Photo Credit: Michelle Parkos
The 2026 Nominating Committee members are Brian McGinnis (committee chair), Victoria Stock, and Tom Keller.
Have you thought about taking a more active role in the gardens? As we prepare to elect the 2027 Board at the Winter Meeting, the Nominating Committee would like to hear from gardeners interested in helping lead the Fenway Garden Society.
There are several ways to contribute, from managing finances and keeping gardeners informed to coordinating work across the park. If you’re curious about serving but aren’t sure what a role involves, start with a conversation. Contact us at nominate@fenwayvictorygardens.org to talk about the responsibilities and ask questions before deciding whether to run.
Elected Officer Positions
We welcome interest in all five elected officer positions:
President: Chairs membership and Board meetings, works with committees, and represents FGS in relationships with the City and other organizations.
Senior Vice President of Administration: Keeps meeting records, coordinates the Society’s calendar and administrative filings, and serves as a liaison on park security matters.
Vice President of Communication and Development: Keeps gardeners informed through newsletters and other communications, coordinates events, and leads fundraising efforts.
Treasurer: Oversees the Society’s finances, prepares budgets and financial reports, and handles tax filings.
Vice President of the Park: Coordinates garden operations, plot assignments, and the work of Section Coordinators and Area Directors.
These are brief introductions to the roles; to learn more, please refer to the FGS Constitution & Bylaws. The Nominating Committee and the people currently holding board positions can help you understand the responsibilities and time involved. An expression of interest is a chance to learn more before committing to stand for election.
Area Directors and Section Coordinators
If you’ve served as an Area Director before, or are thinking about volunteering for the first time, we’d like to hear from you. This year, we’re planning recruitment in two stages.
At the Winter Meeting, we’re focusing on Area Director candidates who are also willing to serve as Section Coordinators. Each coordinator helps organize the work of one of the park’s four sections. Getting those people in place first would give interested Area Directors someone to talk with over the winter about the work: what needs attention in their section, how much time they can offer, and which responsibilities they’d like to take on.
We’re planning broader Area Director recruitment for spring. You don’t need to wait until then to express interest, and expressing interest doesn’t commit you to serving as a Section Coordinator.
Area Directors help gardeners find resources, answer questions, and keep an eye on gardens and shared paths. The work can vary by section and individual gardener needs: one may need more help welcoming new gardeners, another with communication or following up on garden conditions. Talking through those needs before the election gives prospective Area Directors a clearer idea of what they’re agreeing to do and whom they’ll be working with.
If you would normally put your name forward as an Area Director at the Winter Meeting, we’re asking you to take part in those conversations and plan to stand for election at the Spring Meeting instead, unless you also want to serve as a Section Coordinator. That includes returning Area Directors. We welcome your experience and your interest in continuing.
This is a request for this year, not a new requirement for becoming an Area Director. Nominations from the floor remain open at the Winter Meeting, and this approach does not establish a standing winter-and-spring election schedule.
At the Winter Meeting, members will vote to elect Area Directors. The elected Vice President of the Park will then appoint Section Coordinators from among the Area Directors, subject to Executive Board approval.
Meet the Candidates
The candidates’ forum will give gardeners an opportunity to hear from the people running and ask questions before the election. We’ll announce the candidates for each position and a date for the forum soon.
Interested? Get in Touch
Whether you’re considering an officer position, a Section Coordinator role, or serving as an Area Director, please contact Brian McGinnis and the Nominating Committee at nominate@fenwayvictorygardens.org. Tell us what interests you and what you’d like to learn more about. If you’re considering an AD or SC role, include your garden section. There are a number of additional volunteer positions available; you don’t need to have a particular assignment in mind to start the conversation.