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Live in Big Sky Country? Love gardens, flowers and beautiful landscapes? Do you want to share your knowledge or learn more? The Montana Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., founded in 1938, is a non-profit educational organization with members statewide. There are 30 individual Montana garden clubs and in 2010, we celebrate our 72nd anniversary as an affiliate of the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world, National Garden Clubs, Inc. We are also one of eight states in the Rocky Mountain Region.
Montana - Life Members
Group of the Month At the Montana State Covention in Billings, in 1951, the idea of Life Members for the state was born. First member to pay her dues was Mrs. D. J. Mooney of Butte, who recommended that National Life Member guidelines be followed. Since then, through February of this year, 782 members have paid their one-time dues of $25. ![]() Events of the Life Members began with a breakfast during convention weekend. Attendance was 10 in 1953, and attendance varied through the years from 26 to 110 and breakfast was changed to banquets. These evening affairs included skits, costume contests, dance shows, etc. Judges were the husbands of members. Entertainment is still popular today, and can be stories by members, interesting places of visitations, embarrassing moments and the language of flowers, etc. ![]() In the past, all the members went by "Mrs." and their husband's first and last name. Today, most all women go by their first name - no more Mrs. Old minutes stated that elections for chairman and secretary would be made to coincide with state officers and there would be no re-elections. No change can be found in this rule, but recycling of chairmen and secretaries is very common! ![]() It is easy to become a Life Member, pay your dues of $25 to either the state treasurer or the chairman and you are a "Lifer." The only stipulation is you must be a member of a garden club. There is no waiting period; you can be a garden club member and a life member all in the same day, if you wish. Being a Life Member entitles you to receive Montana Gardens for your lifetime, and being part of the program makes you feel good about giving a scholarship to a Montana student. For more information, contact Joyce Backa, 866-0145.
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Our Mission Statement: The Montana Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. (MFGC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating its members and youth. Members are prepared and informed to lead and support the conservation and environmental efforts of our state through gardening activities, floral designs, landscaping and community improvements
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Phyllis White, Webmaster 2005 Web Site Award Winner for "Most Outstanding Web Site Promoting MFGC and National Garden Club Objectives" |