Dr. Guihong Bi was the officer installation moderator for the May 15 club finale, which was at the Caked Up Cafe in Eupora for the Maben Home and Garden Club.
Bi, a native of China, has resided in the United States for 20 years. She in very much involved in research and development of tea growing in the southeastern United States at Mississippi State University. She is also involved with the MSU Rose Garden on the Mississippi State campus.
Bi used flowers as her medium of installation; after she informed each new officers of their duties, she asked each if they were ready to fulfill the duties of the office; they responded “I do.”
She then presented the flower representing each office. Dee Saylors assumed the office of president; Jane Collins continued as vice president; Lynn Head will assume the duties of secretary and Martha McMinn will continue as treasurer. Bi then had the membership to pledge to support, encourage and provide assistance to the new officers.
Immediate past president Sylvia Templeton was presented a gift from the club for her service to the club. All past officers were recognized and thanked for their leadership and sacrifice of time, energy and skill in fulfilling the duties of their office: Templeton, Collins, McMinn and Dewberry.
Upon leaving, Bi thanked the club for allowing her to serve as our moderator and then officially declared the officers installed. Upon this first act of business per instruction from club bylaws, the new officers assumed their position of duty.
Before the meal, Dewberry presented the devotion titled “The Lesson of the Coffee Bean”; then she read the Club Collect, which is in itself a truly inspiring devotion for a garden club. After which she blessed the food.
The only other business was the announcement of the Yard of the Month placement at Peanut and Julie Fulgham’s house by McMinn, and the announcement of the near completion of the ongoing civic beautification projects; the last for the 2018 year will be the planting of flower-blooming trees along Water Street right-of-way in late fall.
At the close of the meeting Anne Earnest delivered the dismissal prayer for the 2017-18 club year.
