简体中文
EnglishWhat Is the Relationship Between the Garden Club of Honolulu and the Garden Club of America?
Updated
The Garden Club of Honolulu (TGCH) is a member club of the Garden Club of America (GCA). That single fact shapes how the Honolulu club is organized, where it sits geographically within the national body, and what its members get from joining. TGCH belongs to GCA's Zone XII, which covers Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington. Membership in TGCH therefore includes membership in the Garden Club of America.
The Core Relationship: Member Club Within a National Body
TGCH describes itself as "a member club of the Garden Club of America." This is an affiliation rather than a merger: the Honolulu club keeps its own identity, mission, and membership process, while operating as one of the local clubs that make up the national organization.
The two share a closely aligned purpose. TGCH's stated purpose is to stimulate knowledge and love of gardening, horticulture, floral design, and nature photography, and to promote restoration, improvement, and protection of the environment through programs and action in conservation, civic improvement, and education. GCA's purpose is described in nearly the same terms—stimulating knowledge and love of gardening, sharing the advantages of association through educational meetings, conferences, correspondence, and publications, and restoring, improving, and protecting environmental quality through conservation and civic improvement programs.
In short, the local club's aims are a specific expression of the national body's broader aims.
Where TGCH Sits: Zone XII
GCA organizes its member clubs into geographic zones. TGCH is located in Zone XII, which includes:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- Washington
This matters practically: zone structure is how a Hawaii club connects with peer clubs across the western United States rather than only within the islands.
What the Affiliation Means for Members
Because TGCH membership includes GCA membership, joining the Honolulu club connects a member to the national organization as well. According to TGCH, members are expected to attend meetings and participate in club activities—so the affiliation is active, not honorary.
| Aspect | TGCH (local club) | GCA (national body) |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Member club based in Honolulu | National organization of member clubs |
| Geographic grouping | Zone XII | Zones covering member clubs |
| Purpose | Gardening, horticulture, floral design, nature photography; conservation, civic improvement, education | Same core aims, shared through meetings, conferences, correspondence, publications |
| Membership link | Invitation via three current active TGCH members' sponsorship | Included with TGCH membership |
How to Join, and How the Two Memberships Connect
TGCH's membership process is by invitation and requires three current, active TGCH members' sponsorship. A candidate must show interest, involvement, and commitment to the club's mission and purpose. Once a member of TGCH, that person is also a member of the Garden Club of America.
If your interest is specifically in the national relationship, the key points to remember are: TGCH is a GCA member club, it sits in Zone XII, and TGCH membership carries GCA membership with it.