1996 Fall BOG: Rappahannock Valley

December 21, 2021

The 77th Board of Governors was hosted by the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club on October 8-10, 1996, at the Sheraton in Fredericksburg, chaired by Sarah Bass. It was noted this was the fifth time the BOG had been held in Fredericksburg, the first two in 1925 and 1928, before Rappahannock Valley Garden Club was a GCV member.

“We swam into Fredericksburg with the storm Josephine, in time for a delicious luncheon at Bev King’s charming and interesting house. Later, we bused to Belmont where Josephine had blown down the cocktail tent. We were fortunate to enjoy the house and then Gari Melchers’ studio for both cocktails and an autumnal, Colonial feast, including venison bagged by a sharp-shooting chef member of the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club.” Helen continued, “Wednesday evening, we swam through the rain again to Mary Washington College, first to the Ridderhof Martin Gallery for cocktails, then to a banquet at the Great Hall.” She concluded, “Josephine did not dampen our spirits or enthusiasm. Our umbrellas are well broken in, a most welcomed gift in the attractive, stenciled bags.”

~Helen Hamilton

Board business focused on Historic Garden Week: how to reduce club expenses; a request from one member club to sell raffle tickets during its tour, and from another to sell native plants — both requests denied; scheduling issues that included competition on same day tours, uneven distribution throughout the week, lack of weekend tours, the idea of a more regional approach; and finally, restoration property reimbursement policy. Following up on the discussion of junior club membership at the previous board meeting, the Virginia Beach Garden Club was empowered to take a more active role in mentoring the Virginia Beach Junior Club.

Wednesday morning business began with Rappahannock Valley Garden Club historian, Martha Frances Embrey describing a flower show to benefit underprivileged children in 1924 that basically sparked ten women and two men to establish the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club. The first president, Helen Stewart Devore, served eight years, and the first treasurer, W. W. Braxton served more than ten years. Feeling unprepared when asked to join the Garden Club of Virginia in 1926, the club declined the invitation, but accepted with pleasure when asked for the second time in 1933. Landscaping and beautification projects in the park, hospital, high school, old library and the Washington Avenue Mall changed the landscape of Fredericksburg over the years, and through club efforts, Fredericksburg became a bird sanctuary in 1965. The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club received the Massie Medal in 1963 for a project at the historic Rising Sun Tavern.

Attendees learned that Betty Schutte and Barbara Catlett participated in meetings with the Prince’s Foundation (formerly The Prince of Wales Institute of Architecture), whose delegation arrived in Richmond for a 10-day summer visit to study possibilities of improving the district around the KVH.

Gabriella Garden Club President Carol Stoakley provided an update of their 1994 Common Wealth Award for the Danville Regional Medical Center Roof Garden. “In spite of a winter of record snow, sleet, ice and cold weather, and a hot summer, the Roof Garden at the Danville Regional Medical Center is flourishing.” Hillside Garden Club member Jane White reported that their 1995 Common Wealth Award project for the Gatehouse of Old City Cemetery had enticed community businesses and citizens to become involved, expanding the project well beyond the original scope.

Mary Ann Johnson reported on a September 1996 publicity workshop with guest speaker Ed Slipek, writer for Style Magazine and the Virginian Pilot. During the workshop, attendees were asked to write “Sweet Briar” on a piece of paper. Attendees learned why editing is so important when quite a few variations of spelling were revealed.

Gail Braxton introduced Rudy Favretti, GCV Landscape Architect and honorary GCV member, “professor emeritus of landscape architecture at the University of Connecticut, a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, a specialist in landscape restoration and preservation who has served as a consultant on over five hundred historic sites, and the gentleman who wrote the text for Gardens and Landscapes of Virginia.” Mr. Favretti delivered a slide presentation lecture featuring the gardens and landscaping of Belmont, Kenmore, the Mary Washington House and the Mary Washington Monument.

The meeting was adjourned and attendees enjoyed a bus tour of downtown Fredericksburg, followed by lunch in members’ homes. The Mary Washington House and Kenmore offered dessert and garden tours.

Attendees gathered Wednesday evening at Mary Washington College, first at the Ridderhof Martin Gallery for cocktails, then at the Great Hall for the awards banquet. “What magnificent flowers, all locally grown, exquisitely arranged for our enjoyment while feasting and chatting with our host, hostess and other friends at each table.”

The Blue Ridge Garden Club received the 1996 Common Wealth Award for “Roots and Shoots: An Intergenerational School Garden.” The $5,000 award will allow Blue Ridge to expand the garden at Waddell Elementary School in Lexington and to publish a garden curriculum.

Reports continued Thursday morning at 8:30 am. Parliamentarian and Editor of the Register Nancy Talley reported that a vote the previous May to reduce the number of years served by Directors at Large from three years to two years was contrary to charter, which at the time stated three-year terms. Because of “improper execution of the motion,” the motion was rescinded. Nancy also reported that copies of the GCV Register are to be rationed, in an attempt to eliminate waste and reduce costs. Each club received ten copies and one for the club president.

Lula Hopkins held up a floppy disk of FTGA II and added “if you have wondered who did wear the miniskirts way back then or what was Mrs. Benjamin W. Mears, Jr.’s (Katty) 1980 hairdo, this disk is the way to find out.” She reported plans to have FTGA II ready for the 1997 Annual Meeting.

Member Handbooks were sold at the 1996 BOG for $2 each.

Slides Committee Chairman Karen Jamison revealed the greatest challenge she faced initially as chairman was to find closet space large enough in her home to accommodate the several hundred (maybe closer to thousands) of GCV slides, accumulated over the past 75 years. She listed 11 programs available, each 30-45 minutes with scripts, including Wildflowers, Mechanics for Flower Arrangers, Blue Ribbon Winners at GCV Flower Shows, Period Arrangements and Historic Garden Week.

Member club presidents were called upon to continue their reports. Following a tribute to the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club, the meeting was adjourned at noon.