The Herb Guild Garden Club Board of Officers:
From left to right;Kathy McClement, Recording Secretary. Adele Matias, Corresponding Secretary. Beth Kassabri, Co-Second VP. Terry MacKenzie, Co-Second VP. Shirley Swindell, Co-First VP. Sheila Ashcraft, Co-First VP. Corinne Jalkanen, Co-President. Kathie COnrad, Treaurer. Diane Merhaut, Co-President.
Our Guild was formed in 1978. meetings were held in members’ homes and, as membership grew, it became necessary to hold meetings in larger facilities. Through the years we have met at Ohio Bank Community Room in North Olmsted,; North Olmsted, Rocky River and Fairview Park Libraries; The Community House of Bay Village; and Church of the Redeemer and Prince of Peace Church in Westlake. Currently, our home is The Porter Library in Westlake. We meet on the second Wednesday of each month. Board meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month, and all members are welcome to attend these also. We usually hold a picnic meeting at one of the metro parks.
The purpose of the Herb Guild has been to further our knowledge of herbs while promoting interest in their culture and uses. In order to achieve this purpose, members are expected to contribute their time and talents. We share knowledge with each other and our communities.
We exchange ideas with other herb societies as well. Educational programs are presented at our monthly meetings. Educational trips and seminars are eagerly awaited each year. Many of our members have presented instructional programs to various clubs, church groups, libraries, schools, and other gatherings in the Ohio area. We have prepared displays at county fairs, The Cleveland Botanical Gardens, Y-Camp days, and facilities featuring herbal products. Publications by members and newspaper articles featuring members and their gardens or crafts fill our scrapbooks and albums. In our early years we established an herb garden at Stearns Farm. We currently maintain the herb garden at Rose Hill in Cahoon Park, Bay Village. We continue to see a remarkable interest in acquiring knowledge of all things herbal in the past several decades.
The Herb Guild is incorporated in the State of Ohio, and is a non-profit tax exempt organization. Dues vary for Active and Associate Members. We are affiliated with the Cleveland Botanical Garden, The Garden Clubs of Ohio and many members are also members of The Herb Society of America. The monthly Thyme-Wise newsletter is sent to members.
Our publications have included: Picnic Thyme (1982), Get Acquainted with Herbs (1983), More Culinary Herbs (1984). Our first cookbook An Herbal Celebration (1988) sold two thousand copies. In 1998 our second cookbook was, Thyme-ly Recipes from the Herb Guild. In 2007 a booklet of soup recipes was available at our annual scholarship luncheon held on the First Wednesday in August. Our most recent cookbook Thyme and Again was printed in 2013 to commemorate our 35th anniversary.
Else Rolland, Co-Founder of the Herb Guild
Else Rolland and Betty Barnett co-founded the Herb Guild in 1978. The members of the Herb Guild unanimously voted to bestow the title of Honorary Member to Else. She has served as President, and a Board Member, as well as serving as chair of many committees over the course of these years.We value her input and expertise which has guided the Guild over it’s history. With much appreciation we offer our thanks.
Else gave the inspiration for our meal which emphasized being kind to each other all year long.
