The 56th Annual Membership Meeting of The Friends was held on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at the Wirth Park Pavilion. For a sunny day in May it turned out to be unseasonably cold with a temperature of 42 degrees at the start of the meeting and the temperature only reaching 55 degrees in the afternoon. Twenty one members were present.

Elected to the Board for the first time were Donna Ahrens, Anthony Waldera, Susan Budd, and Ellen Lipschultz. Ann Godfrey retired from the Board. (Full Board List) Annual reports were presented and accepted. The membership voted on approving a revised mission statement for The Friends. The previous mission statement has been in place since 1989.

Member Judy Bridell made a presentation on her new book for Children, “Thip, thip, Shhiup”. The Fringed Gentian™ Editor Judy Remington presented new 100% recycled paper samples to be used in future issues.

Following the adjournment of the Membership meeting, a board meeting was held in which the incumbent President, Vice-President and Treasurer were reelected to those posts. Phoebe Waugh resigned as secretary and that position is now open.

Above: The Wirth Park Pavilion - site of the 2009 Annual Membership Meeting.

Below: A gathering of some of the members prior to the start of the meeting.