Award-Winning Garden Club Receives Recognition for Community ServiceAward-Winning Garden Club Receives Recognition for Community Service The Garden Club of Long Beach Island has been honored with five prestigious awards in recognition of its exceptional community service initiatives in 2023. State Garden Club of New Jersey Awards * Outstanding Project or Program Award: Holiday Tour of Homes * Violet M. Bennett Environmental Trophy: Youth Garden Club Central Atlantic Region of State Garden Clubs Awards * Overall Winner, National Garden Club Standard Flower Show Award for “It’s a Musical World” flower show * Yearbook Award First Place: Janice Stonaker National Garden Club Award * Certificate of Appreciation: Social Media/Website division for Diane Macrides Award-Winning Initiatives The Holiday Tour of Homes, chaired by Bev Reitinger, showcased the exceptional homes of Long Beach Island, raising funds for the club’s numerous community projects. The Youth Garden Club, led by Jeannette Michelson and Ginny Scarlatelli, offers a hands-on learning experience for children, fostering their interest in gardening and environmental stewardship. The Standard Flower Show, co-chaired by Julie Eller and Cindy McGrath, is a creative and competitive event that showcases the club’s members’ horticultural skills. The yearbook, meticulously compiled by Janice Stonaker, provides a valuable resource for club members, showcasing events and promoting member involvement. Diane Macrides’ dedication to maintaining the club’s online presence earned them recognition for their social media and website, which effectively connect with the community and share the club’s activities. “It’s an honor to be recognized for all that we do in the community,” said Gillian Rozicer, the club’s publicity director. “Every club member plays a vital role, and these awards are a testament to our collective efforts to make a difference.”
PROUD AWARD WINNERS: The award recipients are (left to right) Lois Perry, club president; Diane Macrides, website/social media chair; and Barbara Duff, awards chair.
The Garden Club of Long Beach Island recently received five awards for its community service in 2023: two from the Garden Club of New Jersey, two more from the Central Atlantic Region of State Garden Clubs, and another award from the National Garden Club.
The Holiday Tour of Homes received a Garden Club of New Jersey award for an outstanding project or program.
“This recognition of the Garden Club for LBI’s largest fundraiser is very special because every club member participates,” said Gillian Rozicer, the club’s publicity director. “Bev Reitinger chaired the event.”
The Youth Garden Club, chaired by Jeannette Michelson and Ginny Scarlatelli, received the Violet M. Bennett Environmental Trophy for outstanding youth programming. The program provides children with a fun after-school activity that teaches them basic gardening and floral design skills, as well as the role of planting native species in maintaining the local ecosystem.
In addition to these state awards, the club was named “Overall Winner” for the “National Garden Club Standard Flower Show Award” by the Central Atlantic Region of State Garden Clubs. The show, titled “It’s a Musical World,” will be held at the LBI Foundation of the Arts and Sciences in May 2023. Co-chairs Julie Eller and Cindy McGrath were congratulated for the Standard Flower Show qualifying at the regional level.
Janice Stonaker also took first place in the Central Atlantic Region of State Garden Club’s Yearbook Award division. The yearbook, which was provided to every Garden Club of LBI member, was cited as an easy-to-use resource that “inspires attendance and participation.”
The National Garden Club presented the group with a certificate of appreciation in the Social Media/Website division. President Diane Macrides received the award for her creativity and daily maintenance of the club’s website, Facebook and Instagram pages.
“It’s great to be recognized for all that we do in the community,” said Rozicer. —EE
