Board of Directors

President 

Krystal Migliore
President 2017-2019
Gridley, CA
Theme:  "Plant America, California Style"

Serving as CGCI’s 45th President is an honor and a privilege.  This president looks forward to meeting you and your fellow garden club members when visiting your district during the 2017-19 term.

What is California Style?  What did you think of when you saw “California Style?”   Good, you are right!  California Style is whatever our CGCI members make it and the possibilities are unlimited.
  • Diversity-More than 20,000 CGCI members grow strong in California’s very diverse 163,696 square miles.  Fertile valleys; rocky, high-elevation mountains; sandy deserts; and salty, coastal locations provide gardeners with many challenges.  Our garden club members, share their knowledge and experiences, rising to overcome, and thrive as they grow in the 20 different Sunset zones located in California.  That is right, only four growing zones out of 24 do not exist in California.
  • Water-How it is shared, used and conserved are perennial issues in California and we are all in it together.  Whether, it is a drought year or not, educating our neighbors and communities about the options available for capturing water on their property, utilizing highly efficient watering systems, planting water-wise landscapes and using drought tolerant plants, are just the beginning of the possibilities as garden clubs play their role in the water challenge. 
  • Making Connections-Often we hear from clubs regarding the physical challenges of keeping up with their garden projects.  Traditional thinkers would rule out the more physical activities forcing the club to cut activities or projects while settling for less.  Considering and recognizing the needs of service organizations or individual youths needing community projects provides an opportunity to create win-win relationships and no one is forced to settle for less.  The physical requirements of gardening do not lessen over time.  Luckily, there are no rules stipulating that garden club members cannot teach others how to do and then supervise while completing the club’s project. In this case, making connections within your community makes the difference.  Our new Making Connections Resources and Outreach Chairman, Lynne Batchelor and her team, which includes 1st Vice President Shane Looper and 3rd Vice President Martha Smyser, will identify ways to find organizations most likely available to fulfill our needs while we fulfill theirs.   This is just one of the examples of making connections.  There are many more ways to provide our members, clubs and districts with the connections they need to become successful. 
  • Education-Garden clubs are about education, and hands-on education is important.  Whenever you participate in a public event within your community, consider offering a hands-on activity.  This provides them with a memorable experience and you with the opportunity to talk with the visitors about the hands-on activity and tell them about your garden club.  Remember, we are all ambassadors sharing the love of gardening and the joys of garden clubs.                   

Meetings

 
BOARD MEETINGS
Board members are expected to attend the regular meetings of the Board of Directors.  Regular meetings include but are not limited to the adoption of policies, procedures and standing rules and ratification of all classes of membership.
When:  Three times per year: 
Pre-convention and organizational meeting (immediately following convention) and post-convention meeting held in odd-numbered years. 
The post-convention meeting is held in an election year and is for the purpose of ratifying appointments of parliamentarian, appointed chairmen and new members of the board of trustees. 
Fall Board (September):  District Directors and Committee Chairmen present plans and goals. 
Winter Board (February):  Mid-year reports from Officers, District Directors and Chairmen.
Attendance
Officers, District Directors and Chairmen are expected to attend
Any member of CGCI is welcome but permission for guests to attend should be obtained from the president. 
NOTE:   Post-convention meeting – Executive Committee and District Directors only.
Voting Membership:  One (1) vote each:  Executive Committee, District Directors, CGCI Committee Chairmen, members of committees specified in Article VII of the bylaws ONLY. 
Club presidents and members may attend but have NO VOTING privilege.
Length:  Usually 2-3 days including pre-board committee meetings and activities (tours or other special events).
Dress:  Casual or business dress.
CONVENTION
When:  An annual meeting held before the end of the fiscal year (June 30) to conduct the business of the organization, including but not limited to: election of officers (odd-numbered years) review/approve budget, review/approve proposed bylaws revisions, year-end reports of officers, District Directors and Committee Chairmen.
Attendance: Any member of CGCI. Guests are welcome.
All general business meetings, meals, workshops/tours are open to anyone, subject to space availability
Some committee meetings may be "closed" (only committee members may attend)
Voting Membership: One (1) vote each: Executive Committee, District Directors, CGCI Committee Chairmen, Club/Associate Plant Society presidents (or alternates) and official delegates (or alternates) of member clubs and plant societies.
Length: Usually four (4) days including pre- and post-convention meetings and activities (tours or other special events)
Special Events/Activities:
Tours to local garden-related attractions, workshops, youth luncheon and banquets.
Awards Banquet features the presentation of awards and commendations.
Design Banquet (sponsored by the local Judges Council) includes a program by a well known floral designer.
In odd-numbered years an Installation Banquet to honor newly elected officers is held the final night.
Dress: All daytime activities are casual or business dress. Evening events are business dress or “semi-formal” depending on the type of event and the location.
NOTE: All commercial venues have standard, central temperature control and may not be comfortable for everyone. Bring a wrap or dress in layers...be prepared for any eventuality

Responsibilities

 
As the governing body of this corporation, the board of directors shall:
  • at no time modify action taken by members at the annual convention,
  • transact routine business,
  • adopt policies and procedures,
  • adopt standing rules, and
  • ratify all classes of membership.
Compensation
The President and President-Elect are required to travel to National Garden Club, Inc. meetings as well as Pacific Region of NGC meetings. A special travel stipend is allocated in the CGCI budget for this purpose.
CGCI Board members do not receive a salary.
There is no compensation apart from a small administrative expense itemized in the budget for specific chairmen and district directors. it is usually $50-$100
All expenses associated with attendance at state meetings are the responsibility of the individual board member.
NOTE:  Expenses incurred while attending CGCI meetings and conventions may be tax deductible as volunteer expenses.  Please check with your tax advisor to determine if you qualify.
Every member of the CGCI Board of Directors is a dedicated and hard-working volunteer who is motivated by his/her devotion to gardening and/or the desire to contribute to the community. CGCI is, indeed, lucky to have such wonderful and able people willing to serve.

Forms

Procedures

 
District Directors:
Chairmen:
Chairman's Handbook (formerly known as "procedure books") Position descriptions for all chairmen in one easy-to-use document
Procedures & Guidelines Update Form (online form to add to or correct existing position description)
Reports: 
If you are required to submit a report at convention or a board meeting, please follow these guidelines.
Submit three copies of your report. 
Full length copy to the CGCI President and Golden Gardens eNews Editor
100 word summary to the Recording Secretary for inclusion in the minutes
Summary: avoid repeating long titles, unnecessary dates, "greetings and salutations".
Do not rely on the Recording Secretary to condense a long report.  He/she does not know what is most important to you. 
Where possible send to the recipients prior to the meeting.
ALL reports are to be typed and those sent to the Recording Secretary MUST be EMAILED.
Your report should be about the activities of your chairmanship or of your district. 
District Directors: it is not necessary to report on every club at each meeting, but try to include each club in at least one of your reports during the year or focus on a special activity of one of the clubs.
Think about what you are reporting and who will be reading it. 
Re-read it carefully to assure it correctly conveys your thoughts and that it does not rely on "insider" information that may not be generally available to the readers.
All reports should be clearly identified with your name and position.  A suggested heading for reports is:
CGCI Winter Board 2014
Mary Jones Workshop Chairman
Oral reports, as a rule, are limited to three minutes.  Practice giving your report aloud and time yourself.
Are you nervous?  Most people are, especially when they are standing before a large group. 
Do you have trouble keeping your place when reading your report? 
Tip:  Always double space. 
Is your one sheet of paper limp?  Tip:  Clip it to a folder or tablet. 
Look up once in a while.  You don't really need to make eye contact with anyone, just present your face and not just the top of your head. 
If the microphone is not at the right height, don't hunch over, raise it up, or you may need to lower it to a comfortable height.

Rules of Order

 
Following is a summary of the most pertinent general rules governing Conventions and Board Meetings.  A complete set of rules is published in the programs for each event.
  • Voting:  Voting membership is defined in the bylaws and summarized above
  • Reports:  Oral reports are limited to four (4) minutes unless otherwise announced.
  • Motions:  Where practical shall be submitted in writing and sent to the president prior to placing the motion before the voting body.  No issue shall be debated without first being placed on the floor by a motion that has been seconded.
  • Debate:  Attendees wishing to speak shall rise, be recognized by the president and state his/her name and official capacity.  If there is an issue involved, the member/delegate shall speak NO MORE THAN TWICE ON THE SAME ISSUE, except for the proponent of the motion who may speak a third time to close debate.  Speakers are allowed one-two minutes each.