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We all congratulate Shirley Nicolai on her becoming President of National Garden Clubs, Inc. The members of Tanta-Cove Garden Club and of Fergie's Gardeners are particularly proud, as are the members of District I and National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc. I am sure we all wish her the best in the next two years. I, for one, hope that she will cut our tethers to the 20th century and move us forward into the 21st. It's what we are doing, not what we have done.

I hope you all take advantage of the offerings at the National Garden Club convention in DC the last week of May. Thank you to Four Seasons Garden Club for providing refreshments for the Shimizu-Boasberg bus tour on May 25, and thank you to the District I members who volunteered for raffle and member services’ sales during the convention. Also, a special thank you to Ann Gardenhour for all of her work on the Blue Star Memorial dedication at Congressional Cemetery; it would never have happened without her.

District I reserved a table to promote club memberships at “Behnke's Garden Day,” Saturday, June 4,

10a m- 4pm, on US Route 1 in Beltsville, MD. Thank you to the members of Goddard Garden Club for hosting this event on behalf of all NCAGC clubs. It’s a good day for District I members to drop by as a way to thank Behnke’s for their support over the years.

Everyone is invited to District I's annual Presidents Meeting at 10am, Saturday, June 11, at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20019. Please arrive early. The meeting will start promptly at 10a in the classroom immediately beyond the visitors' center so that we can all make the 11 am tour of the only national park devoted to water lilies and lotus.

Vickie announces her theme, projects

New NCAGC President Vickie Godwin hopes her theme, “Gardening Our Community,” will inspire others to continue their community gardening, to create new projects, to keep books of evidence, and to apply for awards.

“Plus,” she said with her usual enthusiasm and wit, “some awards offer money. What’s not to love?”

She said her President’s Project for her two-year term is the support of five new rain gardens on the grounds of the US Arboretum: One in the center of the circle at the front door, one at the trolley stop, and three in the medium strips of the larger parking lot.

“The plan is to get some of the parking lot pollutant runoff before it can reach our rivers, creeks, or the bay,” she said.

Vickie asks members to save the dates July 16 – 30, 2012, and to get their passports ready for possibly a boat trip through France’s waterways in Burgundy and Provence.

“I am already excited about this one,” she said. “Can you imagine 80 people from the NCAGC all on one boat trip? Wheeeeeeeeee!”

Cheverly Garden Club’s David Kneipp received District I’s “Award of Honor” and the National Capital Area Garden Clubs' “Award of Recognition” in March for his stellar service to his club, community, and Prince George's County, MD.

Dave is very active with community groups in the Town of Cheverly and previously received the “Jack L. Wheat Award” for contributing to the town’s quality of life and, in 2008, received the Mayor’s “Award for Extraordinary Services.”

In retirement, Dave became a Master Gardener and, recently, a Master Composter; and, he serves on the Executive Council of Prince George’s Master Gardeners. In 2009, Dave was named their “Master Gardener of the Year.”

He is active in Grow It Eat It, a collaboration between the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service and Master Gardeners to “help more Marylander's grow more food.” He serves as the Grow It Eat It contact person for Prince George’s County and gives gardening programs to public and student groups.

Dave has held all the offices in his Cheverly Garden Club and is a life member the NCAGC.

He is actively involved with numerous community groups in the Town of Cheverly, including being instrumental in: The installation of the first Blue Star Memorial Marker in Prince George’s County, MD; the creation of the Cheverly Community Vegetable Gardens; the creation of a Cheverly Green Home Certification Program to calculate how green a home is and how to reduce its carbon footprint; the hands-on work to restore health to Lower Beaverdam Creek; and leading the effort to locate Cheverly’s historic materials and put them online to bring the history of Cheverly into the lives of its current residents.

Dave’s involvement in civic development began as a boy scout and an Eagle Scout. He was involved in scouting for 25 years. He served as Assistant Scout Master for Troop 716, Boy Scouts of America; as Unit Commissioner for the Patuxent District; and as Skipper of Sea Scout Ship 716.

Dave Kneipp continues to be a leader and inspirational force in gardening, landscaping, civic involvement, youth involvement, and the environment.

Congratulations to David Kneipp

David Kneipp receives District I and NCAGC honors