2003 Summer BOD: Staunton

April 11, 2022

The GCV Board of Directors met on July 19, 2003, at the Frederick House Inn. Morning business focused primarily on finances. Mary Hart reported that she had recently asked the committees to trim 10% from their expenses, to include a reduction in audit and insurance costs. Among efforts to reduce insurance costs, Finance Chairman Dianne Spence reported that GCV had raised the deductible, reduced insured contents, canceled fine arts and automobile policies, and arranged for Historic Garden Week to pay its share of costs. To reduce audit costs, the GCV accountant suggested GCV hire a bookkeeper to handle all accounts, a suggestion dismissed at the time as too expensive and unrealistic due to committee chairmen living in different parts of the state. Use of financial software was discussed.

The board approved GCV dues paying memberships in Nature Camp Foundation, Scenic Virginia, Virginia Conservation Network and the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Floribunda Society.

GCV database discussions continued, revealing a need for professional, technical assistance. Unfortunately, estimates were coming in much higher than anticipated.

Mary Hart announced receipt of a letter from the National Society of Madison Family Descendants in which they describe an award, the Madison Cup, to be presented to the Garden Club of Virginia in appreciation for the long years of work in their gardens at Montpelier.

Linda Consolvo reported on transitioning from slides to photographs, adding that members seemed “not quite ready” to give up slides but not having requested them.  Slide evaluations by those who had requested them were not favorable.

After months in planning, a garden study trip to California scheduled for fall 2003 was canceled when registration failed to reach the required minimum.

Following administrative business, the meeting was adjourned. Board members and spouses enjoyed an evening on the Middle River.