WHAT THE HECK ARE THEY DOING…?: COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

“What the Heck…?” is a 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 request 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 going with –

WHAT THE HECK DOES THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE DO?

Responsibilities for each ‘Standing Committee’ are included in the Policy section in the back of our Yearbooks. It states “COMMUNICATIONS: Shall disseminate information to Members and the public, including but not limited to newsletters, websites, press releases, and emails”.

The Communications Committee (Comms for short:) keeps us in touch with all things GCW and beyond. Without this Committee, we would not know where to go, when to go, what is going on, who will be there, nor why we should care. The public wouldn’t know we exist. John-Q wouldn’t know about our monthly programs, our scholarships, our plant sale, ArtWalk, nor our donations to our community.

Ok, so how do they do that?

When you’re not looking, the Communication Team is capturing special moments on film, on file and even flying in on drones to catch an experience and report it to you. They gather stories and foster an exchange of ideas. They print flyers and post them around the Mid-coast about our meetings. They send announcements of classes where you can attend and relay messages from our president. They share warnings of bad bugs and invasive plants. They post recipes and

inform the community about our lectures and our fundraising events. They serve as a filter for incoming queries regarding membership and scholarship applications and they send out reminders in “Clippings” so we don’t forget.

Comms is the hub that holds our club together. They interface with every other committee and the president.

Comms posts:

• Scholarship info for A&S committee,

• Community Garden info, garden photos and sends

• calls for extra hands-on-deck, as needed,

• Membership applications and hosts our Membership contact info on the website,

• Upcoming monthly Programs & Education classes

for members,

• Fundraising notices for Ways & Means and takes

photos at the events,

• Info on Youth Programs and projects,

• And the Communication Team works with the President and the Executive Committee. They send messages from the president and work with Treasury to set up our new pay-online system for membership renewals, conferences, and classes.

  
  

They disseminate information from the Medomak District, Garden Club Federation of Maine, the New England Garden Clubs and the National Garden Club. They also interface with club members to announce our Gatherings~in~the~Garden and keep us informed by sharing upcoming plants sales and other garden-related events we may want to attend. They’ve even created a message board for members.

In their spare time (hahahaha), Comms has revived, enlivened, and rebirthed our website with video clips, pay online, downloadable applications, member message board, event calendar, plus photo galleries of our gardens and other community projects!!

Check it out yourself! www.gardenclubofwiscasset.org

MAYBE THE QUESTION IS WHAT THE HECK DON’T THEY DO…?

Please let your Communication Committee know you appreciate everything they do for us. The Comms Team: Justin and Zhiyuan (Co-Chairs), Alissa, Melissa, Emily, Geneie, Terry, Nida, and Jan.

As a volunteer organization, EVERYTHING we do for the community and our Club is done by us – as volunteers. Are you using your skills to help?