Community Activists Who WANT to Stay off the Radar

When my father ran for city council, 1970's, he had Coffee's in friends houses.  He lost.  Ran again, won.

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When I go home I still walk the park at the marsh along Clear Creek, where fresh water meets salt water, created/saved/maintained with my dad on the zoning team.  Further along my walk, towards the end, saved as I did during bike rides as a child, Galveston Bay on Upper Bay Road,  Deep salt water, boats, my little island, the land of G*d.  Too bad land views beyond the water were not in the jurisdiction of my dad's zoning team back-in-the-day.  Now, it's all construction.   

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Toward the end of dad's tenure in city government a parcel of land, salt water frontage, was considered for a new nursing home.  Dad went ballistic.  Zoning team worked hard, had many scares, yet prevailed.  Nursing home never built, and the land preserved as a public park.  Before reaching the boardwalk on Upper Bay Road, my feet are on the gravel trails of that park.  Grace given from one generation to another.  Dad & his team with zero concern for recognition.  

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Today, the park 'just is' for most who pass it and use it.  Exactly what the zoning team wished.  

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Across USA are dozens of teams doing the same.  However, they are not city government nor legal zoning groups.  Few are recognized, nor want to be.  Easier to work under the radar, these people are not stupid.  Yet they perform major & minor tasks for communities, for you, for me.  

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These groups made my career.  Time has brought success, in gratitude I continue meeting with these groups at rates reflecting the early/hungry years.  

3 decades of lecturing to Garden Clubs across Georgia, and USA.

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Decades of sitting thru their business meetings.  They never cease to interest me.  The Garden Club is the tapestry of a community, and a last bastion of civility.  

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Information.  Often the type you will not find elsewhere.   Crimes occurring, who has died, who is gravely ill, who has moved away/in, arranging for community decor at the entry ways for the holidays.  

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Nor is it uncommon for Garden Clubs to step into local government issues affecting their 'subdivision'.  Yes, Garden Clubs have stopped major big box construction on small rural roads unable to handle the 'services' required.  Most Garden Clubs have charities they raise money for, with long track records.

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A few Garden Clubs host Flower/Garden Shows bringing major convention traffic to their leading American cities.

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Every layer of activity with a Garden Club increases/touches social connection, property values, safety, civility.

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Unpaid public servants.

Garden Clubs have meetings about plants, but they are not plant meetings.

 Holding office in a Garden Club is easy.  There is a mentored path to president, if you wish.  However, this is the realm of matriarchs.  Beware, mean girls.  If you're serious about going to 'president' position, those matriarchs will turn you into one of them, or you'll drop out because you-want-to.  Once your name is off the Garden Club list, bless-your-heart, those matriarchs will still invite you in.  Knowing the power of a Mean Girl turned Matriarch.
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As decades pass, and women retire from amazing careers, they join Garden Club for the first time.  A broad array of skill sets are within Garden Club.  Almost every time amongst them I'm wishing I knew everything every woman in the room knew.  They humble me.  There is so much to learn.

Most amazing fact about Garden Club?  Virtually ignored by their cities & businesses.

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Unless the mayor has decided to become jealous of their successes.  Yes, I know of that true story too.  A delicious tale, but I have to head off to jobsites.

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Garden & Be Well,    XO Tara

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Pics from a Garden Club talk I gave earlier this month.