Queens Botanical Garden (QBG) has announced the appointment of two new Board of Trustee members, Patricia Shanley and Rovena Schirling, as well as a new member to its Advisory Council, Dr. Joon Bang. These individuals will work alongside existing QBG board and staff members to move the garden’s mission and projects forward.
“We are thrilled to welcome these talented individuals, who have each already offered invaluable expertise to the garden over the years, to our Board of Trustees and Advisory Council,” said Queens Botanical Garden’s Board Chair, Frank Mirovsky. “We are so excited to have each of them involved and lending their time and leadership to our organization.”
Shanley founded the Manhattan Rose Society in 2000 and has been the president ever since. She has been a member of the American Rose Society for 19 years and has served as director, assistant direct and chairperson on various committees for them as well as a Rosarian consultant. She organized The New York Metropolitan Rose Council and is the co-host of the Bicoastal Great Rosarians of the World lecture series, which will be held at QBG on June 11. Shanley organized two rose events at QBG in the past year.
Schirling is very committed to environmental issues and supports the World Wildlife Fund and Alley Pond Environmental Center along with being a long time supporter of Queens Botanical Garden. She was the co-chair of QBG’s 2010 Rose Ball and will co-chair again this year. She has been a member of the national Board of Directors of the Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) since 2004 and was the vice president of the Long Island Chapter.
Bang is a past QBG board member and is a founder of the Korean-American Friends of QBG. He has founded a number of organizations to foster cultural exchange and understanding. The Korean American Friends of QBG has raised money to support the garden’s Circle Garden, which features plants of importance in Korean culture or native to Korea. The Korean American Friends of QBG’s Cosmos Night has become the group’s signature fundraising event for the past nine years.
Queens Botanical Garden is an urban oasis where people, plants and cultures are celebrated through inspiring gardens, innovative educational programs and demonstrations of environmental stewardship. Queens Botanical Garden is located at 43-50 Main Street in Flushing and is easily accessible by car, train, or bus. For travel directions and more information, visit www.queensbotanical.org or call 718-886-3800.
