Representing our club at the GCA Annual Meeting in New York City was a privilege, and I am grateful to the Garden Club of Denver for making it possible. I returned better informed, and full of ideas to bring back to our club. Here is a snapshot of what the meeting included.
Meeting Programming
- Committee Expo: An evening showcase featuring every GCA national committee. It was a great reminder of how many resources exist for our own committees. Whatever we’re working on, there is almost certainly a national committee that can help.
- National Business Meeting: GCA is healthy, vibrant, and well-led. It was genuinely reassuring to see the organization operating with such strength and clarity of purpose. We also had a keynote presentation on the renovation of Central Park. It was pretty amazing to hear about the utter disrepair the park had fallen into by the 1970’s and the energy of one woman who galvanized the city and restored it to its former glory.
- Zone Lunch: A wonderful chance to connect with both new and experienced presidents across our zone. A highlight was a conversation with a California club that uses a co-president model—a creative approach worth knowing about.
- Public Speaking Training: Yes, there was a session on public speaking. I learned a great deal. I am not, however, prepared to make any promises about immediate improvement—consider yourselves warned.
- President Roundtables: Structured time to share challenges and opportunities with fellow presidents in our zone—candid, collegial, and genuinely useful.
- Awards Brunch: Ten new national medalists were recognized, and they were inspiring across the board—work in landscape design, botanic illustration, and native plant restoration among others. Several would make outstanding open meeting speakers, and I’m happy to share names.
A Change to the Annual Meeting Format
GCA announced a shift to an alternating meeting model: in even years, the Annual Meeting will be held in New York City with national staff organizing; in odd years, a local member club will host in their home city as before. This balances consistency with the club-hosted tradition that makes each gathering distinctive.
Closing Thoughts
The GCA Annual Meeting is a chance to step back and remember that we are part of something much larger than our own club. GCA is a national community of impressive, dedicated women doing remarkable work in their communities. I came home grateful for GCA, proud of what the Garden Club of Denver contributes to it, and very glad you sent me. Thank you.
-by Amy S.
