2017 Winter BOD: Richmond

May 17, 2024

The Board of Directors was delighted to participate in a botanical arts hands-on workshop on Wednesday afternoon, prior to Thursday’s Board meeting. Tuckahoe Garden Club member Peyton Wells provided material, instructions and encouragement as attendees created individual “works of art.” Cocktails and a Dutch treat dinner followed.

President Nina Mustard called the meeting to order Thursday morning, January 19. Guests included Centennial Committee Chairman Anne Cross and staff.

The Board was presented with two ideas for events from Strategic Planning:

• A two-day fall symposium September 26-27, 2017, in Richmond. Day one would take place at the Kent-Valentine House and nearby venues to feature vendors, speakers, horticulture, photography and artistic exhibits, boxed lunches for sale, and a 5:00 p.m. “Sip and See.” Flower Arranging School at the University of Richmond’s Jepson Center would follow on September 27.
• An American Daffodil Society “event” March 28, 2018, chaired by Susan Wight and Janet Hickman, to include ADS-judged horticulture, daffodil collections, artistic arrangements, vendors and judging school or class.

Guest Centennial Committee Chairman Anne Cross announced a tentative title, “A Landscape Saved,” for the GCV exhibit at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, which will focus on the impact GCV has had on Virginia’s landscape. The Annual Meeting in 2020 will be hosted by the James River Garden Club at the Jefferson Hotel and ticketed events will be held on May 13, the founding date. A special gala is planned for May 14 at either the Capitol or the Governor’s Mansion.

Historic Garden Week Committee Chairman Meg Clement shared an article for the March/April edition of Victoria magazine, an affiliate of Southern Living. She also announced that VDOT is partnering with HGW for the first time in several years and, in addition to assisting clubs with putting up signs, will produce a map of all homes and gardens on the tour. Virginia Living will then put the maps in poly bags with the April issue of their magazine and mail them to all subscribers. The magazine is soliciting a $15,000 advertiser for the map and will feature it on the back of the map.

GCV Executive Director Lynn McCashin reported on staff priorities and reported a messaging shift from from“ here’s what we’ve done,” to, “here is the work done on behalf of the Commonwealth.” Strategic planning think tanks and Centennial planning have been major areas of focus. Lynn also reported on plans to upgrade technology at the Kent-Valentine House that will include an updated phone system. The KVH Committee is looking into current insurance coverage and is making plans for an appraisal of the furnishings and fine arts. Their plan is to have the house in pristine condition for the Centennial. Lynn closed by stating that the think tanks were very beneficial to her and she has enjoyed the state parks grants process.

Finance Committee Chairman Vicky Alexander distributed copies of a new Investment Policy Statement which has been updated to combine the previous Restoration Committee and Investment Committee policy statements. The former Investment Committee has been merged into a consolidated Finance Committee.

Conservation and Beautification Committee Chairman Wendy Vaughn distributed copies of the committee’s Legislative Positions/Issues of Concern for the 2017 General Assembly session, which the Board approved. She then noted new areas of committee interest — environmental education and funding for state parks.

District 1 Director at Large Janet Rosser read a letter that was sent in November 2016 to Three Rivers Garden Club, praising them for their efforts to date in becoming a GCV member club and offering advice for “next steps.”

The Board approved the following slate of officers for submission to GCV membership at the upcoming 2017 Annual Meeting:

• District 2 Meg Laughon, Hillside Garden Club
• District 5 Tuckie Westfall, The Garden Club of Alexandria
• District 6 Ellen Upton, The Elizabeth River Garden Club

At the request of the Virginia State Parks Grants Committee, the Board approved $129,417 in funding for the following:

• Belle Isle – improving landscaping around historic house
• Fairy Stone – pollinator garden
• Leesylvania – wildflower planting, reducing invasives and eliminating mowing
• Mason Neck – a new entry for the visitor center, hardscaping and landscaping of pollinator garden
• Middle Peninsula – supplies for educational programming
• Natural Bridge – outfitting a classroom for educational programming in visitor center
• Pocohontas – improved visitor center displays
• Sky Meadows – Track Trails and Discovery area
• Smith Mountain Lake – supplies for educational programming in wet lab
• Staunton River – garden improvements around cabins
• Youth Conservation Corps – supplies for projects for the summer program in various parks

It was agreed that a general announcement made to the public would be tied in with Historic Garden Week publicity.