NEGC Annual Meeting Round-up

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New England Garden Clubs, Inc. NEGC - October 13-14,2026 Annual Meeting

Killington Grand Hotel and Resort, Killington Vermont

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

Hosted by the Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont, the NEGC’s 10th annual meeting invited attendees to reflect on our nation’s 250th anniversary, recognize and celebrate the present, and plan for New England’s future landscape.

An opening reception honored Gerianne Holzman, National Garden Club President-Elect and Polly Brooks, New England Garden Club Director. A fallinspired dinner was followed by a live American Revolution reenactment featuring Ethan Allen, leader of the Green Mountain Boys, as portrayed in full costume by James Thatch.

Garden Clubs throughout New England and elementary schools were invited to submit posters highlighting significant events or eras in their states’ histories. Rhode Island’s Hameho Garden Club won first place for its poster about the Barrington Brick Company.

Special thank you to clubs submitting posters:

First Place

Hameho Garden Club - Rhode Island

Honorable Mention

Barrington Garden Club - Rhode Island

Burlington Garden Club – Vermont

Bristol Garden Club - Rhode Island

Connecticut Federated Garden Clubs of CT

Four Seasons Garden Club – Vermont

Granite Center Garden Club – Vermont

New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs

Rutland Garden Club, Vermont

Vermont Youth posters were submitted:

First Place - Montessori School of Central Vermont

Honorable Menion - Girl Scouts – Troup 61845

By Day 2, the rain had cleared and the “winds of change” were blowing under sunny Vermont skies. Some attendees joined Becky Rizzi to discuss nature photography, some took part in gentle chair yoga and meditation led by Linda Metcalfe and others joined Sheryl Hanson to learn of the National Garden Club Youth Projects. The film “In Our Nature” explored how we can plan for nature’s future by asking whether we want future generations to be more alive or less. It emphasized teaching children the importance of clean air, water, and soil. As life becomes increasingly high-tech, nature is more vital than

ever to our mental and physical well-being.

After a hearty luncheon buffet, attendees chose from three breakout sessions:

“Beyond the Frame,” creative photography techniques with Robin Turnbaugh
A discussion of “What Can a Serviceberry Teach Us?” lead by Gay Church
A travelogue through the Philadelphia Flower Show with Jeff Maher

Walker Cammock of the Smokey House Center in Danby, Vermont, presented an educational talk on the center’s agroforestry experiment across its 5,000-acre property. He concluded by explaining how garden clubs can contribute to broader efforts to keep carbon in the land and out of the atmosphere.

The conference concluded with Becky Rizzi auctioning the patriotic table arrangements and announcing the raffle winners. The Garden Club Federation of Maine then invited attendees to next year’s regional conference at Sebasco Harbor Resort & Golf Club in Phippsburg, Maine, on October 4–5, 2027. The theme will be “Costumes in Bloom.”