m directors corner agnolia messenger

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Let’s Go and Grow!

2021-2023 VOL 1 SUMMER 2021

DIRECTORS CORNER Magnolia Messenger

DISTRICT DIRECTOR: NILSA SUMMEY 721 Biggers Rd, Columbus, GA 31904 Cell 706-536-8848 Email:[email protected] CO-DIRECTOR: KAY HAGLER P. O. BOX 436, Buena Vista, GA 31803 Cell 706-566-8540 Email: [email protected] RECORDING SECRETARY: ANN HOWELL Cell 229-939-1766 Email:[email protected]

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY: MARY ANN PARKS Cell: 478-244-1566 Email: [email protected] TREASURER: JANICE CLIETT Cell: 229-938-4710 Email: [email protected] PARLIAMENTARIAN: BESS HARTLEY Cell: 229-942-9490 Email: [email protected] CHAPLAIN: JOYCE CARREKER Cell: 229-938-4280 Email: [email protected]

This Issue

Magnolia District News P 1-5

Club News P 5-8

GCG News P 9-10

NGC News P 11

Calendar of Events P 12

DIRECTORS CORNER

Summer 2021

Magnificent Magnolia Gardenistas!

Oh gee, I hear there’s a new magnolia director in town. Well, here we go…our COVID-19 “rest period” is finally coming to an end thanks to our vaccinations, face masks and social distancing—so great job, everyone! It’s time to get back to our quasi-normal garden club business and meet up with our garden club friends we have missed so much! Magnolia has a few upcoming events and we hope you will join us (see the Upcoming Events page). New GCG President Peggy Tucker’s theme is “Plant America – Growing With Challenges and Changes!” and the NGC theme is “Plant America - Play Outdoors”. My theme for this term is “Let’s Go & Grow!” with more details to follow in future issues of the Magnolia Messenger (GCG First place newsletter winner--Congratulations to Kay Hagler, our editor!!)

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DIRECTORS CORNER

I’m asking for your help to GO to more garden club events/functions at district, state and higher levels and to GROW our membership. Thank goodness for each of you--the 600 mighty, Magnificent Magnolias! The majority of Magnolia clubs are in the small category less than 29 members, so all we have to do is… keep our current members (which can be a challenge due to relocations, illnesses, etc.) and add some more. It sounds so simple, yet it will take all of us working together to make that dream come true.

How do you know what goes on in district, state, region and national levels, if you’ve never been? Put on your adventurer hat and find how your ($10/member) state and ($25/club) district dues are spent. The GCG Inc. leadership is always busy behind the scenes sharing information on the website and with statewide officers while your garden club continues doing what you choose to do-- a social, luncheon club; a neighborhood-centric club; or anything that makes your club an enjoyable place to be. We’re all volunteers, so let’s be happy volunteers who make a difference in our communities as we follow the Garden Club mission: Beautification, Conservation and Education.

Let’s Go & Grow! Let’s grow as individuals expanding our minds and garden club world as we go to new events and make friends along the way. I look forward to serving you this term.

Nilsa Summey, (rhymes with yummy)

Magnolia District News Nilsa Summey Installed as Magnolia District

Director

Garden Club of Georgia members and guest gathered at the Athens County Club in Athens, Georgia on April 21, 2021 to install the newly elected seven Garden Club of Georgia District Directors. Our own Nilsa Summey was installed as the Director of the Magnolia District for the 2021-2023 term. Nilsa is pictured above third from the right.

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Magnolia District and Village Green Garden Club

honors Martha Price

On April 15th, 2021, the Magnolia District and the Village Green Garden Club of Byron, Georgia honored Martha Price by planting a Magnolia tree. The Plant Magnolia Ceremony was to celebrate the garden club contributions of Martha to the Byron community and the State of Georgia. Garden Club members and special guests attended the special occasion at the Byron Welcome Center. Martha served many years with the Byron Garden Club and a two-year term as President of The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. (GCG), 2015-2017. Individuals spoke on her behalf and joyfully told of her many accomplishments, leadership abilities,

and quick wit. It appears that one of her favorite phrases through the years as well as leadership style was “Let’s put a bow on it!” Photo above left to right: Evelyna Rogers, Magnolia District Director; Peggy Tucker, Incoming President, GCG; Martha Price, Former President GCG; and Barbara Bourque, President GCG. Martha’s magnificent qualities include her ability to take responsiblity, her relationship with God, her wisdom, her love for friends, her love for family and her love for husband Phil. What a day it was celebrating with laughter, tears, and memories of joy.

Attention Club and Council Presidents: If your club scored

25 or more on The Standard of Excellence Report, please notify me with your name, name of club, and score. I want to ensure all clubs and councils making this score in 2020 receive the recognition. Thank you for double checking. Evelyna, [email protected]

Chaplain’s Messenger article by Joyce Carreker

Celebrate Life!! Please!! In spite of all the bad stuff of 2020, and, for some folks,

even worse stuff in 2021, God is so good! He has blessed us “beyond all we could ask

for.” Notes from one of my dad’s Sunday School lessons gives this wonderful advice:

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(1) Rejoice in God’s peace; (2) Control your thoughts; (3) Follow Christ-like examples;

(4) Learn to be content ; (5) Experience the blessings of giving. And, be sure to do

something for yourself, every day! Sing a song! Take a friend to lunch! Bake a cake,

make a pie—and enjoy eating it! Praise Him, Praise Him, all ye little children!!

The Magnolia District Awards YOU need to know: Magnolia District has three awards that will be given at the Annual

Fall District Meeting. ATTENDANCE AWARD: The Magnolia District Attendance Award shall be awarded annually to the garden club having the highest percentage of members present at the Magnolia District Meeting in October. Club membership number shall be determined by dues paid as of the

preceding March 1. Host clubs are not eligible for this award. No application is necessary.

OUTSTANDING GARDEN CLUB AWARD: The Magnolia District Outstanding Garden Club Award shall be awarded annually to the most outstanding garden club in Magnolia District as determined by the District Director. The President’s Report will be used. Additional

photos will be submitted to the District Director by garden clubs. No application necessary. RONALD McDONALD PULL-A-TAB AWARD: The Ronald McDonald Pull-A- Tab Award will

be based on records maintained by the District Chair for the award. The club’s name, town and district must be on the submitted containers. Indicate the weight on the container.

Clubs and Membership Level Drops in Magnolia District

During the past year two clubs dropped from the number of Garden Clubs in

Magnolia District. Colquitt Garden Club, #05-213 (19 members) went inactive and

Serendipity, #05-048 (41 members) resigned. That is a total of 60 members or 10% of

the Magnolia District membership. The current number of clubs are twenty-seven (27)

and the current membership is 565. Camellia Garden Club added four (4) new

members. Consider recruiting for new membership and / or mentoring a new garden

club. Post flyers on social media and other areas to gain the attention of potential

members. Public spaces such as libraries, community centers, universities, botanical

gardens, nurseries, and garden centers are a great place to start. Add Members today!

Thank you for being a part of the Magnolia District membership.

Subscribing Membership: We need to think about this all year long as The Garden

Club of Georgia, Inc. strives to meet the 10,000 membership minimum bench mark

needed to qualtify for TWO National Garden Club scholarships. The GCG may be short

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of that number and has until early October to increase the membership. One way to do

that is by enrolling subscribing members. Add Members today!

Marideane Maxwell Issues A Call to Action for the Perry Flower Show Help Needed: No experience needed.

Volunteering for the Perry Flower Show is a great way to make a difference and help develop a beautiful standard flower show for the fair goers to enjoy. No previous experience is necessary – you get the training you need. Join volunteers committed to connecting people with horticulture and floral arrangements while maintaining the charm of a flower show. Contact: Marideane @229-436-6888 or email at [email protected]

Magnolia District Club News

GREEN ISLAND GARDEN CLUB’S “FEED THE VALLEY” PROJECT

The Green Island Garden Club, Columbus, has been very busy and continued their meetings in spite of COVID-19 by meeting outside in several gardens and even had a wreath making class in the Gin House of the Columbus Botanical Garden. Of all their projects and donations, a special gift to “Feeding the Valley (FTV)” was made in January 2021. The process began with a letter addressed to the entire club membership asking for individual gifts to be made to help the “food insecure” in our area during and after the holidays. In the request letter, the needs of FTV were explained and how much each dollar could help—each dollar would provide 6 meals to the food insecure in the Columbus and surrounding areas. While social distancing and wearing masks, three members met as a committee and became the Green Island Garden Club “Reindeers” who stuffed little bags with the FTV request for help letter; stamped, self-addressed envelopes; individually wrapped homemade brownies donated by another member; and Christmas bells affixed with ribbon as a necklace and lots of bright colored, happy, Christmas paper. These special packages were delivered to the club’s entire membership by club volunteers and elicited a very generous $1800 in donations

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equivalent to 10,800 meals for Feeding the Valley! (“Reindeers” pictured from L to R: Lynn Thompson and Ruthie Compton

GREEN ISLAND GARDEN CLUB’S NEW OFFICERS INSTALLED

On May 11, 2021, 24 members and guests of the Green Island Garden Club, Columbus, met for lots of conversation and a delicious lunch served at Morten’s At Old Town on their outside covered patio. It was so nice to get to visit with everyone for their May meeting and installation of new officers. Nilsa Summey, Magnolia District Director, far right, installed the officers as follows: (L to R) Betsy Watson-Fortson, 1st VP; Lana Helton, President;

Lynn Thompson, Treasurer; and Patty Cardin, 2nd VP. Like many clubs, they are still on the hunt for a recording secretary and will rotate that assignment until one lucky volunteer can be found. The club is planning more donations and the planting of some magnolia trees in keeping with the direction of the Magnolia District, to honor some of the club’s long-time members who have so willingly served the club in the past and are now unable to attend meetings. Committees are being appointed to make recommendations regarding some more community and FUN-raising projects.

BEE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN CLUB

Picture 1: Bee Beautiful Garden Club members of Richland, after a garden tour at Massee Lane Camellia Gardens in February, participated in the One-Stroke painting class held by Tulip Paints staff.

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Picture 2: Photo to the right: Members trimming rose bushes and planting flowers at the Richland Library during Garden Week in Georgia. Picture 3: Photo below: Members starting on the second phase of a four part phase of planting flowers around the Stewart County Courthouse located in Lumpkin

Picture 4:Pictured above right is the first phase

of the courthouse project initiated in spring of 2020 in bloom in spring of 2021!

Picture 5 Left: Bee Beautiful GC 2021-2023 Officers; (L-R) Secretary, Lynne Favara; V-President, Christi McNamara; President, Peggy Wilson; Treasurer, Hank Wilson. By: Peggy Wilson

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CAMELLIA GARDEN CLUB

The Camellia Garden Club has had a busy 2021! We celebrated Arbor Day in partnership with Keep Randolph Beautiful by planting a gem magnolia at our historic Iris Garden.

In addition, we have added four new members and continued to identify Garden Spots of the Month. Our first meeting in person was held in April, with a plant exchange. We celebrated Garden Week in Georgia by placing a plant in the Cuthbert United Methodist Church and sharing pictures with each other from our gardens via text and/or email. These were all posted on Facebook.

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The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. News

Garden Club of Georgia

officers installed for 2021-

2023

On Wednesday, April 21, 2021 the installation of incoming

officers for the Garden Club of Georgia and for the District

Directors was held at the Athens County Club. The slate of

officers for the 2021-2023 term are: President: Peggy

Tucker, Azalea District; First Vice-President: Lisa Hall,

Oleander District; Second VP: Diane Hunter, Redbud

District; Third VP: Bess Hartley, Magnolia District;

Fourth VP: Julie Groce, Camellia District; Recording

Secretary: Sally Holcombe, Dogwood District; Treasurer:

Marilyn McDonnell, Azalea District; Asstistant

Treasurer: Edna McClellan, Laurel District; and

Parliamentarian: Doris Blalock.

Photo: Front L to R: D. Blalock, B. Bourque, P. Tucker, L. Hall,

D. Hunter, J. Hersey; Back L to R: E. McClellan, M.

McDonnell, B. Hartley, J. Groce, S. Holcombe, B. Davis.

Barbara Koch of Oglethorpe Garden Club wins Third Place Award for Poems for Adults Barbara has been a long time poem writer. She

entered the Garden Club of Georgia’s poems for adults contest. Enjoy her poem to the left and above. Congratulations!

Vigil for a Moonflower

Midnight

I’d waited all evening

for the Moonflower to

unfurl its ghostly white petals

and open its pale face

to the moon.

At last, it threw back its head

and opened its mouth in a

glorious Halleluiah!;

the star in its throat

straining to break free and

float up to join the others

winking in the night sky.

But, alas, earthbound,

it could not become

untethered,

try as it might.

Hours passed.

Trembling and heart broken,

the Moonflower

shrugged its verdant shoulders.

It’s lovely head,

grown too heavy now

for its slender neck,

hung low.

It could not stay

to greet the morning sun.

Shivering slightly,

it curled in upon itself

and soon,

too soon,

it was gone.

Barbara Koch 2021

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2020 GCG Wildflower Photo Contest Winner

Bobbi Liggett of Cuthbert, Georgia wins

Honorable Mention

Bobbi submitted the photo to the left of an emerging

Cinnamon Fern located at Wauhu Springs in

Randolph County. How beautiful is this simple photograph

of nature emerging! Thank you Bobbi for sharing and for

participating in the Wildflower Photo Contest!

Congratulations!

Scholarship News: The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. continues in its

commitment to the future of our state's young people and is proud to announce that in 2019-2020, $75,000.00 was awarded to 17 students; in 2020-2021, $71,000 was also awarded to 27 students; for a total amount of $146,000 awarded to 44 Georgia college students majoring in garden-related areas during this administration. Over 70 applications were read and evaluated by the Scholarship Committee. Thank you members of the Garden Clubs because YOU made this happen.

A Note from the State: Dear GCG Members,

This is just a little point of information for any club or district that publishes a yearbook, cookbook, manual (anything) or sponsors a website / Facebook page - produces a Flower Show or any other event We are sending this out now since many clubs/districts are doing some publishing. Please post prominently on your event publicity material, signage, publication header or Website/FB page that you are a member of The Garden Club of Georgia, and National Garden Clubs. When you apply for an award, naturally the GCG Judges will be more impressed if you show your pride for GCG by listing it prominently - and where applicable, showcasing various GCG projects in which your club has participated. (obviously - cookbooks won't have GCG Projects, but a title page can still contain membership info. Events won't showcase projects, but signage and brochures can show membership. Fundraisers can state that monies earned will be used for ..... [ and list some GCG projects among others])

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The same goes for National Garden Clubs. Competition at the national level is extremely tight. Some of our clubs lost points because they did not feature NGC in a publication or on website/FB page. The club or district that shows it is a proud member of GCG and NGC will naturally score higher. And it is important to show your members the importance of your parent organizations in the workings of your club. When working together, we all thrive. Please contact me if you need logos for GCG or NGC. Always happy to help. Barbara

National Garden Club, Inc. News

National Garden Week: June 6-12, 2021 Celebrate National Garden Week in Your Community!

Join NGC clubs across the country and celebrate National Garden Week,

June 6-12, 2021. This week is an opportunity to encourage pride in your

community, interest new members, and work with other groups to be part

of those efforts.

Ideas to Consider

Plan an educational program and/or workshop at your local library, public garden or garden center.

• Sponsor a hands-on "How Do You Select Flowers/Shrubs for Your Garden"

workshop at an area nursery.

• Plan a garden tour. This is a great time to share your knowledge of growing while

sharing ideas.

• Beautify a manageable blighted area or enhance an existing garden. This would

be a good opportunity to work with other groups.

• Plan an activity with a youth group or school students.

• Place a plant or flower arrangement at public facilities, along with one of the

beautiful National Garden Week posters.

National Garden Week information at :

https://www.gardenclub.org/sites/default/files/2021-01/ngw-proclamation-2021.pdf

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UPCOMING EVENTS: MARK YOUR CALENDAR

2021 July 27, Tuesday Leadership & Awards Workshop

Wesleyan Dr. Baptist Church Macon

August 3, Tuesday

Board Meeting/Installation of Officers

Hilton Garden Inn Columbus

October 8-10, Friday-Sunday Perry Flower Show Perry

October 21, Thursday Magnolia Annual District Meeting

Doublegate Country Club, Albany

Amaryllis all in a row!

Photo left is of Ann

Howell’s outside planting

of amaryllis.

Enjoy and Share! Presidents,

please send to your members.

They will not receive the

Messenger unless you distribute

it. Enjoy Summer 2021!

MAGNOLIA DISTRICT Magnolia Messenger Kay Hagler, P O Box 436, Buena Vista, Ga 31803 Telephone: Cell for text of voice 706-566-8540 Email: [email protected]

Deadlines Fall Issue (Sep. Oct. Nov.) ………………… Aug 15, Winter Issue (Dec. Jan. Feb.) …....……… Nov 15 Spring Issue (Mar. April May) ……………. Feb 15

mailto:[email protected]

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