About AGS

2024 AGS Board
  • President Reagan Bitler (PA)
  • 1st Vice President Judi Fleming (NC)
  • 2nd Vice President Robin Bryson (CA)
  • 3rd Vice President Celia Shaneyfelt (TN)
  • Recording Secretary Terry Noxel (NY)
  • Membership Secretary Dallas Lunsford (IN)
  • Treasurer Philip Moorhead IN)
  • Director 1 Troy Tatum (GA)
  • Director 2 Barbara McGeachy (NC)
  • Director 3 Madonna Watermon (MO)
  • Director 4 Marla Garber (TX)
  • ** Chapter Presidents are Board Members for the length of their terms

  • COMMITTEES/VOLUNTEERS
  • Website Committee: Terry Noxel, Chair (NY), Reagan Bitler (PA), Lynne East-Itkin (AZ)
  • Nominations & Teller Committees: Dallas Lunsford (Membership Sec) and Terry Noxel (Sec)
  • Judging Committee: Bonnie Gibson (AZ), Phil Moorhead (IN),Sylvia Nelson (CA), Terry Noxel, Chair (NY)
  • Jim Story Committee: Chair: Celia Shaneyfelt (TN), Phil Moorhead (IN), Terry Noxel (NY)
  • Artistry Award Committee: Bonnie Gibson, Chair (AZ), Phyllis Sickles (AZ), Kristy Dial (NV), Judy Richie (TX)
Support AGS and its Award Programs
The American Gourd Society is a vibrant organization with programs and goals that need and deserve funding. Consider making a tax-deducible donation to our 501(c)(3) organization. You can use the PayPal button (below) that corresponds to the donation you choose, or you can make a check payable to American Gourd Society – and indicate which fund to direct your donation to.
Send your check to AGS Treasurer, c/o Philip Moorhead, 715 E 48th Street, Marion, IN 46953-5421
 AGS Supporter
- To support future growth in educational and social media presence make a donation as an AGS Supporter.
Artistry Award Supporter
- To support excellence in gourd artistry make a donation as an Artistry Award Supporter.**​
Jim Story Award Supporter
- To support creativity in growing & manipulating gourds make a donation as a Jim Story Award Supporter.**
**Both of these Awards have dedicated pages on this website that fully describe the specifics of entering their annual contests. See the links on the Home page or by selecting More...at the top of this page
Mission
The American Gourd Society promotes interest in all activities relating to gourds: cultivation and artistic shape manipulation, historical uses, gourd show competition, craftwork, and artistic decoration. The links on this page should help you find information and resources that will help you learn more about gourds.
How We Address Our Mission and Goals
Leadership and Planning Team: Our Leadership and Planning Team is crucial for effective governance and strategic decision-making. This team’s work is focused on developing an overall strategic plan and goal setting for AGS, resource management, leadership development both within the AGS board and its chapters, and stakeholder engagement and communication. Zoom meetings are typically every other month.
 
Educational Team: The Educational Team is essential for fostering learning, improving educational programs, and ensuring the organization's mission is effectively carried out. The Educational Team contributes to the overall success of the American Gourd Society by ensuring the delivery of high-quality educational services, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and building strong connections with the community.  It will focus on curriculum development and enhancement, assessment and evaluation systems, and community engagement and outreach programming. Zoom meetings are typically every other month.
 
Pure Seed Team: The Pure Seed Team will focus on maintaining the purity and quality of seeds, which is crucial for sustainable gourd production. The Pure Seed Team will contribute to the overall health and productivity of gourds by investigating systems for quality assurance and standardization as well as programs to educate the agricultural community through the development outreach programs. Zoom meetings are typically every other month.
 
Partnerships for Impact Team: Our Partnerships for Impact Team is tasked with developing and maintaining strategic collaborations that can enhance the organization's reach, effectiveness, and overall impact. The Partnerships for Impact Team will play a crucial role in building and maintaining meaningful relationships that contribute to the American Gourd Society’s ability to create lasting positive change. ​Zoom meetings are typically every other month.