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Des Plaines IL, Garden Club
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Des Plaines IL, Garden Club
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2022 Awards from Garden Club of Illinois

1st. Place ~ GCI GARDEN CLUB ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

1st. Place ~ GCI GARDEN CLUB ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

1st. Place ~ GCI GARDEN CLUB ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

"Our Club's Submission is provided below

Gold Seal ~ Club Achievement

1st. Place ~ GCI GARDEN CLUB ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

1st. Place ~ GCI GARDEN CLUB ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

1st. Place ARBOR DAY CITATION ~Youth Program

1st. Place ~ GCI GARDEN CLUB ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

1st. Place ARBOR DAY CITATION ~Youth Program

 

2nd. Place – Electronic Newsletter Newsletter/Magazine/Bulletin

2nd. Place – Electronic Newsletter Newsletter/Magazine/Bulletin

2nd. Place – Electronic Newsletter Newsletter/Magazine/Bulletin

Presidential Citation – Mary Peglow

2nd. Place – Electronic Newsletter Newsletter/Magazine/Bulletin

2nd. Place – Electronic Newsletter Newsletter/Magazine/Bulletin

given by the GCI President to persons 

who have performed outstanding service to GCI

Silver Seal in Horticultural

2nd. Place – Electronic Newsletter Newsletter/Magazine/Bulletin

Silver Seal in Horticultural

"Our Submission for Award - GCI Garden Club Anniversary Cel

For 18 months, The Des Plaines Garden Club prepared to celebrate our 90th anniversary in 2021, then came a pandemic called Covid-19. 

90 years is a big deal, and we were determined to not let a little thing like a pandemic to deter us. Just like the gardener who rescues a forgotten plant under the table at the garden center, where there is a will there is a way. So, with much determination we started off our year in January. The virus had other ideas. 

Meetings were moved online using Zoom instead of being in person. Not what we planned, but certainly better than cancellations. It was a challenge to host a Zoom meeting with 73 participants. Scrolling between several screens to make sure everyone who wanted to make a comment had their chance and teaching Zoom etiquette, so we weren’t talking over each other. Even some of our members who have retired to warmer climates joined our Zoom meetings. A few of them are former officers and certainly important links to our 90 years. 

In the second quarter, March through May, our local history center gave us their exclusive display space. We went into the archives at the history center and pulled out all the important documents, including the list of the charter members, and showcasing our 90 years of activity in Des Plaines. Several of our members loaned us memorabilia they had from prior years. We had enough materials to fill 6 eight-foot tables. The history center, our local paper, the library, and our website, advertised the display. At the end of the quarter, the curator noted very nice attendance each month to see our display. 

By March the infection rate was going down, and we were able to start meeting in person. Well sort of, preregistration was required and no more than 35 members could attend. Instead to being able to hug each other, we all wore masks, stayed a distance apart, sat singularly at tables 4 feet apart, no food or beverages, no raffle table, but we were together. Several members continued to join us via Zoom. We stated planning our BIG 90th Anniversary year. 

June is our actual anniversary so let’s have our annual birthday trip, call the city we want to be in the 4th of July parade, let’s plan a fun activity for the youth in the fall and our course of 90th Anniversary Luncheon and fall fund raiser in November. The wheels were in motion. But so was the second season of Covid. It became apparent that our annual birthday trip on a bus, was just not possible. We quickly found plan B. Our club celebrated their 1st anniversary with an afternoon picnic at a member’s home. We have the photo showing all the ladies in a dress, dress shoes, some with gloves and everyone with a beautiful hat. Let’s recreate that moment. No one had room for card tables in their yard, so we went to our local conservatory. Again, we were limited to 50 participants. We took sandwich orders in advance and each person had their own box lunch. The members dressed for the occasion in their finest 1931 style apparel. What’s a birthday without cake? But no serving cake. So, each member had a beautiful cupcake properly served in a personal container. We sang Happy Birthday, and we played a trivia game about our club, our city, and life in general in 1931. The mayor declared June 2021 Des Plaines Garden Club month and gave us a proclamation. Was it what planned no, but it wonderful! 

Our local 4th of July parade was cancelled and so were our plans to have our members ride on a trolley with 1931 music playing.  So, 2022 we will participate in the parade for our 90ish anniversary. In late summer we went into power mode planning our 90th Anniversary Fall Luncheon. We needed to make sure we kept our members as safe as possible. Would our members feel safe to attend? Would the banquet hall accommodate us? Could we find a floral designer for the program? Of course, we can! We are that little forgotten plant, with a little water, a ray of sunshine, and good luck we can make it happen. And happen it did. 

The menu was changed to a plated meal from our traditional family style. Everyone was required to wear a mask unless they were seated eating their lunch. Everyone did their part to insure a comfortable setting. Each table had a beautiful vintage centerpiece, each member received a handmade bookmark, and special 90th anniversary cookies were at each place.  State Senator Laura Murphy was in attendance to present a proclamation from the State of Illinois honoring our 90th anniversary. We were also honored to have Carol Yee representing National Garden Club Central region, Marilyn Krueger representing Garden Clubs of Illinois, and Barbara Gilblair representing GCI District IX. 

Was the celebration of our Anniversary what we planned? Not even close, but it was perfect. 90 years of service to our community, continuing projects into 2022, over 100 members genuinely enjoy each other’s friendship, knowledge shared among our members, new members with enthusiasm for the future, and many, many fond memories of events, friends, and good times. That forgotten little plant is thriving in the care of The Des Plaines Garden Club and well bloom long into the future. 

District IX Garden Clubs of Illinois awards ~ 2022

1st Place 2021 ALL STAR AWARD

1st Place 2021 ALL STAR AWARD

1st Place 2021 ALL STAR AWARD

DISTRICT IX  

GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS 

 Awarded to our Des Plaines Garden Club

1st Place 2021 YEARBOOK AWARD

1st Place 2021 ALL STAR AWARD

1st Place 2021 ALL STAR AWARD

DISTRICT IX 

GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS 

Awarded to our Des Plaines Garden Club

 Andrew Goczkowski, Mayor of Des Plaines,

Illinois State Senate ~Certificate of Recognition ~90th year

On November 11, the Des Plaines Garden Club celebrated their 90th year at their annual holiday luncheon.  We were pleased to welcome Senator Laura Murphy of the Illinois State Senate. Senator Murphy issued a Certificate of Recognition to the Des Plaines Garden Club for our 90th Year 1931- 2021. 



Des Plaines Garden Club receives 90th birthday proclamation

Andrew Goczkowski, Mayor of Des Plaines, issued our clubs Anniversary Certificate on June 10th, 202

 During our 90th birthday celebration on June 11th 2021  the City of Des Plaines and the city's Mayor Andrew  Goczkowski.  issued  a Certificate of proclamation to the Des Plaines Garden Club for our 90th Year 1931- 2021. 

  


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2021 DES PLAINES GARDEN CLUB AWARDS

 2021 NATIONAL GARDEN CLUBS, INC. - "CERTIFICATE OF MERIT" Honoring our Des Plaines Garden Club, member of The Garden Club of Illinois, Inc., in Recognition of our 90th Anniversary

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2021 GARDEN CLUB OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI, - #62 CLUB ACHIEVEMENT (Blue) CERTIFICATE

2021 GARDEN CLUB OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI, - #63 "CLUB HORTICULTURE" (SILVER) CERTIFICATE

2021 GARDEN CLUB OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI, - #63 "CLUB HORTICULTURE" (SILVER) CERTIFICATE

PRESENTED TO OUR 

DES PLAINES GARDEN CLUB

BLUE SEAL ~ 2021

2021 GARDEN CLUB OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI, - #63 "CLUB HORTICULTURE" (SILVER) CERTIFICATE

2021 GARDEN CLUB OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI, - #63 "CLUB HORTICULTURE" (SILVER) CERTIFICATE

2021 GARDEN CLUB OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI, - #63 "CLUB HORTICULTURE" (SILVER) CERTIFICATE

PRESENTED TO OUR 

DES PLAINES GARDEN CLUB

SILVER SEAL ~ 2021

2021 THE GARDEN CLUB OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI, - #80 "BEST PRACTICES" AWARD CERTIFICATE

2021 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI, - #100 "VIP AWARD PRESENTED TO HAROLD EFFINGER

2021 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI, - #100 "VIP AWARD PRESENTED TO HAROLD EFFINGER

  • PRESENTED TO OUR DES PLAINES GARDEN CLUB

"Recruiting New Members"  1ST PLACE ~GOLD SEAL

~

RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS 

  • Always necessary, these are some of the ways our Des Plaines Garden Club is involved in the community and promotes our Club.
  • April - for Earth Day members go to two schools and work with second graders promoting gardening.
  • May - is a busy month for our Club. We have a Spring Plant Sale promoted by members displaying signs in their yards, advertising in local papers and on the electronic sign at the Frisbie Senior Center, where the sale is held. Members donate most of the plants. Two local nurseries also donate plants. The sale brings shoppers from many suburbs. Other activities include hosting a program with the Des Plaines Public Library at the Library, as well as participating in the Spring Fun Fair in town, helping children with a planting project.
  • July - our Club has a Garden Walk to six homes, followed by lunch at a restaurant.
  • September - the city has a Fall Family Festival where our Club has a recruiting table. At most of these events, our Club t-shirts are proudly worn to promote our Club.
  • November - is our Des Plaines Garden Club’s Annual Luncheon/Fundraiser at a restaurant and is promoted on the electronic sign at the Frisbie Senior Center, in newspapers and garden magazines. There is a huge raffle with prizes donated by members and many businesses that our Club Members recruit from. There is also a delicious bake sale with homemade goodies donated by our Club Members.
  • Our Des Plaines Garden Club donates to 24 local, state, and national organizations. We also plant and maintain three gardens, one at the Frisbie Senior Center, one at Lake Park where they also installed a Blue Star Marker and bench for our Club’s 75th Anniversary and the third is at the Self-Help Food Pantry. There are also members who go to nursing homes to conduct garden therapy with the residents.
  • Applications for membership are available at all functions our Club attends or mailed to anyone requesting information.
  • Thank you to everyone helping to recruit members, in anyway, at all the events our Club attends and sharing the love of our Garden Club Family all year.

2021 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI, - #100 "VIP AWARD PRESENTED TO HAROLD EFFINGER

2021 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI, - #100 "VIP AWARD PRESENTED TO HAROLD EFFINGER

2021 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI, - #100 "VIP AWARD PRESENTED TO HAROLD EFFINGER

  • Harold has been a member of our Des Plaines Garden Club since 2015. is an extreme asset to our Club. He oftentimes goes above and beyond for the benefit of our Club and its members as a whole. Whenever a request is asked of a member, Harold is always willing to offer his services. The most impressive task was our Club’s recent request to work on upgrading our website. While our Club was in dire need of an upgrade Harold, without hesitation, volunteered. We were so glad he did. Our Club’s website had not been updated for well over two years. It lacked photos and history of events that took place in our Club over the years. Harold worked patiently and tirelessly for several months, coordinating the shutting down of the old website with the former Webmaster and diligently recreated a new website on his own, our Club’s new Administrator/Webmaster was born. Harold’s expertise as a graphic artist was also invaluable to this project. In addition, Harold linked the website to a Facebook page. The Club has been incredibly impressed with how Harold is constantly updating photos and events both on the website as well as the Facebook page. He has now  known as our Club’s “Social Media guru”. Lastly, Harold deserves the credit for the design of our Club’s Yearbook, celebrating its 90th year anniversary. We, the members of our Des Plaines Garden Club, are pleased and honored to nominate Harold Effinger for the most Very Important Person Award.

2020 DES PLAINES GARDEN CLUB AWARDS

2020 NATIONAL GARDEN CLUB ~ CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATON

2020 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -BEST HISTORY FIRST PLACE

2020 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -BEST HISTORY FIRST PLACE

ANNIVERSARY CLUB HISTORY ~ CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION PRESENTED TO OUR DES PLAINES GARDEN CLUB

2020 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -BEST HISTORY FIRST PLACE

2020 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -BEST HISTORY FIRST PLACE

2020 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -BEST HISTORY FIRST PLACE

PRESENTED TO OUR DES PLAINES GARDEN CLUB

2020 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -PRESS BOOKS FIRST PLACE

2020 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -BEST HISTORY FIRST PLACE

2020 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -#62 CLUB ACHIEVEMENT (GOLD)

PRESENTED TO OUR DES PLAINES GARDEN CLUB

2020 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -#62 CLUB ACHIEVEMENT (GOLD)

2019 DISTRICT IX - GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -FIRST PLACE LARGE CLUB ALL STAR AWARD

2020 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -#62 CLUB ACHIEVEMENT (GOLD)

PRESENTED TO OUR DES PLAINES GARDEN CLUB

2019 DISTRICT IX - GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -YEARBOOK FIRST PLACE

2019 DISTRICT IX - GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -FIRST PLACE LARGE CLUB ALL STAR AWARD

2019 DISTRICT IX - GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -FIRST PLACE LARGE CLUB ALL STAR AWARD

PRESENTED TO OUR DES PLAINES GARDEN CLUB

2019 DISTRICT IX - GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -FIRST PLACE LARGE CLUB ALL STAR AWARD

2019 DISTRICT IX - GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -FIRST PLACE LARGE CLUB ALL STAR AWARD

2019 DISTRICT IX - GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -FIRST PLACE LARGE CLUB ALL STAR AWARD

PRESENTED TO OUR DES PLAINES GARDEN CLUB

2020 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -#100 VIP AWARD

2020 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -#100 VIP AWARD

2020 GARDEN CLUBS OF ILLINOIS ~ GCI -#100 VIP AWARD

PRESENTED TO MARY PEGLOW PRESIDENT OF OUR DES PLAINES GARDEN CLUB


Mary joined our club in 2013.  She has chaired the Awards & Grants Committee which took a lot of organization for our large club. She promotes our club to the community, being involved with local events such as the Curb Appeal Program, Library programs, Festivals in Des Plaines as well as Memorial Day services. 

During this past year, Mary was challenged with resolving some unsettling issues within the club. Steadfast as she is, Mary pursued every aspect to keep the club informed and resolute, and by doing so, the club is thriving.

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Des Plaines IL Garden Club

PO Box 1461, Des Plaines, IL 60017

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Our club members helped some of the residents create a “VALENTINE HEART”.

The hearts had cute net fabric on a wire frame which were decorated with flowers and ornaments.

When the hearts were done the residents enjoyed them in their rooms for Valentine’s Day.

It was a great success to share some LOVE!

Great Job Team!