1998 Spring Annual Meeting: Hillside

January 3, 2022

The 78th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by Hillside Garden Club on May 19-21, 1998, at the Holiday Inn in Lynchburg, co-chaired by the “Dynamic Jane Team” of Jane Bowden and Jane Davis.

The Board of Directors met on Tuesday, May 19 at the home of Peggy Andrews. First on the agenda was the submission of The Honorable W. Tayloe Murphy, Jr. for Honorary Membership in the Garden Club of Virginia. “Tayloe has served the Garden Club of Virginia in every way possible through his accomplishments as a member of the House of Delegates since 1982. He has spoken at our Conservation Forums, sponsored billboard legislation before the House of Delegates, has worked for environmental legislation to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and has strived to improve the quality of life and the natural beauty of our Commonwealth.”

Betty described a two-year, balancing act of carrying out presidential duties while simultaneously leading members and staff through a two-year, construction project at the Kent-Valentine House, all the while keeping an eye on funding. “I‘m forever indebted to you for all this board has done. You made a difference for the Garden Club of Virginia.”

Helen Murphy announced that William D. Rieley of Charlottesville had accepted an offer to replace Rudy Favretti as GCV Landscape Architect. Mr. Rieley has worked with Mr. Favretti on several projects, has taught in the graduate landscape architecture department at the University of Virginia since 1980, and has done projects at many historic sites in Virginia, including Monticello, Poplar Forest, Montpelier and Upper Brandon.

Additional business included a report from Sally Kitchin, President of the Virginia Beach Junior Club, detailing their programs, community commitment and projects. And Barbara Catlett reported that GCV attorney Joseph C. Carter was reviewing a contract for Kent-Valentine House rentals that included fees and policies. Discussion would be continued at the 1998 summer board meeting.

President Betty Schutte called the 78th Annual Meeting to order and introduced Hillside President Becky O’Brian, who welcomed attendees to the City of Seven Hills. Club historian Melanie  Christian.

Betty remarked that she had been given a hard hat by Pat Leggett when she assumed the presidency of GCV, and the hat had been on her head, so to speak, every day of her term. When Betty took office, the tower was “the thing” and no plans were made beyond that until the Campaign for the Kent-Valentine House had successfully reached $2 million – $1.5 million for construction and $500,000 for the endowment.

“It was a happy day when they passed the $2 million goal, and though some of the pledges were made to be paid over several years, all is well. Our bills are paid. We are heading on a direct route to the million-dollar endowment which we must have to assure maintenance and growth of principal.”

The ad hoc Development Committee, chaired by Lucy Ellett of Mill Mountain Garden Club, had been created to provide “giving” opportunites and to consider ways to encourage future gifts, bequests and planned giving options. The Board of Directors approved it as a Standing Committee. The committee recognized that while “all efforts would be low-key, it will be important to keep the message of donations, bequests and planned giving in front of the membership.”

Horticulture Chairman Fleet Davis announced the following 1998 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients: Kathi Cassell Marshall, Albemarle; Virginia E. Queitzsch, Dolley Madison; Barbara O’Brien Holland, Martinsville; Susan K. Critz, Martinsville; Laura Lee Johnson, Hillside; Eeda Sissener Dennis, Leesburg; Grace Tarver Leach, Nansemond River; Mary Lloyd Lay, Northern Neck; Geraldine Osborn Molloy, Princess Anne; Rosemary Hynes Wallinger, Spotswood; and Jewel Lynn Delaune, Williamsburg.

Jane Bowden introduced Jane White of Hillside Garden Club who presented an interesting talk about the Old City Cemetery.

Lunch was hosted in member homes, followed by a tour of Old City Cemetery. Cocktails were served at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest (tour included) where “Thomas Jefferson” arrived to visit with attendees. The awards banquet followed at the Boonsboro Country Club.

Annual Meeting and Board of Governors Chairman Sally Guy Brown asked, “Why are we here? Why did Jane Bowden and her committee work so hard to create this wonderful three days for us? Why didn’t we just stay home and have Betty Schutte email us? We have faxes, email, the telephone, voice mail, regular mail, and Lord knows what new inventions will come out tomorrow. With all these great new modes of communication, it may seem that old-fashioned getting together is not necessary. Not so!!! The ‘power of presence’ is still the most effective form of communication. It is the difference between seeing a slide of a work of art and encountering it in person. The ‘power of presence’ is the thing that gets the adrenalin flowing, that makes laughter contagious, that sparks ideas and makes them fly. It is where friendships are formed and old acquaintances are renewed. That is the reason we have these Annual and Board of Governors meetings — so we can get together, have fun, be educated and go home better people. You just can’t do all that on the Internet!”

The Nominating Committee presented the following slate of officers:

The Honorable W. Tayloe Murphy, new Honorary Member of the Garden Club of Virginia, was introduced and welcomed.

Helen Murphy presented a report by Pat Leggett, Chairman of the Landscape Architect Search Committee. The search spread over eight eastern states and the choice was unanimous. “We landed a winner who scored the highest marks in every category – history, horticulture, research, writing, planning, designing and architecture. He was an apprentice to Mr. Favretti during our initial work at Prestwould and Smithfield. His firm, opened in 1980, uses the latest computer technology and undertook projects at Montpelier, Upper Brandon Plantation and the State Arboretum. He has done historical analysis at Poplar Forest, Shadwell and Monticello, and his firm is currently designing and implementing the Thomas Jefferson Parkway, a linear park along the entrance corridor to Monticello.” Mr. William D. Rieley was then introduced.

Mr. Rieley expressed his gratitude and stated he has a deep conviction that the work of the Garden Club of Virginia and the contributions to Virginia’s landscape and indeed, the American landscape, can’t be overestimated.

Mary Ann Johnson delivered a tribute to Hillside Garden Club. Tributes to Betty followed.

Tributes to Betty

Certainly, Pat Leggett was right in 1996 when she said “There is no question that Betty will bring superb expertise to the job. She will turn her great capabilities into great accomplishments.”

Bessie Carter repeated Helen Murphy in saying of Betty Schutte that “no one will ever know how much of herself she put into the Kent-Valentine House.” She continued, “Betty Schutte had a demanding watch because in addition to her regular duties, there was the major work at the Kent-Valentine House. She was always there with her good judgement, quite effectiveness, tact and constant good humor. In leadership skills, Betty has a wonderful capacity for friendship.”

Bessie adjourned the 78th Annual Meeting and introduced speaker Dr. Lamar Cecil who presented “A Time for Tulips.”