2013 Summer BOD: Lynchburg

November 6, 2022

The “spouses included” summer Board retreat was held in Lynchburg July 12-14, 2013. Friday evening began with Dutch treat cocktails and dinner at Oakwood Country Club.

President Ann Gordon Evans called the Board of Directors Meeting to order Saturday morning and welcomed new Board members. Following her remarks, she read a note from the Garden Club of America thanking the Garden Club of Virginia for the gift to the GCA 100th anniversary project.

Executive Director Lynn McCashin and First Vice President Jeanette Cadwallender met with Keep Virginia Beautiful Director Mike Baum to discuss that organization’s mission. Lynn distributed handouts describing the history and mission of Keep Virginia Beautiful with a description of its planned 60th Anniversary activities. Discussion followed and the board voted enthusiastically to support Keep Virginia Beautiful in its 60th anniversary celebration efforts.

Lynn next provided an update of GCV involvement with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and its advocacy role as the voice for business in Virginia. It is developing a statewide economic development plan and gathering data from all areas of Virginia as it engages partners and stakeholders. The plan will be completed in time to be shared with the governor-elect in November 2013 and is designed to ensure Virginia’s economic prosperity through at least two gubernatorial terms. Lynn and Meg Clement interviewed Barry DuVal during the Long-Range Plan Focus Groups’ activities and were invited to join the Blueprint Virginia effort as a stakeholder and to participate in the Quality of Life Council discussions. Lynn reported that she, along with Ann Gordon Evans, Catherine Whitham, Meg Clement and Jeanette Cadwallender, attended a presentation about Blueprint Virginia in May. She distributed a letter from Mr. Duval describing the Blueprint Virginia initiative and discussion followed. The Board enthusiastically supported the GCV’s participation, asking Lynn to represent GCV at the upcoming discussions and to keep the Board informed of its activities.

Finally, Lynn reported on meeting with Karen Miller and Elizabeth McLaughlin, researcher at Virginia Tourism, about a partnership to conduct a small survey that would lead to a broader discussion of an economic impact study for GCV as a whole. Elizabeth was interested in both aspects of a partnership and offered to look at the HGW guests who bought tickets through Eventbrite online ticketing. She explained that they were very interested in what she called the “cultural tourist” and how they spent their time and money while attending an event in the Commonwealth. Lynn presented highlights of the survey results:

Previous proposals to change the descriptions of the GCV Conservation Fund and to clarify donations to Restoration were validated by committees and were approved by the Board as follows:

The Garden Club of Virginia Conservation Fund: Established in 2007, the Garden Club of Virginia Conservation Fund is designated for long-term growth to fund the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award on an annual basis and other Club conservation projects.

Restoration: Along with the proceeds from Historic Garden Week, donations will be used for the restoration of historic gardens open to the public throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Development Committee Chairman Julie MacKinlay described the newly created Green Arrow Society, a group of loyal members and friends who are supporting the GCV’s future with planned gifts.

Admissions Committee Liaison Betsy Worthington reported that Anne Cross met with Karen Lange to discuss involvement of a club in New Kent County with GCV that might lead to GCV membership. Karen was interested in the idea of having the Ashland Garden Club mentor them. Anne suggested they consider getting some members from eastern Hanover, Mechanicsville, and Old Church. Betsy reported that some of the ladies in the area had supported Ashland Garden Club tours for Historic Garden Week with houses and hostesses, and Anne thinks there is room for growth in these areas.

Lynn McCashin reported on Kent-Valentine House exterior maintenance work: Painting has been completed on the soffits and columns and the bannisters are in the process of being painted; second-floor windows have been repaired; copper downspouts have been replaced with aluminum look-alikes; and columns on the sunporch have been stripped and will be repainted. These renovations depleted the 2012-2013 budget for these purposes and further projects will come under the new budget.

Symposium Committee Liaison Nina Mustard reported that Nancy Campbell and Helen Reveley, Williamsburg’s two First Ladies, have accepted an invitation to serve as Honorary Co-Chairmen for the 2015 Symposium, to be held February 2- 4, 2015, at the Williamsburg Lodge.

Following announcements, the meeting was adjourned.

While board members were meeting at Poplar Forest, spouses spent the morning touring the D-Day Memorial, followed by a Dutch treat lunch at Liberty Station. They then joined Board members mid-afternoon for a guided tour of Poplar Forest. Cocktails followed at the Miller-Claytor House Garden in Riverside Park, recipient of the 2012 GCV Common Wealth Award, and the Dutch treat dinner at Main Street Eatery.