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75th Anniversary Project
2026 Awards

Leadership 2026 - 2027

  • President: Linda Miller – 504-390-9003
  • Vice President: Pierce Young – 504-377-7411
  • Recording Secretary: Elizabeth Bush – 214-232-9053
  • Corresponding Secretary: Boo Kallenborn – 504-460-6433
  • Treasurer: Megan Nelson – 504-957-4497

Committees

  • Art/Botanical Arts: Katie Rafferty, Boo Charbonnet, Elizabeth Crawford, Stephanie Feoli, Sally Foreman, Sarah Freeman, Deirdre Hooper, Elise Merlin, Linda Miller, Barbara Rosenberg, Virginia Rowan, Pierce Young
  • Awards/Medals: Helen Butcher, Jill Nalty,  Linda Miller, Pierce Young 
  • Bulletin: Tory Nieset, Linda Miller
  • Civic Improvement & GCA Grants: Barbara Bush, Liza Feoli, Linda Miller, Virginia Rowan, Allie Yielding, Pierce Young
  • Club Administrator for GCA Website: Virginia Rowan
  • Communications: Sally Forman, Liza Feoli, Dee McCloskey, Linda Miller, Ashley Nelson, Tory Nieset, Caroline Reily, Virginia Rowan, Katherine Saulsbury, Pierce Young
  • Compost Heap: Liza Feoli, Sally Foreman, Lisa Ludwig, Linda Miller
  • Conservation: Adair Parr, Virginia Barba, Margaret Cross, Kelly Ellis, Sara Gaines, Helen Jenkins, Elizabeth Kelleher, Dee McCloskey, Linda Miller, Paige Morrison, Ashby Navarro, Virginia Rowan, Amy White, Kim White, Laura Williams, Pierce Young
  • Field Trips: Boo Charbonnet, Amy White, Kelly Ellis, Linda Miller, Virginia Rowan, Cindy Weinmann, Pierce Young
  • Finance: Megan Nelson, Laura Shields
  • Floral Design: Molly Baumer, Celie Howard, Cameron Adams, Lynn Box, Pam Bryan, Helen Butcher, Boo Charbonnet, Jenny Charpentier, Sally Forman, Courtney Freeman, Deirdre Hooper, Logan Howcott, Helen Jenkins, Catherine Kuuskra, Linda Miller, Fionuala Monsted, Courtney Montgomery, Megan Nelson, Stephanie November, Barkley Rafferty, Barbara Rosenberg, Virginia Rowan, Amy White, Pierce Young
  • Flower Flash: Paige Morrison, Virginia Barba, Molly Baumer, Linda Bjork, Lynn Box, Pam Bryan, Bev Church, Carmen Duncan, Liza Feoli, Kristi French, Susan Gomilla, Deirdre Hooper, Logan Howcott, Dee McCloskey, Elise Merlin, Linda Miller, Adair Parr, Barbara Rosenberg, Allie Yeilding
  • Flower Show: Kristi French, Lynn Box, Linda Miller, Paige Morrison, Barkley Rafferty, Virginia Rowan, Amy White
  • Garden History & Design: Elizabeth Fox, Sara Gaines, Lisa Ludwig, Linda Miller, Ann Rafferty, Allie Yeilding, Pierce Young
    Forman, Deirdre Hooper, Ashby Navarro, Barkley Rafferty, Elizabeth Roberts, Virginia Rowan, Amy White
  • Heart of the Park/Fundraising: Ann Cook, Courtney Montgomery, Cameron Adams, Linda Bjork, Pam Bryan, Cathy Cary, Boo Charbonnet, Bev Church, Lauren Doussan, Kelly Ellis, Stephanie Feoli, Sally Forman, Kristi French, Sara Gaines, Susan Gomilla, Celie Howard, Logan Howcott, Helen Jenkins, Catherine Kuuskra, Peggy Laborde, Linda Miller, Ashby Navarro, Megan Nelson, Stephanie November, Barkley Rafferty, Caroline Reily, Allie Yeilding, Pierce Young
  • Horticulture: Dee McCloskey, Molly Baumer, Boo Charbonnet, Lauren Doussan, Catherine Freeman, Kristi French, Carro Gardner, Dierdre Hooper, Nell Howcott, Elizabeth Kelleher, Linda Miller, Katie Rafferty, Virginia Rowan, Pierce Young
  • Judging: Dee McCloskey, Molly Baumer, Carro Gardner, Linda Miller, Virginia Rowan, Amy White, Pierce Young
  • Membership: Ann Cook, Courtney Montgomery, Molly Baumer, Anne Lynne Charbonnet, Sara Gaines, Susan Gomilla, Marguerite Kock, Linda Miller, Virginia Rowan
  • Museum Flowers: Cathy Cary, Mary Wyatt Milano, Cameron Adams, Anne Banos, Lynn Box, Helen Butcher, Sara Gaines, Ashley Geary, Celie Howard, Lisa Ludwig, Cammie Mayer, Linda Miller, Caroline Milling, Virginia Rowan, Pierce Young
  • Nominating: Virginia Rowan, Ashley Bright, Catherine Freeman, Dee McCloskey, Linda Miller
  • NOTG Website: Katherine Saulsbury, Sally Forman, Linda Miller, Virginia Rowan, Pierce Young
  • Photography: Lynn Box, Anne Lynne Charbonnet, Jenny Charpentier, Ann Cook, Sally Forman, Catherine Freeman, Sara Gaines, Linda Miller, Caroline Milling, Courtney Montgomery, Adair Parr, Virginia Rowan
  • Program: Pierce Young
  • Project Processing: Carro Gardner, Anne Banos, Molly Baumer, Anne Lynne Charbonnet, Carmen Duncan, Elizabeth Fox, Sara Gaines, Logan Howcott, Boo Kallenborn, Cammie Mayer, Linda Miller, Marianne Mumford, Stephanie November, Adair Parr, Katie Rafferty, Virginia Rowan, Pierce Young
  • PropaGators: Lauren Doussan, Kim White, Cameron Adams, Catherine Freeman, Celie Howard, Logan Howcott, Nell Howcott, Helen Jenkins, Catherine Kuuskraa, Dee McCloskey, Mary Wyatt Milano, Linda Miller, Ashby Navarro, Tory Nieset, Virginia Rowan, Laura Shields
  • Scholarship: Margaret Cross, Anne Lynne Charbonnet, Sally Forman, Judy Freeman, Linda Miller, Virginia Rowan, Pierce Young
  • Social Media: Caroline Reily, Sally Forman, Linda Miller
  • Tulane Garden Library: Fionuala Monsted, Linda Miller, Pierce Young
  • Visiting Gardens: Pam Bryan, Caroline Milling, Lynn Box, Beth Favrot, Sara Gaines, Boo Kallenborn, Dee McCloskey, Linda Miller, Virginia Rowan, Pierce Young
  • Visiting Gardens Trips: Kelly Ellis, Lisa Ludwig, Barbara Rosenberg, Lynn Box, Beth Favrot, Catherine Freeman, Boo Kallenborn, Linda Miller, Jill Nalty, Barbara Rosenberg, Virginia Rowan, Pierce Young
  • Ad Hoc Committee/ 75th Anniversary: Linda Miller, Ashley Bright, Barbara Bush, Elizabeth Crawford, Carmen Duncan, Lauren Doussan, Beth Favrot, Judy Freeman, Sara Gaines, Dee McCloskey, Betsy Nalty, Ashley Nelson, Stephanie November, Katie Rafferty, Barkley Rafferty, Caroline Reily, Virginia Rowan, Ann Lee Sarpy, Cindy Weinmann, Pierce Young
  • Ad Hoc Committee: Longue Vue Discovery Garden: Marianne Mumford, Virginia Barba, Kelly Ellis, Linda Miller, Allie Yeilding, Pierce Young

Constitution and By-Laws of The New Orleans Town Gardeners, Inc.

As Revised 2019

The name of this organization as provided in the Articles of Incorporation shall be New Orleans Town Gardeners, hereinafter referred to as The New Orleans Town Gardeners, Inc.

New Orleans Town Gardeners, Inc. is a member of the Garden Club of America.  The Garden Club of America, (hereinafter the GCA) consists of garden clubs located inside the United States. The garden clubs are Members of GCA. Individual members of the garden clubs are not members of GCA but have all the benefits of association with GCA. Club members receive the Bulletin, are entitled to use of Headquarters and the Library, and to enjoy Visiting Gardens privileges. They are eligible for GCA Awards and have access to educational programs and workshops, online and print publications, research, speakers, flower shows, visiting garden trips and the GCA Members Area of the website; as well as funding opportunities related to civic projects and scholarships.

The purpose of The Garden Club of America is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to share the advantages of association by means of educational meetings, conferences, correspondence and publications, and to restore, improve, and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement.

SECTION 1. CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall consist of ACTIVE, AFFILIATE, EMERITUS, HONORARY, LIFE and GUEST ASSOCIATE club members. According to the By-Laws of The Garden Club of America, all classifications of club membership, with the exception of HONORARY, must pay GCA dues. Application for any change of membership status may only be made in writing or by email to the Treasurer of New Orleans Town Gardeners, Inc. at the time dues notices are sent by her to the membership. Upon payment of dues, a member shall designate her classification of membership for the following year which must be approved by the Executive Committee

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
Active club membership shall be limited to (65).
1. Qualifications. Active members shall have an active interest in gardening, conservation and horticulture and be willing to share in the work of the club.
2. Requirements. Active members must attend at least four membership meetings per club year, pay dues, fulfill ways and means obligations, serve as hostesses, and participate in club events.
3. Privileges. Active members have the privileges of voting, proposing and endorsing candidates for membership, holding office, serving on committees and attending Annual and Zone meetings and special conferences.

AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP
1. Qualifications. Affiliate membership shall be available to those members who have been Active members in good standing for (10) years. (The ten year requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Executive Committee.)
2. Requirements. Affiliate members must pay dues, fulfill ways and means obligations, and serve as a meeting hostess.
3. Privileges. Affiliate members may attend meetings, vote, serve on club committees, serve as committee chairmen, and endorse, but not propose, candidates for membership. They may not serve on the Executive Committee. They may represent the club as a delegate to any Annual or Zone Meeting. Affiliate members, upon request, may be reinstated to active membership as vacancies occur and take precedence over new candidates. They are not counted in the membership limit.

EMERITUS MEMBERSHIP
1. Qualifications. At the discretion of the Executive Committee, Emeritus membership shall be available to those members who have been in good standing for (20) or more years.
2. Requirements. Emeritus members must pay dues and fulfill ways and means obligations.
3. Privileges. Emeritus members may attend meetings, serve on club committees, and serve as hostesses. They may not serve on the Executive Committee, or vote. They may not propose or endorse candidates for membership nor may they represent the club as a delegate to any Annual or Zone meeting. Emeritus members, upon request, may be reinstated to active membership as vacancies occur and take precedence over new candidates. They are not counted in the membership limit.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP
1. Qualifications. Life membership shall be available to those members who have reached the age of eighty-five (85) and have been in good standing for twenty (20) or more years.
2. Requirements. Life members are responsible for GCA dues ($60.00). Life members no longer have to fulfill ways and means obligations.
3. Privileges. Life members may attend meetings and serve on club committees. They may not hold office or vote. They may not propose or endorse candidates for membership nor may they represent the club as a delegate to any Annual or Zone meeting. They are not counted in the membership limit.

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
1. Qualifications. Persons of distinction who have rendered outstanding service to the club may be elected to Honorary membership by 3/4 of those members present and eligible to vote.
2. Requirements. Honorary members do not pay dues.
3. Privileges. Honorary members are invited by the club to attend functions at which no business is to be transacted. They are not counted in the membership limit. They may receive the Bulletin, and are entitled to use Headquarters and the Library, and to enjoy Visiting Gardens privileges.

GUEST ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
1. Qualifications. Guest Associate membership is available to a member in good standing of another club in the Garden Club of America. She must retain her dues paying membership in that club.
2. Requirements. Guest Associates may be admitted to membership in The New Orleans Town Gardeners originating with a letter of recommendation from their primary club and according to stated procedures of proposal and election in our By-Laws. (Article III Section 2.)
3. Privileges. Guest Associates may attend monthly meetings, serve as hostesses and participate in ways and means and other projects of the New Orleans Town Gardeners. They may not vote or hold office. They may serve on any club committee. They may not propose or endorse candidates for membership or represent The New Orleans Town Gardeners as a delegate to any Annual or Zone meeting. Guest Associates are not counted in the membership limit but have all the privileges of membership in GCA.

 

SECTION 2. ADMISSIONS TO MEMBERSHIP

PROCEDURE OF PROPOSAL

  1. Names of candidates for admission to membership and their qualifications shall be presented at a general membership meeting (“proposal meeting”) and voted upon at a following general membership meeting (“voting meeting”) as designated by the Executive Committee meeting.
  2. A candidate qualification form shall be used in the proposal of new members and shall be sent to any Active members upon request. In order to propose a candidate for membership, completed and signed qualification forms must be received by the Corresponding Secretary no later than the scheduled deadline for the proposals.
  3. Each candidate must be proposed by one Active member and endorsed by one Active or Affiliate member.  An Active member may propose one or endorse one candidate in a given program year. The proposer and endorser shall be responsible for mentoring their candidate during the first year of membership.
  4. New members are not eligible to propose or endorse candidates for membership during the first two years of Active status.

PROCEDURE OF ELECTION

  1. New members shall be elected from among the candidates proposed. Election of new members shall take place at the general membership meeting designated as the voting meeting by the Executive Committee.
  2. At the proposal meeting prior to the voting meeting, the maximum number of candidates to be elected shall be determined, upon recommendation of the Executive Committee, by vote of the membership.
  3. A quorum consisting of 50% of the total Active membership shall be determined present before the election is called. Once the voting process has begun, those eligible voting members present are required to remain for all ballots cast.
  4. Corresponding Secretary shall announce the list of candidates and provide eligible voting members with ballots and information sheets. Only Active and Affiliate members shall be eligible to vote and voting shall be by written ballot. No absentee or proxy voting shall be permitted.
  5. The election process shall consist of up to three ballots. The First and Second ballots shall precede the final Election ballot. A tie breaking vote may be used in the case of a tie on any ballot. The First and Second ballots will provide a mechanism whereby the number of candidates proposed, if exceeding the number of membership vacancies, are reduced through the process of elimination.
    1. The First and Second ballots shall be used prior to the Election ballot if there are two or more candidates proposed than there are vacancies, as previously determined by the membership. A member may vote for as many candidates as desired. The candidate(s) receiving the least number of votes on each of the First and Second ballots will be dropped from consideration. No more than two candidates exceeding the number of vacancies will be carried over from the First ballot to the Second ballot.
    2. The First ballot only shall be used prior to the Election ballot if there is only one more candidate proposed than there are membership vacancies. A member may vote for as many candidates as desired. The candidate receiving the least number of votes on the First ballot will be dropped from consideration.
    3. The Election ballot shall be used to determine which candidates will be elected to membership. The Election ballot shall follow the First or Second ballots when more candidates are proposed than there are membership vacancies. The Election ballot shall be the sole ballot if the number of candidates proposed is equal to or less than the number of membership vacancies. A member may vote for as many candidates as desired. In order to be elected, a candidate must receive votes on the Election ballot totaling at least 2/3 of the number of voting members present. If more candidates receive the number of votes required for election than there are vacancies, the vacancies will be filled numerically by those with the highest votes.
  6. Candidates not elected to membership may be proposed again in subsequent years.

SECTION 1. PERSONNEL

The officers shall consist of a President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, all to be elected every two years. The election of the Treasurer shall be held the year following the election of the other officers. They shall assume office immediately following the final meeting of the fiscal year. 

SECTION 2. ELECTION

The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of five (5) past presidents including the immediate past president, who shall be Chairman. At a regular club meeting, a straw ballot shall be taken which the Committee shall use as a guide in the preparation of a single slate. The slate shall be presented and the election of officers held at a following meeting. The Program Chairman shall be authorized to set these dates so as not to conflict with the date of the Zone and Annual Meetings of The Garden Club of America.

SECTION 3. DUTIES

  1. PRESIDENT
    The President shall preside at all meetings of the club and of the Executive Committee, shall make all appointments, and when necessary, shall call special meetings. She shall be the accredited representative of the club at outside meetings unless delegating this power to another member. The President shall be a member ex-officio of all committees, except the Nominating Committee. She shall serve for two years.
  2. VICE PRESIDENT
    The Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President in case of her inability to serve. She shall serve as Program Chairman. The Vice President succeeds to President after two years.
  3. RECORDING SECRETARY
    The Recording Secretary shall keep a list of the names and addresses of all the members of the club. She shall keep the minutes of the proceedings of both the club and the Executive Committee meetings. In the absence of both the President and Vice President, she shall conduct the meeting. She shall be responsible for updating, printing and distributing the yearbook for the membership.
  4. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
    The Corresponding Secretary shall have the charge of all correspondence for the club and for the Executive Committee. She is in charge of conducting the balloting for new members and coordinating notifying them of their election to membership. The Corresponding Secretary shall be responsible for informing members of all meetings and keeping record of member attendance at meetings.
  5. TREASURER
    The Treasurer shall have the charge of the funds of the club, collect all dues, and pay all bills when APPROVED by the President or the Executive Committee. With their assistance, she shall prepare a budget for the year to present to the membership and thereafter make monthly statement of the accounts to the membership and to the Executive Committee. At the end of our fiscal year, which is July 1 to June 30, she will prepare a financial report for the yearbook and send necessary documents to the accountant who assembles the tax return. There shall be two basic accounts: The Administrative Account and The Community Trust Fund Account. Additional accounts may be established for special projects. The Treasurer will work with the treasurers of the club’s Ways and Means projects. She will send changes of names, addresses and phone numbers to the Recording and Corresponding Secretaries. 

The Board shall consist of the elected officers, all committee chairmen, up to three advisors and any representative from our Club serving on a National Committee of GCA. Committee Chairmen and advisors shall be appointed by the President. The Board meets every fall and at other such times as the President finds necessary.

STANDING COMMITTEES

  1. The Executive Committee shall consist of five officers. Between regular meetings of the general membership, management of the affairs of the club is vested in the Executive Committee. A majority shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business. Vacancies occurring in the Executive Committee shall be filled by appointment of the President.
  2. The Nominating Committee shall consist of five past presidents who are appointed by the President. The Chairman shall be the immediate past president. This Committee shall prepare a slate of officers using the straw ballot of the membership as a guide in preparing a single slate. The single slate shall be presented to the membership and the election of officers held at a monthly club meeting.

OTHER COMMITTEES

The President shall have the power to create or eliminate committees. Existing committees include: Archivist, Awards, Bulletin, Communications, Conservation, Flower, Founders’ Fund, Fundraising, Garden History and Design, Horticulture, Membership, Nominating, Parliamentarian, Photography, Project Processing, Scholarship, Visiting Gardens, and The Tulane Garden Library.

  1. The New Orleans Town Gardeners, Inc. has tax exempt status, 501 (c) 3.
  2. All members, except Honorary and Guest Associate members, shall be required to pay annual dues as established by the membership:
    1. Active: $200.00
    2. Affiliate: $200.00
    3. Emeritus: $200.00
    4. Life: $60.00

    These dues include annual per capita dues to The Garden Club of America. Annual dues are payable April 1 and are delinquent May 1. Dues are non-refundable.

  3. Any new member, upon acceptance of membership, shall be required to pay a prorated portion of the annual dues.
  4. There may be additional financial obligations when there are assessments and Ways and Means projects that are voted in by The New Orleans Town Gardeners, Inc.
  5. The Treasurer shall give notice of dues to members one month in advance.
  1. Regular meetings of the club shall be held on the first Tuesday of every month in October through May. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to call special meetings or to change the dates of regular meetings.
  2. “Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised” shall be the Parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by the by-laws.
  3. A quorum consisting of 35% of the Active membership shall be present for the transaction of all business except the election of new members.
  4. In case of an emergency, an electronic vote is allowable at the discretion of the Executive Committee except on the election of new members.

The Constitution and By-Laws may be altered at any regular meeting of the club provided thirty (30) days’ notice has been given.