Projects to Grow Your World, Green Your Community
Individual clubs can choose from a garden variety of
educational, beautification, social, and service projects,
depending on member interests and local needs. Today's garden
clubs creatively and effectively address current issues, such as
climate change, highway beautification and other environmental
concerns. Local and state projects and national partnerships
with such organizations as the U. S. Forest Service and Habitat for
Humanity International give garden club members everywhere an
opportunity to make a difference while engaging in activities they
love.
As part of NGC-affiliated regional, national and international
networks, local club members can share outstanding resources,
knowledge and experience with like-minded individuals across the
U.S. and several foreign nations. NGC provides opportunities
for the funding of some projects through monetary grants and
awards.
The majority of projects carried out by NGC clubs fall into
three main categories: Current NGC President's Project,
Ongoing Projects and Outreach Projects.
Current President's Project
The NGC President's Theme for this administration, NGC:
Proudly Serving Our Members and Communities, focuses on service to
members and providing support to local garden in clubs in meeting
their specific needs in their communities. In keeping with
this focus, President Shirley Nicolai has launched a broad umbrella
of initiatives related to planting for public places
and protecting aquatic ecosystems.
Another ongoing President's Project is photo archiving of
accomplishments via a public Flickr site at www.flickr.com/nationalgardenclubs.
The site is designed to create and maintain a photo archive and
sharing projects for garden club members everywhere.
Ongoing Projects
National Garden Clubs' members coast-to-coast participate in
numerous rewarding local and national ongoing projects. Not
only are these projects of service or education to communities, but
also they are educational opportunities for the participating club
members. These projects often become essential components of
the communities that the clubs serve. Projects range from
erecting Blue Star Memorial Markers to honor service men and women,
youth programs, conservation-based initiatives, community and
roadside beautification, garden therapy and healing gardens to the
sponsorship of a Butterfly Garden for the education of the public
at the US Botanic Garden in Washington, DC.
Outreach Projects
Working with other philanthropic or civic organizations on
national initiatives is another way National Garden Clubs members
make an indelible impact. National Garden Clubs offers an
impressive variety of national outreach programs that promote civic
and environmental responsibility in the United States and
worldwide. NGC member clubs assist Habitat for Humanity
homeowners in the planning, planting and maintenance of gardens for
their new home. NGC has programs in place to
immediately respond to the need of restoration of public areas as a
result of natural disasters anywhere in the world. Another
facet of NGC's outreach projects is several international
initiatives that lend a helping hand to ensure success in
gardening.