Shell Islands Garden Club was founded in 1992 by a group of women residing on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. The club's purpose is to study the art of flower arranging, to encourage all phases of home gardening, to promote better horticultural practices and to help conserve our natural resources. The organization has almost100 members who meet at the Sanibel Community House on the second Tuesday of the month from October through May. Our meetings usually include a buffet luncheon, followed by a program and general business meeting. We also schedule several field trips each year. Dues are currently $35 each year.
Shell Islands Garden Club is a member of the Fort Myers/Lee County Garden Council, Inc.
Motto: Gardening is Good for the Soul!
Flower: Hibiscus
2021 - 2022 Shell Islands Garden Club Officers
Executive Board
President: Gwenda Hiett-Clements
First Vice-President/Programs: Linda Uhler
Second Vice-President/Hospitality: Nancy DeBenedictis with Monthly Volunteer Members
Treasurer: Heather Deiner
Recording Secretary: Mary O’Neill/Koni Schiller
Corresponding Secretary: Sandra Dalbec
Advisor, Past President: Lisa Newmeyer Cochrane
Committee Chairs
Membership: Dotty Mount
Horticulture, Plant Sales & Raffles: Sandra Dalbec, Patti Poshek, Dotty Mount, Carol Bytnar
Art in Bloom: Harriet Pattison, Jaye Boswell
Beautification Committee:
Library Flowers: Irene Nolan
Library Christmas Tree: Nancy DeBenedictis
Garden Council Representatives: Glenda Campbell, Sally Parsons
Parliamentarian: Fay Carney
Yearbook: Gwenda Hiett-Clements
Publicity: Carol Zell
Webmaster: Carol Zell
Program Committee: Linda Uhler, Maggie Butcher, Gerri Perkins, Harriet Pattison
Annual Member Luncheon: Linda Uhler, Maggie Butcher
Nominating Committee: Lisa Newmeyer Cochrane, Carol Zell
Summer Girls: Maggie Butcher
General Task Substitute: Dotty Mount
Sanibel Island Garden Club Past Presidents
1992-93 Bettie Cattell 1993-95 Hulda Walters 1995-97 Jean Halstead 1997-99 Jean Klein 1999-01 Helen Ann Browning 2001-03 Pat Neitzke 2003-05 Glenda Campbell 2005-06 Janet Wight 2007-08 Sally Parsons 2009-11 Lisa Newmeyer Cochrane 2011-14 Maggie Butcher 2014-16 Carol Zell 2016-18 Gerri Perkins 2018-19 Susan Bellevue 2019-22 Lisa Newmeyer Cochrane 2022- Gwenda Hiett-Clements