VIDALIA — Following an active and productive year of 2007, the Vidalia Garden Club received a multitude of recognitions from its parent organization, the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, at its recent convention in Shreveport.

Attending the Convention from the Vidalia Garden Club were Dolly Smith, President and member receiving the awards, Johnnie Ruth Sturgeon, State Protocol Chairman, and Eleanor Talley, VGC awards chairman and Chairman of Trustees for LGCF Headquarters.

The club won numerous awards in both competitive and non-competitive categories.

The very special Garden Club Achievement Award No. 7 is an award granted to a Garden Club contributing most to the community through cooperation with public officials and service organizations over a period of time. This award may be received only once in the lifetime of a club.

Because Vidalia recently celebrated its 75th birthday, the club chose this opportunity to apply for this one time award. Recognition by both the Louisiana Garden Club Federation and the Deep South Region of National Garden Clubs was given to the Vidalia Garden Club for its efforts in serving the community over the lifetime of the club. Only the first place winner is recognized.

Other competitive awards included third place in the Valerie Barnum Award given for distinguished civic work by making permanent beautification improvements for public benefit.

The Vidalia Garden Club’s work with the landscaping of the newly completed Vidalia High School Library earned the club this recognition.

Second place recognition was given to the club for the Willie A. Hundley Public Relations Award for its accomplishments in garden club related activities with one or more non-member organizations in promoting good public relations through a garden club project.

This recognition was given for the club’s participation in the landscaping and grand opening of the new public library.

Second place recognition was granted in the Jo N. Evans Roadside Improvement Award for the landscaping of the newly constructed Conference and Convention Center on the Vidalia Landing.

The club’s yearbook won first place for a club of 33-40 members. Yearbooks for clubs placing first in State are sent to National for Judging at a National Level.

The Vidalia Junior Gardeners, a group of young ladies from second to sixth grade, won second place for their yearbook.

The Red Fern Gardeners, a group of high school students in special programs, won first place for their year book.

The same group also won first place for High School Horticultural Achievement for their outstanding achievements under the leadership of. Suzanne Wiggins.

The club also received the following non-competitive awards: Garden Club Achievement, a gold seal certificate, the highest recognition for points earned for garden club activities; Horticulture Achievement, a gold seal certificate given for points earned in horticulture activities; Horticulture Conservation Award, a certificate granted for growing of native plants by club members; a certificate for 100 percent membership subscriptions to the State Newsletter; and an Arbor Day Award given for tree planting with Arbor Day ceremonies.

In addition, recognition was given at the State Convention for awards granted at the recent Deep South Region Convention.

Awards granted to Vidalia Garden Club by Deep South were Second Place for its High School Ground Improvement Project and First Place for a club of its size in the Roadside Beautification Award.

This award was granted for the club’s work in landscaping at the Vidalia High School.