Kathy Carmichael District Director

     PLAN * GROW * ENJOY

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MEMBER OF 

 

Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc.

Jan Sillik, President

Theme: A Time to Know, Sow, and Grow

 

Deep South Region

Sara Lanier, Director 

Theme: Membership Offers Opportunities for Everyone

 

National Garden Clubs, Inc

Shirley Nicolai, President

Theme: Proudly Serving Our Members and Communities

LETTER FROM OUR DISTRICT DIRECTOR, KATHY CARMICHAEL

August 28, 2011

 

Greetings District III Club Presidents,

 

Beginning a new adventure is always a little exciting and a little scary. I’m sure that both, you and I, are experiencing these feelings as this new year approaches. My job as District Director is to serve as a liason between FFGC and Club: to share information about the state programs and focus, to help you acquire the information you need to make your term of office as stress free and successful as possible; to offer you and your members opportunities for sharing the knowledge you have with others, to encourage interest in the goals of the garden club and in helping your club, members and others grow.  You have many talented and knowledgeable members in your clubs. Let’s think of ways we can share this knowledge and skill with members, non-members, and youth. As non-members learn of all we know and do our clubs will grow. Our youth are the future. How will gardening and environmental awareness add to their lives? Encourage other interested groups (neighborhoods, HOA, young professionals, master gardeners, couples, etc.) to form their own circles. Our FFGC President, Jan Sillik, has chosen Know, Sow and Grow as her theme for the next two years. Knowing, Sowing and Growing contribute to the present and the future of our communities and those who live there. Serve your communities by adopting this theme for your club and circles.

 

Two District Club Presidents have inquired about a workshop for new officers in September. Since most clubs had already set their programs for the coming year I decided to wait until later in the year, however I would be happy to arrange a District wide “Learn and Meet” or meet with your officers and/or communicate by email or phone to share procedures or information from FFGC. When we have our new Book of Information books might be a good time. Let me know what you want.

 

I will be picking up the new Book of Information (BOI) books when I go to the September District Director meeting. Each President and Circle Chairman will receive a copy of the BOI. If you, or some of your members, are going to the Anniversary Gala in Winter Park, I could arrange to deliver the BOI books to you. I think it would be helpful to go through the BOI together and discuss how to use it. There is so much information in that little book! Your club should be looking at the projects and activities that you are already doing for those that could be rewarded in the FFGC and NGC Awards programs. All these Awards are explained in the BOI. Some of you have written up books of evidence in the past and won monetary awards with you projects. You have many creative and talented members that could work together or individually to create one or more books of evidence.

 

At the District Directors meeting in Winter Park on September 14th, I have to give a report of individual member, circle, club and District garden club activities. Please send me an update of any interesting activities or projects your club has done since our May meeting by Sept. 6th. I would also like to know which, if any, of your members will be attending the Gala at Headquarters on September 16th. What members participated in the tour to WAFA (World Association of Flower Arrangers) in Boston in July. Did anyone from your club go to Wekiva or SEEK during the summer? Who are they? How many children were sponsored for the two camps? What other special events did members participate in?   Please check with your club members and let me know by September 7th. Photos with information/captions attached are welcome also.

 

Attached to this letter is the Call Letter and Registration forms for the District III Meeting and Luncheon in Monticello on October 6. Please distribute the Call Letter and the registration form to all Circle Chairmen . Each club or Circle should send the completed registration form with one check from their Circle treasurer for those registered. Encourage members to attend this special meeting with the FFGC Officers who will present their focus for the coming two years. They will have an FFGC Ways and Means table so members can purchase items from the headquarters store in their own District. In addition, the Monticello members have planned a delightful meeting for us all to enjoy.

 

Voting Delegates for District Meeting October 6                                                                                                                                                       I will personally call the District Club Presidents to find out the number of members you currently have in your clubs and tell you how many voting delegates you can have at the District meeting. Presidents will designate their delegates according to your own club bylaws or rules. When delegates arrive at the meeting registration table they will be given a voting card. Tellers will only count voting cards.

 

Special Award opportunity: The Paths of Sunshine award nominations are due by a Sept 30 deadline, but could be extended to Oct. 30? New info is now on the FFGC Website. This award is to recognize DOT maintenance staff who plant native or wildflower plants along a state or federal roadside. If you want to recognize someone check out the new information on the FFGC website.

 

 

By-Law Amendment Update

 

FFGC passed an amendment to FFGC bylaws April 2010 regarding non discrimination. In the BOI supplement Article II – 5, page 261, this should be added as #5:"Membership in the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. is open to all regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity or religious affiliation."

All clubs should add this non discrimination clause into their bylaws at the next opportunity.

                                                                                                                                              -Joanne Mulinare, FFGC Headquarters

 

 

District Websites and email addresses that I have received so far are :   Tallahasseegardenclub.com                             liveoakfloridagardenclub.com   and an Email for Iris GC   -   irisgardenclub.wakulla@gmail.com                   Take a peek, see what other clubs are doing and see how you could share what your Club is doing! Be sure to see what Linda Johnson has done with the District Website, http://ffgcdistrict3.org/ . We are discussing offering more information from the Clubs on this site. If you have a newsletter it can be put in the “Club” area so others can see what’s going on in your club. Linda will receive information from you atfief@bellsouth.net

Another great site is ffgc.org.

 

 

 

Please remind your Club members to bring old jewelry for resale at District events to benefit Wekiva and SEEK. We will have a table at the District Meeting.

 

 

 

Flower Show School Course II

 

District III Flower Show Judges are sponsoring Flower Show School Course II October 3-5, 2011 at the Tallahassee Garden Club. Horticulture, Design, and Flower Show procedure will be taught. It is the second of four courses. If Course I was missed, it can be taken at a later time. Those wishing to take one or both days of the course with or without credit are welcome to attend for a nominal fee. The Design instructor is Penny Decker who represented the National Garden Club at the WAFA show in Boston this summer. Marie Harrison is teaching Horticulture and Flower Show Procedure. Marie’s excellent and highly rated books on Horticulture are available for purchase from various outlets. You may remember her as she spoke a few years ago at a district meeting. If you are interested in more information, please call or email Marion Dunn 894-4611 or marion@stringfest.com      .

 

 

 

If you are not interested in the Flower Show School you can still learn more about floral design and have fun doing so! The following opportunities are available at the Tallahassee Garden Club:

 

 

Fun with Flowers

.These are quick and easy, make and take workshops that are open to everyone. All you need to bring is your clippers or scissors. Plant material, container and supplies are furnished. Cost is $20 per participant and is limited to 25 participants. The public is welcome. Classes begin promptly and last approximately 1½ hours.

 

Thursday, September 22, 2011   6:00 p.m           Crafting Arrangements with Materials from your Garden

 

            Thursday, November 17, 2011    1:00 p.m.          Holiday Designs – Traditional or Non-traditional

 

 Friday, February 10, 2012        6:00 p.m.          Show the Love. Session #1 (men only)

 

 Monday, February 13, 2012      6:00 p.m.          Show the Love. Session #2 (men only)

 

Thursday, April 5, 2012              1:00 p.m.          April Flowers

 

 

Fun with Floral Design

These programs are developed to teach more about floral design whether you are a beginner, somewhat experience or advanced. All you need to bring is your clippers or scissors. Plant material, container and supplies are furnished. The sessions will include handouts, lectures with step-by-step demonstrations, time for questions and class participation in making the featured design. The cost is $30 and is limited to 25 participants. A light supper is included. The public is welcome. Classes begin promptly and last 2½ hours. There are no grades or examinations.

 

Thursday, November 17, 2011    5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.    Traditional Line Mass Design for a Dining Table

 

Monday, March 26, 2011           5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.    Study of Designs in the Spring Flower Show

 

All classes will be filled on first-come-first serve basis and held at the TGC Garden Center at 507 N. Calhoun Street. Pre-registration is required one week in advance to allow instructors time to order supplies and prepare. Please make checks out to the Tallahassee Garden Club (TGC) and indicate that they are for FWF or FWF Design. For more information contact:  Joy Hevey: 3488 Colonnade Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32309 (850-668-8353) or e-mail: joyhevey@comcast.net.

 

 

 

 

If your Club has events or projects you wish to publicize to the District Club members send information to me at kathycarmichael@live.com. I will send them on to our District Webmaster, Linda Johnson, and to other Club Presidents.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

 

If you have questions about anything in this newsletter give me a call or send an email.

Thanks for all you do!

 

Kathy Carmichael                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              District III Director, FFGC                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 850-766-6381