Awards
Over the years the Grapevine Garden Club has applied for and won many National, Regional, State and District awards. Here are some FAQs about these honors:
Purpose of Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. awarding commendations from National, Regional, State, And District levels
According to Texas Garden clubs, Inc. (TGC), “Receiving a prestigious National Garden Club award is one of the highest honors to be achieved by local garden clubs. This recognition creates pride and encourages member to further their efforts.” When we look at the list of awards a club can apply for, we see a starting point for our civic achievement, youth and adult education, beautification of our community, and a host of other projects. These activities can be the core of our club and drive our programs, tours, monetary contributions to garden-related causes and organizations, and all other enterprises that serve our community.
How do we apply for the awards?
We can apply for both competitive and non-competitive awards. The competitive awards have strict guidelines for submission and are graded on a numeric scale of 1-100. Supporting documentation such as written descriptions of projects and often photographs must accompany each competitive award submittal. Non-competitive awards are primarily recognition of donations to various organizations that the club president selects each year from a list supplied by the National and State Garden Club organizations.
What is a Gold Rating?
The TGC Gold Rating is a non-competitive top prize for clubs who set the bar high on civic involvement and garden education. Gold being the top award in a set of four (Green, Bronze, Silver and Gold), it is calculated on a multi-faceted point system and depends on total club membership. GGC has continually been rated Gold for many years. The Gold Rating application is lengthy, requiring much research into club facts and activities during the current calendar year.
Where else to find award information
Hardcopies of GGC award information dating previous to the most current award year can be found in the Grapevine Public Library History Room, GGC display case. Applications are in binders and certificates are mounted in scrapbooks. A separate scrapbook is created each club year, from September through May.
Awards for GGC projects in 2019
GGC proudly won four National Garden Club awards in 2019 for the Wall Farrar Litter Project, Newsletter, Cookbook and Bird Sanctuary Week.
The application process began in October 2019 when a total of 24 award applications were submitted to the District II awards chairman. The awards then made their way from District to State to National with a slight detour to Regional. During the spring/summer of 2020 we received awards from District II, Texas Garden Club, South Central Region and National Garden Club.
A total list of the 38 District II, TGC, SCR and NGC Awards received for 2019 can be viewed here.
Pam Braak, Award Chair (CP-14). 37th year
Club Affiliations
The Grapevine Garden Club (GGC) strives to support the projects of the National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC), South Central Region(SCR) of the NGC, Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. (TGC) and District II of the Texas Garden Clubs. GGC is also a member of the Garden Club Council of Fort Worth. The following briefly describes the major projects and themes of these garden club affiliations for 2019-2021.
National Garden Clubs, Inc. - www.gardenclub.org President: Mary Warshauer Theme: Plant America - Play Outdoors
Our imaginations are unleashed into a playground of possibilities as we enjoy the boundless wonders of the outdoors. However, our treasured natural resources need protection and restoration. NGC is dedicated to preserving our earth’s natural resources through our communities’ civic beautification and our environment’s conservation. We must continue to raise awareness to safeguard what we hold dear. Each time we share our members’ knowledge and talents in a hands-on community project, NGC has the chance to create long-lasting relationships that will support the environment and enhance our communities.
South Central Region www.scrgardenclubs.org Director: Rose Knight Theme: Plant America - Enhance the Future My theme “Plant America –Embrace the Future” will come to life through our SCR term scholarship fund raiser “SCR Gardening Hero” effort. Every penny donated will go to fund scholarships.
Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. www.texasgardenclubs.org President: Gwen DeWitt Theme: To Preserve the Past, Serve the Present and Insure the Future
My main goal as President will be to work with clubs to encourage them to go forward and thrive, adding new members to their rolls. I will be promoting education through support of our NGC Inc. Schools and Scholarships. In addition to supporting education, I plan to encourage our members to support NGC’s Plant America – Play Outdoors and SCR’s Penny Pine. I will urge our members to reach out to our youth with the Smoky the Bear and Woodsy Owl posters.
District II www.tgcdistrict2.com Director: Suzanne Clement Theme: Plant Native - Take a Walk on the Wild Side
Garden Club Council of Fort Worth President: Suzanne Clement
The Garden Club Council of Fort Worth has programs and projects which advocates new opportunities to network with fellow garden club members, plant societies, agencies and organizations with similar interests and goals.