December 2021/January 2022
President's Message
Greetings!
As we crawl towards the shortest day of the year, I’m finally grateful for Daylight Savings Time. If you loathe it, I’m sorry. I am so appreciative of that extra bit of daylight in the morning. Those of us who would love to sleep in, but are wide awake nevertheless guess Ben Franklin was closer to our ages when he lobbied for this.

The late afternoon darkness makes twinkling lights a seasonal treat. Balance. Lights at evening, and Winterberries and Evergreens in daylight, especially on my very rural road, are this season’s decorations. Thank you both to the natural world and to landscape designers who plant with the seasons in mind.

Hmmm. Landscape designers…. I spotted the first of many advertisements for the

40th Annual Connecticut Flower & Garden Show
February 24-27, 2022
“Rhythm & Blooms”
Connecticut Convention Center
Hartford
(mark your calendar now!)
 
It’s one thing to crawl to the shortest day of the year, using lights and Winterberries as distractions. Mushing through the shortest month takes true creativity. Our members start now. We peruse the Schedule for our NGC Standard Flower Show, which arrived a bit later than usual, but that’s 2021 all over.

If you think it’s too early to concentrate on an event which doesn’t happen for three months, I beg to differ.

The CFNews is now bi-monthly. Your next edition will arrive February 1, 2022. The December/January issue, which arrives as the turkey remnants depart, is your reminder to enter Design, Photography, Botanical Arts, and Horticulture classes, if you haven’t already.

“Rhythm and Blooms,” will feature Floral Designs from miniatures in niches (in Classes with names such as “Children’s Songs” or “Movie Music”) to the statuesque designed for pedestals (in Classes such as “Broadway Musicals” or “Music to Dance By”) suitable for a convention center.

There are six (6!!!) Classes in Photography. I’m humming one of Sting’s best known songs thanks to one Photography Class’s name. There are three in Botanical Arts. (Those entries always astound…)

There is an entire Division open to Everyone. We could use your help to publicize that.

Horticulture classes, all of ‘em, except for the Judges Challenge, are open to everyone.

There are some Plant Societies, such as Cactus and Succulent, among The Federation’s Affiliate organizations, (you do know we have Affiliate organizations) who regularly bring entries, glorious ones.

Your neighbor, the one you’ve been trying to get to join your club, who grows the most amazing
(fill in the blank) should enter. Show your neighbor where to find the schedule on our website www.ctgardenclubs.org. Better yet, print it out and deliver it. If your neighbor has a question, this year’s Flower Show Committee will assist (hint: shows are Always about the Schedule. You’ll find the Committee, in this case “The Band,” in the Schedule).

The turkey’s gone. I’m anticipating landscapers’ gardens in full bloom in fewer than three months and mulling over the schedule for “Rhythm & Blooms.” See you in 2022.
Until then,
Polly Brooks
President
Upcoming Events
Yes, Virginia... there IS a Flower Show!
That’s exactly what President Polly Brooks told Flower Show Chair Virginia “Ginni” Donovan! Our Federated Garden Clubs of CT, Inc (FGCCT) flower show” Rhythm and Blooms” is on! We’ve downsized the Show a bit to accommodate social distancing during placing, judging and public viewing. We also increased the hours available for placing entries to reduce the number of people on the Show floor during the set up. Your safety is our first concern.

With that said, “Rhythm and Blooms” will be an exciting showcase for our talented designers, photographers and horticulturists.

The Horticulture Division, Division I, “The Orchestra,” includes classes of container grown plants, forced bulbs, tubers or rhizomes, and arboreals (branches). Remember container grown plants need to be in your possession for at least ninety days (11/24/2021), with a few exceptions. Combination planters must be in your possession and growing together for at least six weeks (1/9/2022), and arboreals for six months.

Division II, Design, “Music in Bloom” includes two sections of the always popular Petite Designs, two sections that are Designers Choice, and one section of Club Competition. There is something for everyone, including a Novice Class which is open to exhibitors who have never won a blue ribbon in the Connecticut State flower show. So, step up all you inspiring designers!

Division III, Educational Exhibits, Class I, “A Chorus of Garden Friends,” is open to individuals who want to showcase their knowledge about birds, bees and croaking frogs. Other Classes are open to horticultural societies and educational groups.

Division IV, Botanical Arts, “Musical Inspirations,” includes Section A, Artistic Crafts, and Section B, Photography.

We hope that you will support the FGCCT ”Rhythm and Blooms” which once again this year is presented in conjunction with the 40th Annual Connecticut Flower and Garden Show.

40th Annual Connecticut Flower & Garden Show
February 24-27, 2022
“Rhythm & Blooms”
Connecticut Convention Center
Hartford

"But I've never entered a flower show … how does it work?"

The FAQ's of Flower Shows

Q: I’ve heard the Schedule for a Flower Show called the Bible. a) What is a schedule? b) …Bible?!
A: The schedule is just what it says—the schedule for registering exhibits, setting them up, judging times, awards, etc. It lists all the classes in Design, Horticulture, etc., that you can enter, plus info such as design types, houseplant pot size, what’s allowed and what’s not, such as invasive plants. When questions arise, look in the Schedule—it’s the "law" of the show.
 
Q: What is the Designer’s Choice Award?
A: In the Design Division, there are several categories of awards: Tricolor for designs with all fresh plant material; Distinction for designs of all dried plant materials; and Designer’s Choice for fresh, dried or a combination—e.g., ‘Designer’s Choice’! The schedule lists the awards for each section, which is a clue to what is allowed in each design.
 
Q: How many club members create a Club Competition design? Must 100% of a club contribute? Is that practical?
A: Usually a committee of members plans the design; other members may contribute components, and a smaller team may set up the design at the show. it's a lot of fun!

Q: Can I really ask a Class Consultant my questions? I feel so stupid.
A: Consultants are there to help you—they were once inexperienced, too! If they don’t know the answer, they will find someone who does. Asking for information or clarification is important for a designer so they may exhibit their best design!
 
Q: What is the “HB”? I don’t have one. Help!
A: The Handbook, aka HB, is the major reference for NGC Flower Shows: types of shows, awards, judging procedures and more. Many clubs have a copy. Click here to purchase a copy.
 
Q: Where do I go to learn more?
A: Flower Show School is the most comprehensive source—a series of 4 schools. Flower Show School: Course 1 will be held April 27 - 29, 2022, at the Kellogg Environmental Center, Derby, CT. Anyone can attend; there is a fee. Taking all 4 courses, plus other requirements, will qualify you as an Accredited Flower Show Judge. However, you can attend without taking the exams—a great way to learn from NGC Instructors. Other learning opportunities include: go to Flower Shows, invite a judge to speak to your club, take a design workshop, go to the library for design books—just browse the shelves for 745.92. 

Other questions: e-mail Trish Manfredi at judgescouncilchair@ctgardenclubs.org
Check the Event Calendar for any Member Clubs, Affiliate Organizations*, State or National events.
*Affiliates may submit up to six events each calendar year.
News from FGCCT & NGC
92nd FGCCT Annual Awards Meeting Webinar

The 92nd Annual Awards Webinar was held on 27 October 2021 with 269 members in attendance. The Bronze Medal was presented to the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) of Cornwall Bridge, accepted by Lynn Werner, Executive Director, to recognize HVA’s mission to protect the natural character and environmental health of the entire Housatonic Valley watershed. Goshen Garden Club nominated them for the award.
 
President Mary Warshauer, National Garden Clubs, presented the NGC awards to Connecticut recipients from the May 2021 NGC Annual Meeting. The NGC awards included Five Star Membership for Jeanette Barrows of The Garden Club of New Milford; the $4,000 NGC Miriam Anderson Steel Scholarship to Annabelle Casewell, a UConn senior; an NGC Certificate of Merit for CFNews and an NGC Certificate of Merit in Floral Design for the 2020 Pumpkins on Parade presentation. In addition, 171 awards were presented to 43 member clubs. The Lillian M. Rathbun Award, the highest award presented to an individual club member involved in all phases of garden club work, was presented to Linda Bradford of the Garden Club of Orange. The Lucille Schavoir Award, which is presented to a club for outstanding garden club work, was presented to The Simsbury Garden Club for removing invasives, planting natives and their support of the creation of a new park at Hop Brook Landing at the Flower Bridge in Simsbury. There were Tribute Awards presented to Katherine Kosiba, Joan Burgess, Grace Yagtug, Ginni Donovan, Julie Sweeney, Barbara Deysson, Fred Verillo and Laurie Musilli.  Four scholarships totaling $8,000 were presented to Andrew Connolly, Logan Bowdish, Alyssa Hotchkiss and Kelly McGlinchey. You can read about these and other awards on the FGCCT website.
NGC 2022 Youth Contests

Smokey Bear / Woodsy Owl Poster Contest: Children from first through fifth grade are invited to participate in the 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the National Garden Clubs, Inc., poster contests by submitting original drawings of Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl. The contest provides students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of wildfire prevention through original drawings of Smokey Bear. Smokey Bear says, “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires.”

Woodsy Owl is America’s icon for the conservation of the environment. He challenges children to “Lend a Hand, Care for the Land!” and to take an active role in caring for the land through recycling, reusing, and reducing waste, planting and caring for trees, using resources wisely, and not littering.

The deadline for poster submissions is January 2, 2022. For mailing information, contact FGCCT Youth Chair Kandra Houston at youth@ctgardenclubs.org.

Poetry Contest: The 2022 theme is "Sing with the Songbirds- Exploring the Glory of Nature.” The Poetry Contest is open to students in kindergarten through ninth grade. This competition enables youth to embrace their creativity through the art of writing. The deadline is January 15. Submit entries electronically to youth@ctgardenclubs.org.
 
Youth Sculpture Contest: The 2022 theme is "Encouraging Youth to Keep our Planet Green." This contest encourages students to keep our planet green and to get involved with saving the environment. Students in grades 4-8 are eligible to create a sculpture of recyclable, reused, and reduced materials. The sculpture is limited in width to 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches. Height should be proportional to width. Deadline for entries is January 15, 2022. Two photographs of each sculpture entry are submitted electronically to Kandra Houston at youth@ctgardenclubs.org. Please include the student and garden club contact information.

The High School Distinguished Service Project Award is for a high school student, grades 9-12, for an outstanding civic project making a significant improvement for public benefit, e.g., environment, conservation, landscape, horticulture, recycling, horticulture therapy, etc. An NGC member club, group of clubs, district or state garden club, must sponsor the project. A Certificate of Merit and $100 will be awarded to the first place winner and $50 to the second place winner. Deadline for award submissions is February 1 to youth@ctgardenclubs.org.

All Youth Contest entries are first submitted to FGCCT Youth Chair Kandra Houston, who chooses which entries will be forwarded to the National contest. All contest entries must include the NGC form “Minor Photo Release for Publication and Website.” No entries will be forwarded to NGC without this form, which is available on the NGC website under Youth Contests. The sponsoring garden club is responsible for presenting Certificates of Appreciation for all students who submit an entry.

More information is available on the FGCCT website.
FGCCT Annual Reports

Presidents will receive their Annual Reports in January. We encourage you to ask your club members to assist in the completion of these reports; they provide the initial information for many of the Federation awards.
FGCCT Yearbook Awards

The deadline for Yearbooks submitted for The Federation’s Yearbook Award of Excellence is changing from October 1 to February 1. Yearbooks not previously submitted by the October 1, 2021 deadline may be submitted for consideration for a 2022 award by sending 3 hard copies of the Yearbook to Sue Mayne, 258 North Main Street, Suffield, CT 06078-2119. The Yearbooks submitted in October 2021 and February 2022 will be judged together for the 2022 Yearbook Award of Excellence, to be presented at the October 2022 Awards Meeting. Click here for more information.
"Treasury Notes"

This column and other Financial and Tax questions can be viewed at the FGCCT Club Corner website page.

Budgets for Garden Clubs

Budgets are a vital tool for planning and evaluation. On the income side, you should have an account for Membership Fees which would have a sub account for Dues and accounts for member payments for projects or events you are planning to hold, such as workshops, club luncheons and field trips. The next account should be Ways and Means/Non-taxed which is income from selling goods and/or services at up to five one-day events you expect to hold. It is a good idea to list each event as a separate sub-account with the amount of gross income you expect each event to produce. The expenses for each event should not be mixed with the income, but listed separately in the expense portion of your budget. Very often I hear a club made, for example, $3,000 on their plant sale, but they neglect to add that they had expenses of $800, netting only $2,200. Fund raisers are rarely ALL profit! If you plan more than five “selling” days, you will need an additional account labeled Ways and Means/Taxable. The next income account is for Donations Received which is generally budgeted as zero, and lastly, the Interest you expect to receive on any savings you may have.   

And a reminder, Dues is not a donation. A donation appeal, a campaign to request donations from the community or even from your own members, is NOT counted as one of the five allowed fundraisers IF it is strictly an appeal for money to help finance your educational and charitable programs and no goods or services are received by the donor. 
 
On the expense side, there are three major types of expenses: Administrative, Fundraising, and Program Expense. Administrative expenses relate to the daily running of the club and include rent, insurance, FGCCT dues, professional fees, incorporation fees, etc and are usually easy to budget because they remain quite consistent from year to year. Under Fund-Raising Expenses, you should list each planned event in a sub account and set a budget for all costs anticipated with each event. The largest portion of your expense budget should be for the Programs that support your club’s statement of purpose and are in accordance with your IRS Determination as a non-profit, which is for charitable and educational purposes. Under Programs, each Committee should be listed with an estimate of all expenses related to the committee’s program for the coming year including speaker fees.  Another Program expense is Donations Given - does your club support local charities on a yearly basis, and donate a portion of your fund raisers to worthy causes? And last, an Education account, to list your clubs’ planned donations to both the FGCCT Scholarship Fund and hopefully your own scholarship program. Also included under education could be a sub account for reimbursements for members who attend NGC Schools, if your club encourages participation in the four schools in that way.
 
How much of your club’s expenses are for programs that support the purposes of your club?

Shirley Hall, FGCCT Treasurer
Landscape Design School, Course 3 (on Zoom)
March 22-23, 2022*

Landscape Design School was developed by National Garden Clubs, Inc. in 1958 and has been offered by The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc. since 1978. The purpose of this four-part course of study is “to educate garden club members and the public to know good landscape architectural practices and to serve as guardians and critics of the natural and man-made landscape.” Anyone is welcome to attend who wishes to familiarize themselves with the principles and practices of landscape design as stewards of the outdoors. Newscape is the biannual NGC Landscape Design newsletter (published in the spring and fall) which provides news from the various state Landscape Design Councils and news about Landscape Design Schools. Check the FGCCT website for more information.

*PLEASE NOTE: Registration will open in January 2022.

Questions? Contact Sue Kelley at 203-715-9118 or ldschair@ctgardenclubs.org
Tours

Hidden Treasures of Le Marche
A Regional Discovery Tour
October 6-15, 2022

Marche is one of the twenty regions of Italy. It is situated roughly half way down the east coast of the country, bound to the west by the Apennine Mountains and to the east by the Adriatic Sea. It is also an undiscovered jewel.

A highlight of the tour for many will be the visits to three gorgeous renaissance villas, complete with their spectacular gardens.

For complete brochure and reservation information, click here.
Coming up in 2022:

  • The Lowcountry: Beaufort and Savannah (April 18-24) Note: this trip is full with a waiting list.
  • Alaska: Land of the Midnight Sun (June 19-28) Note: this trip is full with a waiting list.
  • Long Island (July 26-29)  Summer Getaway to Long Island.  Highlights will be Old Westbury, Planting Fields, Madoo, Landcraft Garden Foundation with Dennis Schrader, Private Gardens, Wine! and much more. Please register your interest and receive the brochure first by emailing tours@ctgardenclubs.org.

In the works for 2023:

Please register your interest for the following tours for 2023 by emailing tours@ctgardenclubs.org

  • February: Barbados Gardens
  • April: Historic Virginia Garden Week  
  • May: Madeira Flower Festival
  • July: National Parks—Glacier National Park 
  • September: Nova Scotia
  • Late October/Early November: South Africa Garden Tour with Safari Extension

— Kathy Lindroth, FGCCT Tours Coordinator
860.836.3407 or tours@ctgardenclubs.org
Spotlight on Our Affiliates
The Connecticut Horticultural Society

Since its inception in 1887, the Connecticut Horticultural Society (CT Hort) has been a source of education for all, offering workshops, monthly speakers and more to members and non-members alike. 

Since 1959, CT Hort has awarded scholarships to horticulture students at UConn; in 2010, the non-profit added scholarships to plant science students at Naugatuck Valley Community College. 

CT Hort is thrilled to announce another great source of education: the Feb. 5 Symposium, "Finding New Inspiration in Gardening." Join us for our virtual Symposium, featuring nationally-known gardening experts Kelly Norris, Michael Russo, and Katherine Tracey. Whether you are a novice or expert gardener, this symposium will inspire and enlighten you as you start to plant your garden in the spring. The event runs from 9 am-4 pm and features several presentations by our three experts, followed by Q&A time. 
Kelly D. Norris will present two talks that day: “New Naturalism: Designing and Planting a Resilient, Ecologically Vibrant Home Garden” and “Reimagining the Perennial Palette.” He is one of the leading horticulturists of his generation. The author of New Naturalism: Designing and Planting a Resilient, Ecologically Vibrant Home Garden, Kelly’s work in gardens has been featured in The New York Times, Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, Fine Gardening, Garden Design and in numerous television, radio and digital media appearances.
Michael Russo, who will talk about “Cultivating Inspiration from the Garden,” is an organic farmer and floral designer who owns Trout Lily Farm on Lake Quonnipaug in North Guilford, CT. Retired from 33 years as an art educator, he is also a certified Master Gardener and naturalist who has been featured in Organic Gardening Magazine and Martha Stewart Living Weddings, among other publications and media outlets. 
Katherine Tracey will discuss “The Quintessential Garden” during the symposium. The co-owner of Avant Gardens in Dartmouth, MA, she has been working on building a list of the quintessential plants to enjoy in Southern New England for more than 30 years. As a beekeeper and conservationist, she has directed much of her attention to planting for pollinators and other beneficial insects.She has been featured in Fine Gardening Magazine and on podcasts such as "A Way To Garden."

Register by January 10 and the cost to attend is $50 for members, $65 for non-members, and $10 for students with valid ID. After January 10, the cost will be $65 for members, $85 for non-members and $15 for students with a valid ID. Click here to register.
Articles of Interest
Wabi Sabi
Of all the gardening seasons, I like winter best. By the end of fall I am more than happy to throw down my trowel. Of course I clean, sharpen and oil it before I do. Okay, I confess that last statement is far from the truth. It is all I can do to heap the stuff on the floor of my potting shed and get tender plants dragged indoors.  In fact many of them did not make it that far this year and ended up in the compost pile. 
 
As the season closes, I start to wonder if I have grown weary of gardening. Writing this in the shadow of the winter solstice may not be wise. Introspection, aided by fermented grape product, has brought me to the contemplation of wabi-sabi, an ancient Japanese practice centered on the acceptance of transience. It is an aesthetic described as one of beauty that is impermanent, incomplete and imperfect. More simply put, there are three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.  

It is a practice that I always applied to my decorating “style.” I live in a home of hand-me-downs, tag sale and trash day finds, with some IKEA mixed in to make me feel hip. Chipped? Scratched? Just a philosophical approach. I realized the other day my turquoise bath towels were over 30 years old (By the way, never paint a bathroom turquoise, it makes you look like a zombie). They still work just fine and I am not racing to Amazon to buy new ones.
So how does this translate into my gardening life you might wonder?  Well, let’s start with nothing is perfect. The century old sugar maple in front of my house lost two thirds of its crown a few years back. There are some battered remaining branches—some dead, some still alive. There is a hole in the surrounding tree canopy, a reminder of what once was. I sit on the front porch and watch the birds perch there and know that, as imperfect as it is, it will be there till it leafs out no more.  
As gardeners, we know nothing lasts. Some plants more than others—like my succulents. I adore them but the reality is I don’t have enough light in my house to keep them from getting spindly in the winter. I also have not mastered the drowning/drying-out line. Alas, memorial services are routine. Through trial and error I have found one that responds to my lack of care, a Lace Aloe (Aristaloe aristata). It tolerates the winter gloom and even manages to multiply prodigiously (probably its way of counteracting my kill rate). 

My garden is changing whether I like it or not. I think about the time lapse photography of flowers going from bud to bloom to decay. We all know the cycle but for some reason when it is speeded up we find it startling. When things change slowly or are stable for long periods, we lull ourselves into thinking that things will always be this way. But nothing is finished. Storms, droughts, invasive species, trees growing, trees dying—all will test us as gardeners. We can plant, dig up, prune, chop down all we want but the garden is headed where it is headed.  

I find that gardener’s guilt sits more lightly on my shoulders these years. Wiser, maybe—or just more tired. Either way, a practice that appreciates imperfections in life and the ability to age gracefully brings me peace, and right now, that is enough.
  
The world is ruled by letting things take their course – Lao Tzu.

— Renee Marsh, Horticulture Chair
Club Corner
"Club Corner" is a feature of the CFNews designed to be a place where clubs or individual club members can showcase club achievements and activities. Visit "Club Corner" on the FGCCT website for latest news and tips for clubs - - and while you're there, check out the new "Featured Club" tab where we'll be highlighting a different club in each CFNews issue, based on YOUR submissions. Keep them coming!

Our Featured Club for this issue is the Olde Ripton Club, featured in a new section, "Flower Design."
Chicken Wire Pillows
The Olde Ripton Garden Club members decided to explore using chicken wire pillows instead of floral foam when they held their flower arranging workshop in October. Most of the members had never used chicken wire for arranging and after learning that floral foam contains the same amount of plastic as 10 plastic shopping bags, is non-biodegradable, non-recyclable and toxic for both humans and animals—well, all were happy to learn a new method.

Two members cut all the chicken wire and skewer sticks, made the pillows, and purchased inexpensive, reusable plastic bases in two sizes. Many of the members brought their own containers as well. Members brought in flowers and fillers from their gardens and the club supplemented with a few purchased mums. There was an amazing selection of flowers even in autumn. Hydrangeas, marigolds, grasses, foliage and dahlias abounded. The members worked in groups with a leader for each group providing guidance and assisting with the new approach. The result was gorgeous flower arrangements with reusable components and less plastic waste—and garden club members proud of their new skills and designs.   
Westport Garden Club Installs Officers and Board
The Westport Garden Club, established in 1924, installed its 52nd President and Board at its first in person meeting this year. The annual luncheon was held outdoors at the Cedar Point Yacht Club with centerpieces provided by prospective members accompanied by clippings from member gardens for a plant lover’s swap. Newly elected President Ginger Donaher is a third-generation member of the club. Her grandmother Georgiana Gault was an active member for over forty years, Ginger’s mother Nancy Gault served as President from 1991-1993, and her aunt Judy Sterling served from 1983-85. Cousin Kelly Pollard is currently a Prospective Member and has already stepped up to co-chair Hospitality for the 2021-2023 term. Yes, Polly! We grow gardens and gardeners!
The Westport Garden Club Board 2021-2023
Members share clippings
L-R: Kelly Pollard, Ginger Donaher, Judy Sterling
Announcements
Donations by Garden Clubs to our Scholarship, Garden Therapy and World Gardening Funds
We thank the following Garden Clubs for their recent donations to the FGCCT Scholarship Fund.* For almost 40 years, the Federation has awarded scholarships to college and university students who major in Agronomy, Botany, City Planning, Conservation, Environmental Studies, Floriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Land Management, Landscape Design, Plant Pathology, or allied subjects. We welcome donations of any size. Our appeal is ongoing to give all of our clubs the opportunity to make a contribution in the amount of their choosing.
Scholarship Donations as of November 18, 2021
Connecticut Valley Garden Club
FGCCT Gardening Council's Katherine Patrick Award
$50.00
$2,000.00
(No donations received for either Garden Therapy or World Gardening Funds.)    

Please send all Scholarship Fund donation checks to Assistant Treasurer John Davis. Please email him to let him know you are mailing checks, including how many checks, the total amount of the deposit, and exactly what they are for and he will acknowledge receipt. Make checks out to "FGCCT" with the appropriate Fund listed on the memo line.  

*Please note that due to the deadline for articles and information for the CFNews, some donations may not be received and deposited in time to be included in the bi-monthly donation acknowledgement, but will be included in the next issue of our newsletter. 

Mail checks to
John Davis
PO Box 237
East Woodstock, CT 06244
Tips to use online calendar and submitting a calendar event - click buttons below.
Don't Forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

FGCCT is on Facebook and Instagram and we love to post your news and photos! Please send upcoming events, club activities, civic projects, milestones, and hort tips. Include photos and a brief writeup of the news your club would like to share. The best format is text in an email with jpg photos attached. Take active photos showing members at work or showcasing beautiful gardens, flowers, and plants (please name the flower if it is a hort only photo). Let’s follow each other! Send submissions to social@ctgardenclubs.org
URGENT NOTICE
ALL FGCCT CLUBS MUST FILE WITH THE IRS!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CLUB PRESIDENTS AND TREASURERS
 
To maintain your garden club's Tax Exemption status, your club MUST file with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) EVERY YEAR. You must file a form 990, 990-EZ, or 990N (the e-postcard).
 
Clubs that fail to file an annual 990-series return or notice, for three consecutive years, will AUTOMATICALLY lose their tax-exempt status.
 
or Go To
www.irs.gov, then click link for "Charities & Non-Profits."
Deadline to submit articles/photos, ads and calendar events for the October/November 2021 issue of The Connecticut Federation News is September 10, 2021. Please submit to:

ARTICLES/PHOTOS
Marty Sherman

ADVERTISING
Barbara Romblad
PO Box 854, Branford, CT 06405
203.488.5528
 
CALENDAR
Ellie Tessmer

Direct Circulation Queries to: Office Administrator, FGCCT, PO Box 854, Branford, CT 06405
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