Linda Houston - State President

2021-2023

Theme:  ‘Plant America: Help your Neighbor’

 

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Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri is back into the full swing of things

again having adapted to meeting by Zoom and resuming club meetings

in person. Our immediate NGC past-president Gay Austin, installed our

Executive Officers via Zoom last month and officer transition meetings

happened in person.

 

Having the challenge of the pandemic has made us more diligent with communication and eager to participate in garden club activities.

 

Our state Scholarship Committee met virtually to distribute over 25,000.00 to deserving plant science students. An Environmental Science Class based in Saint Louis was well received via Zoom in March. With a few adjustments from being cancelled in 2020, Flower Show Judges’ School, Course III, was completed in person in Columbia, MO in June. Landscape Design School, Course IV, is offered in Springfield, MO later this month.

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Our past state president’s project, ‘Teaching Missouri’s Children to

Plant America’, has almost distributed $5,000.00 in grant money to

several clubs around the state. Projects have been collaboratively

based to serve as many children as possible. One Youth Arbor Day

Event in central MO, sponsored by the local garden club, gave away 300

trees and shrubs to children accompanied by their parents. In addition

to the tree giveaway, Kiwanis gave the children books, the Stream

Team gave t-shirts and trash bags, and wildflower seeds were provided

by the MO Prairie Foundation. The mayor shared a proclamation and

the city waived park use fees. The children loved the games, train rides

and refreshments as well as the educational activities. Despite the

blessing of rain, over 200 participants enjoyed the event. It was truly a

team effort. ‘Teaching Missouri’s Children to Plant America’ will be this

state president’s project also for the next two years.

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Having endured many challenges during the past 18 months, I have

chosen the theme, ‘Plant America: Help your Neighbor’. Community is

at the heart of the Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri so this seems a

natural way to promote ourselves.

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Linda Houston

Missouri State President

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