Program Note: The May 9 meeting will begin at 6:30 with a Tram Ride Tour.
The Monthly meeting of the South Dade Garden Club takes place on the second Thursday of the month at the usual location — Fruit & Spice Park community room at 24801 SW 187th Avenue.
The guest speaker is John Mills with a presentation on the Redland Ahead Veteran Grant Program training veterans to become farmers and explore careers in agri-business with programs offered by FIU.
As a 30 year US Army veteran, drafted in 1965, serving three combat tours and retiring as a Colonel with exemplary and meritorious service, John Mills’ civilian accomplishments are numerous and have ranged from: the implementation and transfer of the Panama Canal back to Panama (as Secretary of the Panama Canal Commission) to 10 years of integrating small family-owned companies into a moderate sized publicly held company (Watsco, Inc). John is a board member of Redland Ahead, a nonprofit company formed to work in unison with FIU to provide support to the FIU’s Agro-Ecology program in South Florida in expansion of the newly awarded FIU Hispanic Land Grant University status, support the training of underserved populations and veterans to become farmers and explore careers in Agri-business in programs offered by FIU and UF (TREC), and support training to improve the profitability from existing or future crops through university and private development of incubators, commercial kitchens and other ventures in the Redland community. John is a member of the FIU College of Arts, Sciences & Education Dean’s Advisory Board.
South Florida’s oldest garden club was established in 1924 and continues the tradition of sharing the love and appreciation for the abundant tropical species of South Florida, and the spirit of camaraderie among its members. As always, members and guests are welcome. Refreshments will be served after the program. The public is welcome to attend. Bring a friend!