"Accept the Challenge..."  of a New Vision,
of Leadership in our Communities,
of Changing Communication.

 What an exciting garden club year is at hand and what a great time to be a member of a Federated Garden Club!

• Remember that President’s reports are due February 1.  One copy to your District Director and one copy to me.  This report may be printed from the ‘members only’ section of this site.   Completing this report shares valuable information about your club.
      • I hope you are planning to attend your Spring District Meeting.  District Co-Chairmen will be presenting District Awards and you will learn something about these award winners.  It will be my pleasure to be the guest of the Districts .  Sharing ideas, suggestions and information will make you aware of our exciting schedule.
      • Our Youth Symposium will find us at Beidler Forest near Moncks Corner.  This amazing outdoor classroom will welcome student winners and their families for the presentation of certificates and award money.  Thank you to everyone who encouraged a student to take part in this creative endeavor.  A special thank you to the East Piedmont District and Carolyn Tolson, District Chairman, for recruiting donors to allow  EP to award monetary awards for the first time to their winners.  Great idea!
      • GCSC celebrates its Eightieth Anniversary this year.  Eighty years of “accepting challenges”….of all kinds!  Make plans to join us in Aiken, SC at the home of Founding Mother, Claudia Phelps.  A fabulous tea is planned at her historic home, Rose Hill.   Then on April 23, 2010, I hope to see you in Columbia at Trinity Cathedral site of the first organized meeting of GCSC.
      • In lieu of a Convention, GCSC will conduct a one-day State Meeting, April 29, 2010 at Forest Lake Club in Columbia.   This will be the first time this has been offered and I would love to have members from each garden club attend.  We are charting new waters and offering precedent setting choices.  Please try to attend.

I will continue to encourage growth in our clubs.  Invite new members.  Find ways to decrease your business meeting time.  Use the valuable tool of the computer to share business information among members to save time at meetings.  Leave plenty of time for fellowship and interesting programs.  Make your meetings fun and members will not want to miss! 

All the best,           Betsy