About Us
Each year the club contributes to our community through a variety of projects. Some of these include
ANNUAL PLANT SALE
Held each May, club members contribute plants from their gardens and are on hand to answer gardening questions. Annuals, perennials, vegetables, and herb plants are also available for sale.
CIVIC DEVELOPMENT
The club maintains the small memorial garden at the Post Office. Along with the History Department and the Town of Germantown, we will continue to maintain the gardens surrounding The First Reformed Church Parsonage. All members are invited to participate.
CHRISTMAS MARKET
Each year the club holds a Holiday Boutique which includes sales of wreaths and table arrangements—decorated and donated by our members. We will also have a bake sale, themed raffle baskets, and a boutique sale. Members will also contribute houseplants that will be available for sale. Educational hand-outs about growing and caring for houseplants will be available.
EDUCATION
We work with local youth organizations to teach them about gardening through workshops and plantings. Every year the club awards a scholarship to a Germantown High School student who intends to pursue college studies related to gardening and horticulture. We assemble floral arrangements for the high school graduation ceremonies with flowers from our gardens.
FLOWER SHOW
The club organizes an annual Standard Flower Show staged at the Kellner Activity Building. Each show has a theme in which participants are encouraged to enter their garden’s best specimens, as well as flower arrangements. The show is free and open to the public.
GARDEN THERAPY
One of the club’s goals each year is to have senior citizens from the community participate in gardening activities. Benefits derived from this include increased mental stimulus and physical activity, as well as the pleasure and satisfaction gained from gardening.
PHILANTHROPY
The club makes an annual contribution to the National Wildlife Federation, The Columbia Land Conservancy, Inc., and The Federated Garden Clubs’ World Gardening Project (CARE). We also donate an annual subscription to Horticulture and Ranger Rick to the Germantown Library. Each year we contribute to the Library’s Fund Drive as well as donate a book on gardening to the library’s collection.
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE CLUB?
Please contact Irene Clum, President at 518-537-4793 or email at finslover2000@yahoo.com
MEMBERSHIP AFFILIATIONS:
National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Central Atlantic Region of State Garden Clubs, Inc.
Federated Garden Clubs of New York State, Inc., Third District
Columbia County Garden Clubs
Year Organized: 1928
Year Federated: 1933
Germantown Garden Club
PO Box 32
Germantown, NY 12526
GENERAL INFORMATION
Regular meetings are held at noon once a month from February through December unless otherwise noted.
Members receive The Garden Rake, a bimonthly newsletter. Included will be advance meeting notices and any variance in time, date, or venue for meetings. Members will receive e-mail reminders for upcoming meetings, as well.
Guests and prospective members are always welcome.
For each meeting, members are asked to bring a sandwich, cut into fourths, for sharing.
No regular meeting is scheduled for January.
There are three membership categories: Active, Supporting, and Honorary.
Active members are expected to attend at least two meetings per year, participate in at least one of the club functions during the year, and/or perform such duties as are assigned to them by the Executive Committee. Supporting members are not required to attend meetings or participate in club activities. Dues for both memberships are $25 per year.
Honorary members are designated at the club's discretion and pay no dues.
Active and Supporting members should pay their dues by December 31. Dues may be paid in person at a meeting or mailed to the treasurer at the following address: Germantown Garden Club, PO Box 32, Germantown, NY 12526.
Dues include membership in District III and the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State, Inc.
District III’s The Digest, a quarterly newsletter, can be viewed online at www.fgcnys.com/threedigest.html.
