Awards

SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL AWARDS 2023 – 2025

RULES FOR AWARDS

1) Award year: January 1 through December 31

2) DEADLINE: JANUARY 25TH! The deadline for most SAR Award entries to reach the SAR Awards Chairperson. All entries are judged by respective states at the STATE level. The State Awards Chairperson should MAIL or EMAIL the State winner of each award IN ONE (1) PACKAGE to the SAR Awards Chairperson for the Regional Competition, if applicable. A list of State winners being submitted to the SAR Awards Chairperson MUST also be included in the package. Applications MUST INCLUDE the SAR Award Name.

3) Application Form: The application form is a separate sheet. Forms are available at the end of the awards or may be found on the website as a separate item at: www.southatlanticregiongardenclub.org or from your State Awards Chairperson. Items to Note:
a) Three (3) page limit; one side only of page – does not include application!
b) Font style: Times New Roman NOT smaller than size “10” font
c) Please fill out an Application Form for each Award you apply for
d) Binders & vinyl sheet protectors are no longer needed nor allowed (NOTE: There are exceptions!)
e) Submissions will NOT be returned after the SAR Convention
f) Applications may be submitted electronically (one copy) or by Hard Copy (original and one copy) 1 copy only needed of CD or Thumb Drive, etc.

4) YEARBOOKS & PRESS BOOKS are exceptions which have specific rules, etc. Please consult award descriptions for details.

5) CATEGORIES BY CLUB SIZE: Some awards specify awards according to club size as follows:
a) Small Club 20 members or less
b) Medium Club 21-50 members
c) Large Club 51 + members
d) Two or More Clubs

SCALE OF POINTS FOR JUDGING SAR AWARDS

5 Points: Presentation – neat, concise, incudes all required information & does not exceed 3 page limit
15 Points: Participation – size of club, involvement of members, community, government agencies,
Professionals, youth residents in facilities, others.(Involvement is not required in all of these)
15 Points: Supporting Documents – supporting data (as applicable), clear, well-labeled & neatly
Attached; “Before” & “After” photos, landscape plan (does not have to be professionally
Drawn) financial report, letters of appreciation, Community awards, recognition, newspaper/magazine articles, radio or TV script (if possible), etc. Photocopies are permitted but need to be “readable”.
65 Points: Achievement – Scope of project, need & fulfillment; benefit, accomplishment, Comprehensive work, activities to attain goals, evaluation of goals reached, educational, prior planning, very brief history of continuing project, financial report & other information available.
100 POINT TOTAL

#1 ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING/ACTIVITIES
$25 Cash award to a club with the most outstanding tree planting activity and/or Promotion of conservation and
preservation of trees and/or Arbor Day Activities
i..Small Club; ii. Medium Club; iii. Large Club; iv: Two or More Clubs

#2 BIRD PROTECTION
$25 Cash Award to a club conducting the most comprehensive and effective project for bird protection and
welfare, such as sanctuaries, providing food, houses and promoting law enforcement relative to bird welfare.
i..Small Club; ii. Medium Club; iii. Large Club; iv. Two or More Clubs (NGC #EC-3)

#3 PROTECTING POLLINATORS AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club, group of clubs or council for the most comprehensive and effective project for our
pollinators: hat protection, protective of migratory routes, public education, establishment of a butterfly
Garden at a school or community site. Monarch Way Stations may be a part of this project.
(NGC #EC-3)

#4 COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION AWARD
$25 Cash Award for the most distinguished civic improvement for public benefit: Establishing sanctuaries,
municipal gardens, landscaping public buildings, etc. Copy of landscape plan must be included. Commercial
Projects are not eligible. (NGC #EC-8)

#5 ENVIRONMENTAL/CONSERVATION AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club, group of clubs or council for the most concentrated activity/study/project to improve
our environment (such as soil, water, energy, air and/or natural resources. (NGC #EC-1 or EC-2)

#6 GARDEN THERAPY: HEALING GARDEN AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club, council or group of clubs having the most outstanding garden therapy program in
which a Healing Garden is an integral part. Projects using plant materials working with handicapped or
Elderly persons in institutions or organized care programs for nursing homes, etc. Evidence must show
handicapped or elderly persons involved in the garden. (NGC #G-3)

#7 GARDEN THERAPY: HORTICLUTURE AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club reporting the most outstanding program establishing a garden to benefit the
physically or learning challenged, in nursing homes, schools, prisons, low income housing, Habitat for
Humanity, etc. Must include barrier-free gardens, accessible gardens, meditation gardens at a nursing home,
hospital, etc. (NGC #G-3)

#8 HISTORIC PRESERVATION
$25 Cash Award to a club, group of clubs or council for the most outstanding project continuing or completing
work on a historic preservation project such as a trail, park, cemetery, garden or grounds around a historic
building and/or garden of importance to local, state or national heritage. (NGC #CE-9 A or B)

#9 PENNY PINES AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a garden club in each size category who donates the most $68 contributions to the National
Garden Clubs Inc. Penny Pines Program. The award year will be January 1 through December 31. Application
needs to include: State, Club Name, Club Size & contact information. The Penny Pines Chairman will be
contacted for total contributions.
i.Small club; ii. Medium Club; iii Large Club

#10 NATIONAL GARDEN WEEK
$25 Cash Award to the club, group of clubs or council for notable enhancement of roadsides and/or rest areas
using wildflowers and/or native plants. Project may be sited on rural byways, urban highways, roadside
rest areas entrances to towns, medians, etc. (NGC #MAE 5)

#11 ROADSIDE IMPROVEMENT AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club, group of clubs or council for notable enhancement of roadsides and/or rest areas
using wildflowers and/or native plants. Projects may be sited on rural byways, urban highways, roadside
rest areas, entrances to towns, medians, etc. (NGC #CE A or B)

#12 LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR CHURCH GARDENS
$25 Cash Award for planning and planting of a church or synagogue garden that meets the needs of the
congregation. May be a new project or the updating of a current garden. Photos must be included.
(NGC #CE-8)

#13 PLANT IT PINK
$25 Cash Award for the most outstanding and innovative project by a club or council emphasizing the planting
of PINK gardens using pink flowers and/or foliage to make the public aware of the fight against breast cancer.

#14 BLUE STAR MEMORIAL LANDSCAPNG AWARD
$25 Cash Award for the most outstanding landscaping at a Blue Star Memorial Marker by a club, council or
group of clubs. The market and landscaping may be a part of a highway department rest area and maintained
by the department. The project may have been continuous but major landscaping must be completed within
two (2) years. The project may be a replacement for a destroyed or long-neglected landscaped area.
(NGC #CE-7)

#15 WATER CONSERVATION
$25 Cash Award to the garden club providing the most thorough programming on water conservation. May
include legislation, erosion control, watershed protection, clean water-ways activities, etc. All must stress the
Importance of WATER. (NGC #EC-4)

#16 SAR LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARD
$25 Cash Award to the STATE having the MOST NEW Regional Life Memberships within the calendar year:
January 1 through December 31. Totals will be collected from the Regional Live Membership Chairman.

#17 LITTER, RECYCLING, RECLAMATION AWARD
$25 Cash Award to the garden club with the most outstanding community project on litter prevention,
reclamation and/or recycling. Can be a new project or an ongoing activity.
i..Small Club; ii. Medium Club; iii. Large Club; iv. Two or More Clubs

#18 NEWSLETTER PUBLICATION AWARD
$25 Cash Award for the best overall club newsletter. Newsletter must be published three or more times per
year under one editorship. Submit only three (3) sample issues and state the number of issues that are
published Per year. Printed or electronic distribution is accepted; however, PRINTED COPIES must be
submitted for SAR judging. Notices and flyers for a one-time event do not apply. (NGC #MAE 4 A-D)

#19 PUBLIC RELATIONS AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a club, group of clubs or council for the most thorough involvement with a community
group, Civic organizations, businesses, agencies, etc. working with the garden club on projects, activities and
Programs for the year.

#20(a) PROGRAM AWARDS BES SLIDE, VIDEO OR POWER POINT
$25 Cash Award to an individual member or group of members or club submitting the most outstanding
program via slides, video or power point that has been presented at a meeting of a club, group of clubs or
council.

#20(b) BEST PROGRAM WITHOUT SLIDE, VIDEO OR POWER POINT
$25 Cash Award to an individual member, group of members or club submitting the most outstanding program
without slides, video or power point that has been presented at a meeting or a club, group of clubs or council.
(NGC #MAE 2 A-D)
#21 WEBSITE AWARD
$25 Cash Award for the most outstanding website promoting club, State, SAR & NGC objectives. Include in
the website address, who maintains the site, how often it is updated and cost. Ease of navigation will be
Considered while judging the site. Clubs, councils and districts may apply.

SCALE OF POINTS FOR WEBSITE JUDGING:
25 Points: Presentation – Design/appearance, attractive, engaging, easy to view, layout
35 Points: Navigation – Ease of navigating system (bar, map, etc) logical flow of pages, clear page Headers,
links active
20 Points: Achievement – Club/group information present/ease to find, educational
10 Points: Promotion – promotes club, State, SAR & NGC objectives
100 Point Total

#22 YEARBOOK AWARDS
$25 Cash Award to the individual garden club with the best overall year book
$10 Cash Award to an individual club in each size category
i.Small Club, ii.Medium Club, iii.Large Club

SCALE OF POINTS UPON WHICH THE BOOKS ARE JUDGED – PLEASE VIEW ON
NATIONAL GARDEN CLUB WEBSITE UNDER: YB-1 and YB-2 Scale of Points

#23 SAR PUBLICITY PRESS BOOK AWARD
Awards: $25 Cash Award to the best overall Press Book. Winners will be named: 1st, 2nd, 3rd & Honorable
Mention in each of the three (3) categories. They will be presented a National Council Certificate at
SAR Convention.

COMPLETED SECTION 1 OF APPLICATION REQUIRED!

Eligibility: All garden clubs, districts councils and garden centers belonging to NGC may submit a press
book.
Garden club entries are divided into three (3) categories based on membership:
Small club – up to 25 members; Medium club – 26-50 Members; Large club – 51 members or
more
Format: Entries must be submitted in a folder with holes to firmly hold the pages; a theme-style binder or
oxford brief folder. No heavy scrap books, oversized portfolios or loose clippings will be judged.
Size: 8 ½ x 11 or 9 x 12
Garden clubs: Note category (small, medium large), name of club, city, state, Region & name as well as
address of person submitting Pressbook.
District: State, name of person submitting Press Book, number & address
Councils & Garden Centers: State, location, name of person submitting Press Book, number & address
Contents: Materials must consist of only actual newspaper, magazine, newsletter or any printed publication
“clipping” with the name and date of publication over each article. No decorative embellishments
Will affect judging. Affix contents in chronological order beginning January 1 & ending
December 31. Pages must be numbered & an index is required each published item must
contain name of the club, district, council or garden center and/or individual(s) identified as a
member of the district, council or garden center. Underline the first use of the club’s name,
garden club member and/or district council or garden center’s name in the story or article. Press
books will be judged on quality,quantity, diversity of coverage & requirements set forth in
guidelines. Pressbooks will be returned if stamped, self-addressed envelope is included with
entry. Number of pages is unlimited.

Guidelines For Evaluation of Publicity Press Books:
30 Points: Press Book Criteria
35 Points: Quality
20 Points: Quantity
15 Points: Diversity of Coverage
100 Points Total

#24 STANDARD FLOWER SHOW SCHEDULE AWARDS
Single Club
$25 Cash Award for the Best Standard Flower Show Schedule
Two or more Clubs or Council
$25 Cash Award for the Best Standard Flow Show Schedule

SPECIAL AWARDS

#SP1 INVOLVING YOUTH
$50 Cash Award presented annually to a garden club for the most outstanding project involving youth.
The project must be garden related with youth and garden club members participating.

#SP2 RESTORING OR RECLAIMING PUBLIC SPACE
$50 Cash Award presented annually to a garden club that restores a public site or reclaims a formerly
unusable space. Applications must contain before, during process and completed photos with the number of
garden club members involved. Location and details of work done must be included.

Send to SAR Special Projects Chairperson by January 25th!
Sharon Jones; 85 Surber Drive; Moneta, VA 24121-3449 954-252-4383
Toddie1904@aol.com

YOUTH AWARDS

The following Youth Awards must be sent to the designated Chairperson listed with the awards. Students must follow NGC RULES for these contests found on the NGC WEBSITE (Award Opportunities > Essay Contest Flyer & Guidelines)

#Y1 YOUTH EDUCATION AWARD
$25 Cash Award to a garden club MEMBER OR SENIOR GARDEN CLUB providing an
educational program/activity that promotes NGC objectives for youth in any setting: classroom,
4-H Club, Scouts, Junior, Intermediate or High School Gardeners. Type of program, meeting
date and number of youth involved should be included in application.

#Y2 YOUTH CLUB AWARD
$25 Cash Award to the Junior/Intermediate Garden Club
$25 Cash Award to the Member Garden Club sponsoring the youth club for the most successful
promotion of all phases of garden club work. List of programs, meeting dates and number of
youth involved should be included in the application.

#Y3 HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST
$200 Cash Award to the SAR Essay winner. Open to all High School students

PLANT AMERICA – PLAY OUTSIDE

SEND TO SAR ESSAY CHAIRPERSON BY JANUARY 1:

Brenda Crocker, PO Box 7847; Rocky Mountain, NC 27804-0847
Questions: 252-443-6513 bcrocker3358@embarqmail.com

#Y4 YOUTH POETRY CONTEST
$10 Cash Award will be presented to the winners of grade levels K-9th as well as Special Education
& ESL Students
2021-2022 Theme: “Sing with the Song Birds – Exploring the Glory of Nature”
2022-2023 Theme: “Seed, Trees and Bees, Oh My – Celebrating the Diversity of Nature”

Send to SAR Poetry & Sculpture Chairperson by FEBRUARY 15! (See next Award)

#Y5 YOUTH RECYCLABLE SCULPTURE CONTEST
$10 Cash Award will be awarded to the youth sculpture winners of grades 4-8th.
See NGC Contest Rules!

Send to SAR Poetry & Sculpture Chairperson by FEBRUARY 15!
Susan Throneberry; 4621 Old Scottsville Rd; Alvaton, KY 42122-9752 270-781-0000
Sthroneberry1@gmail.com

#Y6 SMOKEY BEAR/WOODSY OWL POSTER CONTEST
$10 Cash Award to the poster winners of each grade level 1-5th – States are to send only one winner
per grade level. Posters must follow the rules of NGC and the US Forest Service

DEADLINE FOR BOTH YEARS WILL BE: FEBRUARY 15TH!

Send winners to SAR Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl Chairperson:
Joan Holman; 400 Sentimental Drive; Moundsville, WV 26041 304.845.2017
jelholman@comcast.net