There are many opportunities to volunteer your services. You are sure to find something that interests you. There are seven elected offices that need to be filled. There are eleven standing board committees. Please refer to the Membership Guide for options that may appeal to you.

Current Garden Club of Oak Park & River Forest Volunteer Needs

Social Media – Facebook Page Administrator, Twitter Administrator, Instagram Administrator

Feel free to leave feedback or suggestions at gcnews@gcoprf.org

If you use Facebook, PLEASE volunteer to help administer the Facebook page. Please email Dori at gcnews@gcoprf.org..
If you’d like to submit original content for the website, such as a review of a garden book or movie, please send to Dori at gcnews@gcoprf.org.

Hospitality help for our in-person meetings at Cheney Mansion is always welcome. Please sign up at the club meetings on the second Wednesday of months September through April. Help is always needed for set-up (11:30AM) and clean-up (2:00PM). If you want to plan and organize a theme for a specific meeting including refreshments and table centerpieces, please contact Kathy English.

Civic Beautification garden help is needed for our projects. Check the Civic Beautification page for our current projects.

Garden Therapy always needs volunteers for flower arranging workshops for residents and neighbors of the Oak Park Arms. The sessions are held every other month, September thru May, on the third Wednesday of the month from 2-3 p.m.

Garden Walk volunteers are always needed to help with ticket sales and greeting customers at each garden, posting signs and crowd control.

Cheney Mansion Garden/Beyond Hunger Volunteer Opportunities
Cheney Mansion Garden Volunteer

ELECTED CLUB POSITIONS
The elected positions are voted on during the April club meeting. Each year new volunteers are needed to fill these elected positions. The term is specified in the club by-laws.

President
The duties of President are numerous and focus on keeping the Garden Club running smoothly by coordinating the activities of the various chairpersons and committees who do the actual work. The President chairs the monthly Board meetings and also MC the monthly general members meetings.

1st V.P. Ways and Means
Ways and Means organizes a door-prize raffle at some club meetings if the presenter of a program has made something special. The annual Holiday Boutique in December is also organized.  Raffle gifts are obtained and presented for the annual Spring Luncheon at Oak Park Country Club. We had many donations and excellent co-operation from members to make wonderful homemade gifts for the December boutique including embroidered aprons, homemade liquors, terrific porch pots, Yule Logs and many other items.

2nd V.P. Programs
The aim of the Garden Club of Oak Park & River Forest programs is to reflect the continuing mission of our organization: actively supporting and encouraging horticulture and garden projects in both community and private spaces, including home gardening, public gardens, nature conservancy, horticultural education and therapy, and floral designs.

3rd V.P. Membership
Residency in Oak Park and River Forest is not a requirement for membership although the majority of our members do live in Oak Park and River Forest, they also reside in: Forest Park, Berwyn, Elmhurst, Chicago, Melrose Park, Riverside, Western Springs, Elmwood Park, Kildeer, Glenview, Indiana, and Wisconsin! An annual directory of club members, bylaws, programs and activities is organized. This Directory is distributed at the September Welcome Back meeting and covers the program year from September through June

4th V.P. Publicity
The responsibilities of the Publicity Chairperson are to attend Board meetings each month, coordinate with program chairpersons to provide publicity for the monthly meetings and special events such as the December Holiday Boutique. On line, brief notices describing the program for that month, including topic, speaker, date, time and place are sent to calendar@wjinc.com, oakpark-leaves.com, oakpark.com, Garden Club of Oak Park & River Forest Facebook Page, Oak Park Area Garden club Facebook Group, and the GCOPRF.ORG website. Three times a year an article can be submitted to the Garden Clubs of Illinois’ Garden Glories.

Treasurer
The Treasurer’s responsibilities are recording and depositing all monies received by the garden club including online payments from Paypal, and Square; reconciling the accounts; paying bills from documented receipts and invoices for garden club expenses; recording all transactions; providing cash banks for sales at club meetings; preparing documents required by the club’s accountant; preparing an annual budget; and preparing financial reports for the board of director’s monthly meetings. The treasurer is also responsible for the Garden Walk’s finances.

Secretary takes minutes at board meetings.

Non-elected Committee Chairmanships
If you are interested in getting involved with any of the committees, contact the chair on the contacts.

Awards
Civic Beautification
Garden Clubs of Illinois Representative
Garden Therapy
Garden Walk
Historian
Hospitality
Luncheon
Field Trips
Social Media/Website
Study Groups
Scholarships

updated 4/16/21