Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club kicks off New Year with two special events

The Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club kicks off 2012 with two exciting events. On Jan. 19, from 5:30 - 7 p.m., the club will host its annual Member Recognition Evening. The event will recognize members and supporters of the Garden Club for their service and dedication during 2011. Awards will be presented for Volunteer of the Year, Corporate Sponsor of the Year and Donor of the Year.

Club President Helen DiZio will give the “State of the Club Address” and there will be a look back at 2011 with a slide show presentation.

“I think the slide show will be a fun way for members to look back at all of the great times, hard work and community service that happened last year. It really highlights the wide range of interest that our club supports for its many members. Like we keep saying — It’s not just about gardening anymore.

“We are extending a special invitation to new members and those who may not have been as involved in the past. This is the perfect evening to come to the club and meet other members and see all of the fun and rewarding things we do here,” says event chair Ginger Bord.

The event will also feature wine and nibbles. The event is free to members and their guests and will be held at the Garden Club clubhouse located at 17025 Ave. de Acacias, Rancho Santa Fe. Please RSVP to Ginger Bord at gingerbord@yahoo.com or (760) 761-0989.

On March 1, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the Garden Club will host an evening with local author, Karna Small Bodman, titled “Turning White House Experience into Political Thrillers.” Bodman served in the Reagan White House as Senior Director of the National Security Council. She was the highest-ranking woman on The White House staff. She was also on the air for 15 years as a TV news anchor and reporter. Now she is the bestselling author of political thrillers, “Checkmate,” “Gambit,” and “Final Finesse.” She will share stories about working in the White House and explain how she has woven many of them into the contemporary novels she is writing today.

The charge for this event will be $30 for Garden Club members and $45 for non-members. The price includes a signed copy of one of Bpdman’s thrillers. To register for this event, please visit the Garden Club website at rsfgardenclub.org.