Friends of the Arboretum Newsletter
Vol. 6, No. 2
Development
Planting the Seeds for Development
By Anne M. Porter, Director of Major Gifts
In the last issue of the JCRA Newsletter, I was very pleased to be introduced as the new Director of Major Gifts for the Arboretum, and I am really excited about working with the exceptional JCRA staff, volunteers, and donors. I am calling my little section of the newsletter "Planting the Seeds for Development." Okay, the title may be a little corny, but if you think about it, contributions to the JCRA, whether an outright gift of cash or stock, a planned gift, or some other in-kind donation, are all "seeds" planted to make the JCRA grow!
We would like to extend our appreciation and thanks to The Paul Ciener Botanical Garden for the donation of a "new" truck via Ciener-Woods Ford (photograph on page 2). The Paul Ciener Botanical Garden is a fledgling public garden being developed in Kernersville, NC, in memory of Paul J. Ciener who passed away in 1998. Paul was the principal investor in Piedmont Carolina Nursery with Mark Peters, who is currently the JCRA Board President.
Paul was an avid gardener and plant enthusiast, well traveled, and a lover of great gardens. It was his desire to develop a public garden for the enjoyment of the citizens of Kernersville and surrounding communities in thanks for the manner in which the area embraced his business and his family. Master planning for the garden is currently underway with tentative plans for groundbreaking in early 2003.
Paul Ciener's sons, David and Greg, attended the 2002 JCRA Gala in the Garden this May and were most impressed with the Gala participant turnout and all the gardens. When they heard of the theft of the JCRA's truck and the complications with the state's budget shortfalls, they generously donated a pre-owned truck to the Arboretum. This truck will be an invaluable part of the day-to-day activities and operation of the JCRA – thanks to the generosity of the Ciener Family and Ciener-Woods Ford! If you know David or Greg or are just driving through Kernersville, be sure to stop by and add your thanks. Ciener-Woods Ford is located at 1330 Highway 66 South in Kernersville, NC.
The Gift that Pays You! – A Charitable Gift Annuity
Do you have a certificate of deposit coming due? If you have looked at renewal rates, you know that your income will be less than in the past. Why not consider establishing a charitable gift annuity with the JCRA? We can offer a guaranteed return for life, an income tax deduction to lower your tax bill, and a very attractive rate of return – plus a gift that supports the JC Raulston Arboretum.
Consider the benefits Jim and his wife (both are 67 years old) will receive in exchange for a $10,000.00 charitable gift annuity:
- Charitable income tax deduction of $2,395.00
- Annual income of $640.00 and of that only $311.00 is taxable, the remaining $329.00 is tax-free
- Projected total income over their lives of $14,720.00
- Eventual gift in support of the JCRA of $19,743.00
(These projected numbers may change subject to the discount rates going up and down.)
If you would like to learn about what you might receive from a gift annuity, please contact Joan DeBruin, Director of Gift Planning or Anne Porter, JCRA Director of Major Gifts.
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Joan DeBruin |
Anne Porter |
This Old "Brick" House......
The old brick house on the "front lawn" of the JCRA is a familiar site and has stood for more than 55 years – long before the Arboretum was established. This building has been the hub of Arboretum volunteer activities, horticulture classes, the center of Gala in the Garden preparation, and much more. Plus, its upstairs rooms housed staff from the Horticultural Field Lab.
The brick house was scheduled for demolition in the original education center construction plans, but was saved from the wrecking ball in light of interest in historic preservation, continued needs for space by the JCRA, and the possibility of integrating it and its immediate surroundings into the JCRA itself through creative landscape planting within the mission of the JCRA.
Now I would like to "plant this seed for development." (You knew that I was going to use my catchy new heading again – right?) This old brick house needs a benefactor. Our vision for the old brick house is to redesign, renovate, and furnish the house. The vision includes establishing living quarters in the upstairs area to be used by an intern or graduate student. It also includes a computer-equipped work area to integrate students and volunteers more deeply into our labeling, accessions, and mapping activities. The possibilities are very exciting!
If you would like more information regarding this project or any other JCRA development "seeds," please contact Anne Porter at (919) 513-3463 or e-mail <anne_porter@ncsu.edu>.
Developing News
By Donna Walker, Development Associate
Gala in the Garden 2002
Whew! Gala 2002 is a thing of the past. I really can't believe it. May 2002 seemed like an eternity away when we met back in November 2001 for the first time to begin planning. The time went so fast. I'm pleased to say that we were able to stick to our time line on nearly every item. What satisfaction to check those tasks off as they're completed.
But, of course, there's always much that must be done at the last minute. When the workmen arrived early on Thursday to deliver and put up the tents, I knew we were on the countdown. You can't imagine how exciting it is to watch all those plans actually fall into place. Our committee had worked so hard for several months and now it was time to swing into action. The wonderful folks who had volunteered to work the auction tents, drive vans and carts, and just generally take the burden off our shoulders met with us on Thursday night.
Friday – time to meet the folks delivering the essentials such as the (all important) "facilities," the gator and the golf carts. Saturday – a pouring rain – we couldn't be other than grateful but I do have to add cold and really wet! The decorations committee showed up with raincoats and smiles and we went to work transforming our already beautiful Arboretum into a showplace. Sunday morning – a walk through with several pairs of new and sharp eyes to make sure nothing had been missed. The auction committee and their volunteers arrived and began putting out and arranging all the goodies – making them ready to tempt the guests. The public address folks and the caterer arrived. Final touches on the decorations – I could almost hear the drumroll. A mad dash home to shower and change. The registration, auction, and transportation folks in place. Arboretum Director Bob Lyons and committee chair, Phyllis Brookshire ready to great our guests.
The NCSU student Jazz Band began to play. The trays of delicious hors d'oeuvres were ready; the bars opened! All those months of hard work and planning came to fruition and it was – a party! Over 575 guests arrived to enjoy the Arboretum at its best. Everything – as a friend says – "came together nicely." The food was enjoyed and the bars were frequented, while the auction items enticed, the decorations bedazzled, and the band entertained. Folks mingled among the auction tents and munched on Catering Works' offerings. The bidding was frantic on some of the more treasured items. I noticed some fancy footwork in time to the music and lots of laughter, hugs, and handshakes.
After the closing of the silent auction, Bob Lyons took the podium and introduced Chancellor Marye Anne Fox, Dean James Oblinger, and Phyllis Brookshire. Then – to great excitement – Bobby Brown, president of the A. E. Finley Foundation (the honorary chairs of this year's Gala), took the mike. He announced a new pledge of $100,000.00 to be given to the JC Raulston Arboretum through the Marian Nottingham Finley and Marian Nottingham Rice Rose Garden Endowment which enabled us to name the Rooftop Terrace at the new Ruby C. McSwain Education Center. This endowment will be used to support the Finley-Nottingham Rose Garden and as a source of unrestricted funds for the benefit of the Arboretum at the discretion of our director. What a wonderful gift to have announced at the Gala.
Sandy Houston, auctioneer, of Houston Auction Company, began the live auction. When the auction was completed, our guests began to gather their newly won items and headed for home after a fun day at the Arboretum. What a wonderful event!
My thanks go out to everyone on the committee and especially those who chaired a sub-committee. Our corporate sponsors – well – how can we thank them enough? All the volunteers – you were wonderful! To the staff and garden curators who, as always, put in much extra effort to put the gardens into tip-top shape – thank you. A special thanks to Walt Thompson and Steve Walker who were "command central" and kept things moving smoothly before, during, and after the event. Also a tremendous thanks to Joe Stoffregan of Homewood Nursery for supplying the great polo shirts for each of the volunteers and staff working the event and to York Simpson Underwood for the hanging pens which made the bidding much easier.
Now for the rest of the thank-yous. I know I'll forget someone, so my apologies up front, but here goes! Oh, be sure to put Sunday, May 4, 2003 on your calendar – we're about to rev up the planning committee for next year!
Our Sponsors
Double Diamond
NC Association of Nurserymen
Diamond
A. E. Finley Foundation
Platinum
Hamlin Companies
Gold
Carolina Nurseries
CP&L – A Progress Energy Company
Leo & Helen Daughtry
Fair Products – Frank
& Judi Grainger
Ambassador Jeanette Hyde & Wallace Hyde
J. W. York Company
George & Gwen McCotter
Wendell & Linda Murphy
Piedmont Carolina Nursery
Progress Energy
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Weyerhaeuser Company
Rosemary & Smedes York
Silver
Jane J. Avinger
Bland Landscaping
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Dorothy & W.L. Burns
Capitol Broadcasting
Certified Systems
Dick & Marlene Daugherty
Day Associates – Insurance Services
Doris & Buddy Deal
Hawksridge Farms
Hal & Patsy Hopfenberg
Horticultural Plantscapes, Inc. – Nelsa Cox
Rick & Linda Lawson
Pender Nursery
Quality Staffing Specialists
Tom & Amira Ranney
Rodgers Landscaping Services
Taylor's Nursery, Inc.
J.D. "Dick" & Doris Thompson
Tri Properties
Wyatt-Quarles
Our Steering Committee
Kara Bertoncino, Phyllis Brookshire – Committee Chair, Helen Daughtry
– Sponsorship Chair, LeAnne Day, Rosemary Easton, Peggy Fain, Leah Goodnight,
Judi Grainger, Carolyn Grant, Mitzi Hole – Staff Representative, Pat Long,
Bob Lyons, Shelley McCain – Decorations, Marge O'Keeffe – Hospitality,
Anne Porter, Sylvia Redwine, Gretchen Saussy, Susan Stephenson, Lu Troxler,
Amy Veatch – Auctions, Donna Walker, Janice Weedon, Dan Wilkinson, Jan
Wilson – Auctions, Miles Wright – Invitations, George York –
Food & Beverage, J.W. York, and Parker York
Additional Volunteers
Mark Armagost, Barb Amos, Jim Burton, Dennis Carey, Bernadette &
Ken Clark, Goldie Coats, Genelle Dail, Bob Davis & Judy Morgan-Davis, Alan
& Cynthia Dowdy, Carolyn Fagan, Sarah Funderburk, Noel Griffin, Kathy Hafer,
Leslie Herndon, Peggy Herbert, Adelaide Joyce, Barbara Kennedy, Carolyn Lewis,
Deborah McGuinn, Heidi Miller, Jean Mitchell, Donna Moffett, Hilary Nichols,
Pat Olejar, Leslie Pate, Patrick Pizer, Dixie Porter, Sandy Reid, Mike Stallings,
Priscilla Swindell, Kathleen Thompson, and Bill & Libby Wilder
Our Auction Donors
A Proper Garden
An Anonymous Friend
Angus Barn
Tony Avent
Beanie & Cecil (Leah Goodnight)
Bella Bella (Linda Lawson)
Better Tree Care (Guy Meilleur)
Dick Bir/Jelitto Perennial Seed
Black Cat Bead
Phyllis and Don Brookshire
CALS College Relations (Bob Cairns)
Camellia Forest Nursery
Canaan Valley Resort
Capital City Club
Certain Things
Chuck-em, LLC
Felix Cita-Gomez
CMI Jewelry Showroom
Custom Landscapes
Day Associates (LeAnne Day)
Dazzle & Lace
Deckled Edge
Ron Doggett
Eagle Ridge Golf Course
Charlie & Rosemary Easton
Exploris & IMAX Theater
The Fire Place (Ruby McSwain)
Chancellor Marye Anne Fox, Ph.D.
Garden Supply Company
Garden Symphonies
Garibaldi & Burns Jewelers
Commissioner Jim Graham
Judi Grainger
Robin Hackney
Hawksridge Farms, Inc.
Highland Creek Nursery
Hoffman's Nursery
Holland Sweets
Horticultural Plantscapes, Inc. (Nelsa Cox)
JC Raulston Arboretum
Juniper Level Botanical Garden
Bryce Lane
Liggett Design Group, Frank Liggett, ASLA
Liles Clothing Studio
Long Hill B&B (George & Rhoda Kriz)
Lorax Farms
Lundies Salon
Lyons Photography (Bob Lyons)
Margaux's Restaurant
Maude Miller's Garden (Nancy Dunn)
Shelley McCain
McCracken's Nursery
Messenbrink's Perennials
Anne Mueche
NCSU Men's Basketball
North Ridge Country Club
Pat Olejar
Ora Designers
Pender Nursery, Inc.
Piedmont Carolina Nursery
Plant Delights Nursery, Inc.
Raleigh Little Theatre
Bob Rankin
Tom Ranney, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center
J. C. Raulston's Estate (Tracy Traer)
Revels Tractor
Rivers Whitewater Rafting
Sam & Bill's Place (Steve Cox)
Sam & Bill's Place (Tammi Wolosuk)
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Slope & Sail Tours (Steve Walker)
Dodde Stark
Stevenson Millwork
Taylor's Nursery, Inc.
Karen Tiede
Tinga Nursery, Inc.
Triangle Imports
Tyler House at the Lassiter
Amy Veatch
James Whitesell, Ph.D.
Jan Wilson
Wintergreen Resort
Yadkin Valley Nursery Company
George York
J. W. York
Parker York
Special Thanks
Alley Associates
Alpha Gamma Rho
Jane Avinger
Biltmore Estates
EZ-Go/Textron, Inc.
Sandy Houston, Houston Auction Company
Michelob – Harris Wholesale
Mutual Distributing Company
NCSU Jazz Band
Keith Oakley and the staff of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Lou Pucillo, Inc.
Raleigh Garden Club
Revels Tractor
Lucy Ringland
Kathleen & Walt Thompson
Miles Wright – Walker-Ross
Membership
The JCRA receives many guests each day. Many people enjoy the Arboretum because of its beauty, its tranquility. Others appreciate the opportunity to pick up suggestions for that bare corner in the garden. Some visitors bring the family and watch the kids enjoy the cats and the ponds full of creatures. Some come for solace, to work through a problem or sorrow. Some avid gardeners just thirst for more knowledge about all plants in general. Whatever your reason for coming to the JCRA, we welcome you.
But you need to know that this beautiful site and our events don't just happen. I'm probably "preaching to the choir" here, but the operations and maintenance of the JCRA are dependent primarily on donations and memberships. When you receive your renewal notice this year, how about raising your level of membership or throwing in a few extra bucks to help out our efforts. Anyone joining or renewing a membership in the $250.00 and above levels will receive two or more of our wonderful Connoisseur Plants. Invite a friend who's a gardener but not a member to walk the Arboretum with you or attend a lecture and encourage him or her to join the Friends. Looking for a different gift for a friend's birthday or anniversary? How about a JCRA membership? It'll be a gift that will make your friend happy and help the JCRA! Remember, we depend on you. Have questions? Go to our Web site or please call Donna Walker at (919) 513-3826 for more details.
New Benefits for Members
We are very proud to announce a new benefits program for our members. If you needed an additional reason for support of the JCRA, here it is! Thirty-plus businesses have agreed to offer JCRA members various benefits. The offerings range from theater tickets to ice cream to discounts on plants and landscaping design. Please visit our Web site at <www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum> to view the many exciting opportunities to save. More businesses will be solicited and added so be sure to check the site frequently. Remember, it's necessary to show your membership card to receive the benefit so keep your card with you. Call Donna Walker at (919) 513-3826 if you need a copy of the list.
Gift Announcement
In case you missed the announcement at the Gala, the A. E. Finley Foundation has made a pledge of $100,000.00 to be given to the JC Raulston Arboretum through the Marian Nottingham Finley and Marian Nottingham Rice Rose Garden Endowment. This wonderful gift will enable us to name the Rooftop Terrace at the new Ruby C. McSwain Education Center in their honor. The endowment is used to support the Finley-Nottingham Rose Garden and as a source of unrestricted funds for the Arboretum. We are honored by this gift and treasure our relationship with the A. E. Finley Foundation! Many thanks to Bobby Brown, Earle Finley, Andy Goodwin, Alton Howard, Charlie Nottingham, and Ben Nottingham – the A. E. Finley Foundation's board members.
The Great N&O Birdhouse Competition
The Raleigh News and Observer joined forces with the JCRA again this year to hold the second annual Birdhouse Competition on May 11 and 12, 2002. This is a fun event, showcasing the creations of folks old and young from all over the Triangle. Beginning early on Saturday morning, the birdhouses and the rain arrived almost simultaneously. But soon the rain ceased and the competition continued.
The entries were novel and ingenious – ranging from the usual to the unusual, the sublime to the ridiculous. Every medium from milk jugs to twigs to hand cut cedar to Legos was used. The styles were as varied as the entrants. The Arboretum was filled during the weekend with guests, many of them treating Mom to a Mother's Day walk through the JCRA. Everyone enjoyed strolling down the walkway beside the Perennial Border to examine the birdhouses. Was it my imagination or were the mockingbirds just a little more evident?
Judges John Dole, Will Hooker, and Pat Lindsey, all from the NCSU's Department of Horticultural Science, had a difficult time choosing the final winners but after over an hour of consultation, they were finally able to decide on the winners.
In the adult's division, Woody Pekoske won first place for his "traffic light" with a place for a nest in each of the green, yellow, and red lenses. Louis Stevens received second place for his entry, a cottage birdhouse. Third place was awarded to Donna Carver for her entry, painted in a feather pattern. A special creativity award went to Hilliard Greene for his birdhouse built of golf balls, which he has in abundance to feed his retirement pastime. Craftsmanship was honored with an award for George Allenbaugh's impressive cedar purple martin house, which is designed with 6" × 6" apartments for each bird.
In the children's division, Rolf Frazier, 8, a second-grader at Combs Elementary School in Raleigh, used a set of wooden construction toys his aunt had given him to create his winning birdhouse. Kendall Lancaster, 11, a fifth-grader at Lacy Elementary School in Raleigh, took second place with his spooky birdhouse inspired by his "second-favorite holiday." Mary Copeland Cain, 7, a third-grader at St. Timothy's School in Raleigh, took third place. Two creativity awards were also given in the children's division. One went to Lydia Youngblood, 6, a first-grader at Carolina Friends School in Durham, and the second to Beth Stern, 12 (last year's winner), of Raleigh, who is home-schooled.
Many thanks to all the entrants, the judges, and to Bill DuPre, who not only made all the arrangements for the contest and prizes, but also contributed to this article.
Director's Letter | Arboretum Trip | Horticulture | Development | Volunteering
Formatted into HTML
by Christopher
Todd Glenn
Programs & Education Coordinator
JC Raulston Arboretum
Department of Horticultural Science
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7609
© The JC Raulston Arboretum, October 2002