfortable speaking in front of groups. A script and training will be provided. This is a great way to help us spread the word about incorporating native plants into backyard gardens. It should be fun! Chairwoman - Karen Asher (401) 783-1307 or kasher2@cox.net

 GARDEN TOUR COMMITTEE
The 2007 RIWPS Garden Tour was a two-day event last year, held on Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16, 2006 with a Town & Country theme, featuring 8 country gardens in Foster and Scituate and 10 town gardens in Providence and Cranston. The Garden Tour committee worked hard locating gardens. Sandra Thompson was the chair of the garden tour. Committee members include Barbara and Mike Boday, Jack Carney, Erin Fournier, Nancy Weiss-Fried, Lois Hartley Suzanne Lambert, Isabel Pollack and Susan Tremblay Shuster. If any of you are interested in helping with this event please contact Sandra at (401) 884-9483 or sandpault@cox.net.

We could use help with publicity/marketing and graphic design to create posters and the garden brochure. We need docents to serve on the various gardens. The 2006 Garden Tour was a well received and successful event delete we are looking to expand upon in 2007. Come join the fun of planning this important fund raiser.

 HARVEST DINNER COMMITTEE
If you have always wanted to throw a big dinner party this is the committee for you. The Harvest Dinner Advisory Committee plans the Society's Annual Harvest Dinner & Auction. It is an elegant dinner with lots of gardening gab, a silent auction packed with art and garden goodies, and a live auction. All the proceeds go directly to the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society's preservation and education efforts. The evening is great fun and the committee is responsible for soliciting auction items, selling tickets and planning all the fun stuff; the menu, the invites, the program, table settings, etc. For more information, contact Co-Chairman Jules Cohen at (401) 294-6617 or julesacohen@cox.net , or Co-Chairman Mary Lou Upham at (401) 295-2289 or mlupham@aol.com.

 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
The membership committee is responsible for recruiting new members and for reviewing membership benefits and suggesting new ones. This year it has two goals: to develop a new membership brochure and to review and make improvements to the new members' packet. Help us make membership in the RI Wild Plant Society attractive to everyone. This committee meets approximately 4 times a year. Chairwoman - Sindy Hempstead (401) 294-3202 or mshempstead@cox.net

 PLANT SALE COMMITTEES
Our 2007 Plant Sales are shaping up to be the best ever, offering an extraordinary selection of native plants, perennials, annuals, and shrubs. The Seed Starters have already begun starting the seeds and potting the plants for the sales. Each plant sale is a tremendous undertaking, and we always need enthusiastic workers. If you would like to help, either at a sale, with preparations, or with planning, please contact Chairman Mike Elmer at (401) 231-8225.

 PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
This committee oversees the preparation and production of all RIWPS publications including the website, books, pamphlets, fact sheets, brochures, and the Society newsletter, Wildflora . We are looking for help with all aspects of production, writing, editing, layout, selling advertising, photography, web design and mailing. For more information, contact Editor Pat Cahalan at (401) 295-7020 or pcahalan5@cox.net.

 RI FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW COMMITTEE
We have all been to the flower show and appreciated the beauty and naturalism of the RIWPS display garden. In fact our garden has won several awards. Have you ever wondered how it all happened? This committee will give you a chance to go behind the scenes and help plan, build and plant the garden. Be a part of this exciting project and be inspired by and learn from the pros. Help is needed with design, plant shopping, forcing, transportation, construction, planting, education, docent recruitment and publicity. Chairman - Jules Cohen (401) 294-6617 or julesacohen@cox.net. This committee meets approximately once a month.

 SEED STARTERS PORTSMOUTH, KINGSTON & PROVIDENCE
RIWPS has three active Seed Starter groups in Kingston, Providence and Portsmouth, RI. We would love to have more people join us! The seed starters propagate most of the plants that we sell at our plant sales . They meet bi-weekly to learn about and grow native plants. One of the best things about these groups is the chance to dig in the dirt all through the winter. When the ground is covered in snow there is nothing like going to the greenhouse and seeing things grow. No experience is required. You don't have to come every time, but a few people would really make a difference.

The Portsmouth group meets the first and third Thursday mornings of each month, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. They carpool from the West Bay region, meeting near the Jamestown Bridge. There are participants from the East Bay region for carpooling also. Call Dorothy Swift (401) 295-1186, dot48@earthlink.net for additional information.

The Providence group meets the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 9:00-11:00 a.m.on the Eastside just off Hope Street. We may also meet one evening if members are interested. Participants come from Scituate, Smithfield, Warwick and Providence, so carpooling is an option. Please contact Sarah Keisling at (401) 272-6724 or sarah_keisling@yahoo.com for additional information.

The Kingston group meets on Wednesday mornings. Members come from all over South County so carpooling is always an option. Please contact chairs, Isabel Pollack at (401) 284-1271, dpollipo@cox.net or Catharine King at (401) 284-0672, catharinekng@cox.net  for additional information.