Our History
History-Inspiration
In 1973, having just moved to Danville, Pat Cassell was talking to her good friend Rose Gaubert, a flower show judge, about the need for a local hands-on garden club. Pat’s penchant for a dirt gardening club format, Rose’s experience as an avid propagator, and their desire to focus on more than flower arranging all came together as the beginnings of our current Club. Danville was then a sparsely populated town of about 20,000, so Rose suggested including nearby Alamo–hence the Danville-Alamo Garden Club.
History-Formation
Pat’s diligent research and many helping hands led to the formation & structure of the Club. Besides Rose’s enthusiastic suggestions, Pat was assisted by Dorothy Grossman and Donna Hotsetter (Presidents in 1974-75). Pivotal input from Heather Farms identified potential members already enjoying gardening education at this Walnut Creek venue, as well as possible speakers & tours. Navlet’s Nursery, one of the Club’s first sponsors, suggested speakers for Club programs and donated plants for local beautification projects. Input from other garden clubs helped Pat draft the Bylaws governing Club functions.
History-Foundation
In addition to the camaraderie and shared learning from tours and lectures, it was important to our Founders and written into our Objectives that the Club contribute to the local community. Early efforts included community beautification projects such as planting school gardens, as well as donating funds for Heather Farms’ planned garden expansion, for tree plantings along Danville Boulevard, for reforestation (Penny Pines), and for land preservation projects initiated by Save Mt. Diablo. To support these community service projects, the Club sponsored fundraisers such as English teas, floral arranging demonstrations, home garden tours, white elephant sales and McCaulou’s store inventory work shifts.
Our membership is now 150 strong, a testament to the vision and organization of an amazing group of women. Our Club continues in their spirit of friendship, learning, and civic involvement, enduring the test of over three and a half decades.
History-Early Documents
- Early DAGC in the News
- First DAGC Newsletter
- First DAGC Yearbook (partial)
- 1980 Flower Show Entry Blank
Remembering Days Gone By
In the September 2020 newsletter, one of our earliest members, Ann Schultzel, shared some of her early DAGC memories in the following article.
Our Past Presidents
On behalf of the entire Danville Alamo Garden Club Membership, we honor our past Presidents.
We wanted to take the opportunity to thank each President for their dedication, commitment and leadership to our club since 1973. This is truly a testament to the vision and organization of an amazing club.
We cherish each President for their heartfelt friendships and time. Even after serving their term, they continue to stay active in many board and support positions. It’s because of their support that our club continues to thrive with 150 members. Thank you again, to each of you, for maintaining the spirit of friendship, continued learning, engaging activities and supporting our community outreach.
| Patricia Cassell | 1973-1974 | Betty Powell | 1986-1987 | Linda Loveall | 2003-2004 |
| Donna Hostetter/ Dorothy Grossman | 1974-1975 | Shirley Leavitt | 1987-1988 | Linda Loveall/ Judy Scardino | 2004-2005 |
| Ann Schultzel | 1975-1976 | Mary Fishencor | 1988-1990 | Jan Hamby/Kathy Till | 2005-2007 |
| Nancy Goreth | 1976-1977 | Judy Scardino | 1990-1992 | Carol Sayers | 2007-2009 |
| Dorie Grant | 1977-1978 | Louise Waas | 1992-1993 | Louise Wiggins | 2009-2010 |
| Kathy Trowbridge | 1978-1979 | Judy Scardino | 1993-1994 | Sheila Truschke | 2010-2012 |
| Jane Beamer | 1979-1980 | Jan Hamby | 1994-1996 | Sharon Williams | 2012-2015 |
| Sally Bonini | 1980-1981 | Judy Scardino | 1996-1997 | Rebecca Byrom | 2015-2017 |
| Lee Bourdo | 1981-1982 | Nancy Goreth | 1997-2000 | Sharon Williams | 2017-2019 |
| Peggy Shea | 1982-1984 | Karen Schauber | 2000-2002 | Linda Scotting | 2019-2022 |
| Gloria Rasmussen | 1984-1986 | Audrey Van Poppel | 2002-2003 | Susan Polk | 2022-2023 |
As the years go by, we progress
Header from first Club website
In 2009 our first website was created by Jack Acton, the son of one of our members. With the changes in technology by 2021 it was clear that we needed to move with the times and update our online presence.
In 2022 this new website was launched.