Dear Gardening Members

Welcome to another gardening year.

The CHAPS Committee has put together another really good programme of activities for 2018 which we will hope you will enjoy. A copy of the programme for the year is on the second page of the newsletter in addition to the back page of the schedule and the CHAPS website. Please note that all the talks will take place at Quinnettes Barn. The shows will be at the Village Hall.

Most of you will now have paid your subscription for 2018 and received your schedule and membership card. If not please look out for the committee member who has been tasked with collecting your subscription – they will be coming to see you soon.

Our day visit is on Wednesday 25 April to Arundel Castle for the tulip festival. Please let Sandra Probert know if you would like to come so she can reserve a seat for you on the coach. The cost is £25 per person which covers the coach and full entry into Arundel Castle. Sandra can be contacted by E Mail on chaps.showsecretary@gmail.com

As you know the CHAPS website is where will find the schedules for each show and entry forms in the Members’ Area – if you have forgotten the password please E mail me on chaps.chairman@gmail.com and I will let you have it.

Avalon Garden Centre continues to be our sponsor, as well as continuing to offer members a 5% discount on plants. In addition to Avalon many other outlets kindly give CHAPS members discounts – details can be found in the schedule. Remember to show your membership card at the till before your items are put through.

Thank you to all our loyal CHAPS members, without whose support this society would not continue to flourish as it does. 2017 was a really successful year and the Committee members look forward to seeing many of you again throughout 2018.

With regard to the Committee, Anne Butler has advised me that she will be stepping down from the Committee and her role as Secretary during 2018. This is very sad for CHAPS as Anne has been a key part of the Society for many years. She will be much missed by her fellow Committee Members. Her departure means the Committee is in urgent need of a new Secretary and I would like to invite CHAPS members to come and join the Committee to help with the running of the Society and the shaping of it in the future. I would be delighted if someone can volunteer to take over from Anne and make the role their own. However, new members happy to share out the jobs in the short term while we work on a new approach on communicating with members would be very welcome. Being comfortable with E Mail (we have a dedicated E Mail accounts for each of the named Committee roles so private E Mail addresses remain so) and Microsoft Word would be helpful if you are thinking about volunteering. If you think you might be able to volunteer to join us please contact me on chaps.chairman@gmail.com or phone me on 01428 715304 to discuss things further.
I hope 2018 is a very happy one for you and that you continue to enjoy your gardening.

Maggie Wright