GCW Members

MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES

Please see the GCW By-Laws for more details regarding Membership responsibilities. Membership dues are assessed on June 1 and are to be paid within 30 days of notice.

2024-25  Membership Dues $425

  • Each Active Member or Associate Member may propose one candidate for membership each year and second a different candidate each year.

  • All Active Members are asked to serve on at least two standing committees. 

  • All Active Members are expected to participate annually in a club flower show, entering at least one exhibit in any discipline, floral design, horticulture or photography 

  • All Members are encouraged to support the activities of the Club, including attending events sponsored by the Ways and Means Committee.

  • The Garden Club of Wilmington is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization and contributions made to the Club are tax deductible as determined by your tax advisor.  

  • Deadline for dues payments is August 1. The tax deductible portion is $62 ($10 of your dues goes to Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs and $52 to the Garden Club of America). Alternatively, you may send a $425 check payable to The Garden Club of Wilmington and mail it to the following address: P.O. Box 3855, Wilmington, DE 19807.

“August 2015

Dear Friends
I know that this is an entirely unusual approach to this tradition, but it is important to me to let everyone here know how I felt about the Garden Club and what it meant to me, to my mother and her friends, and what I hope it means to all of you. I was persuaded to join the Garden Club by my mother and her cronies in 1973. I knew nothing about horticulture or plants. But I could immediately see how much it meant to them to work together on projects that made Wilmington more beautiful and that helped them learn about horticulture. I remember Cousin Emily du Pont looking at all of us new members and saying, “Now Girls! It is YOUR turn to take over these projects, run this club, and make a difference to the city of Wilmington.” We all looked at her like she was crazy because we all had babies, we didn’t know anything, and we had no help. We didn’t have the staff and the greenhouses that her generation had. But we soon learned that all the ladies of the Garden Club help each other. Old friendships were deepened and new friendships were born. And friendship is one of the most important things about this wonderful Club. It was fun to work together to try to beautify Wilmington. We took on the jobs given to us by the Garden Club Presidents, and we worked together to see that they were completed to the standards set by the members that had gone before us. It was important to complete our jobs to improve ourselves and our city. Even though it was hard sometimes, we enjoyed the work and we enjoyed each other! I feel it is still important to carry on the traditions that have made the Garden Club of Wilmington.

Wilmington the great institution that it is. I hope the new members will understand the work the Garden Club has been trying to do for its whole existence and will try hard to continue the traditions we have established. When asked to do a job, one should volunteer! Step up and take your turn! If we all work together the Garden Club and what it can teach us will be a success for many years to come.

My time in the Garden Club certainly meant a lot to me. The years that I was Treasurer and President – even though I didn’t know anything – people gave me their trust and we worked together to make each activity a success. I want you to know how much I appreciate the help and caring all the members have shown me over the years as I tried so hard to learn about everything. Many other members in addition to myself contributed to this effort and should be recognized and congratulated for their years of hard work. I loved it - all of it. I have so many wonderful memories. Memories like: working on the Philadelphia Flower Show, setting up and organizing zone meetings, entering my dahlias in our own small flower shows, etc. I will miss everyone especially my dearest, oldest friends who joined when I joined. We had a wonderful time and we worked hard. I hope everyone can follow our example. I wish you all the best of luck and continued success! Thank you for the last 42 years. They were wonderful! Love, Puss”