Fairfield - Franklin – Pickaway – Ross Counties
History of Ohio Association of Garden Clubs
A spring garden school held in March 1930 at the Ohio State University Horticulture Department resulted in the organization of the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs. The charter clubs came from every area of the state and were eighty clubs strong.
Prominent Professors Alex Laurie, L. Chadwick and Victor Ries with their knowledge and guidance in horticulture, gave OAGC a close relationship with Ohio State University. Upon Professor Ries' retirement, Professor James CaIdwell of the extension department was requested to work with The Association. Professor CaIdwell continues to serve OAGC very willingly and adequately.
OAGC has been involved with, and has sponsored many gardening and beautification projects, not only on the local level but also statewide. In promoting horticulture, The Association has given instructions on growing, propagating, identifying, and sharing all species of plant life, as well as new gardening methods.
The motto of "Knowing, Growing, Showing and Sharing" has provided much insight for OAGC members and the communities with which they are associated.
Organization of the Association
This Association has been realized by the combined efforts of the elected officers, counselors, regional directors, state chairmen, regional chairmen, county contact chairmen, club presidents and individual members. Many hours of thought and hard work, all volunteer, have been dedicated to create and maintain this Association.
The elected officers are: president; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd vice-presidents; secretary; assistant secretary; and treasurer. They are elected by the attending voting delegates (each club eligible to send delegates), and installed at the annual convention for a two-year term and take office October 1 of even-numbered years. There is one chairman in charge of each of the departments (see state chairman section on subsequent pages for information regarding individual departments.) These chairmen are appointed by the president-elect for a two-year term, installed at convention, and assume office October 1 of even-numbered years.
Counties have been divided into 14 regions with one director for each region. The regional directors are elected by the club presidents or club representatives within the region at the Spring regional meeting in odd-numbered years, installed at the annual convention and take office the following October 1. Each region should have a regional chairman to serve each department corresponding to state chairmanships. Each county has a county contact chairman that assists the regional director in keeping the individual clubs informed.
The counselors are appointed by the president-elect and include the immediate past president, other past presidents, prominent horticulturalists and educators. Their duties are to attend each policy and planning session of semi-annual board meetings, convention and special meetings when requested by the president.
The elected officers and state chairmen are continually seeking gardening and programming information which they in turn pass along to the regional directors at semi-annual board meetings and by corresponding with regional directors and regional chairmen. The regional director has semi-annual regional meetings, which are open to the public, and all club members are encouraged to attend. At this time, the regional director and regional chairmen inform the membership of the activities of OAGC and current gardening trends. The county contact chairman conducts meeting(s) within the county to inform the general public and club members. The regional and county meetings generally provide outstanding speakers and/or arrangers; and always provide an opportunity to gain gardening knowledge and to nurture friendships.
In order to reach all its members, The Association employs many methods: an annual convention with flower show, exhibits, clinics and speakers; state meetings such as Gardeners' Day Out and Nature Study Camp; area meetings on a regional and county level; state and county fair flower shows; Exhibitors' and Judges' schools; and OAGC's official publication, The Garden Path . All names and addresses of elected state officers, state chairmen and counselors are listed in The Garden Path. The regional directors and the counties they represent are also listed in The Garden Path.
The Association encourages all of the clubs to publicize in newspapers, on radio and on television to keep the membership informed and to arouse interest in the general public for additional members. "Knowing, Growing, Showing and Sharing" is our motto and as an Association we do our utmost to uphold it.
The Association is governed by the following advisory committees:
- Board of Directors
The board of directors consists of the elected officers, the counselors, state chairmen and regional directors.
- Executive Committee
The executive committee consists of the president, the vice-presidents, secretary, assistant secretary and treasurer.
- Policy and Planning Committee
This committee consists of the president, first vice-president, secretary and counselors. All other elected officers may attend meetings of this committee, ex-officio. The purpose of this committee is to advise in the long range planning and uphold high standards of policies for the Association. Committee members serve as advisory consultants for all facets of The Association.
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