2011 Fall BOG: Augusta

October 21, 2022

Photos

The 2011 fall Board of Governors meeting was hosted by the Augusta Garden Club on October 10-12, chaired by Deedy Bumgardner and Grace Rice.

Prior to the Board of Directors meeting in Staunton, the Executive Committee met on September 7 at the Kent-Valentine House.

The committee reviewed materials prepared for the upcoming Conservation Forum and made changes to align them with the graphic standards adopted in 2010. The following motion carried: The Executive Committee reserves the right to review any communication produced in the name of the Garden Club of Virginia.

Three topics for the roundtable discussions at the Board of Governors meeting were chosen: Membership; Fun-raising Activities; and Keeping HGW Expenses Down.

President Kim Nash stated that, with the addition Communications Coordinator Ann Heller, there is no work for the Media Relations committee chairman to do. She recommended not filling that position in the future. The committee concurred.

A six-year rotation of assignments that fairly distributes the opting-out option for participation in flower shows was prepared by Dr. Julie Clark, Professor and Chairman, Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Hollins University. Kim will share the document with the Flower Shows Committee.

The final topic of discussion ruled that blogs on the GCV website should include a disclaimer and should not include a reference to GCV in their titles.

The Board of Directors met October 10, 2011, at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Research Center.

On the recommendation of the Executive Committee, the board approved a motion to eliminate the Media Relations Committee.

Following reports from Treasurer Anne Baldwin and Finance Chairman Julie MacKinlay, the board discussed a motion by Julie, on behalf of the Finance Committee, that $3,500 be given to the clubs hosting the Annual and Board of Governors meetings. The initial recommendation came from the Development Committee and was a stated goal of the 2006 Strategic Plan. The board then approved the motion with the caveat that host clubs are to acknowledge the GCV’s donation for a specific aspect of their meeting.

Admissions Committee Chairman Mary Bruce Glaize reported concerns from the Brunswick Garden Club about their declining membership. She reported no further communication from clubs in Blacksburg and Hume which had expressed prior interest in GCV. She has received an email from a garden club in Mineral with questions about membership. The Admissions Committee is planning new member orientations to be held in each of the Historic Garden Week districts and suggests that they be held at a GCV Restoration Property or at the KVH when possible. Mary Bruce provided a draft agenda.

On behalf of the Conservation and Beautification Committee, Karen Jones moved that a draft letter be sent to the Virginia Legislature from the GCV Board of Directors, asking the legislature to give ample time for public input and study after the release of the study and analysis of uranium mining in Virginia and that they withhold a decision on the issue until 2013, so that the public can weigh in on those results. The motion passed unanimously.

Flower Shows Chairman Lynn Gas read a proposal that the flower show opt-out policy be reviewed. A thorough discussion followed. The matter was tabled until after the results of participation in the 2012 Daffodil Show could be reviewed. The board will revisit the topic in May.

Committee reports followed.

Prior to adjournment, two motions were presented. Director at Large Dianne Spence moved to increase the registration fee from $125 to $130 for participants attending the Annual and Board of Governors meetings. Motion carried. And Recording Secretary Jeanette Cadwallender moved to approve a request from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for email addresses of GCV club presidents to ask for participation in the VMFA Fine Arts & Flowers exhibition next October. Motion carried.

The Dutch treat dinner was hosted on Tuesday night by Sarah James at her lovely home in Staunton’s historic district.

Optional activities on Wednesday morning included a tour of the American Frontier Culture Museum and a Historic Staunton Foundation walking tour to include Stuart House, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Blackfriars Playhouse at the American Shakespeare Center. Lunch was offered to attendees at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library.

President Kim Nash called the meeting to order at the Blackfriars Playhouse on Wednesday afternoon. She recognized BOG co-chairmen Deedy Bumgardner and Grace Rice and called club president Carrie Darracott forward, who announced a gift to the GCV Annual Fund from the Augusta Garden Club.

Kim looked back on her first year as GCV President, “We have covered a lot of ground, but each step has been deliberate, and the Garden Club is situated on solid footing. Our finances are handled in accordance with the best practices for a nonprofit organization. We are doing our best to keep all the lines of communication open in our storied GCV network, and we are well positioned to preserve the legacy of the Garden Club of Virginia. In addition, as you will hear, our committees are focused on their responsibilities and are working with renewed vigor to enrich all aspects of the GCV, both within the club and throughout the Commonwealth. I thank you all for the patience and support that we have needed to reach this point.”

Reports from GCV Executive Director Lynn McCashin, Treasurer Anne Baldwin, Development Committee Chairman Barbara Luton, Director of Development Karmen Gustin, Finance Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay and Investment Committee Chairman Sugie Battin followed.

Kim Nash announced that, thanks to the generous response from members to the Annual Fund appeal, GCV can check off another of the goals set in the 2006 Strategic Plan. In keeping with the stated goal to create funding from the GCV for Annual and Board of Governors meetings, the Augusta Garden Club would receive the first check in the amount of $3,500 for meeting expenses. She added it was the wish of the board that these funds would be used to offset a specific feature or event which will enhance the meeting for those attending.

Eleven clubs were then recognized for significant contributions to the Annual Fund.

Kent-Valentine House Committee Chairman Bebe Luck reported that, in addition to club meetings and committee meetings, “we experienced an earthquake and a hurricane.” During the hurricane, a wedding was forced to be moved from its original location to the KVH. The earthquake did not appear to create any major damage to the house; however, there was evidence of minimal cracks in some walls and ceilings. She described progress on chimney and 1st Street wall repairs and landscaping maintenance and reported that no tenant has been secured for the Carriage House.

Business reports continued.

Historian Heidi James reported that she had completed a report on the history of the GCV Conservation Committee from 1920 to the present. She then encouraged club presidents to update their club boxes with yearbooks and histories.

Media Relations Chairman Clarkie Eppes reported that in sharing public relations responsibilities with Photographer Casey Rice, the lion’s share of PR was rooted in photography. Casey and Journal Editor Jeanette McKittrick emphasized the importance of sending articles and photos for publication.

Following reports of Directors at Large, the meeting adjourned for the day.

Attendees were invited for cocktails at the R. R. Smith Center for History & Art. The awards banquet was held at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel ballroom. The 2011 Common Wealth Award was presented at the banquet to Rivanna Garden Club for their project, Hatton Ferry.

President Kim Nash reconvened the meeting at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel on Thursday morning and Directors at Large continued their reports.

Common Wealth Award Committee Chairman Betsy Worthington introduced Betsy Murphy of Harborfront Garden Club who shared a PowerPoint presentation of the butterfly and sensory garden at St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children, recipient of the 2010 Common Wealth Award.

Reports from Historic Garden Week, Restoration and Restoration Fellowships followed. GCV Landscape Architect Will Rieley provided updates on current work of the Restoration Committee that included Historic Henry County Courthouse, Poplar Forest, Hampden-Sydney College and the Green Spring Gardens.

Members then recessed to participate in roundtable discussions. Read summary of discussions.

Maria Tufts, Chairman of the Annual and Board of Governors meetings, thanked the Augusta club for a wonderful meeting. She commented that the updated handbook is now online and then introduced Ann Milliman, president of the Williamsburg Garden Club, who invited the GCV to the Annual Meeting, May 15-17, 2012. Pat House, of the Nansemond River Garden Club, issued an invitation to the next Board of Governors meeting, October 9-11, 2012.
Kim added her words of appreciation and thanks for the work by the Augusta Garden Club and adjourned the meeting.