_On
a Sunday afternoon in 2004, 18 people attended a meeting at the
Marietta Garden Center to hear a proposal for a daylily club in the
Marietta area. Bill Waldrop, our founder, was the speaker and Diana
Waldrop gave out daylillies to all who came to the meeting. People
agreed to do different jobs, such as investigating where the meetings
could be held and how often. Some of those early members are no longer
in the club. One couple that attended the first meeting was Jack and
Cynthis Rigsby. Jack has been the Treasurer since inception and Cynthia
has been the Hospitality Coordinator.
The
original meetings were held at the First United Methodist Church in
Marietta because there was no fee to rent the church room. As a young
club, there was no money. Diana and Bill Waldrop were members of the
Greater Atlanta Daylily Club. Bill revised the Atlanta Club bylaws and
thosew became the bylaws for the Cobb County Daylily Society.
Bill
Waldrop was the first president and served two years which is a term.
The second president was Gerald Johnson followed by another Bill Waldrop
term. The current president for 2011-2012 is David Arthur. Presidents
cannot succeed themselves which opens up the field to any club member
to become president.
The
first daylily show was held at North Metro Tech. Gerald Johnson, an
original member, was an instructor there and had entered flower shows
before. He became the memtor and first show chair. The club members
were all learning and Gerald helped in the understanding as to how to
run a daylily show. Marlee Price was the second daylily show chair.
She investigated other venues where flowers could be viewed by the
public. The second and succeeding shows have been held at the Galleria
Mall which provides outstanding support.
The
first ideas for fund raising came from Marlee Price. She suggested the
sale of plants at the Marietta Farmer's Market. In those days, it was
held in a church parking lot on Church Street in Marietta. Some members
dug plants from thir gardens and sold them. Early helpers were Diana
Waldrop, Marlee Price, Camilla Arthur and the Rigsbys. Even though
David Arthr was not a member of the club at that time, he came to help
sell plants. Little by little the club grew and so did the finances.
The Cobb County Daylily Society has been called the fastest growing club
in the state if not the nation!
