District IX
Garden Clubs of Illinois
Member of The Garden Clubs of Illinois
a Charter Member of
National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Located in Northeastern Illinois
Due December 1, 2024
Awards will be presented at the District IX Annual Meeting on March 11, 2025. Each award will have a 1st Place ($75) a 2nd Place ($50) and a 3rd Place ($25) winner for club size categories: Small (fewer than 30 members), Medium (30 - 59 members), Large ( 60 or more members).
2024 PROGRAMS AWARD
Due December 1, 2024
The purpose of this award will recognize excellence both in the development and execution of club programs. Below are the questions that award applicants will need to answer, along with their point values.
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What was your best program in 2024 and why was it your favorite?
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(5 points)
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Prior to developing your club’s programs for 2024, did you refer to a mission statement or an overall strategy for your program selections?If so, please describe.
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(10 points)
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Examples: 1. This year’s goal for the programs for the XYZ Garden Club is to help ensure that our members are well-informed about issues pertaining to climate change. 2. This year, we had a discussion during a meeting and decided to have a mix of educational presentations, hands-on experiences, and field trips.
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Did you have a budget for programs? If so, about how much of your overall budget is dedicated to programs?
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(10 points)
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Input in choosing 2024 programs:How did you solicit input from members regarding program development?Email?Survey?Meeting Discussion?Board Discussion?Any other approach?
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(10 points.)
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Feedback on programs:Did you provide members with a method or methods to provide feedback on your programs?If so, please describe.
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(10 points)
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Was a complete listing of your 2024 programs included in your yearbook, on your website, and/or provided to members in some type of handout?
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(10 points)
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Please include a detailed list of your 2024 programs.
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(10 points)
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2024 District IX Ongoing Civic Project Award
Due Nov. 1, 2024
District IX will again offer the Ongoing Civic Project Award, which seeks to recognize and reward our district garden clubs for their ongoing hard work on projects in their communities. This is a broad category and could encompass many kinds of Civic Projects, from landscape projects to youth and therapy gardens to front yard beautification or recognition to specific holiday projects.
There will be first, second, and third place awards, $75, $50, and $25 respectively.
When preparing the 3-page Award Application Form, be sure to emphasize the impact of your project on your community and what makes it unique. This year, we are emphasizing ongoing projects.
Don’t forget to attach the District IX Award coversheet to your 3 pages. Your application should describe the location of project, describe the benefits to the community, include involvement of any outside agencies and persons and indicate the length of time the project has been in existence, what members do as part of the project (list chair/s and number of members participating). Include financial costs, who obtained the financing for the project (club fundraising, provided by a different organization, a grant (who applied for the grant), a landscape plan if applicable (does not need to be professionally drawn), overall photos of the project and current publicity or recognition. If this is a new project, details on how the club will support the project in the long-run is required.
November 1 is the deadline for many state awards. Did you know that your entry for the District IX Ongoing Civic Project Award is also suitable for the GCI #23 Civic Concern Award, which is sponsored and funded by District IX? Duplicate your 3-page entry, fill out the state cover-sheet and submit it to the state chairman. For more information on state awards, see:
https://www.gardenclubsofillinois.org/awards.
The District IX Ongoing Civic Project Award must be sent digitally. Submission information is on the District IX Award Cover-sheet.
I look forward to your entries.
Laura Vertz