Hello Fellow Gourders,
Happy New Year! Are you having as hard a time as I am believing
2008 is here and already at February? We recently held the
SCGS Board meeting at our home on Ghost Creek Road. It was an
enjoyable meeting with good participation from everyone. At one
time I counted 3 separate conversations at one time (this is a
good thing). Of course the discussion was about gourds and
future events for the SCGS. One of the highlights was the gourds
at the Orangeburg County Fair held in October. We were given a
space to exhibit our gourds in the Woodworking Exhibit Area. We
made such a good impression with the people in charge that we
are going to have our own division and area in 2008. I
understand we also impressed some woodworkers with our art. It
takes a lot of work to pull this off. You have to make contacts
to get in the event, get the word out and encourage people to
make gourds for display, make arrangements for getting the
gourds there, then make arrangements to get them back to the
owners. Next year we will have to staff the display area during
operating hours which will give the SCGS the opportunity to
share with everyone coming through the area about gourds. This
is a great chance to help the Society grow and make more people
aware of our group. Of course we will be looking for assistance
in staffing the exhibit area and sharing information and
literature. Make plans now to spend a few hours in Orangeburg
this fall! I would like to thank Joanne Crouch for overseeing
this event and helping to make it a success. Joanne has agreed
to be the Chairman for this event in 2008 which should prove to
be a major happening for the SCGS in 2008. I would also like to
thank all those who worked hard on their gourds to enter which
resulted in folks seeing more to gourds than birdhouses and
water dippers. It takes a lot of behind the scenes work that is
unseen in any event. Keep up the good work !
On November 17, 2008 we were happy to have the Cypress Gourd
Patch from Sumter, SC visit with us for a day of gourd shopping
then a gathering for lunch and more gourd talk. Thanks to Jackie
Jurecek, Patch Leader, for bringing this delightful group to the
farm. Then on January 5th 2008 Linda and I had a great visit
with The Palmetto Gourd Patch at their monthly meeting in Lyman,
SC. Marianne Barnes is the Patch Leader for this very active
group and we truly enjoyed being with them and hearing the plans
for 2008 they have.
We have 3 Patches in South Carolina, The Cypress Patch in
Sumter, The Palmetto Patch in the Greenville Area, and The
Capital City Patch in Columbia. These are active patches that
meet once a month and do all they can to spread the word about
gourds. The meetings are fun times where those in attendance
learn something about gourds as well as techniques or maybe some
new tool that works great on a gourd .Of course making friends
and eating is part of it! If you’re not part of a group and
would like to check us out, please check the SCGS web site for
the day, time and place for the meeting and join in. If you’re
not in an area close to the already established groups and would
like to get a group together, just give me a call and we’ll work
with you in organizing a group in your area.
Another event for the SCGS is the Gourd Education Day scheduled
for April 19,2008 at Ghost Creek Gourds Farm. This will be the
3rd year for this event which will have Workshops, Gourds, a
Raffle, Hayrides, Grilled Burgers & Hot Dogs, a Bluegrass Band,
and of course Turtle Feathers with all their supplies. Plan now
to come out and spend the day with us while leaning about
Gourds. The workshops will be posted on the SCGS web site as
well as the Ghost Creek Gourds web site. Instructions will also
be included to sign-up for the workshops. The Annual Meeting for
the SCGS will be help at 12:00pm also. During this meeting we
will need to elect some officers for the Society and take care
of any other business necessary. Remember APRIL 19, 2008
beginning at 9:30am going until 5:00pm.
If anyone would like to contact me feel free to do so. My e-mail
address is rmartin@backroads and phone number is 864-682-5251.
As Rowland Alston might say if he were a gourder, “Happy
Gourding To You”.
Dickie Martin, President
South Carolina Gourd Society