FGCV Hosts NEGC Annual Meeting

2026 Annual Meeting

“Vermont’s Green Mountains: Fostering the Birth of Our Republic”

The NEGC 10th annual meeting hosted by Vermont this year, had us all REFLECTING on our country’s 250th anniversary, ACKNOWLEDGING and AWARDING the present, as well as PLANNING for New England’s future landscape. Over 100 garden club officers and leaders participated in the two day event at the beautiful Killington Grand Resort. The opening reception and delicious fall-inspired meal was followed-up with a live reenactment of the American Revolution starring Ethan Allen.                                                                                                                                      

Over 20 clubs submitted a poster to be judged for telling the story of an important historic event/time of their state. The Hameho Garden Club of Rhode Island won 1st place for their poster depicting the Barrington Brick Company. The Burlington Garden Club created a poster honoring Fanny Allen, Ethan’s wife; who was Vermont’s 1st botanist!

The BGC Poster - Honorable Mention

Congratulations to the Poster Committee:

Anita Danigelis, Kara Murphy, Elizabeth Young, Dana Mann, Barb Gaida, and Nancy Bell

The “winds of change were blowing” by Day 2 as the rain lifted and the sun was guaranteeing a beautiful Vermont fall day. Some members chose to head outside into the wind and work on their nature photography skills with Becky Rizzi and others participated in a gentle chair yoga flow and meditation led by Linda Metcalfe. We learned about PLANNING for nature’s FUTURE by viewing the film, “In our Nature”; which ponders the fundamental question: Do we want our future generations to be MORE ALIVE or LESS by teaching ourchildren about the importance of clean AIR, WATER, and SOIL. As our world becomes ever-increasingly high tech,

Additional sessions offered included: “Beyond the Frame”, creative photography techniques by Robin Turnbaugh, a Book discussion: “What can a Serviceberry Teach Us?” and a Travelogue through the Philadelphia Flower Show with Jeff Maher. Walker Cammock, from the Smokey House Center in Danby, VT presented an educational talk on Vermont’s Agroforestry experiment being conducted on their 5,000 acre land tract. He concluded on how garden clubs can become part of a much larger effort to keep carbon in the land and out of the atmosphere.

The two-day event also included 15 vendors, a fabulous raffle and a New England garden members photography exhibit. (Our own Rose Godard’s photography was included!)

Jane Murphy and Kara Murphy at the vendor tables.

And of course, Sarah Sprayregen was there with support from Barb Gaida selling brooms!

Thanks!!!

Congratulations to NEGC Meeting Chairperson Doris Van Mullen for a successful event!