In This Issue
Auxiliary Report
Welcome to a new year! 2024 got here awfully quickly. I hope you got to enjoy and celebrate the holidays with family and friends. Do I hear any New Year’s resolutions? I think of them as goals or challenges, something to strive for but not a catastrophe if you don’t quite get there. Sometimes you realize mid-year that the resolution wasn’t very realistic. It’s OK to change your goal to something you can achieve and maintain.
The Christmas Party on December 10 at Mountain House Restaurant in Woodside was a festive, warm and inviting event. Thank you to James Walker for suggesting a repeat of this venue. The food was outstanding and I’m not sure how we are going to top the menu and ambiance at Mountain House. Thank you to Charlene Ott and Alice Domine for the table arrangements, which everyone took home. Thank you everyone who attended and supported this Chapter event.
Thank you again to our Auxiliary board (Vice President Girvin Peters, Treasurer Rick Camin and Secretary Vicky Parrott) for continuing on in your Auxiliary roles. Thank you also to Charlene Ott, Alice Domine, Mary Cohen, and Michelle Ott for all you do for the Auxiliary and the Chapter. We would be lost without you (for sure I would be lost!). I look forward to having Mary and Barry Cohen as our Chapter Presidents. The Auxiliary welcomes anyone who is interested in joining the Auxiliary and finding out more about who we are and what we do. We will have a meeting on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. Time and place still to be determined. Paperless Post invitations will go out in early January. I’m looking forward to seeing new faces at chapter events in 2024.
Lesley Peters
Garden Designer
650-444-4580
gpland@sbcglobal.net
Partners for Success
The CLCA San Francisco Bay Area Chapter invites you to become a Partner for Success in 2024. Thank you CLCA Insurance Solutions, Delta Bluegrass, Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery, Ewing, Horizon, HunterFX, Lyngso, Pacific Nurseries, Peninsula Building Materials, Site One, Greenwaste, Davey, Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery, Stepstone and GraniteCrete for your support and generosity in 2023. We look forward to partnering with you in 2024. We encourage new Partners to join us and participate, learn and share your ideas with us in 2024.
NorCal Landscape & Nursery Show
The NorCal Landscape & Nursery Show is coming to the San Mateo Event Center on February 8th, 2024 from 8am – 4pm.
Christmas Holiday Party
Another fun time with friends and CLCA family at the Christmas Holiday party on Sunday, December 10 at Mountain House Restaurant in Woodside. 36 people came together to celebrate the holiday season. I appreciate everyone’s support of chapter events.
After saying our hellos, we were treated to a Peppermint Martini and the most delicious appetizers. We mixed, we mingled, we ate, we caught up on everyone’s happenings. What more could be on the menu? We sat down for lunch and enjoyed an endive and little gem salad with persimmon and bosc pear, red wine braised short ribs or pan roasted Mount Lassen Trout. The Mountain House chefs (Will Roberts and Dmitry Elperin) outdid themselves and the service was impeccable. For dessert we had Grand Marnier Creme Brulee or a selection of ice creams and sorbet. Fabulous end to a fabulous meal.
After lunch, Auxiliary President Lesley Peters presented thank you gifts to the Auxiliary board (Girvin Peters, Vicky Parrott and Rick Camin) and announced that the Auxiliary had named Rick Camin as Auxiliary member of the year for his work on the Chapter Picnic. Congratulations Rick.
Up next was the Auxiliary raffle. Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets, the Auxiliary raised $400 for LEAF. There were many, many items in the raffle. Thank you Michelle Ott and Mary Cohen for helping with the raffle. The winners were:
- Simon and Vicky Parrott won homemade eggnog by Mary Cohen and a hot cocoa mug from Rick Camin
- Jesus Toto Sr won a beeswax candle from Oliver Frank and a hot cocoa mug from Rick Camin
- Jeff Henninger won a jar of honey from Oliver Frank
- Pat Coney won homemade eggnog by Mary Cohen
- Sandy Frank won Charlene Ott’s homemade fruitcake
- Alice and Camille Domine won a beeswax candle from Oliver Frank and a hot cocoa mug
- Ed Ott won a hot cocoa mug from Rick Camin
- John Stathopoulos won the Auxiliary basket also by Rick Camin
Congratulations to all of the winners and thank you again to all of the contributors. Thank you everyone who attended and made the start of the holiday season a real joy. Everyone went home with a table arrangement (small evergreen tree or cyclamen) thanks to Charlene Ott and Alice Domine. I look forward to next year’s holiday party, although I don’t know how we will top the menu and ambiance of Mountain House Restaurant. We will have to do some serious brainstorming!
As reported by
Lesley Peters
New Year Kick Off at Top Golf
As we bid farewell to the past year and embrace the opportunities of the future, it’s time to kick off 2024 with a bang! Join us at Top Golf in San Jose as we swing into the new year with enthusiasm, laughter, and friendly competition. It’s an opportunity to connect, celebrate, and make lasting memories.
Don’t miss out on this exciting event for a thrilling and unforgettable start to the new year – mark your calendars, RSVP, and get ready for a kick-off like no other! Cheers to a fantastic 2024 ahead!
Cost is $45 and includes golf in a private bay and food.
Leaf Recives $250,000 Donation
It is with humble pride and great excitement that the Landscape Educational Advancement Foundation (LEAF) announces the $250,000 donation it received from the Landscape Contractors Insurance Services Board of Directors at the 2023 CLCA Convention in Monterey. This donation will establish the LCIS Board of Directors Legacy Fund.
“I cannot find the appropriate words to describe how honored and grateful the Board of Trustees is to be the recipient of such generosity. Beginning in 2025, the earnings from the LCIS Board of Directors Legacy Fund will be awarded to a worthy student, thus allowing LEAF to continue its mission of financially supporting students planning careers in the Green Industry and programs that support them.” said Chair Mary Cohen.
Donations and Legacy commitments are the lifeblood to the success of the LEAF program. If you would like to establish a fund or want more information, please visit LEAF’s website at clca.org/leaf or contact CLCA Headquarters directly at 916.448.2522. LEAF is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization and, as such, contributions are tax deductible as allowable by law.
Since its establishment in 1988 by the CLCA Auxiliary, LEAF has awarded 1197 scholarships to 630 students totaling $756,775.
Diamond Partners
Platinum Partners
Gold Partners
Emerald Partners
Sapphire Partners
Achievement Award A La Carte
2024 Board of Directors
Chairperson of the Board – Juan Carlos Esparza
President – Barry & Mary Cohen
Vice President – Beth Valdez
Treasurer – Scooter Wren
Secretary – Jackie Marsey
Associate Liaison – Marin Villalpando
Aux President – Lesley Peters
Aux Vice President – Girvin Peters
Aux Treasurer – Rick Camin
Aux Secretary – Vicky Parrott