INDIAN VILLAGE MEN’S GARDEN CLUB (IVMGC)

Formed in 1982 by Villagers Joe Stanton, Alan Paul and Lee Morrell, as a garden club for men and women, the Club has about 70 members. Most of its members live in Indian Village and West Village, but the group has members elsewhere in the Detroit Metropolitan areas as well. It started out as a garden and social club, and it still is, with members forming long-term friendships with one another. The group also actively works to improve the cityscape of the Indian Village and West Village neighborhoods, to make this a more pleasant place for all.

The Men’s Garden Club (IVMGC) has four major groups of activities:

1. Give back to the community through community investment, betterment activities and support of community groups. In recent years, the Men’s Garden Club has lead in taking care of the Centennial Garden (Charlevoix at Seminole), building and maintaining the Indian Village Greenspace (Iroquois north of Jefferson), maintaining the Village gas street lamps, and a Street Tree Project to replant and maintain the canopy of trees over Indian and West Village. These activities are funded through our proceeds from the Tour and from contributions from the Women’s Garden Club.
2. Provide practical, state-of-the-art gardening information through our regular meetings and special events. Regular monthly membership meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of most months (Tuesdays during Lent) and feature a potluck dinner and guest speakers. Past speakers included notable garden experts such as Janet Macunovich (noted author and Master Gardener), Mil Anthony (“ A Southern Gardener” author and landscape designer), Joe Sulak (Chief Forester, Greening of Detroit), Barbra Hayes (Detroit Garden Center and Master Gardener) and many others. Even the most black thumbs among us can learn much from these informative and open discussions.
3. Membership appreciation activities include the Holiday Party – held each year at a different and unique historic Detroit venue; Harry Swanson’s Cornbeef Dinner Extravaganza in March, and the Progressive Gardens Dinner Walk – an exclusive chance to mingle and dine in five of Indian and West Village's best home gardens - in late June. We also publish a monthly Newsletter.
4. Group members actively volunteer to host the annual Historic Indian Village Home and Garden Tour. This second oldest historic home tour in Michigan regularly brings over 3000 people to Indian Village for a look at one of the most beautiful; spots in the metropolitan area. The Mens' Garden Club shares the Tour Chairpersons spot on a rotating basis every three years, and is chairman for the 2010 tour. The 2010 Tour date is Saturday, June 5, 2010.

The Board members are elected at an Annual Meeting – held at a member's home and garden - in August. The Board meets monthly to translate the ideas and suggestions of the members into action.

For more information, contact one of the Board Members, or just come to a meeting – all are welcome! To join send $18 to Tom Ball, 1100 Parker #1,  Detroit, MI 48214.

2009/10 BOARD MEMBERS

Mark Reynolds, President
Shannon Bass, 1st V-P
Fred Krage, 2nd V-P
Tom Ball, Treasurer
Donna Figurski, Record. Sec’y
Kay Hansen, Corresp. Sec’y