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\ \ ' ^^ "A Happy New Year " comes instinctively to our lips but finds no 
P^ ' o\ ^Jecho in our minds or hearts. We know this cannot be a happy year; 
* " ^^ we only pray it may be a successful one. In France gifts are exchanged 
"*> > at the New Year. This year, in America, we offer ours : to our AlHes, 
. help on the line and behind the line, sent in deepest gratitude and 
V^ recognition of all we owe. To our new Army, support and honor for 
their high-hearted courage. To our Country, loyalty and all our 
energy, time and enthusiasm. And joined to these gifts is a hope: 
We wish you a victorious New Year. 
Report of the Meeting of the Council of Presidents 
Colony Club, New York, October 26th, 1917 
Representatives of twenty-nine member Clubs were present. 
The President in opening the meeting, emphasized the fact that 
the Garden Club of America and the Women's Farm and Garden 
Association were the only national organizations of women organized 
for agricultural work. She dwelt upon the responsibility thereby 
incurred and the necessity for an immediate decision as to how this 
opportunity should be met. 
The members present agreed that some co-ordinated work should 
be done by the Member Clubs and various plans were suggested and 
discussed: training Boy and Girl Scouts for garden work, encourag- 
ing practical teaching of Horticulture and Agriculture in the schools 
and helping to replant the devastated regions of France and Belgium. 
Information in regard to the later work seemed indefinite so the 
matter was deferred for future consideration. 
The plan finally adopted, the unit plan for women workers in 
agriculture, is set forth at length hereafter. This work is to be 
organized and initiated by a War Work Council of which Miss Delia 
W. Marble, Bedford Garden Club, Bedford, New York, is Chairman. 
New Committees, one to encourage honest nurserymen and one to 
investigate what can be done to educate children in agriculture, were 
appointed with Miss Rose Standish Nichols and Miss Kingsbury of 
the Litchfield Garden Club, as their respective chairmen. The reports 
of these and other Committees follow. 
Before adjourning, Mrs. Martin urged that the gravity of National 
conditions be seriously reaUzed by every member of the Club. The 
time is one for sacrifice and the Garden Club of America must not fail 
to answer the call to service. 
Report and Plans of the War Work Council 
The Garden Club of America, through its Council of Presidents, 
has adopted as its special war work what is known as the Unit Plan 
for women workers in agriculture. 
