Dollars For Scholars

“DOLLAR FOR CHOLAR”

A Message from
Mary Summerville
Director of The Deep South Region

“Today’s Youth – Tomorrow’s Future”

The project is broader than it appears at first sight. A scholar being defined as, “one who studies under a teacher”, we will work with youth groups of different ages, backgrounds, and mental and physical abilities.

Scholarship will be a major emphasis. We want to vigorously promote State, Deep South, and National Life Memberships. Artist Carol Keefe, has a “Scholarship Jug” for each of the State Presidents. Use it to collect monies at your meetings for scholarship. There are some fun ways to get members to contribute to the “Jug”. For example: a penny for each year of your age. A lot of people will put in a dollar so that someone standing nearby can’t find out their age by counting as each penny drops. There will be competition among our six states for the greatest percentage increase in State, Deep South, and National Life Memberships.

Fund-raising will be of great importance; and, we hope you’ll give us some new and innovative ideas. At the end of the project, the ideas will be collected into a brochure, for sale at a nominal price, which will further enrich the Deep South Scholarship Fund.

You can use funds collected from the DOLLAR$ FOR $CHOLAR$ JUG to fund your states LM/Patrons -
It is not expected that all your monies go toward Life Memberships. When you review the suggested programs and activities and scale of points, you’ll note that how the money is used is important; and, probably as interesting, if maybe not more so, than the fund-raising. There is also a new way to help fund scholarships by becoming a Scholarship Patron - Just donate $100 or more to the Deep South Region. Send your check marked for Patron of Scholarships to DS Life Membership Chairman, Peggy White, 7 Woodland Drive, Cartersville, GA. 30120-3714 and join the ranks of other generous supporters.

This is such an important and worthwhile project, we all wish for its success. I have to tell you though, the elevator to success is out of order, so we have to take the stairs one step at a time. But remember, if you take a step and you need help, Carol and I will be there for you.

INSTRUCTIONS
in PDF format

DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS ** YOUTH DIVISION

DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS ** GARDEN CLUB DIVISION

SUGGESTIONS FOR DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
1. Offer prizes/recognition for each club that becomes 100% State, Deep South and/or NGC Life Members. Offer special recognition for those clubs that have achieved this level and maintained it for a period of three or more years.
2. Offer special recognition (such as a Life Membership-only dinner at your state convention) to individuals who have achieved that status.
3. Encourage members to purchase Life Memberships or donate Garden Club-sponsored scholarship funds in honor/memory of friends and family on special occasions. This is a very eco-friendly idea for those who "already have everything". Notification of donations can be easily wrapped in a small envelope. They don't require assembly, watering, feeding, or dusting, and are tax deductible! Scholarship donations are the gift that keeps on giving, for generations to come!
4. Sponsor community-wide special events, such as a holiday tea, luncheon, program, raffle or opportunity drawing, plant-, yard-, or bake- sales, etc. to support scholarship funds and/or youth projects. An idea that your club has "been doing forever" might be fresh and new to another club.
5. Pass the "Scholarship Jug" at each meeting with different designated amounts, such as 25 cents for each grandchild, and when enough money has been donated, award a State, Deep South, or NGC life membership to a member.
6. "Fine" members for absences, tardiness, talking during the meeting, etc., with funds designated for scholarship funds. This should NOT be done in a punitive or harsh manner, but rather in a spirit of good humor. Designate a "monitor" with a sense of humor to levy the fines. Designate a theme for each meeting (e.g. everybody to wear something of a certain color) and those failing to participate will be "fined".
7. Hold an auction, raffle, etc. at every club meeting with funds designated for scholarships and/or youth projects.
8: Publicize the availability of scholarships, both at schools, and to the general public. Post flyers advertising their availability at churches, libraries, civic centers, etc.
9. Make sure scholarship winners get local publicity. Most newspapers have youth pages on at least an occasional basis.
10. Form a Junior, Intermediate/High School Garden Club.
11. Sponsor educational programs on Saturday or during the summer that promote Deep South and NGC objectives that parents and their children can do together. Busy parents look for "quality time" projects. And, if their children can come home with something like a dish garden or a birdhouse, even better! Don't be afraid to charge a nominal registration fee! Profits go to... YOU KNOW WHERE!
12. Develop and publish booklets, videos, etc. that would be useful to youth, such as, identification of local birds, trees, etc.; basic steps to planting a garden or making a dish garden; basic flower design; how to make a holiday wreath, etc.
13. Expand existing youth programs, such as eco-camps, perhaps to include a parent-child day, or offer them to adults only-only for pay! We ALL loved going to camp.
14. Involve your scholarship recipients as sources of information for clubs and projects.