ROCKPORT GARDEN CLUB

The Communications Committee is responsible for formulating and disseminating our Club’s messages to the public. Our goal is to foster a sense of belonging and engagement among members by keeping them informed about the Club’s goals, activities, and accomplishments. We collaborate with all Club Committees to ensure they are well represented, with the overarching aim of promoting our core missions, which are to:

· To increase gardening knowledge among amateurs 

· To support the protection of native plants and wildlife 

· To encourage civic planting and beautification 

· To participate actively in community service 

· To promote cooperation in ecology and conservation 

Our Web Page Team, which includes Lisa Simms, (Marketing Director), leads the Communications Team of the Garden Club with Michela Tobin (Webpage Administrator) and Patty Brogdon (Web Page Support and Video recording).

 The website is continually updated to meet the needs of Committee Chairs, highlighting our philanthropic efforts and current events, all of which showcase the passion and enthusiasm of our members.

This team utilizes various platforms and channels. Our primary platform, GoDaddy, is an effective marketing communications tool for the Club. This all-encompassing marketing management tool manages our website, email campaigns, and online store, allowing us to disseminate consistent, engaging content throughout the year. 

Our club was very active this year, sending out over 300 emails to our members. These emails promote the wide variety of programs we offer throughout the year, highlighting that there is something for everyone in the Rockport Garden Club.

Michela Tobin manages our Club's online store. This platform enables us to sell tickets for workshops and field trips organized by the RGC Program Committees. For the second consecutive year, RGC members can renew their memberships through the store. Our webpage design offers payment methods for dues and donations, as well as options for seamless online transactions.  Membership renewals and dues are now accessible year-round online, making it easy for prospective members to join and pay with convenience. Our annual Rockport Garden Tour online ticket sales go live in March. The 2026 online Tour sales broke all previous records, making the event the largest fundraiser of the year. 

Lisa Simms creates Google Forms for sign-up sheets for club workshops, events, and Garden Tour surveys. This method automatically generates spreadsheets of participants and payers, creating databases for membership and workshop participants, along with records of payment. Additionally, this complimentary service manages our automated birthday greetings, which enhances member engagement.

We are continually expanding our collection of program videos. With the assistance of Thom Padick, a club member with extensive technical skills, we have created a growing library of virtual content from our meetings. Lisa has developed a method for uploading this content to YouTube, enhancing our media presence. Patty Brogdon, our newest member of the Communication Team, will work closely with Lisa and Michela to ensure continuity across all aspects of the webwork.

 The Communications Team can expand public awareness of the Club by highlighting all of the activities that support our many missions. Inspired by our passionate members, we aim to provide engaging opportunities in which members can participate, thereby enriching their experience and strengthening our community.