History
Summit Garden Club members have been active in their community since it was founded and its funding has supported many worthwhile projects throughout its history. The Greater Newark Conservancy offers environmental, horticultural and nutritional programs to inner-city school children, as well as a robust ex offender program. Since 1990, the Summit Garden Club has helped fund The Greater Newark Conservancy and enhanced its outdoor living laboratory gardens with a sensory garden, taking science programs into the schools and serving as Board members. Summit Garden Club continues to have a strong working relationship with Summit's SAGE Eldercare. Each year our members provide hands-on-programs and make tray arrangements for their Meals on Wheels program. In 2012, Briant Park in Summit was officially placed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places with funding from the Summit Garden Club and the NJ Committee of the Garden Club of America. The project took five years of research and documentation. Also in 2012, the Summit Garden Club successfully nominated the "Summit ACHIEVE Community Garden" to receive grant moneys from the NJ Committee. In conjunction with the Garden Club of America's Centennial in 2013, members presented "Trees for Students", a hands-on experience for Summit public school 5th graders. Students were taught about the cate of Katsura trees that were grown from seed in classrooms. On Arbor Day, trees were planted at each elementary school by the students. In 2014 and 2015, members created a "Winter Wonderland" at Overlook Medical Center's Goryeb's Children's Center, transforming outdoor terraces seen from the children's room into a festive holiday scene with trees, garlands, toys and lights. During our centennial in 2016, we celebrated with various events throughout the year, including afternoon tea in period costumes with quoted from the Club's founders and a Centennial Luncheon honoring the living past presidents. Our involvement with the NJ Committee is strong. In the fall of 2019, we and the GC of the Oranges chaired the NJ Committee"s annual Lecture and Luncheon with resounding financial success. Also in 2019, we handed out 1500 reusable cloth bags at the Summit Farmer's Market to discourage the use of plastic. During the pandemic, SGC held meetings on Zoom. A Plan B was created to share presidential responsibilities. Committee Chairs began presiding over the month's board and membership meetings. At least one meeting annually is still held via Zoom allowing our members to participate virtually. In 2021, SGC was responsible for signage and early morning activities when Zone IV hosted the GCA Annual Meeting. Our club will host the 2025 Zone IV Meeting in May, 2025.
