Polly Brooks

Director, New England Garden Clubs, Inc.

2025-2027

Theme: "We Grow Gardens & Gardeners"

FGCCT Annual Meeting - April 15th; RIFGC Annual Meeting & Luncheon - April 23rd;

NHFGC Annual Meeting - May 20; National Garden Clubs Annual Meeting in St. Louis - May 4-6 ; GCFMA - Annual Meeting - June 4; GCFME Annual Convention - June 17-18  FGCVT Annual Meeting - June 9.

For more information, click on the links to each of the NE states. I look forward to seeing you, Polly

Here is the link to Northern Exposure our New England Garden Clubs newsletter.

Sign up for our New England GC Zoom Photography Workshop:



"IMPROVING YOUR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY " (ZOOM, JUNE 2ND, 4PM ET) With Lisa Cuchara cost $10.00

"Step into the wild side of your camera and join Lisa Cuchara for a Zoom class designed to elevate your nature photography—whether you’re drawn to birds, wildlife, macro details, or sweeping landscapes. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned photographer, this course offers practical, easy-to-understand guidance for using your camera or smart phone to its fullest potential and transforming your photography into an artistic expression. "

click this link to find more about it and register for our workshop - cost $10.

f you do not have PayPal we can make a credit card purchase over the phone (total cost $12), email LisaTom.photos@comcast.net with that request, and give her your phone number. Please note that this and all classes/workshops have no refunds. 

This class is 4pm ET on June 2nd. If you cannot make it, you will receive a link to be able to watch this class for 30 days.

open the QR code below for more details.

More:

This course will guide you in creating stunning images with an emphasis on four essential photography techniques: composition, exposure, depth of field, and depth of feeling. All skill levels welcome, all camera models welcome, including cell phones. Many of the topics apply equally to digital, mirrorless, and cell phone photography. The first portion of the class will apply to all photography. The last ~1/3 of the class will have details more specific to today’s mirrorless cameras, but again, this class is designed for all cameras and all skill levels. 

Link to additional information about Lisa Cuchara's photography

For more information about Lisa and Tom Cuchara's extensive portfolio Click Here for Lisa's Bio.

The 2026 New England Flower Show will have a photo division that will be open for entries on April 7th.

Here is the link to the 2026 New England Flower Show's photo division (the schedule, the class list, rules and regs etc.)

Your photo choices should be saved in the specified format in a folder that you can access quickly in preparation for entering.

Below is the link to entering, but it isn't open until April 7th midnight.

g*********

This link to the registration page for photography will be activated on April 7th at 12:00 midnight via this link.

There will be a limited number of entries allowed in each class, so get your entries in first thing on the 7th before the classes fill up.

The NE Garden Clubs, Inc. Photography Judging Group

2026 Photography Show: please send in your digital images for our show:

"Our New England!"

A juried photo competition open to all our NE Garden Club members. Here is the link to download the schedule:

Our New England! Photo Show schedule

Here is the entry form where you can upload your images.

The images by the finalists will be displayed at the

NEGC Annual Meeting: October 13-14, 2026

"Vermont’s Green Mountains: Fostering the Birth of the Republic "

at Killington Lodge and Resort, Killington VT

Here is the link to the registration information for the meeting

and here is the QR code too!

Newport Flower Show "Pearls of Newport" June 19-21, 2026 at Rosecliff and yes, there will be a photography division too!

Here is the photo schedule

and

Here is the link to the registration form for entering Newport Flower Show's photography classes



GCF MA upcoming flower shows

These are a selection of Standard Flower Shows being held in Massachusetts in 2026. I do not know which ones may have a photography section.



Our State Photography Coordinators: WHAT a TEAM We have!!!!

The following members - one from each of our New England States - are our liaison to the The New England Garden Clubs Photography Group and will keep us informed about upcoming photo events in their states. That would include shows with photography divisions and other photo educational opportunities etc. - in each state!

They will have access to our photography judges contact information, too.

So send them any information about really good photography judges, photo shows and other photo events and workshops in your area.

CT Jill Corr

MA Beth Paisner

ME Suzanne Bushnell

NH Sue Miner

RI Ileene Chernoff

VT Becky Rizzi



If you wish to be a NEGC Photography Group Judge, here is the link to the jotform where we collect your photography experience/information for our files. More information about our photo judging program is below.

The New England Garden Clubs Photography Judging Group

For all our National Garden Clubs Standard Flower Shows, a photo judging panel consists of 3 judges: A professional, National Garden Clubs flower show judge,(master or accredited) and a photo expert.

Here is the list of the New England Garden Club members

who are approved to serve as MEMBERS of Photo Judging Panels at our NGC Standard Flower Shows: ie they are officially NEGC photo judges

Beth Paisner - MA

Doris Van Mullen - VT

Ileene Chernoff - RI

Jill Corr - CT

Mara Sfara - CT

Michele Mensinger - NH

Wendy Yu - CT

Robin Turnbaugh - NH

In addition the following have agreed

to serve as EXPERTS on our NGC photo judging panels.

Many of these photographers are approved Garden Club of America Photography Judges and others have extensive professional expertise, and/or both! Your state coordinators have their contact information.

Anne Franzen - CT

Evelyn Lorenzen-Bell - CT

Susan Brewer - CT

Jeanette Barrows - CT

Anne Friday - CT

Susan Hight - CT

Ellen Avellino -CT

Patti Spaght - CT

Susan Rotando - CT

Lisa Cuchara - CT

Gail Cyr - RI

Arabella Dane - MA NH WI

Beverly Kazickas - NY NJ MA

Roberta DuBeshter - NY

Helen Glaenzer - MA

Christine Paxhia - MA

Betsy Ridge - MA

Chris Wood - MA

Martha Gangemini - MA

Vicki Saltonstall - MA

Karen Werner - MA

Tori MacMillan - MA VA

Thom Williams - NY

Terry Cook NH ME

Becky Rizzi - VT

Note: New England professional photographers, photography instructors, and camera club judges are encouraged to serve on our panels. If you would like to be included on our list of photography judges, please fill in this jotform to send us your information.

In addition, during the year, we will be offering the following photography opportunity for you. We will let you know when the logistics have been worked out. Stay Tuned.

We are planning ...

A Zoom photography certification course 'The basics of photography' sponsored by Hunt's Photo and Video Educational Dept. the cost and details to follow

The Sandwich Fair in Sandwich NH October 10-12 2026 has a big photography show. You will need to deliver your photos on the evening of Oct 9th.

Here is the entry form.

NECCC - New England Council of Camera Clubs - update from Susan Mosser, NECCC Steering Committee Chair

www.neccc.org 

To enjoy all the images, here is the link to the NECCC's gallery

Enjoy the NGC photography page! We will be adding photographic tips and articles here; hosting a facebook page and a blog featuring discussions about photography

The New England Camera Club Council (NECCC) is a nonprofit umbrella group for 70 camera clubs and photography groups in the New England states (CT, RI, ME, MA, NH, and VT). 

Consider taking advantage of PSA's extensive educational opportunities and free programs that are exclusive to individual members.

This remarkable organization offers its members great opportunities for workshops. lectures and field trips for nature photography

They, like PSA, offer contests too.

NEGC Photography Group Leadership

Arabella Dane, arabellasd@aol.com, Chair

suzanne Bushnell, Assistant

Michelle Mensinger, Derry GC

Susan Miner, New England Garden Clubs, Inc. Director 2023-25

Polly Brooks, New England Regional Director 2025-27

Photo Coordinators by State

CT - Jill Corr

MA - Beth Paisner

ME - Suzanne Bushnell

NH - Sue Miner

RI -Ileene Chernoff

VT - Becky Rizzi