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A GUIDE FOR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM
PLANNING
Adapted from and Presented By
District I and the Albuquerque Council of Garden Clubs originally prepared
in1965
Pre-Requisites to PROGRAM
PLANNING
The three C’s we shall consider are CHARACTER, CAPACITY and COLLATERAL as
we discuss the pre-requisites to that first program meeting of the year.
Let’s consider CHARACTER in
relation to our Program Chairman. Her greatest asset is sincerity. A Program
Chairman has to be a dedicated person to achieve true success for her club. A
pleasing personality helps a great deal, also. A sense of humor is a must. There
are times when it’s the only thing that sustains you.
Now, let’s go a step farther
and consider our Program Chairman’s CAPACITY - her dedication to the purpose,
her ability and will power to perform. Is she a good organizer? If not, she
certainly should be. The Program Chairman must be neat and orderly, always on
time, and aware of small details as well as major ones. The neglect of a small
detail could spoil an entire program such as, an ‘unprepared or poor
introduction of the guest speaker. A speaker responds to a good introduction and
it’s easy for them to give you their best. It’s your responsibility to set the
stage for them. So, our Program Chairman must be a good organizer with an eye
for detail and a sensitive ear to the wants and needs of her club members.
Let’s consider COLLATERAL
which to me means knowledge - security to your club. The Program Chairman must
be more than a good organizer - she has to know what it’s all about, It’s her
duty to guide and direct her committee, It’s most important to have a
well-informed Program Chairman. She should be informed on National, Begional,
State, District, and local activities, and major projects. If she’s a smart girl
(and she is or you wouldn’t have selected her), she will realize her
shortcomings and fill in the gaps in her knowledge before that first program
meeting. When she chooses her Program Committee (Which should be from 3 to 5
members). She should keep in mind several points and select her members
accordingly. The annual and individual monthly programs should give to the
members and, participants the following:
1. A sense of profit. Every
member should go home with a feeling of having gained something from the
meeting.
2. A sense of security -
you’re sure you know just what to do on that landscaping problem of yours. You
do not question the information you have gleaned, because it came from good
authority. Your guest speaker was an authoritative speaker or your garden club
member gave you the source of her materials, so you could read more on the
subject.
3. A sense of accomplishment.
Let’s say a feeling of accomplishment and you have a. right to be proud of it.
You didn’t know there was so much to know but you assimilated it and there’s
more.
4. A sense of importance. You
have gained something you can pass on; you are of importance to your family,
your club and your community and you can go just as far on up as you wish to go.
5. Finally a sense of
well-being. You’re somewhere and you know you’re on the right road. This point
can be realized only after the four previously mentioned items have
materialized.
You can select a committee
that can bring this miracle about. It isn’t easy, but it’s being done every day.
Your requests for program materials and your very fine yearbooks tell us so. If
you have chosen your committee chainman wisely, you are ready to plan. an
interesting and informative program for your club - One that answers their
needs.
PLANNING THE PROGRAM
FIRST STEP.
The first thing to consider is
how do you define your OBJECTIVE.
Every club must face at one
time or another - disinterested members, fluctuating membership, stalemated
programs, etc. What to do about it? Even if your club is satisfied and does not
like changes, it is still worthwhile to evaluate your objective(s). Each club is
naturally interested in its growth and progress and it is the program
possibilities which keep it alive. So give your OBJECTIVE(S) this test. It(they)
must accomplish three things
1. Build club interest, 2. Get members out to meetings, 3. Bring in new members?
SECOND STEP.
Select a THEME. This is
important because your theme sets the course for the year’s work. There are many
general approaches in choosing a theme for program development. An idea may be
taken from an inspirational phrase, or titles from books, songs, poems, etc.,
and, translated into program topics, or; start with a timely subject and devise
titles or find quotations to drarnatize the THEME and subsequent programs. Don’t
overlook dictionaries of familiar quotations, and most of all, your imagination.
Pool your ideas.
THIRD STEP. INTERPRETING THE
THEME. In planning the program, remember, it is long- range; interest must be
kept alive; and bear in mind the classic admonition: “Make no little plans, they
have no magic to stir men’s minds
FOURTH STEP.MEMBER
PARTICIPATION AND ACTIVITIES. Make the members feel it’s their club. Members
learn more by doing. But it isn’t ideal to have every program put on by members.
There are loads of devices for partial participation. The paramount one is the
Roll Call. It should have a purpose, be timely, and can be a most effective way
to stimulate advance interest. (Roll call is not feasible for large clubs.) An
introductory quiz could enliven or break the ice. Discussion could follow a
speaker after the formal program. Other devices such as fun lessons are
stimulating. These can be common names of plants, identify foliage, seeds, twigs
of trees; test fragrances blindfolded; or identify plants like bulbs by feel.
These are quickies which can be fun. Winners may be awarded a suitable small
prize. Sometimes the fun lesson may serve as a fill-in when a lull occurs in the
agenda. Suggestions: A small fine could be levied when a member fails to give a
proper response to roll call. A club could have a door prize with late-corners
not eligible. Be sure to explain customs and standing rules at the first regular
meeting of each year and call attention to that at intervals.
PROGRAM WORKSHOPS AND
CLINICS
Program workshops or clinics
are excellent methods to use to show clubs how to build better programs with
imagination. The length of time you have will affect what you schedule. May or
late summer when your clubs plan their year’s work is the best time to have such
a meeting. Try to include these features as they fit your clubs and your time:
MODERATOR OR COORDINATOR - -
Usually you, the Program Chairman.
1. Keep things moving - but watch timing.
2. Introduce speaker.
3. In question-answer period have well-prepared questions
ready to start the period. Some may be handed out in advance.
4. Checks props - table for panels, chairs, blackboards, etc.
5. To insure success, plan all details carefully.
OVERALL PLANNING
1. Have exhibits for them to see and to take home and time to look. Such as
Yearbooks, pamphlets (Agriculture Dept. and County Agent, seed catalogs, etc.
Lists of program topics. Lists of speakers and fees if possible, also addresses
and subjects, Lists of slides and how to order. Include material on Juniors,
conservation, landscape design, etc.
2. Use a variety of methods to present your information: Panels, Symposiums,
Forums, Institutes, Speakers, Buzz sessions - those attending can talk out their
problems, Demonstrations - This is the dessert for your program day. Flower
arranging, corsage making, preparing cuttings, etc.
3. Include these phases of programming.
A. Committee - talk about a program committee and. its work.
Include duties to visiting speakers, fee, transportation, meeting them. Who
should be on program committee - a new member may have a good idea.
B. Program content - Types of programs such as
demonstrations, speakers, films, powerpoint presentations, slide shows, book
reviews, workshops, garden tours, etc. Speakers - National state, district
personnel, club members or guest speakers, Dept. of Agriculture, County Agents,
Forest Service, commercial firms.
C. Year Book. Value of theme for year. Explain balanced
program. What and how to put it in — have samples to show. What to avoid.
4. Personnel for your panels, etc. Use state and district people where possible.
Large local clubs have experts also. To keep the cost low, the speakers will
usually be local people.
5. Club Speaker’s cost. They are often high, so this is a means of developing
do-it-yourself programs of value. Also clubs may trade speakers.
6. TV and Radio - Wonderful way to tell the garden story. Are your clubs using
them?
7. Plan a final Round Up. May have quick summaries or buzz sessions. Good spot
for questions and answers.
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Possible program
materials.
BORDERS
Borders are special planting
usually used:
1. On margins of open area - frames for garden pictures. Individual specimens
not so important. General artistic effect of mass, background and perspective is
desired. Accents - use individual specimen.
2. Beside drives or walks - individual and group specimen rather than for frame
work arid background.
3. Around buildings — usually called foundation planting. Used to soften hard,
straight lines arid angles of house and ground
VALUE OF BORDERS:
1. Express individuality of
gardener and her experience and interests.
2. By occasional changes of minor subject keeping background the same, new
effects each year may be had. Annuals and bulbs good here.
3. Usually uniform - small kinds of materials so spotty effect is avoided.
KINDS: May be used singly but
combinations are often more interesting and less work.
1. Evergreen - coniferous,
broad-leaved, flowering.
2. Deciduous shrub.
3. Hardy Perennials.
4. Native wild plants. Check conservation list.
5. Annuals - bedding plants. Bed prepared in spring if ground is light. Fall if
heavy soil. Requires more work than perennials. Only seasonal bloom-but colorful
6. Herbaceous- So-called since it dies to the ground each year. Keep away from
heavy feeding shrubs. Those with deep roots and some distance away are good.
Included are:
A. Bulbs: Crocus, hyacinth, narcissus, snowdrop, gladiolus,
lily, squill, tulip.
B. Perennials - Aster, bleeding heart, campanula, candytuft,
chrysanthemums, columbine, coral-bells, day lily, delphinium, foxglove,
gaillardia, oriental poppy, peony, phlox, pinks, vio1a,
C. Annuals - Asters, calendula, coreopsis, cornflower,
cosmos, marigold, pansy, petunia, poppy, portulaca, scabiosa, snapdragon, sweet
alyssum, sweet pea, zinnia.
CARE: Permanent plants deserve
thorough preparation. Dig Deep!
1. Add humus - compost, leaf
mold, peat moss, or local material and mix in.
2. Be sure there are no spots for heavy rains or winter cold to settle.
3. Stake tail plants early and inconspicuously.
4. Keep weeds down - easiest when small.
5. Keep soil loosened, but spading is usually not possible.
6. Remove faded flower heads promptly.
7. Feed as necessary.
8. Water as required
9. Mulch may be used in winter after ground freezes.
11. Occasional division of perennials required. General rule: Those which bloom
prior to June, divide in fall; later bloomers in Spring.
DESIGN
1. Locate larges growing
material (usually shrubs) first. Most often placed in back ground.
2. Allow space so each may develop full size without crowding. Temporary plants
like annuals, bulbs can fill in while large ones are developing.
3. Next plant medium sized ones.
4. Fill in with edging or low-growing plants
5. Group plants of one kind and color-not too regularly so they have artistic
relation to other groups and balance of color, size arid texture for unity of
whole.
6. White, green or gray material will help ‘fighting” colors blend in garden
picture.
7. The Smaller the border the greater the care necessary to avoid fussiness.
RESOURCE MATERIAL: Garden
Encyclopedia. Garden Center Library. Sunset, The extension services - County
Agent, County Extension Service, The Garden Editor’s article in newspaper. Your
city or county library staff. The Internet:
www.gardeningfromthegroundup.us. www.nmmastergardeners.org. www.abqmastergardeners.org.PLUS
THOUSANDS MORE.
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HOLIDAY SEASON MEETING
SUGGESTIONS
-: November and December are months in your year when you may want
added features such as music, tea, or friends and the public to share in this
periods. These ideas may suggest just the balanced program you can build with
imagination.
PROGRAM TOPICS
Horticulture: Study of evergreen trees. How to condition
greens. Helebore (Xmas Rose), berried shrubs, or sea oats, seasonal plants. Care
of plants.
Conservation You may start with your conservation list as
you select your decorating materials. Or you may consider preserving the ones
you bring in.
Dried Materials. Actually this topic needs doing early in
the spring or summer when you start co1lecting. Yet many of our members are
interested only as they see them used. So tell them what to collect, how to
prepare it for storage, etc. Glycerinized leaves, members can save their notes
if you provide paper and pens or pencils.
Films: Christmas arrangements, shows, outdoor decoratiøns.
Travel. Request demonstration of 4-5 club members by pre-arrangement, show
decorations for rooms in home.
Small Christmas Show: Each member brings an arrangement she will use in the
house. Christmas for the Birds, Bird feeders, berried shrubs for bird cover,
bird Xmas tree. Biblical Gardens or Flowers. This wil1 take a bit of research.
DEMONSTRATIONS OR WORKSHOPS
Your members will especially like workshops where they bring
materials and learn how to put them together. Demonstrations work well in large
groups. Several examples are Candle making, Grape making - cluster of wax
grapes: how to make wreathes, swags, holiday corsages; dish gardens - this would
be better done earlier; silk ribbon demonstration. Arrange early.
PROJECTS
1. Hanging greens or other material in public places.
2. Favors for shut-Ins or hospital patients.
3. Garden therapy - helping patients make bedside
arrangements, favors, swags, etc.
4. Juniors - give them party or show how to make Christmas
decorations
5. Trimming trees for hospital and other such groups.
6. Staging - Christmas show, outdoor decorating contest,
decorated Christmas trees. Show later to shut -ins.
7. Holiday Houses - Open to Public.
8. TV or Radio programs. Public loves to see arid hear how to
make things.
9. Money-making demonstration, tea, show.
10. Garden centers - have a natural here.
ROLL- CALLS IDEAS
1. Show a favorite “quickie” arrangement.
2. My favorite plant material for Christmas decorating.
3. A gift I want for my garden or a friend.
SPECIAL FEATURES
1. Christmas customs in other lands.
2. Christmas story, skit, poem, reading, or carols.
3. Christmas tea if your club is not the eating kind.
4. Competition - best wrapped gift.
5. Displays - be sure you have them for your members to view.
RESOURCE MATERIAL
Your library, National Council files, magazines.
Remember: These are busy months with families being most important. So plan early. If your
meeting comes early in the month, your attendance will be better.
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