1. The Azalea Belle Committee is composed of members of the Cape Fear Garden Club (CFGC).

2. The purpose of the Azalea Belle Committee is to assist the belle chairmen with the initial contacting of the belles, the dress fittings, the tea, the rehearsal, the ribbon cutting, and any other activities in which assistance is needed.

3. At the January meeting of the Cape Fear Garden Club, the belle applications will be distributed to members of the Cape Fear Garden Club.

4. Cape Fear Garden Club members may sponsor no more than 3 young ladies who meet the criteria* specified on the belle information sheet attached to the application. Sponsors are responsible for informing the belle and her parents of her responsibilities to the Garden Club.

5. Young ladies who wish to be belles and do not have a garden club sponsor may apply through the belle chairmen. Her sponsor will be listed as “committee sponsored.” This policy allows more girls to have this opportunity and it helps us to be more diverse.

6. The belle chairmen 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 applications must be mailed to the address listed on the application and they must be postmarked by the date listed. Applications received after the set postmark date will not be considered.

8. Belle selection will be conducted by the belle committee chairmen using the following guidelines:

a. Daughters and granddaughters of CFGC members will be given first priority regardless of where the girl resides.
b. High school seniors who attend school or reside in New Hanover County . 
c. 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.
d. 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 chairmen 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 wishes to be considered. We do not keep a waiting list.

9. The belle chairmen 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.) When possible, daughters and granddaughters will be considered for these activities. It is not always possible or fair to always place only daughters and granddaughters in all the special activities.

10. The dressmakers for the belles are secured by the chairmen annually. The chairmen and the dressmakers will determine the dates for the fittings.  Committee members will assist with the fittings. If a 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 chairmen.

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 NHC 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 Teenage Princess Pageant in the same year she serves as a belle.