2024 Standing Committees
It takes a village to achieve our mission to promote an interest in gardening, wild plant life, trees, civic beautification and environmental issues. We bring our mission to life through community outreach, education, gardening, and events, and our committees make it all happen.
Our club members are required to be active participants in at least one of our standing committees per our bylaws. There are big and small tasks and something for everyone to contribute, regardless of ability or experience.
If you plan to join our club, please select the committee(s) you are most interested in joining and include it on your membership form. Our committees are a great way to meet club members and give back to our community.
Garden Mart Committee
The Garden Mart committee executes and plans our Annual Spring Garden Mart, held the second Saturday of each May on the Windsor Town Green. Tasks completed by the chair and committee members include site reservation, coordinating plant collection from all WGC members, setting up and breaking down the site, pricing plants and cashing out our customers. While the entirety of the club supports this event, the main tasks are performed by this committee.
This committee is most active between April and May. The committee members are expected to be available on Garden Mart Day, May 11, 2024.
Garden Tour Committee
The WGC hosts a biennial garden tour in Windsor. This committee is responsible for the planning and execution of this event. There is something for everyone to participate in this committee, from setting the date to recruiting the gardens in the off-year to total event planning, publicity, ticket sales, volunteers, communications, and follow-up. While the entirety of the club supports this event, the main tasks are performed by this committee.
This committee is the most active during the garden tour year. However, there are periodic off-year planning and garden recruitment responsibilities. The expectation is that committee members will be available on Garden Tour Day. In 2025, our tour will be held on June 28.
Scholarship Committee
This committee manages the WGC Scholarship Program, which awards one Windsor resident student funds towards their continued education each year. This committee sets the scholarship requirements for the coming year, and the Committee Chair submits the formal paperwork to local school counselors to meet required deadlines. Once student applications are received, this committee reviews each application and designates the current year’s winner based on the WGC Scholarship Requirements. Once that winner is selected, the Committee Chair delivers the good news to the recipient and communicates with the student’s school and family. Finally, this committee presents the recipient and their guests with their scholarship award, typically at our June meeting.
This committee is most active from March through June.
Civic Endeavors - Windsor Historical Society Garden Committee
This committee manages and maintains the north-facing garden at the Strong-Howard House of the Windsor Historical Society. Beginning in April, it meets monthly to plant and weed the garden. Committee members also stop by on off days to ensure the garden is watered.
This committee manages and maintains the north-facing garden at the Strong-Howard House of the Windsor Historical Society. Beginning in April, it meets monthly to plant and weed the garden. Committee members also stop by on off days to ensure the garden is watered.
Civic Endeavors - Junior Gardening Program Committee
This committee runs a seed planting day in the spring with the second-graders of Poquonock School through their work with the Family Resource Center. The seed planting day typically coincides with Earth Day in April. Following seed day, this committee works with a select group of PQ students for more involved education sessions and the planting and maintaining of a vegetable garden on school grounds. This program occurs weekly from May through June.
Members of this committee should be available during the workday on pre-scheduled dates from April through June and periodically in the summer to check up on the vegetable garden.
Civic Endeavors - Windsor High School 9/11 Memorial Garden Committee
In 2023, we were approached by Windsor High School to maintain and upkeep the 9/11 Memorial Garden in the main office courtyard. The garden includes a sculpture by a local artist and sometimes WGC member, Lon Pelton. This is a new committee that will be seeking members to update plants and maintain the garden. Members should be willing and able to weed, plant and water.
Periodic 9/11 garden maintenance assistance will be needed from April to October.
Civic Endeavors - Education Committee
This committee is responsible for attending local events to represent the Windsor Garden Club and provide helpful information about our club and gardening in Windsor. Possible town events include Thursday Night Farmers Markets, Town Green events, The Windsor Monarch Festival, The Northwest Park Country Fair and more.
By signing up for this committee, you agree to be asked to sit at one of these event shifts, depending on your availability. We ask that you be available for at least two planned events throughout the year and are willing and comfortable talking about joining the club and gardening in Windsor.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee maintains all things membership-related in the club, from collecting dues and membership forms in coordination with the treasurer and executive board to maintaining and updating the current list of members. This committee also distributes the membership booklet and is responsible for maintaining, upkeep, and setting up our members' name badges and acting as our sign-in table welcoming committee, particularly for new members and visitors.
Members who join this committee must be available to attend some meetings, sometimes arriving early to set up the sign-in and badge table and act as greeters. Having at least one computer-savvy committee member with printer access would also be helpful.
This committee is active all year.
Communications Committee
This committee maintains and updates the WGC website, social media pages, and regular communications to the club and outside members through calendar and news submissions. The Earthworm newsletter editor and the club historian also sit on this committee. This committee is always looking for article contributors to the Earthworm, social post ideas and a few new people willing to take photos at events.
This committee needs members who can attend some events and are comfortable with taking photos and working on computers and social media.
This committee is active all year.
Hospitality Committee
Hospitality ensures we are all fed and de-caffeinated at our events. The committee members collect volunteers to make dishes for our meetings and lead any other refreshment setup needed. This committee coordinates with the host for summer meetings to ensure they have what they need.
A committee member typically arrives at our meetings early to set up paper goods as needed. This small organizing committee is active at all meetings and events. However, they always need additional donated refreshments. Sign up if you want to be a regular snack maker/bringer.
This committee is active all year.
