Dear Garden Club Members:

Let me say “thank you” to all the members who have extended this President a big helping of “Hoosier Hospitality. I have traveled the state this past year visiting with clubs and districts in many places that were not familiar.  But, where there are garden club members there are welcoming faces and many courtesies to be enjoyed.

Remember last year’s convention?  This President was given an “empty bag” to fill with wonderful experiences, achievements and future opportunities.  That “empty bag” is nearly half full, and as a team we will fill that bag to overflowing in the coming months.

We are offered great opportunities through new programs introduced through National Garden Clubs, new and continuing projects through The Garden Club of Indiana, and through your club projects. Take time to research projects that are presented and pick what your club would like to accomplish.  No one need do everything, but choose those projects that your club can achieve to get a sense of accomplishment.

We are seeing an interest in Native plants, Butterfly gardens, and Youth garden clubs.  Along with the continuing state projects of Land Trust, Scholarship, Blue Star, World Gardening and Habitat for Humanity, clubs have indeed put their money where their interests lie. 

Within the next few days we will be celebrating Earth Day, Arbor Day, and in Indiana, April is Storm Water Awareness Month.  Have you noticed the public swing toward earth friendly pursuit?  Now is definitely a great time to invite people to visit your Garden Club.  There is a definite need for new members in the clubs, state and on a national level. Remember to invite, invite, invite.  Let people in your communities know your club is in town and all the good things you do to make your community a better place to live.  Share information about your projects and your goals for the future.  Make your programs interesting and lively and invite the public to special events.   If every member in every club told just 10 people a year about garden club, we could reach over 20,000 potential members per year.  That sounds like a lofty goal, but think of the outcome if this were achieved.

For economic reasons Indiana Gardens cannot continue to be published in the current format.  The format will be changed to reduce costs.  We are asking everyone who has email access to agree to receive the magazine by email.

That will help reduce the overall mailing costs.  For those who do not have that access, Indiana Gardens will be mailed to them as usual. 

It is necessary that we are provided us with their correct email address. There is a notice in this issue of Indiana Gardens as to the deadline and the person to send your mailing instructions.

Come join me in a year of discovering all the opportunities the future will hold, as we strive to complete existing projects and programs, continue to update and change our way of thinking to achieve the best goals we have set for ourselves.….I challenge you to imagine the possibilities……

Ellen ….