FOUR ALDERSGATE GARDEN CLUB members attended the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs state convention in Memphis in April. The club was presented certificates of achievement from TFGC and the Deep South Region. From left are Cindy Hintz (TFGC awards chairman), Jackie Westfield, Cynthia Humes, Joyce Merritt (District III director), Kay Cox, Lelia Ware and Alice Overton (TFGC state president).
The theme for the Convention was “Memphis Bound — Green and Clean.” Four members from Aldersgate Garden Club attended the two day convention: Kay Cox, Cynthia Humes, Lelia Ware and Jackie Westfield.
The opening of the convention began with a “Green Means Go” luncheon on April 28. The speaker for the luncheon was Kevin Coble, a featured designer and owner of the Le Fleur Flower Shoppe in Memphis.
Friday’s luncheon speaker was Kristin Lamberson, an Interpretative garden specialist at the Strawberry Plains Audubon Center in Holly Springs, Miss.
Workshops on both days included the following topics: “Eating Local,” Plastic Pots OUT of Control,” “Miniature Design in a Box” and “Composting: The Free Way, The Easy Way, The Hard Way, and The NO Way!”
Two sessions were held each day with repeat classes, so each participant could attend both sessions each day. TFGC and Deep South Awards were presented both days during the luncheon and banquet.
The formal banquet on Friday included the Installation of TFGC Officers for the 2011-13 term.
The new state president-elect is Valerie Tipps from District III. Her theme for this term is “Gardening Gifts: Education, Friendship and Service in our Homes and Communities.”
The Aldersgate Garden Club, a member of the TFGC District III, Deep South Region, and the National Garden Clubs Inc., was presented certificates of achievement in the following categories: Three first-place (Special Achievement, National Garden Week and Publicity Press Book Small Club) awards and Three second-place (Conservation, Trees, and Promotion of Gardening Among Youth) TFGC club awards.
The club also received four Deep South Awards in the following categories: Conservation - first place; Community Action - second place; Publicity Press Book - third place, and Arbor Day – Honorable Mention.
Individual TFGC Awards were presented to the following members: Horticulture: Charlotte Scott - second place, and Cynthia Humes - third place; Public Relations: Lelia Ware - first place; Conservation: Kay Cox - first place; Litter Control: Charlotte Scott - first place and first place in the Deep South.
Only garden clubs/members in good standing are eligible to apply for awards stated in the Rules and Descriptions.
In addition, the club sponsored four youth who were contestants in the 2011 Smokey Bear and Woody’s Owl Poster contest: Zora McKissic, a third-grader, who was presented a second-place certificate in the Smoky Bear contest. She is the daughter of Denise McKissic and granddaughter of Margenia McKissic, who are members of Aldersgate. The club thanks all of our youth for their participation in the contest.
