Syringa Club Celebrates a Good Year

Wendy Gardner, Donna Landauer, Carol Wyckoff, Carol Smith
(ex long, long-term Prez of Syringa Club), and Marcie Pyorre.

 At their annual Christmas gathering, members of the Garden Valley Syringa Club looked back over the past year to take stock of what they have accomplished.

  From its inception in 1915, the club has been concerned with the welfare of the community, with education being a high priority. This year, members supported Desiree Goff, as delegate for the American Legion Auxiliary Girl’s State. $300 were donated for the program, which provides a valuable learning ground for young women, by instilling a deeper understanding of government operations.

  The club also donated $200 toward Garden Valley School’s HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership) participants. This program enhances leadership and teamwork skills, and three sophomore girls have been chosen to attend.

  Project Patch has also been the beneficiary of Syringa funds in the past. This year, they received $200 from the club.

Carol Smith kept on shoveling!
while Jayne, Marcie, Carol, Ione Messick,
Judy Prachyl and Angel made big plans.

  Under the enthusiastic guidance of Syringa Club president, Georgianna Goetsch, and with co-sponsorship of the Idaho Commission on the Arts, they brought Artist in Residence, Troy Passey, to the school. Fifty children participated in workshops over three days in April. The techniques of Garden Valley artist, James Castle, were the focus of the artwork produced by the children, and the week ended with an artist’s reception and student exhibit of their wonderful creations.

  Syringa Club also played a vital role in starting the Garden Valley Library. This past August, the Idaho Commission on the Arts donated a reproduction of possibly the only James Castle triptych, to the club; they turned around and presented it to the library board. They also purchased a plaque to be exhibited with the triptych. Club member, Marlo Glauser, was sworn in as a library board member, last January, thus carrying on tradition.

Golden Eagle Radio DJ and Program Director,
Terry "Babe Boomer" Loyd, left, was a special guest.

  This year, the old library building was renamed "The Syringa Building”, by the Crouch City Council. Syringa Club has been honored to partner with the City of Crouch, which has opened the Crouch Museum in the building. Club memorabilia is on exhibit in the museum. City Clerk, Kim Bosse, has done a tremendous amount of work to refurbish the interior, and Syringa Club donated $200 to help toward the building renovation. Members have been given permission to hold meetings there. The City Hall was moved to the building this December and recently held their first council meeting in the intimate interior.

  Members of Syringa Club were caring for the Pioneer Cemetery as early as 1917. They fenced the site, provided gates, and the sign on Banks Lowman Road was authentically reproduced. Rudy Prachyl, husband of member Judy Prachyl, recently restored the sign.

  Records of who was buried in the cemetery were found this year. In June, some members were assisted by scouts from Nampa to clean around the graves of those people who lie under the stones. The property on which the cemetery sits was sold this year, but the club will remain its keeper.



New member, Lois Davison, left, and Wendy Gardner
are right in there with ideas for fundraising.



  The Charles Ostner monument, on Alder Creek Road, was erected by Syringa in 1976. They purchased a Historic Site marker this year; it was installed by County Road Supervisor, Bill Jones.

  In October, members voted to donate $200 to the Crouch Volunteer Ambulance Service, in appreciation for the devoted work the EMTs do for the valley.

  The club holds fundraisers every year. The annual Syringa Calendar has flourished even more, under the care of members Judy Prachyl and Carol Wyckoff. The new calendar will again display a photograph by photographer, Carol Scharf. They may be purchased for $5, at Messick’s Repair, 69 Village Circle, or by calling 462-2511 or 462-2576.

  The club sells plants that they raise themselves and this year, they donated surplus plants for the GV Library landscaping. They are appreciative of the support received by Bill Partridge, who allows them to nurture the plants in his greenhouse.

Hosts Marlo and Gary Glauser flank long-time
member and Treasurer, Ione Messick.

  Club members have determined they would like to take the club in a new direction, with new projects. They recently donated $200 to the new radio station in Crouch, Golden Eagle Radio 97.5. When it went off the air three weeks in November, members had the conviction that this radio is necessary for the Garden Valley area. It serves in emergencies, keeps residents up on local events, and will be a new educational tool, serving the school and the valley.

  As president for two years, Georgianna Goetsch has been a powerful motivator for the club and she deserves a hat’s off.

Jayne Carlson has already taken the helm
of the club, but says, "I know I have umpteen
women helping me!"

  Newly elected president, Jayne Carlson, was installed at the holiday potluck, on December 14. Carlson says, “I’m excited about supporting the community, particularly the radio station, through fundraisers.”

  Syringa Club meets every third Thursday, in their homes or at the Syringa Building in downtown Crouch, and they welcomes visitors and new members. Fell free to call for information.

Jayne Carlson, President: 462-4698

Wendy Gardner, VP: 462-3388

Ione Messick, Treasurer: 462-3284

Anjali Angel, Secretary: 462-2511