2010 Spring Annual Meeting: Three Chopt

July 13, 2022

Photos

The 90th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by Three Chopt Garden Club in Richmond on May 11-13, 2010, at the Jefferson Hotel, chaired by Susan Hamill and Lila Putney.

The Board of Directors met Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at the Kent-Valentine House.

The meeting began with a review of minutes from a March 24 called meeting of the Board of Directors that included three topics of importance. First, Restoration Committee members and moderator Lee Switz were invited to the meeting for discussion of committee policies and procedures, and it was determined that an ad hoc committee should be created for continued study. Guests departed and the board meeting continued. Next, at the recommendation of Development Committee Chairman Martha Wertz, the board voted to accept an invitation from the Community Foundation of Richmond to list the GCV publicly on its website as an approved recipient for consideration and support by its contributors. And finally, Ken Flores of The Flores Shop and Missy Ryan, member of the Marketing Committee were invited to the meeting to present the GCV logo and tag line, “Growing Tomorrow, Today.” A lengthy discussion ended without consensus and the board agreed that The Flores Shop should be asked to produce other tag line options for board consideration.

Following review and approval of the March Board of Directors meeting minutes, the May 11 board meeting resumed. President Cabell West described her recents visits with John’s Island Garden Club, Lake Minnetonka Garden Club, the Garden Club of Dallas and the Garden Club of Toronto. She thanked board members for their dedication and professionalism during her term, adding that the Strategic Plan has been a great guide for each of us and, “now we pass the torch to Kim Nash and her new Board of Directors,” to bring closure to this plan.

Corresponding Secretary Meg Clement shared marketing templates prepared by the Flores Shop for GCV printed material. GCV bumper stickers with the new logo were distributed, to be provided to all members at the Annual Meeting.

In financial matters, Treasurer Joanie Robins presented financial reports, explaining new formats for consolidated accounts, and Finance Chairman Marsha Merrell addressed audit concerns and budget approval. The board approved donations to Nature Camp and Scenic Virginia, each for up to $1,000. Development Chairman Martha Wertz was pleased to report the Annual Fund goal had been exceeded then recommended that the GCV Board of Directors review policies concerning annual donations. On behalf of the Annual and Board of Governors Meeting Committee, a motion was presented and approved to accept streamlined schedules for both meeting. Parliamentarian Dianne Spence provided details involved in creating the GCV Executive Committee and it was decided to pass the information along to the incoming Board of Directors for discussion. On behalf of the Personnel Committeea:  motion was presented and approved to go forward with a restructure of the staff organization of the Garden Club of Virginia; a motion was presented and approved to retain an outside consultant to work with the committee to evaluate the current GCV administrative structure and make recommendations as to its restructuring; and funds were approved to a consultant.

Business reports and reports of the Directors at Large followed.

Before adjournment, the Board of Directors thanked Cabell West for her leadership over the past two years and presented her with a crystal bowl etched with the new GCV logo.

Cabell called the 90th Annual Meeting to order and thanked Jeannette McKittrick, president of Three Chopt Garden Club, and Susan Hamill and Lila Putney, chairmen of the Annual Meeting and all the members of Three Chopt Garden Club for hosting the 2010 GCV Annual Meeting. She then thanked Francine Brown, Alice Goodwin and Carol Price for providing a tour of their homes and gardens prior to the meeting. A special thank you was given to Alice Siegel for hosting Annual Meeting attendees for lunch at her beautiful home and garden.

Cabell called on Jane Cowles, president of the Boxwood Garden Club, who offered a tribute to Mary Frances Flowers, former President of the Garden Club of Virginia (1970-1972).

Admissions Committee Chairman Boo Compton introduced GCV Honorary members J. Dean Norton, Peter Hatch and Charles McDaniel.

President Cabell West, looking back to the beginning of her presidency, said that when asked the meaning of her theme, “Tradition in Transition,” she felt it was appropriate for the transition that GCV was going through because of the recently adopted Strategic Plan. She added that her Board of Directors, Chairmen of Standing Committees, and Chairmen of Ad Hoc Committees worked tirelessly to implement the changes suggested by membership in a 2005 survey.

Cabell then recognized the generous financial support of a heretofore anonymous donor, the E.V. Williams Estate, both for our most recent Symposium and for our first symposium in Fredericksburg. Through the efforts of Julie MacKinlay, these funds will help support future symposia.

She closed by thanking the membership for a wonderful two years.

Finance Chairman Marsha Merrell described a transition that began with six accounts and four treasurers – GCV, Kent-Valentine House, Historic Garden Week and Restoration. By the end of May 2010, all GCV accounts will be consolidated, a bookkeeper hired and a policy and procedures manual in place to guide the treasurers who will have oversight. She then presented the 2010-2011 budget and brought attention to a $500 increase in the amount given to clubs hosting flower shows, bringing the amount to $3,500 per show. She also pointed out funding for two restoration fellowships, the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award and the Common Wealth Award.

The recipients of the 2010 Horticulture Awards of Merit were Mabel S. Baldwin, Three Chopt; Donna Eure, Virginia Beach; Mary Lawrence Harrell, Nansemond River; Fran Jones, Willliamsburg; Margaret Milam, Danville; Sue Perrin, Gloucester; Grace Rice, Augusta; Gay Savage, Harborfront; and Carol Yetzer, Spotswood.

Symposium Chairman Julie MacKinlay’s report began, “Cabell likes reports to be short so here goes. It didn’t snow. The Homestead was an outstanding venue and outdid itself in southern hospitality. The speakers and tours were fabulous as were the vendors. Even the husbands, and maybe especially the husbands, had a great time. And finally, Joanie has just sent me a profit and loss statement that says that Symposium 2010 had a net income of $1,794.78. My deepest thanks to my committee and to all who came.”

Public Relations Chairman Lea Shuba reported that her position kept her so busy that “two people will replace me.” In fact, Lea had recommended to the board that photography and PR be split, given the fact that the skills required for each are vastly different.

Journal Chairman Ninie Lang reported that her committee’s name has been changed to Journal Business Manager, providing a more accurate description of duties. She described a Journal sponsored workshop in February featuring speaker, Anna Billingsley, Director of Publications at the University of Mary Washington, who gave concrete advice on writing in an amusing and helpful way.

GCV Online Chairman Nina Mustard reported that club online chairmen would be renamed database managers, providing a more descriptive title. She also reported the elimination of need for the GCV Online Committee, to be replaced by a webmaster and database managers.

Following reports of Directors at Large, Nominations Chairman Deedy Bumgardner presented the slate of officers in nomination for 2010-2012.

Before adjournment for the day, Mina Wood gave a tribute to Symposium Chairman Julie MacKinlay.

Cocktails and the awards banquet were held at the newly renovated Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The beautiful flower arrangements from the banquet and breakfast were donated to the Virginia Home and Westminster-Canterbury.

The first annual Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award in the amount of $5000 was presented to the Boxwood Garden Club, the James River Garden Club, the Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton, and Three Chopt Garden Club for their joint Richmond Tree project. Read more.

Cabell West called the morning session to order and began by thanking Three Chopt Garden Club for the beautiful banquet at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and congratulating award recipients.

Jeannette McKittrick, president of Three Chopt Garden Club, introduced Rachel Flynn, Director of the Department of Planning and Development Review for the City of Richmond, as the keynote speaker of the Annual Meeting. Ms. Flynn gave an informative and interesting slide presentation on city planning and preservation.

Ad Hoc Marketing Committee Chairman Missy Ryan then presented a slide presentation depicting the new logo for the Garden Club of Virginia.

Cabell thanked the members of Three Chopt Garden Club for sharing their treasures with the GCV, adding, “It has been a pleasure to serve the GCV as your President and now I would like to introduce to you the 46th President of the Garden Club of Virginia, Kim Nash of the Warrenton Garden Club. “

Kim has served the GCV in many capacities. She has served on the Restoration Committee, Recording Secretary, First and Second Vice Presidents, and Chairman of the Outlook Committee. She is a former president of the Warrenton Garden Club.

After describing Kim’s accomplishments, community activities and interests, Cabell worried that her Kim’s GCV Presidency would interfere with her passion for foxhunting. At that, she presented Kim with a toy riding horse. She wished Kim and her team the best of luck in bringing the Strategic Plan to a close and presented her with the keys to the Kent-Valentine House, the beautiful brooch which was a gift to the GCV from former Garden Club of Fairfax member Mrs. Clayton Etheridge and the gavel made from the last remaining horse chestnut tree which George Washington planted at Kenmore.

Kim accepted the gifts of office from Cabell and presented the following tribute to her.

Tribute to Cabell

“Four years ago, you, the membership, decreed that it was time for the Garden Club of Virginia to scrape the barnacles off and set sail on a voyage to reach the goals of the Strategic Plan. Sally Guy Brown commanded our launch into uncharted waters and two years ago Cabell West took over the helm. Captain Cabell has navigated the Good Ship Garden Club around a few shoals and through some stormy seas. She has run a tight ship and has kept the engines turning.

Now we have almost reached our goals. Our captain has kept her eye on the horizon and read the stars correctly. She has steered us safely. As we approach the harbor, it is time for me, as the pilot, to come aboard to direct the ship into the anchorage. I salute you, Cabell, for a job well done.”

Kim then adjourned the 90th Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia.