2008 Reports of
State Presidents (2007-2009)
 The Garden Club of AlabamaThe Garden Club of Alabama, Inc, is proud to be a member of the Deep South Region. We have 156 clubs and eight districts comprised of 3,027 members who are carrying out the president’s theme of “Remembering the Past” - “Shaping the Future”. Our members are actively involved in projects that reflect their love of gardening and flower arranging. A Flower Show School was held and we gained six student judges. From March 2007 through March 2008 nine (9) Standard Flower Shows were held in the state. Our judges council is very active and has produced an engagement calendar “Stars Fell on Alabama”. It features pictures of designs and gardens sent in by our members from around the state. We are very proud of the editor, Jo Ann Wade, who has been chosen “Member Award of Honor” by her state and Deep South. She is the designer for “The Arrangement” competition from Alabama. The Alabama Council of Flower Show Judges will hold a symposium on August 20th at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. A Landscape Design Refresher Course was held in October 2007 on Auburn University Campus. We have twenty-four (24) Blue Star Memorial Markers with one being rededicated in Enterprise on June, 19, 2007. The marker was handsomely refurbished and this president was there for the rededication ceremony. Members have observed Arbor Day and have planted 30,092 trees. Our clubs have many beautification projects ongoing in their towns and cities. They contribute to “Greening of the Gulf Coast”, Habitat for Humanity, Scholarship Fund and NGC Headquarters. Clubs participate in Wildflower Walks, Butterfly/Bird Studies, Garden Therapy, Historic Preservation and Horticulture studies. We practice recycling and Litter Control. We sponsor the “Smokey Bear - Woodsy Owl” poster contest in our schools. One of our clubs is maintaining a walking trail through the Ruffner Mountain Area by planting it with native plants. There is a stream in this area and they are keeping it clean and free from litter. We have a state recycling chairman as does each club. Recycling raises money for our clubs. We hosted the 56th “Every Light a Prayer for Peace” ceremony along with Governor Bob Riley and First Lady Patsy Riley on the steps of the Capitol building on December 7th. A lovely tea was held before the ceremony for the members attending. We are again partnering with the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University for the third year and will be creating designs to complement the paintings or pieces of art which have been assigned to the garden club members participating. Members have contributed in excess of $20,000 from the period April 2007 to April 2008 to the Scholarship Fund. We have accomplished this by passing the scholarship jug at all our Board meetings. According to money collected we give Life Memberships to a lucky winner and this in turn goes toward our scholarships. Proceeds from memorials given for our deceased members and in “Honor” of members also goes toward our scholarships. Our six endowed scholarships to Auburn University will result in over $16,973.50 being contributed toward the education of our students this academic year. Our total contribution is $32,973.50. The market value of the six endowed scholarships as of December 31,2007 comes to $392,000.00 Clubs have raised money for the “Dollars for Scholars” by holding bake sales, raffles and silent auctions. My club’s president held a raffle for a dinner for six (6) cooked by her and served in her home. Another club sold Brunswick Stew cooked by their members and cleared a large profit. Two clubs applied for the Principal Financial Fund’s Grant and received $500.00 each. One club received theirs for landscaping the entry to their city cemetery. My club received the other $500.00 grant for our Outdoor Classroom and Year-round Garden. This will be around for years to come at the Montgomery Public School Arboretum. It will involve local teachers and staff of elementary schools. There is a greenhouse on the property that will be used for a Butterfly House.. Our state bulletin “Hortensia” has had Native plants featured on the front cover of every issue since the beginning of this administration as a tribute to our National President Barbara May. ____________________________ President Margaret Reynolds  Florida Federation of
Garden Clubs, Inc. FFGCDEEP SOUTH CONVENTION REPORT May 31, 2008 Our National Garden Club President, Barbara May, certainly struck a responsive chord in Florida with her emphasis on Native Plants. As we read the reports from our twelve District Directors, we were impressed with the many, many projects involving our Florida natives. Gardens are being established at public buildings, at schools and in public parks throughout the state. Garden clubs are learning about our natives through countless programs and educational activities. Flower Shows are planned featuring natives and designing with natives is a hot topic! This President participated in a beach restoration project by planting sea oats to protect the dunes. From Pensacola to Key West – Floridians are going native – with plants, that is! A major reason for our burgeoning interest in native plants is the realization that Florida has serious water problems. We must not only conserve water but we must also show more concern about the pollution of our water. During the previous administration each of our Districts held a water conference in an effort to educate the citizens about the need for water conservation and the various ways that each of us can contribute to that effort. This administration is focusing on maintaining the quality of our water. Programs are being developed for the individual clubs and local communities stressing the safe use of fertilizers and pesticides to reduce the pollution of our surface water resources. Our members have a responsibility to be informed about those legislative proposals which affect our water supplies. .To that end, we obtained permission from a member of one of the Water Management Districts, to use a power point program explaining how citizens can participate in the permitting process. This program was put on a CD, which we then distributed to each of our FFGC districts. All garden clubs now have access to this program to educate both their members and their communities. Our rain barrel program continues to be a popular project for both young and old. You can see an example of a beautiful one at the Opportunity Drawing booth in the hallway just outside. Someone will soon be the lucky winner! Florida’s youth are always in the forefront of our plans and activities. Our SEEK program (Save the Earth’s Environment Through Knowledge) is offered to high school students. It is a three day conference which brings students from all areas of Florida together to focus on the protection of the earth’s resources. Last summer our chairman invited about 20 of the students to talk about their projects at home and at school. It was amazing to listen to their stories. Some had power point programs, some had posters and others just told their stories. One young lady was organizing an all day Environmental Conference at her school. A young man adopted the local garden club building as his Eagle Scout project. He drew up plans, earned the money to buy the plants and planted them around the building. He was obviously very pleased with the pleasure he brought to the club members. This summer the conference will move to Wakulla Springs where students will have more “hands on” activities in that beautiful park area working with the park rangers. Wekiva Youth Camp is enjoying a renaissance of new and different activities geared to spur the interest of today’s youth. Nature photography was very popular last summer and all enjoyed the camp gallery of photographs. Old shoes and boots received enthusiastic decorating by campers and were then filled with a variety of plants. They made a charming display on the porch of the Nature Hut. Once again the camp received accreditation from the American Camping Association. We look forward to the 2008 camp season with a very enthusiastic new Director and Assistant Director and even more new activities sure to please our active youngsters. These are but a few of the concerns of Florida Federation of Garden Club members as they continue to “FOCUS On Florida” – its youth, its communities and its natural resources... ____________________________ President Margaret "Cinny" O'Donnell  The Garden Club of GeorgiaThe theme for the 2007-2009 Garden Club of Georgia is “Pick Up and Grow”. We all need to pick up litter and pick up our efforts to grow in membership. I did not know at the time when I wanted to have litter as one of my projects that the Governor of Georgia was pushing the litter campaign. I even heard on the radio that the Pope was going green. He gave out disposable plates and litter bags to the many visitors that were at the Vatican. If the Pope and the Governor go green, we must be doing something right! The key to the success of all our projects lies with a growing and active membership. “Teams” were set up to spearhead the drives to eradicate litter and to increase membership. Membership Team: “Come Grow With Us” With the declining membership throughout all garden clubs in the Nation, we feel that this should be the number one priority. A club will not survive without members! This team started out with the “80th celebration” theme. (Garden Club of Georgia’s 80th anniversary) The seven districts have one year to get 80 new members in their district and they must retain membership in their districts. This has been a very spirited contest and the winning district with 80+ members will receive $50.00 at our convention in April. The membership team has distributed over 4,000 membership brochures in 11 Georgia Information Centers. Posters were printed showing how to join a garden club. They were distributed in libraries, garden centers, special events, welcome centers, and flower shows. One club placed membership brochures at a mall during a mall “Spring Event” and they received 22 prospective members. This membership team has spoken to many organizations explaining how people can join a club or start a club in their neighborhoods. The Litter Team: “Pick Up For Georgia” “Keep It Green and Clean” Litter is a problem through out the State. A major emphasis is getting rid of the big green dumpsters (containers) on our State and Federal Highways that are used by people who live in the rural areas. The dumpsters are put on county property but are very visible to the tourists who travel our State and Federal Highways. Where the dumpsters are located this has caused the roadways, streams, and the forest behind the dumpsters to be unsightly and unattractive on our State roads. Our litter team is encouraging letter writing to county officials and State officials asking that the dumpsters be placed in areas that will be fenced and kept clean. The litter team is encouraging our members to educate our youth and citizens (especially pick-up truck drivers), to make sure we have better laws enforced about litter, encourage adopt a mile litter pick-up and participate, adopt a river or stream. This team is giving out information about recycling and reusing, such as collecting cell phones at all state functions. They are encouraging the Bottle Brigade, a nationwide recycling campaign sponsored by TerraCycle, a company that manufactures eco-friendly plant food packaged in recycled soda bottles. This team is having a contest among clubs and will recognize clubs for their outstanding efforts in litter reduction. Clubs involved in litter learning or litter eradication would write a short narrative and submit it to the litter team. The winning club will receive pickup-sticks for their club members. This team has worked very hard this year to encourage garden club members to be involved in keeping “Georgia Green and Clean.” Youth Team: This team is made up of “young” garden club members. We have a Youth Coordinator that guides and interacts with members on the youth team. This team consists of the Youth Garden Club Chairman, High School Speech and Essay Chairman, Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl Poster and Poetry contest chairmen. We have 28 youth garden clubs in GCG. Georgia’s Garden Therapy program supports 20 garden clubs at Central State Hospital. In June 2007, this youth team put on a workshop for State Board members to meet the team and inform the board members of various activities that will be taking place in 2007-2009. The youth programs and fields of study have been varied, giving children a broad base of knowledge in gardening. Topics range from horticulture, nature study, endangered species, flower arranging, flower show procedure, butterfly gardens and school grounds improvements. Examples of meetings: good soil qualities and “cloning plants”, a youth club has their own perennial and annual garden as part of their civic/school improvement projects; playground litter pick up and participation with National Garden Week along with horticulture programs; tree planting on Arbor Day, floral designs for local nursing homes; “Going Green” a program to teach about water conservation and resources. Members prepared a three tiered planter using only native plants to decorate the entryway for a flower show; established outdoor classroom featuring small plots for butterfly garden and herb garden; a garden club council had a Standard Flower Show and were joined by their 5 youth club. This team has been promoting Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl contests, the poetry and essay contest with over a 1,000 participants this year. This year GCG is sponsoring a speech contest, a three day youth camp to be held in July at one of Georgia’s State Parks and continuing with the Children’s Website…Georgia Mountains to the Sea. This is a walk through experience for youth to learn about our state’s history, regions, industry and environmental education. There are links you can click on for online resources with more detailed information. GCG puts a great deal of importance on our Youth Programs. We continue to encourage garden clubs to sponsor youth clubs. Conservation Team: “Think Globally, Act Locally” GCG’s first conservation workshop was held in South Georgia in November with over a 100 in attendance. The conservation workshop was open to garden club members and non garden club members who wanted to attend. This was our first and we were pleased with the attendance. An emphasis was placed on water issues. We had a panel discussion made of a river keeper, State Senator, State Representative, local county officials and environmentalists. Each member on the panel spoke and the members of GCG and the local guest asked questions to the group concerning the droughts in Georgia and what can be done to preserve water in South Georgia. We had many speakers who spoke on topics from turtles to a video of the fires in South Georgia and the effect those fires have had on the animals and the environment. At our January State Board meeting this President challenged the North Georgia members to have a conservation workshop and they agreed to the challenge and have scheduled a conservation workshop in November 2008. The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. Scholarships GCG has a very successful and rewarding scholarship program. Our scholarships are funded by the sale of the calendars, State life memberships, named scholarship fund, a patron of scholarship, and the general scholarship funds. GCG awarded $55,600 in scholarships this year! GCG participates every year in the Deep South and National Scholarship program. Calendar: “Expressions” This year we changed the name of our calendar to “Expressions” and we “birthed” a small calendar. GCG had a contest going among the districts (7). The district that sold the most calendars will receive a check from an anonymous donor of $500.00 and second place winner will receive a check for $300.00 at the 2008 State Convention. We sold out of both calendars…. What an incentive to get those calendars sold! The Deep South Projects: “Dollar$ for Scholar$”- We have passed the jug at all State, District and local meetings and will continue to pass the jug until our last meeting in 2009. This President wants to share a contest with you: GCG has a club that is supporting the Dollars for Scholars project with “Penny Wars”. This is how it works…the club is divided into two teams; Brown Thrashers and Cherokee Roses; each team has a jar with the name of each member of the team listed on the front of the jar. The point of the game is to earn the most money in your jar. Only PENNIES count as positive amounts in the jar; other coins or paper money count against your total. Either team can put money in either jar. This means one team can put larger coins or paper money in the other team’s jar, sabotaging their total. The team that has the largest total at the May meeting will win. Example of how it works: Brown Thrashers have 300 pennies in their jar the Cherokee Roses has 200 pennies. The Cherokee Roses team puts $3.00 worth of quarters (12) in the Brown Thrasher’s jar, which means that the Thrashers now have 0 and the Roses are ahead 200 pennies! At the 2008 convention, the GCG will participate in the Walk-A-Thon, “The Arrangement”, the “Designers Challenge” and “Dollar$ for Scholar$ workshop”. The National Garden Clubs Projects: “Plant Natives-Plant Organically”… At the GCG’s Conservation Workshop, we had presentations on the drought and the use of native plants in landscaping. We have had two native plant and wildflower symposia. GCG had seven NGC President’s School Garden Projects at elementary schools across the state. Youth clubs planted native trees at the local schools on Arbor Day. Students studied why we plant natives, planted a native butterfly garden and garden club members purchased 42 books for the school library on butterflies and native topics. These clubs had Educational Exhibits and local Standard Flower Shows on “Plant Natives-Plant Organically.” The Garden Club of Georgia and youth clubs will continue to be educated on native plants that can withstand the drought conditions in our state. Georgia will support the Walk-a-Thon as we continue to show that our garden clubs are very active in landscaping Habitat for Humanity houses. Many books of evidence were sent to National to be judged for National competition. A most needed and appreciated grant of $2,000 was received from Principal Financial Group for garden club projects. Blue Star Marker: Seven Blue Star and By-Way Markers have been erected and landscaped since April of last year. We have many more to be ordered and installed. GCG has had beautiful ceremonies at all of these dedications. National Garden Week: GCG continues to be very active during NGC week. Clubs have many ways that they celebrate National Garden Week. An example: A garden club gives $200.00 to the County Extension office to send a child to 4-H camp! That is how this club participates in National Garden Week. You will find many designs in banks, nursing homes, libraries, hospitals and garden centers with brochures about the Garden Club of Georgia and how to join a garden club. ____________________________ President Sara Lanier  The
Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc. I am happy to report to NGC that Louisiana is very much "alive and recovering". We are rapidly coming back from the disasters of the 2006 hurricanes. First, on behalf of the Louisiana Garden Clubs, I wish to thank the National Garden Clubs for the tremendous and generous support of the "Greening of the Gulf". Great strides are being made in the storm areas, both in New Orleans and Lake Charles, La. In New Orleans the restoration of the beautiful Botanical Gardens and City Park, known to all as one of the most beautiful parks in the U.S. These two areas were known to hold the beauty of giant Azalea plants, some as large as 6 ft., native plants and trees, and heirloom roses bushes.They were all lost as well as the old Magnolia trees and most native trees, as well as 100 yr old oaks. Through your generous donations 108 trees have been planted, as well as Azaleas and rose bushes. The Urban Forestry Group donated $34,000 also to be used for restoration. They have engaged three experts in the fields of Horticulture, Landscape design and one for Native plants. They have made a master plan. The Grants to NGC are being prepared at this time with 13 Garden Clubs participating. They will use the $26,000, and each Garden Club will have its own space. A Symposium was held earlier this year by Harriet Osborne and Sara Lee Jones. They were held in Jan., Feb., & March. One was instruction on Design, one on Horticulture and one on vertical planting. Over 30 enrolled in these classes. In Jan. Landscape Design held a course at the Baton Rouge Garden Center. In Feb. the Judges Council of Dist. VIII hald a Flower School Series and in March, Gardening Study Courses were offered. Around the State, we dedicated five new Blue Star Memorial Markers. The Scholarship Committee judged and issued five Scholarships to deserving applicants totaling $7,550. Another student from Baton Rouge received $1,750 scholarship money from NGC to be used ths Spring semester. A club in Vidalia, La. celebrated its 75th anniversary and next year in 2009, Louisiana will celebrate its 75th anniversary. This is the 50th year of our "Clean City Contest" This is always well participated in and shows great community effort and is good publlic relations for our Federation. These towns strive to show support of all the community and keep their cities environmentally sound. We continue to have an international tour each year conducted by one of our members, Jo Ann Christopher. They have proven to be a big favorite among members, and are always booked fully with a waiting list. They will be doing two this year and they make a great profit. Jo Ann has made a motion that the profits from these tours go into the scholarship fund. Louisiana is small in numbers, but large in activity and heart. Our members are generous with their talent and time, loyal and always encouraging new growth. We are striving to regain new members as we lost so many to the results of the 2006 storms. I have challanged each club member to to invite a prospective member. We have tremendous talent in our State. ____________________________ President, Sybil Colichio  The
Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc.From Atlanta to Pensacola And the Time in Between The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. is an amazing organization. Last April I had the honor of being installed as the president of this wonderful group of hardworking individuals. Next month we will meet for our 78th state convention. Out of duty to the war effort during World War II we cancelled a convention. Otherwise this would be the 79th convention. Our wonderful state chairmen, club presidents, and club members (4,433 strong ) are spread over six geographic districts in our state. Each district’s director held a spring workshop to aid the club presidents and members in preparation for the upcoming club year. This is a learning experience for the clubs and the chairmen and valuable contacts and exchange of ideas take place. Our summer board meeting was held in Greenwood, Mississippi, at our beautiful permanent home. We have a strong committee in place that sees to the upkeep of this fine home. Theses members also rent the facility for receptions and functions to help us maintain this as our state headquarters. Summer is not a rest time in the GCM, Inc. We sponsor high school students to attend the Horticulture Summer Seminar at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi. On the other side of the state we also sponsor a Youth Nature Camp that enables younger students to learn about nature and conservation of our natural habitat. The campers also ride horses, play games, and take home great memories. Needless to say summer is a planning time as well for the GCM. Fall arrives with the opportunity to give praise and awards to the individuals and clubs for all their hard work at our six district Awards Meetings. Our clubs are very active and they deserve the honors bestowed upon them at this time. Besides it is fun to get together again after the summer and visit with our garden club friends. October arrives and we all head back to college. We travel to Mississippi State University for the Landscape Design Symposium that the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. sponsors each October with MSU. This gives us time for business with our fall board meetings and the chance to learn from guests speakers. This year Bob Brzuszek, Dr. Neil Oldenwald, Plato Touliatos, and Sadik Artunc shared their knowledge of landscape architecture, trees, design in small spaces, and outdoor lighting. This is the longest running symposium of its kind in the United States. We are proud to be a part of this event and the GCM, Inc. is also proud to sponsor three very generous scholarships to MSU each year. We are also blessed with the means of supporting Flower Show Schools, Landscape Design Schools, and Youth garden clubs and contests. We are able to provide each member in the state with our Miss Gardener publication during the year to keep each member in touch and informed. We are also utilizing the internet as a means of communication as well. Two Blue Star Memorial markers have been dedicated this club year with well attended ceremonies. We keep our hands in the dirt planting, beautifying, landscaping, and improving this area that we call Mississippi. It is the aim of the GCM, Inc. to preserve, feed, and replenish our wildlife so that our children and grandchildren will see wildflowers on the litter free roadsides, birds in the trees, clean water in our streams. We want our youth to have the pleasure of visiting our historic areas, breathing clean air, and learning the importance of conservation and recycling. They need to be able to identify trees, eat a tomato and pick a flower that they grew. We want our future generations to be able to do and enjoy the pleasures of nature that we have been able to experience. This is what we strive to do in the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. with guidance from the Deep South Region and the National Garden Clubs, Inc. It is an honor to be part of these organizations. ___________________________ President Ann Turnbow  The Tennessee Federation
of Garden Clubs TFGCThe evening of April 17, 2007 I challenged the garden club members of our great state to “Open the Garden Gates of Their Hearts and Share the Legacy”. The reality of the year ahead became more than paper work and time spent planning as I began my most gratifying first year as president. The work of local clubs participation in the many worthwhile projects was evident on the District Directors reports for the year. The overwhelming response to our National President, Barbara May, and her theme “Nurture the Earth –Plant Natives” worked well with the challenge to our local clubs. The 54th Annual Conservation Camp provided the perfect opportunity for the official visit from our President. The theme “Pickin and Greenin” focused on the legacy of native plants found throughout our state. The chairman of NGC President’s Special Project held the first workshop involving the 196 camp attendees researching and compiling Tennessee Listings of Native Plants. A local native plant nursery owner just increased our interest with his colorful presentation of native wildflowers and then provided them for campers to purchase. The intrigue of the Green Roof in downtown Nashville, planted with all native plant material, was a revelation about the environmental impact that the use of native plants can produce. There was beauty displayed also with the design’s requiring the usage of all native materials, with competition between the Districts. Competition is good it raised $200.00 for a special donation. Ivan Racheff House and Gardens, our state headquarters located in Knoxville, Tennessee, with its public gardens, will be the recipient of four new plantings. I am excited about asking each District Native Plant Chairman to work with the State Chairman, and locate through out the gardens, collections of native plants representing their District. Mary Summerville, our Deep South Regional Director with her Special Project “Dollars for Scholars” has certainly given an entirely different meaning to the little brown jug’s use. The clever use of jug’s painted green also provided the opportunity to recycle for all the many clubs around the state that are “passing the jug” at club meetings and membership meetings. Our Regional Chairman for the State almost convinced us that money does grow on trees with her special tree named (Cashius monetarius). This worth while project, with emphasis on “Today’s Youth Tomorrow’s Future”, further insurers our legacy. During our state convention in Clarksville everyone can enjoy a glorious morning stroll along the Cumberland River on the river walk lined with cherry trees. Donations will go to the “Dollars for Scholarship” funds. The “Flower Hour Program” has taken the joy of designing for our homes to others by providing an outlet for the general public to join us for a price of a ticket. One of the 4 Districts has held a very successful program selling 200 tickets and there are others planned through the state raising funds for ways and means on the Deep South, State and District levels. There are many worthwhile projects carried out everyday that never receive recognition across our state. And then there are those that step to the front such as Blue Star Memorial Markers. During the beautiful autumn days, on opposite ends of the State, two markers were dedicated. High atop beautiful Lookout Mountain and in the flat lands of West Tennessee, in the town of Bells people were again moved to tears. Johnson City, Tennessee will be the beneficiary of the 2007-2009 “Let’s Go Native” grants program. Girls Inc of Johnson City-Washington County Washington will be assisting in the restoration of an urban facility. Approximately 300 girls are served in after school programs, summer vacation, and summer hours ranging in ages (5-16) and grades (K-11th). Involving them in the growing and nurturing of this tender vegetation will impact their lives and provide educational opportunities about our heritage of native plants in Tennessee. I would like to close my report by progressing to a club of ladies that some might consider inactive. In the town of Etowah the President of the Etowah Friendly Garden Club lived across the street from a Scout Lodge. She observed young and old restoring this 1937 structure built under Roosevelt’s program to train the youth of America, called the National Youth Administration. This club has 17 members, some who reside in assisted living and are on walkers. This admirable group of ladies volunteered to do the landscaping at the lodge using native plants and spending $800.00 earned from garage sales, plant sales and did not quit until the funds were raised. Amazingly they have 28 barrel planters on the main street of their town that they maintain each year. All experienced extreme drought last summer and they carried 70 gallons of water every other night to keep them flourishing and you do not need a photo of that I can see this in my mind. The strength and tenacity of these garden club members exemplifies the life changing attributes of gardening that will enhance and give character to our youth of today. ____________________________ President Annette Shrader |