By Carol Wong, President
Our energetic Peninsula Rose Society Vice President Eleanor Rakonitz was filling vases for her blooms to display at the Menlo Park Library, for June is Library and Rose Month. She noticed that the faucet was old and leaking.
She later crossed El Camino Real to Guy Plumbing and asked, “If I buy a faucet, would you put it in for low or no cost as a favor to the Menlo Park Library?” David Guy, the second generation owner of the family-run business, said he could not install it, but he could give her a free faucet, which he handed to her. Eleanor went back to the library and presented them with the gift she had procured. They were thrilled to have it and said their staff could install it. Eleanor had seen a need and filled it.
Similarly, Priya Kamath, our corresponding secretary and rose show results reporter, has often driven members to events outside of the area. She drove members to the Spring District Meeting in Santa Rosa, to a class in judging arrangements near Sacramento, an arrangements workshop in Dublin, the field trip to the San Jose Rose Gardens, and the Monterey Nurseries Open House. To top it off, she opened her house and garden to the Society for the annual picnic. The picnic, always a summer time favorite, enabled members old and new to mingle, get to know one another, and share a delicious potluck lunch. It was a grand success.
Rosarian editor Jerry Georgette, a Consulting Rosarian, has helped new members by going to their homes and helping with rose related questions. He has also volunteered to prune 103-year-old Kathryn Williams’ roses for several years, leaving them with a top dressing of compost and alfalfa pellets. Board Member Janet Bohne purchased table decorations, and Pam Schenk bought extra plates and paper goods for our dessert maven, Jill Ferguson. Barry and Brian Johnson are always on the lookout for things to help our raffles or budget. Arrangements expert and member Cynthia Chuang made a donation to the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden during our visit, seeing that they needed many hands and support to keep the garden running. Aren’t we fortunate to have such thoughtful and generous members who spot needs around them and fulfill them with little fanfare?