SOUTH ATLANTIC AWARDS 2023-2025
REGIONA AWARDS CHAIRPERSON
Martha Hilton
1034 Washington St E
Lewisburg, WV 24901
marthawvgci@gmail.com
AWARD RULES
1) Award year: January 1 through December 31
2) DEADLINE: JANUARY 25TH!! The deadline for most SAR award entries to reach the SAR Awards Chairperson. All entries shall first be judged by respective states at the STATE level. The State Awards Chairperson shall do one or a combination of the following: MAIL – the State winner of each award to be reviewed in ONE (1) PACKAGE or EMAIL each separately to the email address shown with these rules (It is different from prior years!). Each State Awards Chairperson MUST send a list of the award winners being submitted to SAR for review and all award submissions MUST include the SAR Award Name.
3) Application Form: The application form is a separate sheet. Forms available at the end of the awards list or may be found on the website as a separate item at: www.southatlanticregiongardenclub.org or from your State Awards Chairperson. Items to Note:
a) Three (3) page limit – One side only of the page; Does NOT include application form;
b) Font style: Times New Roman NOT smaller than size “10” font;
c) Please fill out an Application Form for each Award you apply for;
d) Binders & vinyl sheet protectors are no longer needed nor allowed; NOTE there is an exceptions!
e) Submissions will NOT be returned after the SAR Convention;
f) Applications may be submitted for certain awards on CD or Thumb Drive.
4) YEARBOOKS, PRESSBOOKS & YOUTH AWARDS are exceptions which have specific rules, etc. Please consult award descriptions for details.
5) CATEGORIES BY CLUB SIZE: Some awards specify awards according to club size and they are as follows:
i) Small Club: 20 members of Less
ii) Medium Club: 21 – 50 members
iii) Large Club: 51+ members
iv) Two or more clubs
SCALE OF POINTS FOR JUDGING SAR AWARDS
5 POINTS: Presentation – neat, concise, includes all required information & does not exceed 3 page limit
15 POINTS: Participation – size of club, involvement of members, community, government agencies, professionals, you residents in facilities, others (Involvement is not required in all of these)
15 POINTS: Supporting Documents – supporting data (as applicable), clear, well-labeled & neatly attached; “Before” & “After” photos, landscape plan (does not have to be professionally drawn) financial report, letters of appreciation, community awards, recognition, newspaper/magazine articles, radio or TV script (if possible) etc. Photocopies are permitted but need to be “readable”.
65 POINTS: Achievement – Scope of project, need & fulfillment; benefit, accomplishment, comprehensive work, activities to attain goals, evaluation of goals reached, educational, prior planning, very brief history of continuing project, financial report &other information available.
100 POINT TOTAL
2023-2025 AWARDS
#1 ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING/ACTIVITIES
$25 Cash Award to the club with the most outstanding tree planting activity and/or promotion of conservation and preservation of trees and/or Arbor Day Activities
i)Small Club ii)Medium Club iii) Large Club iv)Two or more clubs
#2 BIRD PROTECTION
$25 Cash Award to a club conducting the most comprehensive and effective project for bird protection and welfare, such as sanctuaries, providing food, houses and promoting law enforcement relative to bird welfare.
i)Small Club ii)Medium Club iii) Large Club iv)Two or more
(NGC #EC-3)
#3 PROTECTING POLLINATORS AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club, group of clubs or council for the most comprehensive and effective project for our pollinators: habitat protection, protective of migratory routes, public education, establishment of a butterfly garden at a school or community site. Monarch Way Stations may be a part of this project. (NGC #EC-3)
#4 PERMANENT COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS
$25 Cash Award for the most distinguished civic improvement for public benefit: establishing sanctuaries, municipal gardens, landscaping public buildings, etc. Copy of landscape plan MUST be included – COMMERCIAL projects are not eligible! (NGC #CE-2)
#5 ENVIRONMENTAL/CONSERVATION AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club, group of clubs or council for the most concentrated activity/study/project to improve our environment (such as soil, water, energy, air and/or natural resources). (NGC #EC-1 OR EC-2)
#6 GARDEN THERAPY: HEALING GARDEN AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club, council or group of clubs having the most outstanding garden therapy project in which a Healing Garden is an integral part. Projects using plant materials working with handicapped or elderly persons in institutions or organized care programs for nursing homes, etc. Evidence must show handicapped or elderly persons involved in the garden (If not allowed, please have documentation from the facility) (NGC #G-3)
#7 GARDEN THERAPY: HORTICULTURE GARDEN AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club reporting the most outstanding program establishing a garden to benefit the physically or learning challenged, in nursing homes, schools, prisons, low income housing, Habitat for Humanity, etc. Includes barrier-free gardens, accessible gardens, meditation gardens at a nursing home, hospital, etc. (NGC #G-3)
#8 HISTORIC PRESERVATION
$25 Cash Award to a club, group or clubs or council for the most outstanding project continuing or completing work on a historic preservation project such as a trail, park, cemetery, garden or grounds around a historic building and/or garden of importance to local, state or national heritage. (NGC #CE-9)
#9 PENNY PINES AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a garden club in each size category who donates the most $68 contributions to the National Garden Clubs Inc. Penny Pines Program. The award year will be the same as for SAR Awards. Application needs to include: State, Club Name, Club Size & contact information. The Penny Pines Chairman will be contacted for total contributions. i)Small Club ii)Medium Club iii) Large
#10 NATIONAL GARDEN WEEK
$25 Cash Award to the club, group or council for giving the best overall promotion of National Garden Week. Entry to show community awareness throughout the entire week and include local and/or state proclamations. (NGC #MAE-5)
#11 ROADSIDE IMPROVEMENT AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club group of clubs or council for notable enhancement of roadsides and/or rest areas using wildflowers and/or native plants. Projects ay be sited on rural byways, urban highways, roadside rest areas, entrances to towns, medians, etc. (NGC #CE-4)
#12 LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR CHURCH GARDENS
$25 Cash Award planning and planting of a church or synagogue garden that meets the needs of the congregation. May be a new project or the updating of a current garden. Photos must be included. (NGC #CE-8)
#13 PLANT IT PINK
$25 Cash Award for the most outstanding and innovative project by a club or council emphasizing the planting of PINK gardens using pink flowers and/or foliage to make the public aware of the fight against breast cancer.
#14 BLUE STAR & GOLD STAR MARKER LANDSCAPING AWARD
$25 Cash Award for the most outstanding landscaping at a Blue Star or Gold Star Marker by a club, council or group of clubs. The marker and landscaping may be a part of a highway department rest area and maintained by the department. The project may have been continuous but major landscaping must be completed within two (2) years. The project may be a replacement for a destroyed or long neglected landscaped area. (NGC #CE-7)
#15 WATER CONSERVATION
$25 Cash Award to the garden club providing the most thorough programming on water conservation. May include legislation, erosion control, watershed protection, clean water ways activities, etc. All must stress the importance of WATER. (NGC #EC-4)
#16 SAR LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARD
$25 Cash Award to the STATE having the MOST NEW Regional Life Memberships within the calendar year: January 1 through December 31. Totals will be collected from the Regional Membership Chairperson.
#17 LITTER, RECYCLING, RECLAMATION AWARD
$25 Cash Award to the garden club with the most outstanding community project on litter prevention, reclamation and/or recycling. Can be a new project or an ongoing activity. i)Small Club ii)Medium Club iii) Large Club iv)Two or more (NGC #EC-1)
#18 NEWSLETTER PUBLICATION AWARD
$25 Cash Award for the best overall club newsletter. Newsletter must be published three or more times per year under on editorship. Submit only three (3) sample issues and state the number of issues that are published per year. Printed submitted for SAR judging. Notices and flyers for a one-time event do not apply. (NGC #MAE 4 A-D)
#19 PUBLIC RELATIONS AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club, group of clubs or council for the most thorough involvement with a community group, civic organizations, businesses, agencies, etc. working with the garden club on projects, activities and programs for the year. (NGC #MAE 1)
#20(a) BEST PROGRAM WITH SLIDES, VIDEO OR POWER POINT
$25 Cash Award to an individual member or group of members or club submitting the most outstanding program via slides, video or power point that has been presented at a meeting of a club, group of clubs or council. (NGC #MAE 3)
#20(b) BEST PROGRAM WITHOUT SLIDES, VIDEO OR POWER POINT
$25 Cash Award to an individual member, group of members or club submitting the most outstanding program without slides, video or power point that has been presented at a meeting or a club, group of clubs or council.
#21 WEBSITE AWARD
$25 Cash Award for the most outstanding website promoting club, State, SAR & NGC objectives. To be included in the information: Website address, who maintains the site, how often it is updated and cost. Ease of navigation will be considered while judging the site. Clubs, councils, and districts may apply.
(NGC #MAE – 2)
SCALE OF POINTS FOR WEBSITE JUDGING
25 POINTS: PRESENTATION – Design/appearance, attractive, engaging, easy to view, layout.
40 POINTS: NAVIGATION – Ease of navigating system (bar, map, etc.) logical flow of pages, clear page Headers, links active
25 POINTS: ACHIEVEMENT – Club/group information present/ease to find, educational
10 POINTS: PROMOTION – Promotes club, State, SAR & NGC objectives
100 POINT TOTAL
#22 YEARBOOK AWARDS
$25 Cash Award to the individual garden club with the best overall yearbook.
i)Small Club ii)Medium Club iii) Large Club
Scoring of yearbooks will comply with the point system established by NGC.
Format: 15 points
-
Book Structure 3 points
Practicability (convenient size, durability, neatness -
Arrangement of Contents
1. Cover 2 points
Name of club, town, state, year (design optional);
if permanent type of binder used, substitute paper cover for contest.
2. Title Page & Table of Contents 4 points
Name of club, town, state, year and number of members
National Garden Club and other organizational memberships
3. Subsequent pages 6 points
Name and addresses of National President, Regional Director,
State President, District Director, Council Chairman (if any)
Club membership roster with complete mailing addresses and
Phone numbers. Calendar of Events (other than regular meetings)
Program Content: 85 points
Goals for ideal club program: Study and activity in some NGC objectives such as: Birds, Blue Star Memorials, Civic development, conservation, flower shows, garden Therapy, High School/Junior/Intermediate Gardening, horticulture, landscape design, Litter control, roadside development, world gardening, etc.
A. Club Meeting(s) (at least 7 per year – in any form) 50 points
When (date of meeting), where (place of meeting), who (name of Person to address group), what (title of program). When a theme is Used it should prevail in at least a majority of meetings.
B. Club Projects 35 points
1. Continuing projects and new projects for the current year should be listed separately.
2. Give location, description and member participation in both types of projects.
3. Note where meetings – programs pertain to project work.
Total 100 points
#23 PUBLICITY PRESSBOOK AWARD
$25 Cash Award to the best overall Pressbook. Winners will be named: 1st, 2nd 3rd & Honorable Mention in each of the following categories:
i)Small Club ii)Medium Club iii) Large Club
FOR THE FOLLOWING AWARD – SECTION 1 OF APPLICATION IS REQUIRED ONLY!
ELIGIBILITY: All garden clubs, districts, councils and garden centers belonging to NGC may submit a Pressbook.
FORMAT: Entries must be submitted in a folder with holes to firmly hold pages; a theme-style binder or oxford brief folder. No heavy scrap books, oversized portfolios or loose clippings will be judged. Size 8 ½ x 11 or 9 x 12
GARDEN CLUBS: Note category (small, medium or large), name of club, city, state, region & name as well as address of person submitting Pressbook.
DISTRICT: State, name of person submitting Pressbook, number & address.
COUNCILS & GARDEN CENTERS: State, location, name of person submitting Pressbook, number & address.
CONTENTS: Materials must consist of only actual newspaper, magazine, newsletter or any printed publication “clipping” with the name and date of publication over each article. No decorative embellishments will affect judging. Affix contents in chronological order beginning January 1 & ending December 31. Pages must be numbered & an index is required. Each published item must contain: name of the club, district, council or garden center and/or individual(s) identified as a member of the garden club, district, council or garden center. Underline the first use of the club’s name, garden club member and/or district, council or garden center’s name in the story or article. Pressbooks will be judged on quality, quantity, diversity or coverage & requirements set forth in these guidelines. Number of pages is unlimited. Pressbooks will be returned if stamped, self-addressed envelope is included with entry.
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATION OF PUBLICITY PRESSBOOKS:
30 POINTS: PRESSBOOK CRITERIA
35 POINTS: QUALITY
20 POINTS: QUANTITY
15 POINTS: DIVERSITY OF COVERAGE
100 POINTS TOTAL
#24 STANDARD FLOWER SHOW SCHEDULE AWARDS
SINGLE CLUB
$25 Cash Award for the Best Standard Flower Show Schedule
TWO OR MORE CLUBS OR COUNCIL
$25 Cash Award for the Best Standard Flower Show Schedule
SPECIAL AWARDS
**APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING AWARDS ARE TO BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 25TH! SEND THE APPLICATIONS TO:
SHARON JONES O’CONNELL
85 SURBER DRIVE; MONETA, VA 24121
964-253-4383 PHONE TODDIE1904@AOL.COM
#SP1 CREATE A WILDLIFE HABITAT
$50 Cash Award & Certificate to a club that presents the most outstanding wildlife habitat.
The requirements for a wildlife habitat are to provide food, shelter, water, and a place to raise or feed young. Birdhouses or dense foliage should be provided. Include bird baths, small ponds and wet rocks to provide a water source for birds, small mammals, amphibians, and insects. It needs to have plants that provide nectar in spring, summer and fall to feed insects. It should contain native shrubs and flowers to provide nectar, seeds, and berries for birds and others that winter in the habitat. This wildlife habitat will be sustainable with no pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides used.
Your application should include a list of plants and the wildlife they attract. If possible, provide photos of wildlife in the created habitat. No more than three pages in length, the application must include before, during, and after photographs. It should include any published coverage. A crucial part of the application should explain why the club took on the project and why they chose the location. Did those participating in the project finish it with a sense of protecting and preserving the environment?
#SP2 CREATE A COMMUNITY NATIVE PLANT GARDEN
$50 Cash Award & Certificate to the best community native plant garden
The survival of all native species begins with our native plants. If one person plants a garden of native plants, not much help comes from it. If all gardens have some native plants then a habitat is created that supports the circle of life in the area. Remember many modern hybrid flowers are bred for color and may have different size flower parts that do not feed pollinators looking for food.
The requirements for this community native plant garden award are: plant at least five different species of native nectar plants (perennials) and three species of caterpillar host plants; include at least one native shrub and/or small tree to provide food and shelter for caterpillars, birds, and wildlife.
Consider diversity of color and seasonal interest in planning and design to help attract wildlife across the seasons. Include a simple drawing of this garden with plants named (genus, species).
YOUTH AWARDS
#Y1 YOUTH EDUCATION AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a garden club member or senor garden club providing an educational program/activity that promotes NGC objectives for youth in any setting: classroom, 4-H Club, Scouts, Junior, Intermediate or High School Gardeners. Type of program, meeting date and number of youth involved should be included in application.
#Y2 YOUTH CLUB AWARD
$25 Cash Award to the Junior/Intermediate Garden
$25 Cash Award to the Member Garden Club sponsoring the youth club for the most successful promotion of all phases of gar$00en club work. List of programs, meeting dates and number of youth involved should be included in the application.
** ENTRIES FOR THE FOLLOWING SAR ESSAY ARE TO BE RECEIVED BY
JANUARY 1ST! SEND THE ENTRIES OR ANY QUESTIONS TO:
BRENDA CROCKER
P.O. BOX 7847; ROCKY MOUNTAIN, NC 27804-0847
252-443-6513 PHONE BCROCKER3358@EMBARQMAIL.COM
RULES CONCERNING THE ESSAY WILL BE ON THE SAR WEBSITE!
#Y3 SAR HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST
$200 Cash Award to the Winner – Open to all High School students.
2023-2024 Theme: “What are the benefits of planting native plants?”
2024-2025 Theme: “How can the planting of native plants be encouraged & increased?”
THE FOLLOWING YOUTH AWARDS #Y4, #Y5, & #Y6 MUST BE SENT TO THE DESIGNATED CHAIRPERSON LISTED WITH THE AWARD! STUDENTS MUST FOLLOW NGC RULES FOR THESE CONTESTS FOUND ON THE NGC WEBSITE: WWW.GARDENCLUB.ORG/YOUTH-CONTESTS
**APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING AWARDS ARE TO BE RECEIVED BY FEBRUARY 15TH! SEND THE APPLICATIONS TO:
SUSAN THRONEBERRY
4621 OLD SCOTTSVILLE ROAD; ALVATON, KY 42122-9752
270-781-0000 PHONE STHRONEBERRY1@GMAIL.COM
#Y4 YOUTH POETRY CONTEST
$10 Cash Award will be presented to each of the winners in Grades K-9th as well as Special Education & ESL Students.
2023-2024 Theme: “I Spy With My Little Eye, Something Green Outside – Celebrating Our Green World”
#Y5 YOUTH RECYCLABLE SCULPTURE CONTEST
$10 Cash Award will be awarded to each of the youth sculpture winners of Grades 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8th
**ENTRIES FOR THE FOLLOWING AWARD ARE TO BE RECEIVED BY FEBRUARY 15TH! SEND THE ENTRIES TO:
DARENE HONEYCUTT
167 HUDSONTOWN ROAD; DUNN, NC 28334-7500
910-385-8398 MOBILE HONEYCUTTDARENE@GMAIL.COM
#Y6 SMOKEY BEAR 80TH BIRTHDAY POSTER CONTEST
$10 Cash Award to each of the poster winners in each grade 1st – 5th. States may send only one(1) winner per grade. Rules on NGC & US Forest Service websites.