PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
“Honoring Veterans and Gold Star Families”
Linda McCafferty, WGCF President.
I am so honored to have been elected 2023‑2025 WGCF President and am enjoying my term. In 1991 I was asked to join Sun Prairie Garden Club before my husband Chuck and I even moved to Sun Prairie; six months later I was nominated to run as Treasurer. As a consideration for accepting that nomination, I requested that another member oppose me; Joe Powelka, currently WGCF First Vice President, kindly agreed. Little did I realize that during the month between nominations and elections, Joe actually campaigned for me and, surprise, I was elected. And so began my gardening journey.
Because of my involvement as assistant to my husband who was serving as Fundraising Vice President of Badger Honor Flight, and the American Legion Auxiliary and VFW Auxiliary providing assistance to Veterans and active military personnel and their families, 2009 WGCF President Judy Pitcher asked if I would be interested in chairing the Committee now known as Blue Star and Gold Star Families Memorial Markers. I agreed, provided my husband could act jointly with me. He is now acting alone in that capacity and at the expiration of my term, he and I will again act jointly. That is the reason I have chosen as my President’s Project the installation of Blue Star and Gold Star Families Memorial Markers at the South Entrance of the Rock County Welcome Center 22 located on I‑39 Northbound/I‑90 Westbound entering Wisconsin from Illinois.
While I believe the majority of WGCF members focus on floral gardening, I prefer vegetables. Fortunately, I lost my job while our granddaughters were young and they spent three or four days each week at “Grandma Camp.” At lunch one afternoon, I asked “The Girls” if they knew where vegetables came from and they responded, “The store.” “Well, they do,” I said, “but first they have to be grown somewhere and then sent to the store.” Thus began our experience with vegetable gardening. Each year the three of us would discuss what to plant; The Girls helped plant, weed and the most fun of all, harvest. As they became older, we talked about attributes of different varieties and what was best for us to plant in our vegetable garden. After they had been away for a bit, The Girls were always excited to check out the garden to see how much a plant had grown or what was ready to pick and eat fresh from the vine. Due to discussions during garden club meetings on local, District and State levels and the wealth of resources available to me on NGC and WGCF websites, I was able to share my gardening passion with The Girls. They are now both in college; however, when they have the opportunity to visit in the summer, the vegetable garden is one of their favorite spots to check out to see what is growing.
Anyone who has an interest in gardening should join a local club. Membership will not only provide a social outlet, which is important in and of itself, but will include involvement with various community projects, and avidly provide education, resources and opportunities to promote and share the love of gardening, floral design and civic and environmental responsibilities.
Linda McCafferty
President
Wisconsin Garden Club Federation
Because of my involvement as assistant to my husband who was serving as Fundraising Vice President of Badger Honor Flight, and the American Legion Auxiliary and VFW Auxiliary providing assistance to Veterans and active military personnel and their families, 2009 WGCF President Judy Pitcher asked if I would be interested in chairing the Committee now known as Blue Star and Gold Star Families Memorial Markers. I agreed, provided my husband could act jointly with me. He is now acting alone in that capacity and at the expiration of my term, he and I will again act jointly. That is the reason I have chosen as my President’s Project the installation of Blue Star and Gold Star Families Memorial Markers at the South Entrance of the Rock County Welcome Center 22 located on I‑39 Northbound/I‑90 Westbound entering Wisconsin from Illinois.
While I believe the majority of WGCF members focus on floral gardening, I prefer vegetables. Fortunately, I lost my job while our granddaughters were young and they spent three or four days each week at “Grandma Camp.” At lunch one afternoon, I asked “The Girls” if they knew where vegetables came from and they responded, “The store.” “Well, they do,” I said, “but first they have to be grown somewhere and then sent to the store.” Thus began our experience with vegetable gardening. Each year the three of us would discuss what to plant; The Girls helped plant, weed and the most fun of all, harvest. As they became older, we talked about attributes of different varieties and what was best for us to plant in our vegetable garden. After they had been away for a bit, The Girls were always excited to check out the garden to see how much a plant had grown or what was ready to pick and eat fresh from the vine. Due to discussions during garden club meetings on local, District and State levels and the wealth of resources available to me on NGC and WGCF websites, I was able to share my gardening passion with The Girls. They are now both in college; however, when they have the opportunity to visit in the summer, the vegetable garden is one of their favorite spots to check out to see what is growing.
Anyone who has an interest in gardening should join a local club. Membership will not only provide a social outlet, which is important in and of itself, but will include involvement with various community projects, and avidly provide education, resources and opportunities to promote and share the love of gardening, floral design and civic and environmental responsibilities.
Linda McCafferty
President
Wisconsin Garden Club Federation
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The Wisconsin Garden Club Federation founded in 1928 is a charter member of the National Garden Club organization. As an organization, we are proud of our heritage of developing relationships with fellow gardeners, learning, and gardening for good in our communities.
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