Northbrook Garden Club - About Us

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The Northbrook Garden Club (NBGC) was founded September 20, 1949.  (See our HISTORY & TIMELINE.) During the 2019-2020 season, our 70th Anniversary programs and events were planned around the history of our club and historic Northbrook in general.  

The objective of the Club is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to aid in the protection of native trees, plants, animals and insects, to encourage civic planting, and to further the programs of the Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc., and the National Garden Clubs, Inc. (See our CONTINUING PROJECTS.)

The NBGC currently has about 35 members, most of whom are Northbrook residents or former Northbrook residents. (See our CONSTITUTION, BY-LAWS & STANDING RULES.)

Come for a visit; stay as a member. 

Membership Year: Sept to June

Membership Fee: Annual dues are $21 for individuals; $31 for couples.

Mailing Address: The Treasurer, PO Box 474, Techny, IL 60082

Online and in-person meetings, unless otherwise noted, are held on the first Tuesday of each month, September through May. See our PROGRAMS & EVENTS for dates, times and locations. 

The NBGC is affiliated with:

The National Garden Club, Inc.

Central Region of the National Garden Club, Inc. 

The Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

District IX of the Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

Chicago  Botanic Garden

SCHOLARSHIP:

 A $1000 scholarship is awarded to a Glenbrook North High School senior majoring in horticulture, landscape design, botany, biology, forestry, conservation or environmental concerns. 

ANNUAL PLANT SALE:

Our sole fundraiser in May supports scholarships, contributions, and program expenses. Members provide perennials from their gardens to sell at the May sale. Members are encouraged to participate by providing perennials from their gardens, helping others pot up plants from their gardens, assisting at the plant sale with set-up, providing advice and gardening tips to customers, and clean-up after the sale. 

A COMMUNITY GARDEN and PRAIRIE STEWARDSHIP:

Maintenance of a public garden and a local prairie provide opportunities to learn and share gardening techniques during spring and fall cleanups of the sites, planning, and weeding throughout the season. Members are encouraged to participate with at least one garden.

Blue Star Memorial Marker Garden, 2490 Dundee Road - April thru November

Northbrook Garden Club Prairie, Woodhead Drive - As needed

GARDEN THERAPY: 

Visits to  Rosewood Care Center in Northbrook are on hiatus due to COVID-19.  Members provide residents with horticultural and nature-themed craft projects using materials provided by the Garden Club. 

EARTH & ARBOR DAY PARTICIPATION:

The NBGC participates in Northbrook's event held in the Spring at the Village Green. Members give out seed packets and share gardening tips.

VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK FLAMINGO FRIDAY/NEW RESIDENT EVENT:

The NBGC distributes milkweed saplings and other flowers to new residents. 

SHERMERFEST FALL FESTIVAL:

The NBGC participates in the Northbrook Historical Society's fall festival at the Village Green. Members provide fun activities and expert advice. 

MONARCH PROJECT:

We support the state and national MILKWEED FOR MONARCHS project. The NBGC initiated the "Let's Make Northbrook a Monarch Way Station Program". Since 2010, we have distributed over 700 milkweed saplings at our plant sale and other venues. 

The Northbrook Garden Club (NBGC) was founded on September 20, 1949. As the club grew in membership, it joined The Garden Clubs of Illinois and the National Garden Clubs and continues to actively participate  in both. The NBGC is a community of gardeners that provide opportunities to learn, participate in community service, and meet other gardeners. 

The NBGC has been a vital part in establishing plantings for the Village, the Fire Department and the Park District throughout the years. The NBGC assisted in establishing the Children's Sunshine Garden at the Leisure Center and in 2017 the NGC helped design the patio garden at Sportsman's Country Club. In 2019, in partnership with the Northbrook Historical Society and the Northbrook Park District we participated in a project to preserve heritage peonies that were relocated from private property to many parks throughout the Village. 

Our environmental contributions to the stewardship of the native environment includes preservation of a local prairie site. We participate in the Village of Northbrook's Earth & Arbor Day festivities and initiated the "Let's Make Northbrook a Monarch Way Station" program to help save the Monarch butterfly. We have supported local schools in establishing organic gardens, environmental conservation and educational programs including planting milkweed. 

Continuing Education is a vital part of the club's membership. Monthly programs and workshops are planned throughout the year to share the best practices in all aspects of gardening and horticulture. 

Members participate in the four schools of  study sponsored by Garden Clubs of Illinois (GCI): 

Landscape Design

Garden Studies (Horticulture)

Environmental Science

Floral Design

NBGC shares its love of flowers with a local skilled care facility. We also work with the Glenbrook North High School Environmental Club on preservation projects. 

The NBGC's rich history of award winning projects, the annual plant sale and civic beautification has laid the foundation for the NGC's future as it strives to meet the objectives of its charter "to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to encourage the artistic use of flowers, to aid in the protection of native trees, plants and birds, and encourage civic plantings".

Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be the Northbrook Garden Club.

Article II - Objectives

The objective of the Club shall be to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening among its members, to encourage the artistic use of flowers in the home, to aid in the protection of native trees, plants and birds, to encourage civic planting and to further the programs of The Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc., and the National Garden Clubs, Inc.

Article III - Membership

Any person who will further the objectives of the Club, upon payment of dues and through adherence to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Club may be a regular, or if qualified, an associate member in good standing.

Article IV - Officers

The officers of the club shall be: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the regular members at the meeting prior to the annual meeting. Officers shall serve for a term of two years or until new officers are elected.

Article V - Meetings and Quorums

Regular meetings shall be held monthly. The annual meeting shall be held in June of each year. A simple majority of regular members in good standing present and voting at a regular meeting shall be sufficient to decide all matters other than amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws. The By-Laws and Revisions Committee shall review and propose amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws. The proposed revisions shall be presented to the Board of Managers for approval and presented to the membership at least one meeting prior to voting. A two-thirds majority of those present and voting shall be required for passage. 

Article VI - Boards

The officers shall constitute the Executive Board. The officers and chairpersons of standing committees constitute the Board of Managers.

Article VII - Dissolution of Club

In the event of dissolution of the Northbrook Garden Club, the total assets shall be liquidated and allocated to not-for-profit organizations of like purposes duly constituted by the Statutes of the State of Illinois. Said distribution shall be determined by the Executive Board with the approval of the Regular Members.

No portion of such funds or property shall be distributed among members.

Revised: April 2010

Article I - Duties of Officers

The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint the chairmen of all committees, serve as an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee, provide the club with current information on available awards and is authorized to act in all matters on behalf of the club.

The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of the latter and chair the Program and By-Laws and Revisions Committees.

The Secretary shall keep records of all meetings of the membership and all meetings of club boards; serve as parliamentarian; be a member of the By-Laws and Revisions Committee; keep an inventory of all property of the club; shall conduct the correspondence of the club; send notices to all members; order stationary, printing and the Past President’s gift.

The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the club, collect all dues, pay all bills, keep all financial records, prepare monthly financial statements and chair the Budget Committee.

Article II - Committees

The Standing Committees of the club and their duties shall be the following:

Program: Arrange the program and place of each meeting, not including luncheons.

Social: Appoint the hostesses for meetings and arrange details and location for luncheons.

Publicity: Publicize the activities of the club. All publicity releases shall be made through this committee.

Membership: Determine whether members are in good standing, process new members and accept resignations and submit a roster of members to The Garden Clubs of Illinois and to the members of the Northbrook Garden Club.

Ways and Means: Institute fund raising and programs.

Philanthropy: Conduct philanthropic activities determined by the membership and arrange for garden therapy projects.

Conservation/Horticulture: Direct the club’s conservation and horticultural programs and arrange for civic beautification.

Chairmen of all committees shall prepare annually a report to the President of their committee’s activity during the year for presentation at the annual meeting.

Article III - Special Committees

A Nominating Committee composed of one board member appointed by the President and two members at large, in good standing, elected by the membership, shall propose a slate of officers to stand for election. Persons nominated for the office of President shall have been a member of the club for two years and have served on a standing committee of the board for one year. The President and Vice President shall be elected in odd numbered years and serve concurrently. The Treasurer and Secretary shall be nominated in even numbered years and serve concurrently. A vacancy occurring in any office other than President shall be filled by presidential appointment until the next general election of officers.

A Budget Committee consisting of the President, Treasurer, the past Treasurer and the Chair of Ways and Means shall prepare an annual budget of receipts and disbursements.

A By-Laws and Revisions Committee shall review and propose amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws.

Other special committees may be created by the Board of Managers.

Article IV - Membership

Membership in the club is subject to payment of dues and approval of the Board of Managers.

Regular members shall serve on at least one committee and participate in the club’s annual fundraiser and shall attend regular meetings. Dues for regular members are $21.00 annually for individuals ($31.00 annually for couples or two persons residing at the same address) and are payable by July 1 of each year

Associate members must have been regular members for five years. Associate membership is subject to approval by the Board of Managers. Associate members are excused from service on committees and attendance at regular meetings. Associate members are not entitled to vote or hold office. Dues for associate members are $10.00 more than regular members. 

Honorary memberships may be granted at the discretion of the Executive Board.

Revised: May 2016

SIZE

The size of the Club is limited to 65 members.

MEETINGS

Meetings are held in a public building with the exception of the Holiday Party and June Luncheon. There should be four business meetings a year. Announcements should be made at every meeting.

Minutes of the last meeting are accepted as presented or with any additions or corrections, and the Treasurer’s Report is accepted for audit. Committee Chairmen report as needed, followed by Old Business, then New Business, then any Announcements.

BOARD MEETINGS

Eligible voters are elected officers (Executive Board) and Standing Committee Chairmen.  Specially appointed sub-committee chairmen and Immediate Past President (Advisor) have no vote.

PRESIDENT

The President appoints all Committee Chairmen at her discretion. Chairmen should be chosen after election, but before installation. The President-elect chooses her installer. After the installation of officers, the new President closes the meeting. She may make an acceptance speech. In the absence of the Treasurer, the President may disburse budgeted funds.

NOMINATING PROCESS

The Nominating Committee is composed of one board member appointed by the President and two members at large, in good standing, elected by the membership. The Nominating Committee elects its’ own chairman. The Committee is elected in February, and reports the names of nominees in April, and the election is in May. There may be nominations from the floor, with prior consent of the nominee, before the final vote.

MEMBERSHIP

The Membership Chairman maintains attendance records. The Membership Chairman’s committee gets and delivers plants, at the request of the President, for members who are ill. The cost shall not exceed $20.00. A floral remembrance shall be delivered to the home of a member whose spouse or child is deceased, the cost not to exceed $50.00. A donation may be made to the GCI Book of Remembrance in lieu of flowers. A floral arrangement or other appropriate remembrance, such as a donation to the GCI Book of Remembrance, shall be sent upon the death of a member. The cost is not to exceed $100.00. Others will be remembered with a condolence card.

A new member shall receive a Club Yearbook. The Chairman reports all names and addresses to the Secretary. The Chairman introduces new members and/or guests at the General Meeting.

Notification for dues should be done in April. The Chairman notifies the Secretary of any members to be dropped.

The Chairman shall be responsible for submitting names for the Book of Honor and the Book of Remembrance. Upon completion of her tenure, an officer’s name will be placed in the Book of Honor. 

Honorary Membership is given in the Club only, not in GCI.

SECRETARY

All Club properties should be reported to the Secretary; each chairman should also keep a list of his or her properties. The Secretary will keep the Club Seal and a record of the properties, including items stored in the Public Works building.  .

The Secretary shall receive all names and addresses of members from the Membership Chairman. She will stop sending meeting notices if dues are not paid by one month after the due date.

TREASURER

The Treasurer shall report all delinquent members to the Membership Chairman. The Treasurer shall inform the Membership Chairman when dues are paid.  Membership shall vote on any expenditure over $200.00.

PHILANTHROPY

The Philanthropy Chairman oversees Scholarships and Garden Therapy. The Garden Therapy Subcommittee shall apply annually for the State (GCI) Grant.

PUBLICITY

The Publicity Chairman shall maintain the website and keep all copies of videos/photos related to the Club.

PROGRAM / AWARDS

A $50.00 honorarium shall be given to non-paid speakers at Open Meetings. The Program/Awards Chairman shall submit awards application.

REIMBURSEMENT FOR GCI STUDY SCHOOLS

GCI Study Schools:  Members attending GCI Study Schools may be reimbursed 50% of up to two classes per year provided they meet the following criteria:  must be a member for one year and perform at least six service hours as hostess, serve on Plant Sale Committee, hold office or serve on the board or work on a civic project. 

Revised: May 2016