GBTS Officers (updated 10/21/2026)
President – Ann Bendersky
Ann's love of gardening began as a child when she helped tend her father's vegetable beds, fruit trees and her mother's beautiful flower beds. After Ann retired from a long and rewarding career with the Federal Government Intelligence Community, she once again pursued her gardening passion by becoming a Certified Master Gardener with the Fairfax County Master Gardeners Association in Northern Virginia as well as studying Horticulture Technology at Northern Virginia Community College. She lived near Bethany Beach part-time for 14 years where she grew extensive vegetable and flower beds. Ann moved here permanently in 2020 and is once again actively gardening.
Vice President - Joan O'Day
Growing up in rural Sussex County, Joan met an Ag-Business major in a U of DE Bio Lab and became a farm owner. She had a large vegetable garden for food while helping husband Jack farm 180 acres. She also got a crash course in flower arranging, while providing altar flowers each week for their small country church. She taught Health and Physical Education and taught girls' sports at the high school until her muscles wore out. Then she had a 20-year career selling real estate along with a few chicken houses. Moving to a family home in Bethany to retire in 2005, they insulated and rebuilt a new home. (Jack and his brother were also home movers and built several new homes on the farm.) Over the last 18+ years Joanie has been posting Sunrise Photos M-F for 500 friends and shut-ins on Facebook. Her 13 nieces and nephews, 10 in-laws and their families, and 5 grands keep her busy. Spare moments are spent in ministries at Mariner's Church in Ocean View. Thanks Alva for the invite to join GBTS!
Treasurer – Sallie Melvin
Sallie’s first gardening was picking strawberries and cutting asparagus in her dad’s garden on MD’s Eastern Shore. She lived in Washington for 30 years nurturing 3 townhouse gardens. Sallie and Art retired and built a home in Bethany Beach in 2001. At last, they had a yard large enough to experience the joys and frustrations of creating and tending a garden with sun, shade, wet clay soil, and turkeys and deer. They loved every minute of it. Sallie was invited to GBTS by a Salt Pond neighbor and became a member in January 2018. She served as chair of the Hospitality Committee, Secretary and Vice President. When not gardening she volunteers at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, attends live theater, reads mysteries, and avidly watches tennis.
Secretary – Joanna Haley
Joanna is new to GBTS. She has always come to vacation in DE, and had a house here, but moved here permanently almost two years ago. Her friend from Mah Jongg, Kathy Leone, introduced her to the GBTS Garden Club. And here she is, two months later, our new Secretary. Joanna learned to love flowers from her parents. They always had gardens all around the house. Her Mom used to cut roses for her to take to her teacher at school. She fondly remembers waking up on the summer mornings and finding her Mom outside tending to her flowers and rose garden. Alva talking about her peppermint in her garden, and picking it for tea, reminded her of peppermint in her Mom’s garden. Her Dad helped too, they had a meticulous yard. Joanna carried on with the tradition and is proud that her daughters love gardening too.
Parliamentarian – Judy Dayhoff
Judy has been a gardener from a very young age when her mother taught her the difference between a flower and a weed. When she married, there was always a garden and a sewing room wherever she lived due to the influence of her mother and grandmothers.
When she and her husband built their summer home near the beach, gardening became a new challenge. Sand is not the easiest soil, and Judy quickly realized she needed guidance. The solution was obvious: Join a Garden Club! One club soon led to another, and eventually she became involved at the state level and also joined GBTS. She published the DFGC Newsletter for four years and now serves as the DFGC Historian. She has held many officer positions in the Barefoot Gardeners Club over the years, including President, First Vice President and Second Vice President and now hopes to ease into the role of GBTS Parliamentarian.
Before her gardening adventures, Judy spent 32 years working for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in a variety of roles - always in the computer field. It's no surprise her name still pops up when computer jobs are involved, which she loves. Judy's garden now consists mostly of pots because her philosophy is "You don't have to have a big yard or any at all, to build yourself a beautiful garden. All you need is a pot to plant in."
