Programs/Speakers - Florida Federation of Garden Clubs

SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2013
EARLY ARRIVALS PROGRAM
Carmen Deedy
Decatur, Georgia
Storyteller
Who does not like a great story? Well, we have one of the best for you.
Carmen is a consummate storyteller enjoyed by adults and children alike. Her awards
are too numerous to list, but include the 2001 Jane Addams Peace Association Book
Award, the 2008 Pura Belpre Honor Award and the 2009 ALA Odyssey Audio Award.
Over a span of 20 years, Carmen has told stories to hundreds of thousands of school
children, which is her favorite audience (but she loves garden club members too).
Carmen is a refugee of Cuba who found a home in Decatur, Georgia in 1964 and lives
there today. She began writing as a young mother. She has been a speaker at venues as
varied as the American Library Association, Refugees International, the Smithsonian
Institute, and the Kennedy Center.
What a wonderful life she has had and she will share her talents with us.
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
BREAKFAST
Derek Fell
Publisher and Editor in Chief
The Avant Gardener
Speaking on: My Southern Garden
Derek has the honor that his horticultural newsletter, The Avant Gardener, has won more
awards for literary excellence than any other such newsletter. He is a prolific writer of
more than 100 garden books and calendars and he maintains two test gardens – one in
Bucks County, Pennsylvania (a zone 6 garden) and one on Sanibel Island, Florida (a 1acre
frost-free zone 10 garden). His presentation will focus on the Sanibel Island
property where he tests tropical plants for flowering and fruiting performance, and
temperate plants during the cooler winter growing season. The garden features 30 mature
coconut palms, 20 fruiting bananas, plus mango, lychee, papaya, macadamia nut and
avocado varieties. His most recent books are “Vertical Gardening – Grow Up Not Out,
for Maximum Yields in Minimum Space” and “Grow This – a Guide to Garden Center
Shopping”, (Rodale Books). See a sample copy of his newsletter at avantgardener.info.
.
LUNCH
Stan Doerr
ECHO President/CEO
North Fort Myers, Florida
Speaking on: Plants That Are Changing the World

Stan answered a calling in 2004 when he joined ECHO as Deputy Director and accepted
his part in a succession plan to the Presidency of ECHO, which he assumed in 2006.
ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) is a non-profit, interdenominational
Christian organization located on a demonstration farm in North Fort
Myers, FL. ECHO exists for one major reason, to help those working internationally with
the poor be more effective, especially in the area of agriculture!
Stan has always been interested in our environment, accepting his first position, after
graduating with a Biology/Chemistry degree, with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
After completing his MS in Ecology, he began his overseas experience in Swaziland then
moving to South Africa and then to Malawi. Next, he traveled to Asia, Africa, Latin
America and the Caribbean as an agriculture consultant, after which he joined World
Vision and moved to Mauritania working in community development.
What an amazing career! And, it is clear why ECHO recruited him to lead their
organization.
DESIGN BANQUET
Designers:
Claudia MacKenzie Bates
Gainesville, Florida
Designer Honoring former FFGC President, Ella Wood
Claudia is a 7 th generation Floridian – something not many can say! She has
been a member of the Gainesville Garden Club for 23 years and has an
impressive array of achievements. A sampling include, Master Flower
Show Judge; NGC, Inc. Flower Show Schools Instructor in Design; Life
Memberships in her Garden Club, the FFGC and the NGC, Inc.; and
member of CFAA, NFA, WAFA and Atelier. She also has served on the
Board of Directors of the FFGC in a myriad of capacities.
Claudia has presented design programs and seminars all over the United
States. She has devised and taught several contrived flower workshops for
CFAA. Her published designs include the Vision of Beauty, NCG, Inc.
calendar and the FFGC calendar as well as the WAFA publication,
Designing the American Way.
And her “other life” includes a husband, 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
Claudia Chopp
Punta Gorda &Wentzville, Missouri
Designer Honoring former FFGC President, Elise Haymans

Claudia somehow finds time for a fulfilling personal life along with all
of her garden club, flower arranging, a leadership achievements.
Reading her bio makes one dizzy!
She has served 12 years on the Board of National Garden Club in various
leadership capacities. President of the National Flower Arrangers and Vice
President of the Assembly of Flower Arrangers, USA representative to
WAFA, USA 2010-11, Flower Show Master Judge, Instructor for Flower
Show Schools and Symposiums, Master Landscape Design Consultant and
Garden Studies Consultant are just a few more of Claudia’s
accomplishments. (Dizzy yet??) She is also active in Ikebana as a teacher,
active in 3 design clubs and 2 garden clubs, and a member of the Lily
Society.
Ena McGrattan
Formerly from Ireland now a citizen of USA
Fort Myers, Florida
Designer Honoring former FFGC President, Berne Davis
Anyone who has met Ena remembers her wonderful Irish accent and
mischievous smile. She brings delight into any room especially when you
view her floral designs.
Ena studied at the Association of Irish Floral Artists Teaching School, the
Alex Gardener’s School of Culinary Artists, and the Grafton Academy of
Dublin. She has floral designs published in the U.S. and abroad.
Her awards include cups and trophy wins in the Royal Horticultural Society
of Ireland Floral Art Shows, the Barbara Scott Perpetual Challenge Cup, and
the 2012 Berne Davis Honorary Service Award. Ena is a member of 2
Garden Clubs and the Eclectic Designers in Fort Myers. the Creative Floral
Artist of the Americas, World Association of Floral Artists, Association of
Irish Floral Artists, Royal Horticultural Society and was past president of the
Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council, Inc.
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2012
BREAKFAST
Toni Westland
Federal Park Ranger, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Supervisory Refuge Ranger
J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Speaking on: Enjoy YOUR National Wildlife Refuge!
Ever dream of going to work where the sun shines, the clouds float by, the birds sing, and
water flows? Toni, as a Supervisory Refuge Ranger, has done that every day at the
“Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island for the past 10 years. She
educates over 20,000 school children and families a year about this critical environment.
“Ding” Darling is known for its abundant bird life. The best time to view birds is
December through March at low tide when they are feeding on the exposed mud flats.
Toni has spent her entire professional life using the knowledge and skills she gained at
the University of Wisconsin where she received a double Bachelors of Science in Natural
Resource Management and Environmental Education and Interpretation.
Toni’s dedication and enthusiasm has not gone unnoticed. In 2011 she received the
Region 4 US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Visitor Services/Education award: Rachael
Carson Sense of Wonder Award. In 2012 she was selected and traveled to Siberia,
Russia consulting and designing 2 visitor centers/site plans for the Russian Government.
LUNCH
Robert Bowden
Executive Director
Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens
Orlanda, Florida
Speaking on: Groceries from the Garden
Robert has a really difficult life – he has worked surrounded by botanical gardens in St.
Louis, Atlanta, and now at the Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens in Orlando as Executive
Director.
His photographs and fun-filled stories have appeared in magazines and professional
journals throughout the U.S. and he has authored several books including The Florida
Fruit and Vegetable Garden Guide and the Florida Gardeners Resource (Cool Springs
Press) and The Florida Top Ten Garden Guide (Sunset Books). He travels extensively in
the U.S. and the Caribbean offering presentations and workshops on general gardening,
growing edible landscapes, and on tropical plants.
INSTALLATION BANQUET
Walter Scheib
Former White House Chef
Speaker, Entertainer, and Chef Consultant
Walter Scheib, is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and served under First
Ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush. He was the White House Executive Chef for 11
years – responsible for the cuisine for official State dinners and parties as well as chef to

the presidential families. He has prepared the menu for our meal tonight, working with
Chef Keith and his staff.
If Walter had not been an acclaimed chef, he could have been a stand-up comedian. His
sense of humor and story-telling abilities make time fly when listening to him. Not only
does he arrange a scrumptious dinner, he takes the stage telling humorous stories about
White House families and happenings and about the dishes being served.
Walter prepared the Life Member’s Banquet at the 2011 National Garden Clubs
Convention in Washington, D.C. If you have heard Walter and tasted his culinary
creations, you already know what an outstanding evening you will experience in
Southwest Florida. If you have not, this is an event you do not want to miss.