Azalea Belle Policies and Application Information

2020 Azalea Belle Application Information

Applications for the 2020 Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc. Azalea Belles c will be available to high school juniors and seniors starting November 20th through December 20th.  Young ladies desiring to become a belle should contact a member of CFGC to ask if they will sponsor them to be a belle.  Seniors ONLY: If you do not know a CFGC member, you may go to 1309 Honor Lane at 4pm on December 2nd to be interviewed by the belle committee before you fill out an application on line.  Please refer to the Azalea Belle Policies on this website.  Remember belle applications close December 20th.

AZALEA BELLE POLICIES (adopted 2006; revised 2019)

CFGC Belle Mission Statement: The Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc. Azalea Belles © serve as ambassadors for The Cape Fear Garden Club Inc.,  the North Carolina Azalea Festival and the City of Wilmington. This is a diverse group of young women dressed in colorful gowns that complement the blooms and surrounding landscapes of Wilmington, greet visitors to the Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour©, and participate in other events related to the North Carolina Azalea Festival.

  1. The Azalea Belle Committee is composed of members of The Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc.
  2. The purpose of the Azalea Belle Committee is to assist the belle chair and co-chairs with the initial contacting of the belles, dress fittings, belle tea, belle rehearsal, ribbon cutting, and any other activities in which assistance is needed.
  3. The belle application will be put on line in November of each year and end in December.
  4. Cape Fear Garden Club members may sponsor no more than 3 young ladies who meet the criteria* specified on the belle information sheet as part of the application process. Sponsors are responsible for informing the belle and her parents of her responsibilities to the Garden Club.
  5. Senior girls who wish to be belles and do not have a garden club sponsor may apply through the belle chair and her co-chairs. Her sponsor will be listed as “committee sponsored.”  This policy allows more girls to have the opportunity and it helps us to be more diverse.  ALL JUNIOR APPLICANTS MUST have a garden club sponsor for their application to be accepted – NO EXCEPTIONS (any junior who wishes to apply but cannot find a garden club sponsor may reapply through the belle committee or through a garden club sponsor her senior year).
  6. The belle chair and co- chairs will determine the number of belles needed for each garden tour based on the sizes of the gardens. The number may vary from year to year.  In other words, there is no set number.
  7. Belle selection will be conducted by the Belle committee chairs using the following guidelines:
    • Daughters and granddaughters of CFGC members will be given first priority regardless of where the girl resides. High school seniors who attend school or reside in New Hanover County. High school juniors who attend school or reside in New Hanover County. If there are more junior applications than slots available after placing the above, a random lottery will be conducted from the junior applicants by the Belle Chairmen. (We are no longer accepting any sophomore applications due to the numbers of juniors and seniors applying each year.)
    • Young ladies of appropriate age from surrounding counties may apply, but their applications will not be given priority over any of the above.
  8. The belle chair and her co-chairs will mail acceptance letters to the young ladies who are selected.  Letters of regret will be mailed to those not selected.  If a young lady is not selected, she will have to go through the application process again the following year if she is eligible and wishes to be considered.  We do not keep a waiting list.
  9. The belle chair and co-chairs will select the belles who will participate in the special activities. (Examples: trip to Raleigh, photo shoots for publicity, parade floats, the queen’s arrival, etc.)
  10. The dressmakers for the belles are secured by the chair annually.  The chair and the dressmakers will determine the dates for the fittings.  Committee members will assist with the fittings.  If the belle has her own gown or would like to have her own gown made by someone other than the designated dressmakers, she will have to have the pattern and fabric approved by the belle chair.
  11. These policies will remain in effect until the committee decides changes need to be made.

*Criteria:

  • Applications are accepted from young ladies who are in the 11th or 12th grade and who reside in or attend school in New Hanover County. Applications from surrounding counties are accepted, but are not given priority over New Hanover County applicants. (Daughters and granddaughters of CFGC members may reside out of town.)
  • A young lady may only serve as a Belle one year.
  • A young lady who wishes to be a Belle may not participate in the Azalea Festival Scholarship Pageant in the same year she serves as a Belle.

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Questions regarding this policy should be directed to Karen Smith, Chairperson of the Azalea Belle Committee: karen.smith1309@gmail.com or 910-620-6958.