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National Garden
Clubs (NGC) is a not-for-profit educational organization with its
headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It is composed of 50
State Garden Clubs and the National Capital Area, 7,183 member garden
clubs and 221,943 members. In addition, NGC proudly recognizes 447
International Affiliates from Canada to Mexico and South America, from
Bermuda to South Africa, Australia and Japan, as well as 49 National
Affiliates within the United States.
The purposes of NGC
are:
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To co-ordinate
the interests and activities of the State Garden Clubs with similar
organizations in the United States and abroad
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To aid in the
protection and conservation of natural resources, to promote civic
beautification and encourage the improvement of roadsides and parks
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To encourage
the establishment and maintenance of botanical gardens, arboreta and
horticultural centers for the advancement of science, enjoyment and
education of the public
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To advance the
study of gardening, landscape design, environmental issues, floral design
and horticulture and assist deserving students through college
scholarships in these fields of endeavor
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To co-operate
with other organizations furthering the interests of horticulture,
conservation, environmental protection and beautification.
The first
garden club in America was founded in January 1891 by The Ladies Garden
Club of Athens (Georgia). On May 1, 1929 thirteen federated states became
charter members at an organizational meeting in Washington, D.C. In 1935
the National Garden Clubs obtained space for a Headquarters at Rockefeller
Center, New York City. Following fund raising from 1953-1957, a permanent
Headquarters building was dedicated May 10, 1958 in St. Louis, Missouri,
United States.
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