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COMMUNITY SERVICES

The Washington Garden Club provides a number of services to our community.

CIVIC BEAUTIFICATION

Purpose: To promote planned activities that lead to community awareness of clean, neat, well cared for yards, gardens, roadsides and public spaces. Members will promote a continuous campaign against littering of roadsides and to instill civic pride in individuals thus improving the appearance of towns, cities and parishes. Members are responsible for implementation of the Town and Country Garden of the Month program, monitoring the condition of the Veteran's Memorial Marker site, monitoring the appearance of the outdoor community bulletin board at the post office, assisting the Mayor's representative for the Cleanest City Contest and whatever other community enhancement projects the committee adopts for the current year.

CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Purpose: To promote a better understanding and awareness of the need for conservation of our natural resources. To promote environmental education to individuals and the community at large through informational handouts, presentations and programs on the topics of protection of birds and wildlife, soil and water conservation, composting, recycling and reclamation.

HORTICULTURE

Purpose: To promote the recognition, use, and care of plants and trees in the garden and to promote the principals of good design in the arrangement of cut flowers and foliage. Members will plan and facilitate a Standard Flower Show, and will be responsible for planning, implementation and maintenance of the Headquarters gardens.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION & RESTORATION

Purpose: Members of this committee will research restoration projects for the Club Headquarters to recommend to the membership. They also oversee and implement all general maintenance repairs needed for the buildings.

TOWN & COUNTRY GARDEN OF THE MONTH

This program is to encourage gardening and stimulate community participation in the beautification of homes and gardens. A monthly recognition program will honor winners with a "Garden of the Month" sign to be displayed in their yards. One town garden and one country garden will be selected each month by designated judges, with the input of the membership at large.

BLUE STAR MEMORIAL MARKER

The Memorial Marker and St. Landry Veterans' Memorial Highway are in honor of men and women who served in the armed services. The Blue Star Memorial Marker was dedicated on May 28, 1994. A ceremony to honor the veteran's will be hosted by the club each November at the site. Attendee's will be invited to the WGC headquarters for refreshments following the ceremony.

ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PROJECT

The Washington Career and Technical Education Center has been chosen to be the beneficiary of an annual cash donation to assist the culinary department with needed equipment and supplies. In addition, the school in general will receive the proceeds from the newspaper recycling programs of the club membership to be used as the Director deems appropriate. Members of the club host a Teacher Appreciation Breakfast for the school faculty, annually, in May.

ADOPT A SENIOR CENTER PROJECT

During the Christmas season, a senior retirement home will be chosen to receive Christmas gifts purchased with donations from the club members

BUTTERFLY GARDEN & GARDEN CENTER

Grounds and gardens at the club headquarters are maintained for events and public viewing and to educate members in the care and cultivation of native plants, birds and butterflies.

SPRING FLOWER SHOW

An annual flower show is held in the spring to stimulate interest in horticulture. The show is judged and ribbons are awarded to the winning entries. Division I is for horticulture entries and is open to any interested adult gardener. Division II is for floral design and is open to any federated garden club member

NATIONAL GARDEN WEEK

National Garden Week will be observed by the signing of a Proclamation by the Mayor and an exhibit of gardening information with a floral arrangement on display in the Washington Library for the first full week of June.

ARBOR DAY

Traditionally observed the 3rd Friday of January, Arbor Day is to foster ideas of conservation so that forests will be plentiful and our surroundings beautiful by planting trees. Arbor Day will be observed annually with a tree planting ceremony.

NEWSPAPER RECYCLING PROJECT

Club members will bring discarded newspapers, magazines, phone books & copy paper to the headquarters. The papers will be turned in to the St. Landry Parish Reclamation Center in Opelousas to benefit Washington Career & Tech. Ed Center.

CLEANEST CITY CONTEST

The Civic Beautification Committee will assist the Cleanest City Chairman, who is appointed by the Mayor, should the Town of Washington enter the LGCF sponsored program.

CHRISTMAS DECORATION CONTEST

The Civic Beautification committee will plan and implement a Christmas Decorating Contest for residences and businesses in order to beautify the town create pride in our Community and add to visitor appeal. Cash prizes will be awarded. Residents and Businesses must enter to qualify for prizes (no entry fee required) and will be judged on overall design, neatness and general appeal. Rules and deadlines will be announced by the committee at the October meeting.

FREEcycling PROGRAM

As an ongoing effort to support the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Members will bring items to the Headquarters from their homes that they no longer need or want. These items will be shared with the garden club members and the general public with remaining items being donated to Goodwill.