National Garden Clubs Officers Hail From Five States Across U.S.

Photo courtesy of Bill Korhely

ST. LOUIS— National Garden Clubs Inc., the largest volunteer organization of its type in the world, installed its 2009-2011 executive officers at the organization’s national convention held in Houston recently. The officers hail from five different states and have a long history of involvement in the local, regional and national segments of NGC. Headquartered in St. Louis, National Garden Clubs has 200,000 international members connected by a network of 6,300 local clubs, 50 state clubs, and a National Capital Area club.

NGC officers guide the national organization and work to advance its mission of promoting civic and environmental responsibility as well as a love of gardening and floral design. The 2009-2011 national executive officers are:

President: Renee Blaschke of Smithville, Texas
First Vice-President: Shirley Nicolai of Ft. Washington, Maryland
Second Vice-President: Linda Nelson of Keizer, Oregon
Third Vice-President: Sandra Robinson of London, Kentucky
Fourth Vice-President: Nancy Hargroves of Manakin Sabot, Virginia

In keeping with the traditions of this 80-year-old organization--but with an entirely modern spin appropriate to NGC’s increasingly diverse membership--the new administration has chosen an official theme that reflects some of today’s most pressing concerns. Titled “The World Around Us: Love It, Beautify It, Protect It,” the theme encompasses a wide range of projects designed to promote clean air, pure water, recycling and “green” practices. NGC frequently has been in the limelight due to its local, regional and national civic-minded projects and partnerships with such groups as Habitat for Humanity and the U.S Forest Service. Most recently, NGC launched a highly publicized initiative called Plant It Pink, which raises funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and NGC’s own horticultural therapy programs.

National Garden Clubs Inc. (www.gardenclub.org) offers extensive educational resources on topics ranging from organic gardening to the study of birds, butterflies and beneficial insects and how to attract them. Among NGC service projects are healing gardens and horticultural therapy programs; fundraising for replanting disaster-struck forests; the Blue Star Memorial project, which honors members of the U.S. Armed Forces; flower shows; school gardening initiatives for children; and a host of civic beautification and improvement efforts.

Download NGC Officers press release as a WORD document.

Contact NGC webmaster to receive 300 dpi image of NGC officers.