SCR AWARDS GUIDELINES
Click here for printable SCR Awards Guideline.
(Opens in new window) “Books of Evidence” for NGC competition and SCR competition have different deadlines. PLEASE STUDY “The National Gardener for NGC Awards requirements, “The Communicator” for SCR requirements, your state publication for state requirements, double check the deadlines, and read rule #7. READ ~ READ ~ READ! Only federated garden clubs, members of federated garden clubs and groups of federated clubs in good standing are eligible to apply for sponsored awards. AWARD YEAR: Jan. 1st through Dec. 31st of the same year constitutes an Award Year. Two Year Awards cover 24 consecutive months beginning Jan. 1st. Adult Region Award entries are submitted by Feb. 1st to SCR Awards Chairman, Barbara Baker, 4104 Harlanwood Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76109. #13 Landscape Design Awards entries are submitted by Feb. 1st to Carol Russell, 9914 Ridgehaven Dr., Dallas, TX 75238. Publicity Press Books entries are submitted to Maple Levine, 9905 Eldridge Rd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114. This is a “progression” Award from State to Region to NGC, deadlines are State: Jan. 25th; Region: Feb. 23rd; National; Mar. 23rd. NGC Youth Contests go through appropriate State and Region Chairmen and their appropriate deadlines to continue on for NGC competition. Club projects entered under “Continuing Projects” must include work during the current Awards Year.
BOOK OF EVIDENCE REQUIREMENTS 1. Label on outside cover; number & name of award, category, name of club, city, and state.
2. Presentation: not to exceed 10 pages; 5 front and back. [NGC requires 12 pages]. The pages
may be enclosed in plastic sheet protectors, pages back to back. Material must be attached to
pages; no loose materials. Use 8½” X 11” paper and enclose in report cover or 2 pocket folder;
no scrapbooks or oversized books. Exceptions are noted.
3. Top of first page include number and name of award, name of club/s, number members on whom
NGC and state dues are paid [regular, honorary, life, & associate].
4. Written Text: concise; covers all requirements in award description and Scale of Points for
Achievement, Participation and Record.
5. Record: photocopies are permitted; yearbook pages are not needed as documentation.
6. No Title page. No Table of Contents. No summary is needed as it appears on the [NGC and/or
SCR] Awards Application Form.
7. When the same project is eligible for various awards, submitting exact duplication of “Books of
Evidence” is not acceptable. Enclose self-addressed envelope with adequate postage for return. Only 1st place winning entries scoring 90 points or more will receive SCR cash awards, unless otherwise stated in the award requirements. Certificates may be awarded to other winning entries. SCR Sweepstakes Winner will be determined on value of three (3) points for 1st, two (2) points for 2nd, one (1) point for 3rd. Sweepstakes Winner must have one (1) first place to receive Sweepstakes Award.
SCR ADULT AWARDS #1, ARBOR DAY may be observed on any appropriate date – weather and circumstances permitting. This may be a New or Continuing Project. Public buildings, highway or esplanade beautification, schools, other civic buildings are a few suggestions for sites to select. Choose a tree carefully with landscape design or area in mind. Seek publicity where possible. Plan an appropriate program. Invite the mayor and other public officials. Program suggestions: FFA, youth, student government of secondary schools, Girl & Boy Scouts, children’s or adult theater groups, local dignitaries, Park and Recreation officials. Include an Invocation, welcome address, appropriate music, introduction of guests and reading of any messages or proclamations received, poetry, history of Arbor Day, tree dedication and planting, recitation of conservation pledge, benediction, etc. AWARD: $25 for 1st place to single club. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules, neat & attractive presentation. | 10 | | Originality of Observance and Program. | 10 | Project Report:
Prior Planning: site choice, tree species/variety, purpose,
Committee contacts, work, effort to create Arbor Day Awareness. |
25 | Club Participation: active member participation, correlation of Arbor
Day observance & other activities, maintenance of planting of
Project continuation. |
30
| | Community Participation, interest created by observance. | 15 | | Documentation: newspaper, photos, letters, yearbook page/s | 10 | | Total Points | 100 |
#2, BIRDS awards may be presented to a single club and group of clubs dong the best work toward conservation and knowledge of Birds. Suggested projects; establish bird sanctuary, work with youth, promote law enforcement relative to bird welfare, include nature trails & bird watching programs in year’s agenda, have a “Purple Martin Time”. AWARD: Frances Willis Endowment - $25 1st place to a single club; $25 for 1st place to a group of clubs. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conformance to General Rules, neat & attractive presentation | 15 | | Project/Program Report | 65 | | Club & Community participation | 10 | | Significance or scope of Project/Program | 10 | | Total Points | 100 |
#3, CIVIC DEVELOPMENT award may be presented to single club for a city landscape project; public buildings, municipal parks or gardens, median strips, libraries, museums, hospitals, schools, etc. Commercial projects are not eligible. May be a two-year project. Must include ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos.
AWARD: $25 to single club for 1st place; $15 for 2nd place. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules, neat & attractive presentation | 10 | | Significance or scope of Project/Program | 25 | | History of how project was financed | 15 | | Permanence of improvement. | 25 | Degree of Improvement [15]
Provisions for sustained maintenance [10] | | | Use of plant material | 25 | In relation to project [20]
Use of native plants [5] | | | Total Points | 100 |
#4, CLUB PROGRAM may be presented to a single club having the most outstanding single program given by member/s of that club. Program must stimulate interest in purpose and objectives of NGC, Inc. Program must be adaptable for presentation to other clubs or comparable size. Entry must be typewritten, between 3-10 pages. AWARD: $25 to a single club for 1st place. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules, neat & attractive presentation. | 10 | | Date, place, and by whom presentation given, number present. | 5 | | Text of actual program: title and how listed in yearbook. | 70 | | Why considered an outstanding program. | 10 | | Interest to clubs of comparable size in future. | 5 | | Total Points | 100 |
#5, CLUB YEARBOOK THEME may be presented to a single club for the most creative use of a theme carried through the programs for the year, incorporating the objectives of NGC, Inc. Yearbook must be submitted that was in effect for the awards year. AWARD: $25 FOR 1st place to single club. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules | 10 | | Creativity/originality of theme, new concept. | 25 | | Use of theme in yearbook; consistent, evident, relevant. | 15 | Correlation between theme & all club programs, projects, &
Activities: consistent, evident, relevant. |
45 | | Yearbook sturdy, well prepared, easy to use. | 5 | | Total Points | 100 |
#6, COMMUNICATIONS may be awarded to a single club for the Best Promotion of The Garden Club movement. AWARD: $25 for 1st place to single club. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conformance to General Rules, neat & attractive presentation. | 10 | | Communication Report: | 60 | a) Printed: newspaper, magazine, bulletin clippings.
b) TV, Radio, Public Access Cable: material covered, dated, stations.
c) Lectures, programs.
d) Projects that attract interest: flower show, civic beautification, etc.
e) ‘Pat on Back’ letters to other organizations, businesses. | | | Increase of membership or formation of new club/s | 15 | | Documentation/ Evidence of community awareness of NGC federated club. | 15 | | Total Points | 100 |
#7, COMMUNITY CONCERN may be presented to a single club for project to make the day brighter & surroundiings more pleasant for residents of nursing homes, retirement homes, school for challenged youth or adults, children’s hospitals, etc., by presenting program/s decorating, taking gifts & plants, holding special parties. Hands on participation encouraged. May be a single event or year long project. AWARD: $25 for 1st place to single club. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules, neat & attractive presentation | 5 | | Project Report | 25 | | Scope or worthiness of project. | 25 | | Prior planning. | 5 | | Member Participation, percentages of members. | 10 | | Residents reaction and participation, number involved. | 15 | | Documentation: photos, letters | 15 | | Total Points | 100 |
#8A, FLOWER SHOW SCHEDULE may be presented to a single garden club for a well prepared Flower Show Schedule. Authority: Handbook for Flower Shows, National Garden Clubs, Inc.
AWARD: $25 for 1st place single club. #8B, FLOWER SHOW SCHEDULE may be presented to a group of clubs for well prepared Flower Show Schedule.
AWARD: $25 for 1st place group of clubs. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Format: sturdy, neat, complete information for exhibitors and judges. | 10 | | Rules: concise, specific, correct terminology, General & Award Rules | 20 | Required horticulture & design divisions: minimum 5 classes each.
[half or more in Horticulture] | 30 | Special Exhibits. [refer to HB]: Educational Exhibits, Youth Groups,
Sponsored Groups, Artistic Crafts, Gardens, Commercial. Use
clearly written word pictures to allow understanding of scope &
nature of exhibits. | 30 | | Theme: original, distinctive, used effectively throughout the schedule | 10 | | Total Points | 100 |
#9, FLOWER SHOW STAGING may be presented to a single club or group of clubs to promote new ideas for staging flower show in all divisions. Recycled, reusable and new materials are encouraged, if used in good taste. Book of Evidence must include a floor plan or scaled facsimile giving approximate space for easy flow of traffic; plan may be folded and placed in top loading cover. Six or more photographs to reveal the ‘picture’ of different/unusual type of staging. A complete description of each type of material and how its used. List the outstanding feature NEW to the club/group of clubs.
Class A – Single Club with 25 members or less
Class B – Single Club with 26-50 members.
Class C – Single Club with 51 or more members.
Class D – Group of Clubs. AWARD: $25 for 1st place in each class SCALE OF POINTS:
| Horticulture Division | 25 | | Design Division | 25 | | Educational Exhibits or displays (may include commercial & trade) | 20 | | Junior, Intermediate, High School, Special, Invitational | 15 | | Overall artistic appearance and/or effect | 15 | | Total Points | 100 |
#10, GARDEN THERAPY-GERIATRICS may be awarded to a single garden club for the best work in geriatric garden therapy. Most important factor should be the involvement of the older residents; how the club worked with the elderly instead of doing for or giving to them. All entries must show patient participation and be garden related such as: growing, artistic use of plants, study of birds, nature, conservation and landscaping. AWARD: $25 for 1st place to single club. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules; neat & attractive presentation, documentation | 15 | | Membership participation: % of members, cooperation with institution | 25 | Scope & Program Quality: garden related activities, projects, focus on degree
patient participation, # of elderly residents reached | 35 | | Achievement: value to elderly, continuity, plans for the future. | 25 | | Total Points | 100 |
#11A, HISTORIC PRESERVATION may be awarded to a single garden club for tasteful, distinctive holiday decorations for an historical house/mansion. Award to promote knowledge of customs, decorating, and social-economics of period. Book of Evidence should show: research of period, creativity in decorating; club participation in the executed designs. AWARD: $25 for 1st place to single club. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules; neat & attractive presentation. | 5 | | Quality of design embodied in the overall plan. | 20 | | Suitability of materials for the period | 25 | | Membership Participation: Extent of involvement | 30 | | Distinction, documentation. | 10 | | Significance of Project. | 10 | | Total Points | 100 |
#11B, HISTORIC PRESERVATION may be awarded to an individual garden club member who has shown dedication to the continuing challenge of reclaiming and preserving historic sites. The site does not have to be developed but must be recognized by local, state, or national authorities. AWARD: $25 for 1st place to an individual garden club member. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules; neat & attractive presentation | 5 | | Scope, significance and fulfillment of project | 50 | | Extent of member involvement | 35 | | Documentation, proof of accomplishment | 10 | | Total Points | 100 |
#12, LANDSCAPE DESIGN may be awarded to a single club for beautification of either public or private grounds. Award must reflect quality of design, arrangement of plant material and the functional choice of plant material for easy maintenance. AWARD: $25 for 1st place to single club. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules: neat & attractive presentation | 5 | | Landscape Design Plan | 35 | | Suitability of plant material. | 30 | | Color & textural harmony. | 15 | | 'Before and after’ photos | 10 | | Documentation: publicity | 5 | | Total Points | 100 |
#13, LANDSCAPE DESIGN may be awarded annually to a member state of SCR sponsoring the most outstanding activity in the area of Landscape Design. The activity may be in the area of landscape education or an actual project/s (a series of related projects/activities promoting Landscape Design). Submit to SCR Landscape Design Representative by Feb. 1. AWARD: Plaque in honor of Marge Hurt, [remains in possession of winning state for one (1) year]. SCALE OF POINTS:
Landscape Design Project: planned program in education or design/s for special
project/s. | 30 | Public Relations: promote general knowledge of Landscape Design,Talent
surveys, professional climate, etc. | 15 | | Suitability of program/project. | 10 | | Distinction of program./project. | 10 | | Member Participation: number of members, %, or explain. | 25 | Community Participation: involvement with local & state public officials to insure
continuing support of program/project. |
10 | | Total Points | 100 |
#14, LITTER CONTROL may be awarded to a single club and a group of clubs for the best anti-littering project stressing community involvement. AWARD: $25 for 1st place to single club; $25 for 1st place to group of clubs. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules: neat & attractive presentation. | 5 | | Documentation: before and after photos, publicity, letters, editorials. | 15 | Participation: involvement & accomplishments of adult groups and/or civic
organizations toward eliminating litter problems in community as a direct
result of garden club leadership & example. |
40 | | Leadership: program of leadership by club toward end result. | 10 | Encouragement of better litter control law enforcement in community &/or
procurement of new local legislation inspired by garden club/s |
10 | Youth Participation: organized activities of youth groups, youth gardeners, Scout
groups, (need not be sponsored group/s) toward encompassing community
effort. |
20 | | Total Points | 100 |
#15, MEMERSHIP AWARD may be given to a single club in each state with the greatest percentage of new members. Another award given to the overall winner from the four states. Documentation: submit last year’s yearbook and the current year’s yearbook. #16, NATIONAL GARDEN WEEK AWARD may be presented for the best promotion of National Garden Week. AWARD: $25 for 1st place. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules | 5 | | Presentation: neat & attractive presentation | 10 | | Scope of Participation. | 25 | | Educational Value. | 25 | | Publicity | 10 | | Total Points | 100 |
#17, NOVICE FLORAL DESIGN may be presented to the Best Novice Design in a novice section of a Standard Flower Show. Must submit slide or photo of design, no ribbon or name shown. Submit a copy of the Flower Show Schedule. AWARD: $25 for 1st place. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules: neat & attractive presentation. | 5 | | Design conforms to Flower Show Schedule. | 10 | | Quality of Design. | 40 | | Distinction of Design. | 20 | | Creativity of design. | 25 | | Total Points | 100 |
#18, RADIO & TV may be presented to a single club for producing the best Radio, TV, or Cable Garden Club program as either a single program or a series. May cover any facet of garden club projects, objectives, or activities. Public service announcement or subjects unrelated to garden club objectives do not qualify. AWARD: $25 for 1st place. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules: neat & attractive presentation. | 5 | | Name of Radio/TV station, city, club membership | 15 | | Program/s: content, air time involved | 45 | Community Interest: evidence on interest generated by program/s
Calls, letters, comments, publicity. |
25 | | Documentation: statement from radio or TV station verifying program/s | 10 | | Total Points | 100 |
#19, SWEEPSTAKES AWARD awarded to a single adult club winning the highest number of points for Awards won at the Annual SCR Convention. Sweepstakes Winner will be determined on values of 3 points for 1st, 2 points for 2nd, and 1 point for 3rd. AWARD: $25 for 1st place to single club. #20, CHURCH GARDENS may be awarded to an individual, single club or group of clubs who has promoted the planning and /or planting of a church or synagogue garden. The garden must meet the needs of the congregation; appropriateness rather than size will be considered. (Suggestion: flower plantings, paved terraces, meditation garden, sculptures, etc.). Include drawing or landscape plan indicating proportions and material used. Must include before and after photos. AWARD: $30 for 1st place. SCALE OF POINTS:
| Conforms to General Rules; neat & attractive presentation. | 5 | | Landscape Design. | 35 | | Suitability of plant material for year-round beauty. | 25 | | Meets needs of congregation. | 20 | | Maintenance provisions. | 10 | | Documentation: before and after photos | 5 | | Total Points | 100 |
#21, WORLD GARDENING may be awarded to a single club for their contribution to an NGC project or a contribution directly to an International Affiliate to assist their country to obtain seeds, tools, books, or other garden related projects. The contribution may also be sent directly to an authorized garden related project in another country. AWARD: $25 for 1st place to single club. SCALE OF POINTS:
Conforms to General Rules: neat & attractive presentation, all
activity & donations dated within current award year. | 20 | Documentation: Photocopy of check or International Money Order,
Correspondence, letters. | 60 | | Correspondence with one or more International Affiliates | 20 | | Total Points | 100 |
#22, YOUTH PROGRAM – An award to the single club best meeting the challenge of youth during the awards year. Suggestions: series of environmental meetings; Adopt a school; a complete program for youth (nature hikes, Flower Show, sponsored contest), or through High School, Intermediate, or Junior Gardener activities.
AWARD: $50 for 1st place to single club. #23, ESSAY CONTEST SPONSOR awarded to the adult garden club sponsoring the winner of the SCR Youth Essay Contest. AWARD: $25. #24, SPEECH CONTEST SPONSOR awarded to the adult garden club sponsoring the winner of the SCR Youth Speech Contest. AWARD: $25. #25, PUBLICATION AWARD may be awarded to the best publication: Bulletin, cookbook, procedure manual, handbook, or history. Submit three sample bulletins. AWARD: $25 for 1st place to single club. SCALE OF POINTS:
| General Character: informative and/or educational value. | 40 | | Style and appearance. | 40 | | Readability | 20 | | Total Points | 100 |
Click here for printable SCR Awards Guideline.
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