Club Committees
2023 - 2024 COMMITTEES
Club Committees are established by the Executive Board to carry out the purpose of the Garden Club of Chevy Chase (GCCC). The composition of Club Committees will include a Chair and Co-Chair (where applicable) and a specific number of members. Each member is required to serve on one (1) yet encouraged to serve on two (2) Club Committees each year. New Members are required to serve on the Civics Committee their first year of membership and one (1) other committee.
Associate Members are encouraged to serve on the Club Committees. Associate Members who have special talents and would like to serve on a specific Club Committee would serve on such committees as “consultants.” They would serve in addition to the number of Active Members specified for such committee.
Below is a list of the GCCC Committees and members for 2023-2024:
CIVICS
Oversees the upkeep and maintenance of the Betty English Garden, including keeping photographic records of the Betty English Garden throughout the four seasons, and developing and maintaining a list of plant materials that can be donated from members’ gardens to the Betty English Garden. Oversees the committees for Village Hall Decorating and for holiday efforts at the National Center for Families and Children. Carries out other projects agreed upon by the committee and membership.
Chair: Carolyn Wilson
Betty English Garden Project
- Marion Ballard
- Nancy Cholis
- Paula Gibson
- Margaret Griffin
- Ashley Johnston
- Ellin Nolan
- Pam Perkins
- Schuyler Ryon
- Ann Thompson
- Judy Van Namen
NCCP Holiday Gifts and Decorating Project
- Elizabeth Dodson
- Julie Maner
- Lisa Sanders
- Schuyler Ryon
Village Hall Decorating Project
- Chair: Elayne Bennett
- Nancy Caffey
- Kyra Detmer
- Lindy Dickson
- Susan Dixon
- Michelle Dolge
- Muffin Lynham
- Leslie McKay
- Schuyler Ryon
- Twinkle Thompson
COMMUNICATIONS
Maintains and oversees the Club website. Produces the monthly NewsBud newsletter informing members of club information, programs, events, pertinent articles, publications, etc., relating to gardening. Assists in fund-raising and Flower Show publicity. Encourages members to submit articles for GCA publications. Circulates to the public any relevant information about our club’s activities, awards, and projects.
Chair: Michelle Dolge
- Susan Dixon
- Ellin Nolan
CONSERVATION /NAL
Informs members about ecological issues, including recycling, involvement in garden projects, and environmental conservation education in the greater community. NAL: Serves as an educational vehicle for the membership, keeps abreast of the legislative issues and represents the GCCC at the GCA meeting in February on Capitol Hill.
Co-Chairs: Margaret Hutton Griffin and Judy Van Namen
- Elizabeth Dodson
- Chris Leahy
- Julie Maner
- Nancy Ridgway
- Polly Sturm
FINANCE
Chair: Paula Gibson
- Susan Dixon
- Angela Lancaster
- Ellin Nolan
- Pam Perkins
FLORAL DESIGN
Educates membership on floral design, for Flower Show entries, and for personal arranging. Arranges workshops on floral design elements
Chair: Leslie McKay
- Michelle Dolge
- Margaret Griffin
- Elizabeth McAdam
GARDEN HISTORY & DESIGN
Promotes the knowledge of garden and landscape design, landscape design and garden history by encouraging members to photograph and document local gardens past and present. Documents members’ gardens through research and photography. Sends documents to Archives of American Gardens at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC for study by garden researchers and historians.
Chair: Melissa Pflieger
- Nancy Cholis
- Kyra Detmer,
- Valerie Grace
- Nancy Ridgway
HOLIDAY PARTY
- Jennifer Albrecht
- Claudia Lanpher
- Ann Thompson
- Twinkle Thompson
HORTICULTURE
Works with Flower Show chairs to organize the horticultural section of flower shows, including writing the schedule, staging the exhibit, organizing passing committee, and storing reusable materials. Helps find speakers, educates club members and initiates other projects as determined by membership interest. Represents the Garden Club of Chevy Chase at Zone Horticulture Meeting. Educates club members on horticultural matters via workshops, special meetings, outings and plant exchanges.
Co-Chairs: Nancy Ridgway and Polly Sturm
- Marion Ballard
- Susan Kilborn
- Melissa Pflieger
- Schuyler Ryon
- Judy Van Namen
PHOTOGRAPHY
Organizes the programs and meetings for the year. Provides opportunities to explore interests in photography and to develop skills. Coordinates a photography show when flower shows and/or horticulture shows are scheduled.
Chair: Twinkle Thompson
- Nancy Caffey
- Valerie Grace
- Mimi McBride
- Lisa Sanders
- Ann Thompson
PROGRAM
Schedules programs/meetings for the upcoming year with input from the Club CommitteeChairs. Handles speakers’ logistics and arranges for remuneration of speaker. Coordinates program, Flower Show schedule and any updates/changes throughout the year. Committee members include the chairs of each committee, who are expected to sponsor at leasts one program each year.
Co-Chairs: Muffin Lynham and Tia Saul
- Jennifer Albrecht
- Nancy Cholis
- Cathryn Clune
- Lindy Dickson
- Kyra Detmer
- Paula Gibson
- Molly Morris
VISITING GARDENS & EXCURSIONS
Works with GCCC program chairs to arrange excursions to places of interest. Keeps an active list of GCA member gardens in the United States and the eight foreign courtesy clubs that can be contacted by any member to schedule a garden visit. Plans local, national and international excursions of educational interest to members. Keeps a list of GCA Visiting Gardens Chairs. Keeps informed of domestic and foreign trips open to members planned by the GCA. Coordinates schedules for other GCA club members to visit GCCC members’ gardens. Arranges visits to club members’ gardens.
Co-Chair: Kyra Detmer and Pam Perkins
- Nancy Cholis
- Paula Gibson
- Leslie McKay
- Molly Morris
- Ann Thompson
ANNUAL REPORTS
AD HOC COMMITTEES
WALTER REED EAGLE COURTYARD PROJECT
Chair: Cathryn Clune
- Elayne Bennett
- Ginny Leachman
- Muffin Lynham
- Elizabeth McAdam
- Molly Morris
- Ellin Nolan
- Mary Jane Parks
- Nancy Ridgway
- Lisa Sanders
- Polly Sturm
- Carolyn Wilson
- Page Winstead
APPOINTED COMMITTEES
Appointed Committees are those committees that provide special and important functions. Members serving on Appointed Committees are chosen by the President.
ARCHIVES/HISTORIAN
Collects, saves and files documents, published articles and photographs of Club and special events in our archives.
AWARDS
Recognizes worthy members with Club and/or GCA awards.
- Julie Maner
BYLAWS
Chair: Schuyler Ryon
- Susan Dixon
FOUNDERS FUND
Presents nominations for Founder’s Fund to the Club and organizes the Club’s choice.
Chair: Melissa Pflieger
- Ginny Leachman
- Molly Morris
- JoJo Spallone
- Polly Sturm
JUDGING
Maintains a current list of available judges. Works with Zone VI Judging Chair to obtain judges for flower, photography, and horticulture shows. Communicates with judges regarding upcoming schedule and logistics. Sends judges Flower Show schedule in advance. Serves as hostess to the judges.
- Marion Ballard
MEMBERSHIP
Works to process membership applications and to address membership matters.
Chair: Melissa Pflieger
- Valerie Grace
- Elizabeth McAdam
- Polly Sturm
NOMINATING
Receives suggestions of candidates for office by November 1st. Presents slate of officers at the January meeting for a vote at the February meeting.
- Julie Maner
SCHOLARSHIP
Researches and recommends outstanding and noteworthy candidates for GCA Scholarships; completes GCA Scholarship forms according to GCA requirements. Brings requests from GCA for scholarships to the membership for approval.
2025 GARDEN TOUR
- TBD
LIAISONS
FRIENDS OF CHEVY CHASE CIRCLE
- Valerie Grace
NATIONAL ARBORETUM REPRESENTATIVE
NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA GARDEN CLUBS
- Susan Kilborn