During their September meeting, 13 members of Great Bend Garden Club voiced appreciation for the services of both Nancy Swafford as president and Fern Tompkins as treasurer; both are retiring this year after many years serving in those positions.
During the business meeting the following members were elected to office: Nancy Williams as president, Jeannine Girton as vice president, Pam Sweeney as treasurer, Carol Woodmansee as secretary and Teresa Bachand as historian. Alica Young will continue as chairman of the Rose Garden committee and Delores Grose will continue to expedite the names on the memorial plaques. Nancy Swafford and Sharon East will provide reminders of upcoming meetings.
Also during the business meeting, Alice Young reported that Barry Bowers will again be asked to file the club’s required yearly tax forms. Discussion concerning the Rose Garden’s maintenance plans was tabled until the October meeting.
During the meeting, delicious refreshments were served by hostess Teresa Bachand.
There are 17 active members of Great Bend Garden Club, which for 76 years has served as the caretaker of the Memorial Garden in the Great Bend Cemetery. The Memorial Rose Garden today is a non-profit entity operated by an appointed committee with the club and maintained through club dues, contributions and memorials. Anyone can purchase a memorial and have the name of a loved one printed on one of the plaques that hang in the garden. New names are added twice a year, in time for Memorial Day and Christmas, at a cost of $25 for one name and $40 for two names. 
The next meeting of Great Bend Garden Club will be on Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. in the Barton County Extension Office’s meeting room with Darlene Boley as hostess and Alice Young presenting the program. New members to the club are invited and welcome.