Governor Stein Recognizes The New Bern Garden Club's 100th Anniversary

In Recognition Of

The New Bern Garden Club’s 100th Anniversary

2026

By The Governor Of The State Of North Carolina

A Proclamation

Whereas, for the past 100 years, members of New Bern Garden Club have been dedicated to the club’s motto: “To conserve, to revere, and to beautify our community”; and

Whereas, in 1926, New Bern Garden Club was organized as a department of New Bern Women’s Club; and in 1931, members worked in conjunction with the New Bern Board of Aldermen to clean up the City Dump, which ultimately was transformed into the public park at Union Point; and 

Whereas, in 1932, the Garden Club reorganized, affiliated with the Garden Club of NC, and became a member of the National Garden Clubs, Inc. to expand outreach and activities for the advancement of gardening and civic beautification; and

Whereas, in 1948, New Bern Garden Club became owner and steward of the historic Judge William Gaston Law Office; and ongoing fundraising for restoration by garden club members made it possible for the circa 1800s structure to be placed on the New Bern Historic Society’s Preservation Spring Tour, staffed with garden club members volunteering as docents; and

Whereas, New Bern Garden Club members annually contribute time, talent, and funds to advance the importance and enjoyment of gardening through numerous projects, including coordinating activities with Master Gardeners and the NC Cooperative Extension office, planting trees on Arbor Day, making flower arrangements annually for Meals on Wheels and Hospice, providing an annual spring bulb and winter greenery sale, publishing a monthly gardening newsletter since 2024, and maintaining a sustainable butterfly garden designed and planted by members; and

Whereas, New Bern Garden Club promotes environmental education annually by publishing a Children's Sustainability Activity Calendar Coloring Book for elementary school students and, since 1924, awarding annual college scholarships for horticulture-related studies, funded by the New Bern Garden Club’s Margaret Rawls Stancil Trust since 1988;

Now, Therefore, I, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September 15, 2026, as “In Recognition Of The New Bern Garden Club’s 100th Anniversary” in North Carolina and commend its observance.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this eighth day of September in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-sixth and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifty-first.