Committees

Art in Bloom

Club members create floral designs inspired by artwork from students in Norwood and Walpole High Schools’ art programs. The weekend exhibit is free and open to the public.

Awards

The Awards Committee is responsible for reviewing and understanding the requirements of all awards and grants open to the club by the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts (GCFM). This information is detailed in the GCFM Yearbook. Having reviewed this information, the Awards Chair informs the Board of Directors of the awards for which the Club is eligible and suggests those that it should pursue.

Civic Beautification

This is an ongoing activity that is ultimately the responsibility of the entire club. Its objective is to identify, assess and select meritorious projects for garden development and/or restoration within the Towns of Norwood and Walpole, in the interest of civic beautification. Contributions of time and/or funding are made to accomplish the selected projects.

Ongoing gardens are:

Earth Day Fair

Norwood’s Earth Day fair is an annual celebration that supports the environment through various activities, events, and booths throughout the day.

Horticulture

The Horticulture Committee is responsible for educating the club about horticulture. Committee members attend horticulture meetings and activities where they collect information for the club’s benefit. This committee also provides horticulture exhibits of general interest to the club.

Hospitality

The Hospitality Committee is responsible for bringing and serving refreshments at monthly meetings, selling raffle tickets and the attendance sheet. The monthly hospitality lead is responsible for providing the centerpiece for the serving table. Refreshments (food and beverages) are set up prior to the meeting and the committee cleans up after the meeting has adjourned. Each club member is required to provide refreshments for one monthly meeting during the program year.

Librarian

The Librarian has custody of the club’s horticulture reference books and maintains records when books are borrowed and returned.

Membership

This committee is responsible for attracting new members as well as maintaining the database of contact information for current members and maintaining name tags for members.

Norwood Day

Every September, members of the club participate in Norwood Day. Held rain or shine, is a fun day for the entire family.

Programs

The Program Committee is responsible for investigating the availability and suitability of speakers and activities that would be of interest to the club members and the local community. Once identified, the committee puts together a balanced program for the year that includes workshops, lectures and field trips.

Plant-A-Row

Since 2009, the Norwood Evening Garden Club has maintained a 20’ x 20’ vegetable plot at the Adams Farm Community Garden in Walpole. Since the plot is worked solely for charitable purposes under the Plant a Row for the Hungry banner, the Community Garden provides the space at no charge to the club.

In 2016, our Plant a Row (PAR) vegetable plot was supervised and maintained by certified Massachusetts Master Gardeners with other members from our NEGC. A variety of vegetables are organically grown and gathered for the benefit of our neighbors in need of help with their groceries.

The plot also serves as a drop-off location for other community gardeners with excess produce to contribute to the weekly donations. The collective effort results in several hundred pounds of organically grown produce which is delivered to the Norwood food pantry, and previously Rosie’s Place in Boston.

These fresh, nutritious vegetables greatly improved the quality of many meals. The efforts of those who participated by planting, weeding, watering and harvesting are so very much appreciated by those who receive the donations.

Publicity

Their main responsibility of the committee is to promote club events and to maintain the club’s presence in the community using social media and local news channels (newspaper, cable TV and garden publications).

Scholarship

Two $1000 scholarships are awarded annually to deserving high school seniors at the Norfolk County Agricultural High School who are enrolled in a program of continuing education in horticulture, floriculture or environmental science and who have a record of good citizenship and scholarship.

Scholarships are also available to club members for GCFM and Master Gardener courses.

Sunshine

The Sunshine Committee sends letters or cards of congratulations, get well and condolence in the club’s name to members.

Ways & Means

Ways & Means are the fundraising activities of the Norwood Evening Garden Club. The money collected through these activities supports our civic beautification, administrative and program activities. These projects are major undertakings and their success is dependent upon the participation of all club members.

Website

The webmaster is responsible for maintenance of the Norwood Evening Garden Club website.