Committee Details
Committees are the major way for members to participate in the Club's fun, its educational activities and its stimulating events. If you would like to join a committee, contact the committee Chair. Each Committee Chairperson is responsible for planning the committee's activities for the year and may select the members of her/his committee as needed. Committee chairpersons work within the adopted budget for their committee and submit written annual reports to the President for the June meeting.
Committees for Managing Events and Projects:
Community Garden Awards
Annually, the committee selects three or four gardens of Islanders who do not belong to the Garden Club for recognition as good examples of outstanding horticulture practices. These gardens must be maintained by the owners, and they may be either private or commercial gardens. The owners are honored at the annual awards event held in November. The annual awards event is attended by award recipients, Garden Club members, and their guests to view video and poster presentations of each garden. A certificate is awarded for each garden and the gardeners’ outstanding efforts are recognized in the local media.
Helen Puz Horticulture Grants for Schools
The Garden Club supports the robust agriculture and horticulture programs within Vashon Island’s public and private schools through contributions for structures, planting supplies, and educational
materials. This committee solicits proposals from local elementary, middle, and high school teachers and staff for gardening-related educational projects. It reviews the projects and makes funding recommendations to the Board for approval by the membership. In recognition of her many years and tremendous dedication to the Garden Club these awards are given in the name of Helen
Plant Sale
All members are encouraged to participate in the Plant Sale, the Clubs’ annual fundraiser. Six months of planning, propagation, and execution culminate in this three hour, one-day event. The sale includes a diverse variety of ornamental, native and edible plants which have been cultivated and donated by Club members.
The Island community enthusiastically supports the sale through attendance and purchases each year. Money raised through the sale helps fund the Club’s community work and most of the Club activities. Responsibilities for the sale are handled by all club members.
Off-Island Garden Tour and Adventures
Club members take an off-island tour each spring, visiting professional gardens and growing centers off the Island. The committee identifies and selects sites, and also organizes this popular
trip. This committee also arranges spring and fall smaller “adventures” related to gardening either on Island or off depending on current interest.
Scholarships in the name of Kay White
To honor her many contributions to the Club and to Vashon gardens, VMIGC awards the Kay White Scholarship(s) based on students’ commitment to the study of horticulture, botany, environmental sciences, landscape architecture, or forestry. Funds for scholarship(s) goes through the Vashon Community Scholarship Foundation. The committee works with a Vashon High School counselor in identifying candidates, reviews each candidate’s qualifications and determines the number of scholarships and the amount of each. A progress report is presented to the Board at the June meeting. Club members are encouraged to attend the awards ceremony, as it means so much to the recipients!
Summer Open Gardens
Many members invite the Club to visit their gardens during the summer months of May to September. In addition to show casing members’ lovely gardens these visits offer an opportunity to seek advice, ask questions and find new ways to improve what gardeners are doing. Recommendations can highlight plant choices and also environmentally friendly ideas for overall landscape, watering, and soil improvement. In addition to enjoying and learning about gardens, members value the relaxed environment for sharing knowledge and friendship. The committee encourages participation and coordinates a calendar of visits.
Committees with Year-Round Responsiblities:
Historian
The chair of the committee keeps a record of newspaper clippings, photos, and other memorabilia concerning the Club’s activities.
Sunshine and Memorial
This committee sends appropriate cards of cheer and condolence to members and their families and contacts members in need of assistance and club support. The Club provides a subscription to Jacquie Lawson e-cards; a fun and easy way to connect with members.
Table Arrangements
This committee chair recruits members to bring flower arrangements for each table and sends reminders for providers a few days before the garden club meeting. These arrangements, ideally from the member’s own garden, should be simple and not too high, in order to allow visibility across the table.
Garden Advisory Team
Advisors are called upon to contribute at Club meetings