Photo by the Garden Club of NJÂ
(l to r) P(resident Lois Perry, Website/Social Media Chair Diane Macrides & Awards Committee Chair Barbara Duff. (not pictured Past President Michele Farias & Yearbook Committee Chair Janice Stonaker)
Submitted by Barbara Duff
On June 18, 2024, five members of The Garden Club of LBI attended the 2024 Garden Club of New Jersey Awards Luncheon in New Brunswick: President Lois Perry, Chair of Website/Social Media Diane Macrides, Janice Stonaker, Chair of the Yearbook Committee, Michele Farias, Chair of the Outdoor Living Garden Tour & Art Show and myself, Barbara Duff, Chair of the Awards Committee.
We were surprised and delighted to be presented with five awards for our Garden Club. There were two awards from The Garden Club of New Jersey, another two from the Central Atlantic Region of State Garden Clubs, and one additional award from National Garden Clubs, Inc.
I am so pleased to offer congratulations to Holiday Tour of Homes Chair Bev Reitinger for “The Magic of LBI: 56th Annual Holiday Tour of Homes.†The Garden Club of New Jersey gives this award for an outstanding project or program. This recognition of our largest fundraiser, in which every single member participates, shows what a special garden club we all have created. So kudos to all our members for such an outstanding job.
Congratulations to Youth Garden Club Chair Jeannette Michelson and Co-Chair Ginny Scarlatelli for The Violet M. Bennett Environmental Trophy for a “Youth Committee After School Program.†This award recognizes an outstanding program with youth. Jeannette and Ginny work very hard to offer kids a fun after-school activity that teaches them basic skills in horticulture, along with environmental issues facing the island, the importance of pollinators, and the role of planting native species to sustain the local ecosystem.
In addition to these state awards, we were named “Overall Winner†for the “NGC Standard Flower Show Schedule Award†by the Central Atlantic Region of State Garden Clubs. Titled “It’s a Musical World,†the show was held at the LBI Foundation of the Arts & Sciences. Congratulations to Co-Chairs Julie Eller and Cindy McGrath for their outstanding work in making our Standard Flower Show qualify on the regional circuit.
Also, Janice Stonaker was recognized by the Central Atlantic region of State Garden Clubs for her work by winning First Place in the “Yearbook Award†in the large club division. The yearbook, an easy-to-use source of information, is created to inspire members to attend meetings and participate in club activities.
The National Garden Clubs organization, presented us with a “Certificate in Appreciation of Award Participation†for the Social Media/Website division. Congratulations to Website/Social Media Chair Diane Macrides for her creativity and day-to-day upkeep and dedication to our social media sites. She has worked hard to increase viewership, engagements, and number of followers. The Facebook and Instagram sites are now attracting new audiences due to posting on a consistent basis, using exciting and interesting photos and informing the public of gardening activities, classes and events happening in the area.