Awards

TGC VP Joyce Cochran Dallas Jcochran@TEXASGARDENCLUBS.ORG

This committee is one of the most active in the TGC. These awards help give clubs a focus for a goal in that year. Awards may involve special educational programs suited for a club's particular interest, creation of a butterfly garden within the neighborhood or partnership with a scout troop on a project. During the year clubs around the state are busy pursuing their goals and filling out forms about these accomplishments. At the Spring State Convention the Awards Banquet is much anticipated. The Banquet ends with Clubs of the Year being recognized.

District Awards Chair Information


Welcome and thanks to each of you who have taken on the important duties of receiving and judging award entries for the 2007 - 2009 administration. I look forward to working with and for you. Let's make this a most successful awards program, and help as many clubs as possible to participate.

Review any materials passed on to you by the previous Chairman. If you do not have a procedure notebook, prepare one. Be sure to include:

1. Current Awards Brochure - The 2007 edition is available from Headquarters for $5.00. If you are judging YEARBOOKS, SCRAPBOOKS, FLOWER SHOWS, FLOWER SHOW SCHEDULES OR CLUB PROGRAMS, you must have the specific Manual for these awards - available from Headquarters, prices in The Lone Star Gardener or call Headquarters at 817-332-6602. Scroll down to Forms for link to download the manual.

NOTICE--NEW TGC AWARDS MANUAL FOR 2007 NOW AVAILABLE!!

2. The National Gardener Awards issue September- October, 2007.

3. Issues of The Lone Star Gardener containing awards information, corrections & updates.

4. Other information regarding your chairmanship.

As a State Chairman you are responsible for guidance of your corresponding District Chairmen. A list of these chairmen is provided for you. Please urge them to have a procedure notebook containing the above materials. A list of suggestions is enclosed which you may amend if you wish before sending on to your district chairmen. A report form for the District Chairmen to send back to you and form(s) for you to send your report(s) to me are enclosed also. Photocopy these suggestions and forms as needed to provide necessary documents for you and your District Chairmen. Any of these forms may be downloaded and used.

DEADLINES: November 1 - Award Entries to District Chairman

December 1 - Award Entries from District Chairmen to State Chairman

December 15 - State Chairmens Reports to State Awards Chairman

GUIDELINES FOR JUDGING

1. It is VERY IMPORTANT that points NOT be deducted for anything not SPECIFICALLY in the Scale of Points for that award.

2. When points are deducted, tell why they were deducted. It is frustrating to clubs to have points deducted but no reason given. Clubs need to know how to improve their entries next time.

3. Be sure the deduction is warranted. If points are deducted for an omitted item, make certain that the item was not inadvertently overlooked.

4. All who serve as judges should be informed, competent and fair. They do not have to be Flower Show Judges, but they should be familiar with awards and using a Scale of Points. They should take time to adequately evaluate each entry and give clubs the benefit of the doubt. They should not be too strict or technical. It is better to err in favor of the club. A club that is "cut down" severely will probably not enter again. Let's do what we can to fairly encourage our clubs to join in the Awards Program!

FORMS

Please note: National Garden Clubs Rules and Awards are published in the September/October issue of The National Gardener in odd-numbered years; changes and/or corrections are published in the even-numbered years. Changes in rules and award requirements published in TNG will take precedence over the TGC Awards Brochure.

The following award forms are in PDF format - to view you must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader - you can download the latest version of the program here