April 15, 2008

To: Sybil Colicchio, President Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc.

From:   Jo Ann Ryan
Blue Star Memorial Chairman

Subject: Report for LGCF Convention April 15, 2008

Louisiana has 49 Highway Markers, 15 By -Way Markers and 1 Memorial Marker, giving us a total of 65 Markers. (These totals do not include 7 markers that are missing.)

The following is a breakdown of markers by districts:

Since my last report of April 17, 2007, the following markers have been dedicated:

Ferriday Garden Club, Ferriday, La. (Dist V) dedicated a Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker on May 15,2007.
Crowley Garden Club, Crowley, La. (Dist VII) dedicated a Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker on May 26,2007.
Ponchatoula Gardenettes Garden Club and Ponchatoula Community Garden Club, Ponchatoula, La. (Dist VI) dedicated a By-Way Marker on July 4, 2007
Jonesboro-Hodge Garden Club, Jonesboro, La. (Dist V) dedicated a Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker on Oct. 6, 2007.
Covington Garden Club, Covington, La. (Dist VI) dedicated a Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker on Oct. 27, 2007.
Plaquemine Garden Club, Plaquemine, La. (Dist VI) dedicated a Memorial Marker on November 11,2007

This chairman attended the dedications in Jonesboro, Covington, and Plaquemine. Due to vacation and family obligations, I was not able to attend the dedications in Ferriday, Crowley and Ponchatoula.

Ruston Garden Club reported that their Hwy marker was refurbished in Nov. 2007.

Baton Rouge Garden Club reported that their Highway Marker located on Hwy 61 at Cortana Mall was destroyed by a hit and run accident. The club is in the process of ordering another marker.

Travis Holley of Bastrop, Louisiana reported a Highway marker in Bastrop, La that was not on my list of markers. Mr. Holley and the Clarklea Garden Club of Bastrop have had the Highway Marker refurbished and are planning a rededication of the marker. The Marker was originally sponsored by the Bastrop Garden Club (no longer a club). They are researching to find out the original dedication date.

This chairman has given information on ordering markers to Belle Oaks Garden Club (Verlyn Bercegeay), Baton Rouge Garden Club (Willie Allen), and Belle Chase Garden Club (Mary Hazen).

Information on care and refurbishing markers has been given to Sulphur Garden Club (Jo Anne Dugas), Terrebonne Garden Club of Houma (Mary Jane Peters), and the Clarklea Garden Club of Bastrop (marker reported to me that was not on my list by Travis Holley of Bastrop)

Information was also sent to Thibodaux Garden Club (Jane Landry) on the planning of a dedication. Thibodaux Garden Club ordered a By-Way Marker in 2002 that has not been dedicated.

This chairman has been working on a scrapbook of pictures of the markers in Louisiana. If you have not sent me a picture of your club's marker, please send it to me so it may be included in the scrapbook.

This Chairman has enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to serve the LGCF, Inc. as the Blue Star Memorial Chairman for the past three years and I'm looking forward to the next year. It is very rewarding to be a part of the outstanding NGC's program, honoring men and women who have served, are serving, or will serve in our Nation's Armed Forces. If your club is interested in purchasing a marker, please do not hesitate to contact me. I also have Blue Star Memorial Highway Program brochures from NGC Members Services available for your information.

Thanks to all who have supported and will support the NGC's Blue Star Memorial Marker project.

Jo Ann Ryan
Blue Star Memorial Chairman