New England Garden Clubs, Inc.

### Context Profile for New England Garden Clubs, Inc.

1. **Organization Mission & Cause**:
   - The New England Garden Clubs, Inc. (NEGC) is dedicated to promoting gardening, environmental stewardship, and community engagement across New England. Their mission is encapsulated in the phrases "We Grow Gardens & Gardeners" and "BEE RESILIENT – Garden for Nature," emphasizing the importance of gardening for ecological balance and community well-being.

2. **Type of Activities**:
   - NEGC organizes various activities including:
     - Annual meetings (e.g., the 9th Annual Meeting scheduled for October 14-15, 2025).
     - Educational programs and workshops focused on gardening and environmental conservation.
     - Photography shows and vendor shopping events.
     - Community outreach and support for local gardening clubs.
     - Fundraising events such as raffles and silent auctions.

3. **Tone of Voice**:
   - The tone of the NEGC's communications is friendly, welcoming, and professional. It aims to inspire and engage members and the community, with a focus on collaboration and shared passion for gardening. The language is clear and accessible, often using inclusive phrases to foster a sense of community.

4. **Emoji Usage**:
   - The organization does not prominently feature emojis in their communications, maintaining a more traditional and professional approach in their written content.

5. **Key Facts**:
   - **Founding Info**: NEGC is a federation of garden clubs across New England, fostering collaboration among clubs in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
   - **Scale**: The organization involves multiple clubs and has a significant membership base across the New England states.
   - **Impact Metrics**: Specific metrics are not detailed on the website, but the organization emphasizes community engagement and environmental education.
   - **Volunteer Info**: Volunteers play a crucial role in organizing events and programs, although specific volunteer metrics are not provided.

6. **Writing Guidelines**:
   - Use a friendly and inviting tone that encourages participation and community involvement.
   - Focus on clear, concise language that communicates the organization's mission and activities effectively.
   - Incorporate calls to action that inspire readers to engage with the organization, whether through participation in events, volunteering, or supporting initiatives.
   - Highlight the benefits of gardening and environmental stewardship, using inspiring phrases that resonate with the audience's values.

This context profile serves as a foundational guide for creating personalized and effective content for the New England Garden Clubs, Inc.

LXCL:Secure your spot for the New England Garden Clubs, Inc. 9th Annual Meeting, happening October 14–15, 2025, at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel in Rocky Hill, CT. Registration is now open, —don't wait, as a $10 late fee applies after September 30th. The fee is $65, plus an optional Dinner Banquet ($60) and/or Buffet Lunch ($45). Join us for an unforgettable gathering—register today! Book your hotel stay at the special rate of $149/night (plus taxes &amp; fees) by September 19, 2025, by calling 860-257-6000, and mention the Booking Code FGCFGCH, or use our Group Rate Link that will be sent in your registration confirmation email. Zoom NEGC Business Meeting NEW this year – The Business Meeting of New England Garden Clubs, Inc. will be held via Zoom on Thursday, October 9th at 10:00 am. We’ll report on key initiatives, share updates, and plan for the future of our vibrant community. There is no cost to attend but registration is required. Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025Time: 10:00 AMPlatform: Zoom (A Zoom link will be emailed to you upon completion of your registration.)

NEGC Meeting Registration (required)

LXCL:Join us on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel in Rocky Hill, CT, for an inspiring start to the New England Garden Clubs, Inc. 9th Annual Meeting! The day kicks off with Registration and Vendor Shopping from 3:30 - 6:15 pm, offering a chance to explore unique gardening treasures. Don’t miss the NEGC Photography Show, “We Grow Gardens &amp; Gardeners,” followed by a Reception from 5:30 - 6:15 pm honoring Polly Brooks, NEGC Director, and her guests, Donna Donnelly, NGC President, and Susan Miner, NGC 3rd Vice President. The evening continues with a lovely Dinner Banquet at 6:15 pm and a captivating Conservation Program, by Susan Quincy, Connecticut Department of Energy &amp; Environmental Protection. Dinner Selections<ul class="lxcl-ul"><li value="1" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Roasted Statler Chicken Maple-Dijorn Glaze and Cranberry Bread Stuffing, served with Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables</li><li value="2" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Grilled Salmon with Mustard-Molasses Topping, accompanied by Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables</li><li value="3" class="lxcl-listItem" dir="ltr">Eggplant with Buffalo Mozzarella, Basil, and Marinara Sauce</li></ul>Register by October 5, 2025, to secure your spot—space is limited!

Tuesday Dinner (event registration required)

LXCL:Join us on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel in Rocky Hill, CT, for an enriching second day of the New England Garden Clubs, Inc. 9th Annual Meeting. Registration and Vendor Shopping is available until 8:45 am, when the meeting begins. You’ll engage in insightful Roundtable Focus Groups from 9:00 - 10:15 am, then enjoy a stunning presentation by renowned floral artist Michael Derouin from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm. Savor a Buffet Lunch at 12:30 pm with colleagues and friends, followed by “Garden Jeopardy” with Renee Marsh at 1:30 pm. NEGC Awards will be presented at 2:45 pm, followed by exciting Raffle Drawings. Register by October 5, 2025, to ensure your place—don’t miss out!

Wednesday Luncheon (event registration required)

&nbsp;Dear <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you for registering for the New England Garden Clubs, Inc. 9th Annual Meeting, hosted by The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc., at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel in Rocky Hill, CT, on October 14 -15, 2025. Your participation supports our shared mission to promote horticulture, conservation, and community beautification across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Important Annual Meeting Reminder: There will be an NEGC Annual Meeting &ldquo;Business Meeting&rdquo; by Zoom on Thursday, October 9th, 10:00 am. &nbsp; Hotel Registrations: Secure your stay at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel, 100 Capital Boulevard, Rocky Hill, CT 06067, for a special group rate of $149/night (plus taxes &amp; fees) by September 19, 2025. Call 860-257-6000, and mention &nbsp;the Booking Code FGCFGCH, or use our &nbsp;<span contenteditable="false" data-button-color="{{#317742}}" data-custom-link="{{https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1740759222929&key=GRP&guestreslink2=true&app=resvlink}}" data-custom-variable="{{custom-link-button-7bc94a10-75be-47e5-acd2-68d03ee463c7}}" data-text="{{Group Rate Online Link}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-button" fr-original-style="background-color: #317742" style="background-color: rgb(49, 119, 66); border-radius: 8px; height: 36px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 8px 16px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Roboto; font-weight: 500; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none;">Group Rate Online Link&nbsp; If you have any further questions about registration, please contact our registrar, Norma Jean Macauto at <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:norma.jean@example.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">normajean.macauto@ctgardenclubs.org</a>. We look forward to welcoming you to this inspiring event.&nbsp; Warm regards, Nan MerollaPresident, The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc.nan.merolla@ctgardenclubs.org203-216-0884 Polly BrooksDirector, New England Garden Clubs, Inc.polly.brooks@ctgardenclubs.org860-459-4279

We are excited to invite our members from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont to the New England Garden Clubs, Inc. 9th Annual Meeting on October 14–15, 2025, at the elegant Sheraton Hartford South Hotel in Rocky Hill, CT. Hosted by The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc., New England Garden Clubs, Inc., and National Garden Clubs, Inc., this event brings together our vibrant community to celebrate gardening with inspiring themes:<ul><li>The Federated Garden Clubs of CT, Inc.: “BEE RESILIENT – Garden for Nature”</li><li>New England Garden Clubs, Inc.:  “We Grow Gardens &amp; Gardeners”</li><li>National Garden Clubs, Inc.: “PLANT AMERICA – For the Next 100 Years”</li></ul> WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO:Tuesday, October 14th <ul><li>3:30 pm:  Explore unique vendor shopping for gardening treasures.  Immerse yourself in the NEGC Photography Show, themed “We Grow Gardens &amp; Gardeners.”</li><li>5:30 pm:  Join a special reception honoring Polly Brooks, NEGC Director, and her guests, Donna Donnelly, NGC President, and Susan Miner, NGC 3rd Vice President.</li><li>6:15 pm:  Enjoy a delightful dinner banquet and an engaging conservation program by Susan Quincy from the Connecticut Department of Energy &amp; Environmental Protection.</li></ul>Wednesday, October 15th <ul><li>8:45 am:  Begin the day with thought-provoking Roundtable Focus Groups.</li><li>10:30 am:  Experience a captivating presentation by world-renowned floral artist and educator, Michael Derouin.</li><li>12:30 pm:  Enjoy social time and a delicious buffet luncheon.</li><li>1:30 pm:  Compete and have fun with “Garden Jeopardy,” led by horticulturist, Renee Marsh.</li><li>2:45 pm:  Celebrate excellence at the NEGC Awards Ceremony.</li><li>3:15 pm:  Try your luck at our exciting raffle drawings.</li></ul>2025–2027 STATE PRESIDENTS:<ul><li>Nan Merolla, The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc.</li><li>Becky Gallery, The Garden Club Federation of Maine, Inc.</li><li>Kim Edwards, The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc.</li><li>Winifred Schmidt, New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc.</li><li>Kathleen Damiani, Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc.</li><li>Martha Dale, Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont, Inc.</li></ul>2025 NEGC ANNUAL MEETING COMMITTEE:<ul><li>NEGC Director, Polly Brooks</li><li>Meeting Chair, Joann Sullivan</li><li>Asst. Meeting Chair, Rosemary Bonaguide</li><li>Registrar, Norma Jean Macauto</li><li>Treasurer, MaryAnn Lynn</li><li>Photography Exhibit, Arabella Dane</li><li>Vendors, Susan Demuth &amp; Wendy Yu</li><li>Raffle &amp; Silent Auction, Maybette Waldron</li><li>Centerpieces &amp; Gifts, Kelle Ruden</li><li>Name Badges/Place Cards, Ginny Cassanova</li><li>Invitation &amp; Registration, MaryAnn Lynn    </li></ul>ANNUAL MEETING EVENT REGISTRATION, Oct. 14-15, 2025:Please complete and submit by September 30, 2025. <ul><li>Registration Fee: $65 (required)</li><li>Dinner Banquet on Oct. 14th: $60 </li><li>Buffet Lunch on Oct. 15th: $45</li><li>Late Fee: $10 applies after September 30, 2025</li></ul>ZOOM BUSINESS MEETING REGISTRATION, Oct. 9, 2025:There will be an NEGC Annual Meeting “Business Meeting” by Zoom on Thursday, October 9th, 10:00 am.  <ul><li>There is no Registration Fee</li><li>A Zoom link will be sent to all registered attendees</li></ul>HOTEL RESERVATIONS:Secure your stay at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel, 100 Capital Boulevard, Rocky Hill, CT 06067, for a special group rate of $149/night (plus taxes &amp; fees) by September 19, 2025. Call 860-257-6000, and mention  the Booking Code FGCFGCH, or use our Group Rate Online Link sent to you in your registration confirmation.   SPEAKER BIOS:SUSAN QUINCY<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1753127137/wysiwyg/k3xqvmgntiepazdi3hwt.jpg" style="width:85px;display:block;vertical-align:top;margin:5px auto;text-align:center;position:relative;cursor:pointer;padding:0px 1px;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" />Susan Quincy is an Environmental Education specialist in the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for 18 years and has 30+ years of practice in the field. As coordinator of Project Food, Land and People and Project WET for Connecticut she adapts and implements educational resources for a variety of ages and focus areas. She serves as a trainer and facilitator across the State and enjoys focusing on supporting classroom instructors with resources that connect concept to practice.MICHAEL DEROUIN  AIFD • AAF • PFCI<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1753362364/wysiwyg/hzvkitwuapv5qxigtrem.jpg" style="width:63px;display:block;vertical-align:top;margin:5px auto;text-align:center;position:relative;cursor:pointer;padding:0px 1px;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" />Michael Derouin is a floral artist and educator with a career shaped by decades in luxury floral design. He creates refined floral compositions for private clients, and offers thoughtful, hands-on instruction to floral professionals and enthusiasts alike—helping to define, refine, or rediscover their creative perspective.His work is guided by nature—edited with purpose, composed with restraint, and shaped to preserve the quiet integrity of the botanicals.  Whether designing or teaching, his focus is the same: to create an experience that remains long after the flowers fade.For much more about Michael and his philosophy for floral design, visit his website:  <a href="http://michaelderouin.com" target="_blank">michaelderouin.com</a>.RENEE MARSH<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1753038066/wysiwyg/qcsad2uzavsndwod9tyr.jpg" style="width:62px;display:block;vertical-align:top;margin:5px auto;text-align:center;position:relative;cursor:pointer;padding:0px 1px;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%" />Renée Marsh is a garden designer, an advanced master gardener and a horticulturist (aka a plant nut). She believes our gardens should be a healthy ecosystem where people, plants, animals andinsects are in balance. Doing it right means less chemicals, less maintenance and more enjoyment.  She is the owner of a gardening design business, A Simpler Place.  For a number of years she was also co-owner of a horticulture and cut flower business, Hilltop Blooms. For five years she was the Head Gardener for the Town of Monroe where she designed and managed gardens at the parks and town buildings. She teaches gardening classes for the New York Botanical Garden and adult education programs, speaks to many community groups including garden clubs and writes on gardening topics for local publications. In her spare time she works on her 1803 homestead in Shelton, Connecticut.For much more about Renée and her passion for gardening, visit her website<a href="http://www.asimplerplace.com" target="_blank">www.ASimplerPlace.com</a>.If you have any further questions about registration, please contact our registrar, Norma Jean Macauto at normajean.macauto@ctgardenclubs.org.We look forward to welcoming you to this inspiring event.  Warm regards, Nan MerollaPresident, The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc.nan.merolla@ctgardenclubs.org203-216-0884 Polly BrooksDirector, New England Garden Clubs, Inc.polly.brooks@ctgardenclubs.org860-459-4279

New England Garden Clubs, Inc.

New England Garden Clubs, Inc. 9th Annual Meeting - REGISTRATION CLOSED

100 Capital Blvd