How to Start a Gardening Club

Set a date and time for the launch meeting. If the core group determines the garden club will meet in the evening, organize the first meeting for an evening. If the core group prefers a daytime meeting, plan the launch meeting for during the day.

Choose a location for the first meeting. Consider meeting at a local garden center, botanical garden or community center for the first meeting. Avoid meeting in someone's home because potential new members may not feel comfortable going to a meeting at the home of someone they don't know.

Determine the format for the launch meeting. To attract people to the meeting, consider scheduling a horticulture lecture, a hands-on flower arranging program or a plant exchange. A planned activity or event is more likely to draw people to your club.

• Include time to present information about the new gardening club to attendees. Plan to distribute flyers about the club and ask attendees to provide contact information so they can be notified about future meetings.

Promote the launch meeting. Distribute flyers at local garden centers, community centers, botanical gardens and coffee shops.

• Ask each member of the core group to bring a few friends to the launch meeting. Personal invitations are the most effective way to encourage membership and participation in a gardening club.

Elect or appoint officers for the garden club. All organizations benefit from strong leaders who take responsibility for furthering the mission of the group. Depending on the formality of the club, either elect or appoint persons to serve in leadership positions.

• Avoid electing or appointing leaders at the launch meeting. The launch meeting is a recruiting event to increase membership, not a time to conduct formal business. Consider electing or appointing officers at the first or second organized meeting following the garden club launch event.
• Distribute questionnaires to interested club members prior to officer elections or appointments. The questionnaires can be used to determine gardening interests, as well as identify people who are interested in serving in a leadership capacity for the garden club.

Determine goals for the garden club. The goals will determine the programming priorities of the garden club. Will the garden club provide landscaping for local charities, serve as an educational resource for gardeners, or provide opportunities for friendship and idea sharing with other gardening enthusiasts? Write down the goals and refer to them frequently to keep the garden club focused on its mission.

Establish an organizational structure for the garden club. Many garden clubs are affiliated with national organizations, such as the Arboretum Foundation or the Garden Club of America. If your group is affiliated with a national organization, the club already may have established meeting structures, by-laws and membership qualifications. If the garden club is a local, independent group, consider establishing some organizational guidelines, such as by-laws and membership requirements.

Determine an ongoing meeting schedule. Choose a specific day and time to meet each month. To reduce scheduling conflicts, keep the meeting date the same each month, such as the second Monday of each month.

• Establish a consistent meeting location. Contact a local nursery about using its space for garden club meetings once a month. The store benefits from an increased customer base, and the garden club may not have to pay for space rental.
• Organize meeting and events that meet your club's goals. If a goal of your garden club is to swap plants and cuttings, plan events that meet that goal. If a goal of your garden club is to increase horticulture education, invite speakers to your meetings to share their knowledge and expertise.

Select a name for the garden club. To avoid duplication, contact your local extension office to get a list of names of existing garden clubs in your area.

Determine if the garden club should open a bank account. If the garden club requires membership dues, set up a bank account for the organization. Be sure to designate a treasurer, who will be responsible for financial matters for the club.

Invite neighbors and friends to the garden club meetings. A personal invitation is the most effective way to grow any organization. Ask garden clubs members to invite their friends to upcoming meetings and events.

Post flyers and signs in the community. Display flyers promoting the garden club meetings at garden centers, community centers, libraries, coffee shops, religious organizations and schools.

Partner with a local garden center to promote the garden club. Ask garden center managers to put a stack of flyers about the garden club near the cash registers or even to put flyers about the garden club directly in their customer's shopping bags.

Set up a social networking page promoting the garden club. Online social networking sites offer marketing opportunities. Set up a Facebook page or a Twitter feed, and invite others to follow the garden club.