WHAT THE HECK ARE THEY DOING…?

“ What the Heck…? ”  is a new Newsletter-Info-Series to share what our club does and how we do it. Each month, we will focus on one of our “Standing Committees” or Project Teams to give an overview of what their job is within GCW, the projects they are currently working on, achievements, and requests for any help they may need. 

As a refresher, the Garden Club of Wiscasset is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a dedicated mission in our Bylaws, Article II that states, “The objectives of this Club shall be to cultivate the art of gardening in all forms; to encourage community beautification; to support education in fields related to our environment; and to cooperate with the Garden Club Federation of Maine in promoting worthwhile projects.”

The seven Standing Committees below are organized to support the written Objectives above.

Ok, now that’s behind us, let’s get started with – 

WHAT THE HECK DOES THE AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS COMMITTEE DO?

What a great question! The Awards and Scholarships Committee (A&S for short) gives away kudos, pats-on-the-back, atta-girls/boys, high-fives, and money.

The Awards’ side of the A&S Committee is the kudo/atta-girl team that helps club members apply for different types of awards offered by garden club organizations, including the National Garden Club, Inc., the New England Garden Club, and the Garden Club Federation of Maine, Inc..

Awards acknowledge outstanding efforts and achievements for garden club-related activities and projects, including but not limited to: Club of Distinction, Civic Development, Therapeutic Gardening, Historic Preservation/Restoration, Horticulture, Website, Yearbooks, and Youth Awards. Each of these categories has its own application and entry requirements. The Awards Committee can work with interested Garden Teams/Committees to research award requirements and to help smooth the application process.

What Awards has the GCW won?

Well, in 2017, we won the Historic Preservation/Restoration Award for our work in the Nickels-Sortwell Garden Project.

And we’ve won the Helena E. Goff Award several times - it’s for a club that provides the most comprehensive horticultural education program.

And we’ve won Awards for Yearbooks in multiple years.

We also won an Award for a Habitat for Humanity project.

Plus, Justin and Zhiyuan recently applied for the state Website Award for all the work they have done since last year, getting our website up. Our fingers are crossed, and we will know by mid-June.

So, How Does Applying For Awards Work?

First, someone has an idea. Let’s pick on Lisa Freeman (she always has ideas and stories).

Lisa said she got an idea when she was driving by and saw that Habitat for Humanity was going to build a house on Federal Street. She wondered if our club could be helpful. She called and spoke to the project director for Humanity. He loved the idea! Lisa took the idea to our Board, who approved her budget of $1800, and off she went to build a Habitat Project Team. Lisa and Robin developed the landscape design and selected the plant materials. These were submitted for approval by Habitat and the homeowner. Next, the Habitat Team asked members to donate plants, help prep the site, and to get the plants into the ground.

Lastly, came the entry application process, which required careful documentation, including drawings, project photos. Lisa’s submission was accepted, and GCW won!

Ok, fine for Awards - so…

WHAT THE HECK DOES THE SCHOLARSHIPS’ SIDE OF THE A&S COMMITTEE DO?

This is the group that spends your money in support of educational opportunities for youth education focused on the environment and horticultural-related fields.

The A&S Committee met several times in person to review where we had been, where we are now, where we want to go, and to make a plan on how to get there.

Our review informed us that our committee needed to complete:

1.     clarify the difference in types of financial support we focus on,

2.     define clear funding categories for Scholarships vs Grants,

3.     update the Scholarship Application and post on our website,

4.     build a recruitment plan,

5.     develop A&S Handbook of Activities and Responsibilities 2025-2026.

To accomplish our first two tasks, the following language was clarified as follows.

The GCW Awards & Scholarships funding categories now include financial support for:

·      Scholarships to individual high school seniors or high school graduates for university or college education or training,

·      Grants to local non-profit education organizations for youth-oriented environmental and horticultural-related programs. 

How much money has GCW Scholarships given to high school seniors/graduates toward higher education?

Since 2010, the Garden Club of Wiscasset has donated over $20,000 for scholarships and camperships. The previous campership program has been discontinued, and youth funding is now given directly to the educational organization as an Educational Grant. So far this year, the A&S Committee has approved giving Educational Grants to MidCoast Conservancy for their ongoing nature-based learning programs, which the 4th grade classes at the Wiscasset Elementary School attend every month, and to the Central Lincoln County YMCA to support their raised garden beds project.

This is in addition to donating $40,000 to the Library Gardens and another $10,000 to repave the Sunken Garden! Wow, what a very generous organization you are a part of, and why we need your participation to help us keep going.

Last month, Emilie Spas and Jan Flowers joined the 4th graders from Wiscasset Elementary to spend the day with them for their nature-based learning program at the Hidden Valley Nature Center, under the MidCoast Conservancy. They will be sharing a bit about their day with us on Thursday at our monthly meeting.

If you want to join the fun of giving kudos, pats-on-the-back, atta-girls/boys, high-fives, and giving away money, just ping Emily Adler or Geneie Everett (A&S Co-Chairs) and we can put you skills to work.

We could use some marketing ideas and some expertise in setting up shared documents. Try our new email address and give us a chance to test it out scholarships@gardenclubofwiscasset.org  

You can also take a peek at the Scholarship Application form.

‘What The Heck?’ was concocted by Geneie Everett, with help from Emily, Lisa, Justin, Sheila, and Jan. We would love to hear your feedback.