Advantages of KGC Membership

1. Scholarships are available for first time member attendees that pass a course in one each of the four NGC Schools:
   • Flower Show School
   • Landscape Design School
   • Environmental Studies School
   • Gardening Study School
2. Louise Adams Civic Beautification Awards of up to $200 in matching funds for club civic beautification projects are considered annually
3. A Miriam Arend scholarship for full or partial reimbursement for club members attending the annual MGC Convention
4. Flower arranging classes and educational workshops
5. Participation in a standard flower show
6. Access to a library of over 3000 books on gardening, floral arranging, and landscaping topics
7. An annual directory of KGC members and affiliate information
8. Online access to information of interest to members
9. Use of Council House meeting rooms, fully equipped kitchen, and work rooms for club business at no charge
10. Ergonomic garden tools and gifts available at reasonable prices through the Council website by the Garden Gifts & Tools Committee
11. A Council Shop for purchasing floral arranging and gardening supplies at reduced prices
12. Affiliation with state and national garden club organizations
13. Portion of Greens Sale profit shared with each club
14. Invitations to program, field trip, or guest speaker opportunities through the Council or member clubs
15. Council support for individual club projects
16. Club financial benefits through the KGC 501(c)3 tax status and availability of liability insurance for club activities
17. Source of fellowship with other area clubs through various Council activities and events
18. A large storage shelf unit is available for each club at the Council House (great for club supplies)
19. As members of MGC, access to MGC Pollinator Signs and Personalized Club Signs

Advantages of Federated Membership:

The advantages of a federated membership which includes membership in the National Garden Council, Inc., Central Region and Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. are explored on the Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. website.  Click on the link to see why our Kalamazoo Garden Council belongs to these organizations.

Membership:

The Kalamazoo Garden Council, Inc. consists of members of garden clubs in the Greater Kalamazoo Area, whose aim is to promote the objectives of KGC and the Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. For assistance in finding out how to become a potential new member, please Contact Membership Chair. She will provide information about the Kalamazoo Garden Council and various garden clubs. You will find additional information about our nine garden clubs on this site.

Information regarding new club members, resignations, changes or corrections in names, addresses, telephone, or email during the year, should be forwarded to both the KGC Database Manager, Bunny LaDuke at email: rhladuke@aol.com and the Information Technologist, Kathy Kienle, sckienle@gmail.com.

Kalamazoo Garden Council Business Meetings:

Board Meetings are held at 9:30 on the 2nd Tuesday of each month except December at the KGC Council House.

The Annual Meeting is scheduled for the second Tuesday in June (June 8, 2021; June 7, 2022).  Hosted by the Council at various locations around the area, it is an event for all council members and features a luncheon, keynote speaker, and installation of officers and Board Members.  It is a wonderful opportunity to get to know council members from other clubs, learn new information, and enjoy a delicious meal. All members have voting rights at the Annual Meeting. Consult the website for updates, change of venues and/or cancellations.

Dues: 

DUES—COUNCIL:  Council dues of $5.00 per member are payable May 1 and become delinquent July 1.  Club treasurers should mail their checks to the KGC Treasurer and made payable to Kalamazoo Garden Council, Inc. Please contact the KGC Treasurer with any questions.

DUES—STATE:  MGC dues of $6.00 per member (which includes NGC dues of $1.00) are payable June 1 and become delinquent September 15.  Club treasurers should mail their checks payable to Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. upon receiving information from the MGC regarding member lists and submission information.  This information will be sent to club presidents and should be forwarded to their club’s treasurer.

Directory:

Directories are given to club Directors at the Annual Meeting in June to distribute to each of their club’s members.  Extra directories are available for new members.  Information in the directory is reviewed for updates each year through each club Director before printing.

 

Newsletter: 

 “The Garden Post” is published in twice yearly and will be sent by email to members from KalamazooGardenCouncil@gmail.com. The newsletter will be posted on the website. Presidents or Club Directors are responsable for distributing a hardcopy to those members who do not use email.

Council Shop: 

The Council Shop is located on the main floor of the house.  It is stocked with basic needs for floral arranging, with prices that are competitive with those found in stores or online. We also have various flower containers and vases, along with plant markers and other items of interest to our members.  Members occasionally recommend new items, and we try to include them when possible.  Floral preservatives such as glycerin and Floralife Crowning Glory® are offered in smaller containers for purchase.     

We also accept donated items related to floral arranging and gardening (such as ceramic pots, garden tools, vases, etc.)  We ask that donations be clean and unbroken.  Donated sale stock is periodically moved to the FREE SHELVES (located across from the copy machine) to make room for new items.  All proceeds go to the council. Stay tuned for our “overflow” sale area soon to be open on the second floor.  This area will have nominally priced items we can’t fit on our main shelves or are overstock from council events.    

Items are paid for via the box on the desk next to the shop.  Please fill out the form provided on the clipboard next to the box so that we may keep accurate records for tax purposes.     

Please contact the shop chair, Sue Conat (sueconat@att.net) should you have questions.  If you are purchasing for Greens Sale projects, please contact the Green Sale Chair as they purchase supplies for the sale separately.

Items we carry on a regular basis:

Council Shop: 

The Blanche Babcock Library houses over 3000 titles on topics of interest to our members such as gardening, landscape design, horticulture, and floral arranging.  Our Librarian is Evey Prentice and your contact person is Karen Baker.

The library is maintained on a regular basis to keep information relevant and timely. Books may be borrowed by club members for ONE MONTH. Books designated resource, club yearbook or oldest (shelf) may not be checked out but can be enjoyed in the library or copied as needed for personal use only. To check out a book anytime, fill out the card in the book pocket and place in the wooden box on the librarian’s desk located in the copy/shop room.  Please PRINT your name and the due date (one month ahead) on the card.

Donations of new or gently used books are always welcome. Please leave donations on the red library cart in the copy/shop area. If this donation is made as a tribute, please include this information with your donation.

The library is a wonderful resource and Council members are encouraged to take advantage of this benefit