Meetings
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008 NGC Convention - "MAKE MUSIC IN MEMPHIS"
National Garden Clubs Inc. Announces Major Awards at Annual Convention
May 1, 2008 - National Garden Clubs Inc., the largest volunteer organization of its type in the world, held its 79th annual convention in Memphis on April 25-28. More than 700 members attended, participating in seminars, workshops and presentations related to conservation, environmental education, horticulture and floral design.
Among the highlights of the event was the presentation of the organization’s three Awards of Excellence. These included:
- The Gateway Greening Inc. program, which developed neighborhood and community greening projects in downtown St. Louis. In the past few years, Gateway Greening has developed numerous beautiful planting sites and initiated the City Seeds Urban Farm and Hoop House project to raise significant funding for vegetables for food pantries and local market sales. Gateway Greening’s nomination was sponsored by The Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri Inc.
- Dr. Glover H. Triplett of Starkville, Miss., whose research led to the embracing of “no-till” farming methods. Dr. Triplett’s research changed crop production practices worldwide and may offer new solutions for combating global warming. The Garden Clubs of Mississippi Inc. sponsored Dr. Triplett’s nomination.
- The ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization), which provides agricultural information to overseas workers; distributes seeds for promising food, forage and agro-forestry plants; and offers training opportunities at the organization’s Florida farm. ECHO’s nomination was sponsored by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs Inc.
Barbara D. May, National Garden Clubs Inc. president, discussed her key project initiatives “Seeds of Tomorrow,” which promotes school-based gardening projects to teach children the benefits of native plants and organic gardening, and “Let’s Go Native,” a civic project promoting the planting of native plants and wildflowers.
The convention program also updated members on the National Garden Clubs Inc. ongoing activities in support of the Forest Service’s Penny Pines program. In partnership with the Forest Service, the NGC helps raise funds to reforest damaged areas in national and state forests. Since the partnership was launched in 2004, The NGC has raised $33,000 for this worthy project.
To support Penny Pines, donations must be made in multiples of $68 (the cost of planting one acre when Penny Pines was started in 1941). Donations can be sent to NGC Headquarters, 4401 Magnolia Ave., St. Louis, Mo., 63110.
National Garden Clubs Inc. is a not-for-profit organization. With more than 209,000 members and 6,300 member clubs across the U.S., the NGC is the largest volunteer organization of its type in the world. Founded in 1929, the NGC offers extensive educational programs and resources to promote gardening and environmental responsibility. The NGC is headquartered in St. Louis, adjacent to the world-famous Missouri Botanical Garden.