Member Activities
Veterans Day Celebration
Arbor Day
May Day
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Veterans Day celebration takes place at the Colonnade Flagpole. A floral wreath is placed by the Naples Island Garden Club to honor our local Veterans. Local Boy Scout troop #105 will assist with the celebration. All Garden Club members are asked to reach out to their neighbors and invite Veterans on their block to attend this event.
Bunco
Members meet for Bunco once a month at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of the month — a good excuse to engage in a few hours of game playing, eating, sipping, and mindless frivolity! No experience is required. One just shows up at the appointed time at the home of the appointed hostess, to roll the dice, change partners and find new treasures as you go. A $5 entry fee goes into a pot, and at the end of the evening, the player with the most Bunco’s wins!
Travel
Destination known! This is not an “every year” happening, but when the opportunity presents itself to visit a flower-themed location or event, members are asked for a show of interest. If enough are interested, the chairman will then go ahead with making plans through a travel agency. In the past, great times have been had with ten to twelve members and friends visiting New Orleans; the Chelsea Flower Show, London; and Butchart Gardens, Victoria. A future trip is planned to attend the Philadelphia Flower Show. What a wonderful way to create close friendships and to experience the magic of masses of flowers in beautiful gardens.
Arbor Day is held in March or April. The ceremony memorializes our members and members of their families who have passed away during the year. NIGC works with the Principal and Student Council of Naples Elementary School to plan the ceremony and select an area at the school for planting of memorial trees, shrubs, and flowers.
Bridge Club
Camaraderie in thinking is a great way to consider the game of bridge! All Club members are welcome to join the yearly Marathon whether they are beginning or advanced players. Partners team up and meet at their discretion throughout the year from September through May 1st, for play against the other teams. Scores are kept and winners are awarded at the year-end Annual Bridge Luncheon held at the Long Beach Yacht Club. At this event players compete individually and winners are announced. Garden Club Bridge is competitive, enjoyable, a great brain exercise and very social.
Christmas Luncheon
The Christmas Luncheon held mid-December, is an opportunity for members to donate gifts to the "Spark of Love Toy Drive". Volunteers from the Long Beach Fire Department bring a fire truck to collect the mountain of toys and gift cards brought to the luncheon held at the beautifully decorated Virginia Country Club. The toys are then stored and delivered to deserving families in our community on Christmas day. The Coordinator of the program speaks to us about the difference this kind of generosity makes when the firemen arrive with a big red firetruck and hand out the gifts to families in need. A most joyous celebration during the holiday season!
May Day brings the spirit of our club to the Naples community at large. Homeowners and businesses are recognized by our Club for participation in the display of floral arrangements on their front doors or front gates on this day.
Book Clubs
Seven times a year on the third Thursday of the month the book clubs meet providing some opportunities: to read something one would not usually choose, to make new friendships and to raise funds for the Club! There are two Book Clubs to accommodate an afternoon and evening gathering. At the end of the Club year (in May or June), members submit the title of a book they would like to read during the next year. These are then voted on to be read beginning September. The person who selected each title then hosts the meeting to discuss the book for an hour or so, followed by light refreshments, fellowship and learning experiences. (The evening meetings often include dinner or heavier refreshments.)
Flower Show
One of our most enjoyed social events is the Annual Flower Show where members have the opportunity to display their creations in many categories to be judged by professional judges. Flower arrangements, dish gardens, place settings and specimen pieces are entered for pleasure and awards. It is held annually at the Long Beach Yacht Club in spring. A silent auction with items donated by local merchants is organized as a fundraiser in conjunction with the Flower Show. It is always a delightful, happy occasion with a different theme every year.