2004 Fall BOG: Warren County

December 10, 2021

It must have felt like “Summer Camp for Adults” in Front Royal at the 85th Board of Governors Mmeeting. The Garden Club of Warren County hosted the meeting October 12-14, 2004, co-chaired by Melba Trenary and Elsie Upchurch at the 4-H Educational Center in Front Royal.

The Dutch treat dinner on Tuesday night was hosted by Corrine and Ron Llewellyn at their historic home, Rose Hill.

Warren County President Peggy Heyden welcomed attendees Wednesday morning and introduced club historian Mary “Pokey” Gibb. Pokey described the single-mindedness of club members when she told of dedicated member Mrs. Major who, after a minor traffic accident, informed the police she could not attend court on Tuesdays because that was bridge day. When court day arrived, Mrs. Major walked into court and greeted the judge with “Hello, Leroy,” much to the amusement of the court. Roadside litter was an early concern of Warren County club members, deciding “highway litter remains a blight on the landscape.” The club helped establish the town dump but, when following up on this project, club minutes indicated the condition of the dump was “not appealing to the aesthetic taste of club members.”

Peggy Talman delivered a tribute to Annabel Josephs who passed away shortly after assuming the office of GCV First Vice President. Annabel was a longtime member of Three Chopt Garden Club in Richmond where she tended “at least 200 rose bushes.” Peggy closed her tribute with words from Annabel’s daughters, “While we mourn her loss and significant void she has left, we also celebrate the beautiful person that was Annabel Josephs, a neighbor, a grandmother, an aunt, a volunteer, a leader, a gardener, a nurse, a mother, a wife, a friend.”

Parliamentarian Page Sullenberger followed the tribute with a motion to accept the recommended board member changes. By unanimous vote, Sally Guy Brown became First Vice President, Nancy Bowles became Second Vice President, and Fleet Davis became Director at Large.

Following business and announcements, Deedy called the meeting into recess. Attendees were treated to lunch hosted by Warren County Garden Club members in their homes, followed by a guided tour and rare glimpse of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park Conservation and Research Center. (It became known as the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in 2010 as a symbol of its growing independence from the captive animals associated with the traditional images of zoos.)

The awards banquet Wednesday night was held at the Shenandoah Country Club where Melba Trenary presented the 2004 Common Wealth Award of $5,000 to the Boxwood Garden Club and the Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton for the Environmental Education Plan for Bandy Field Nature Park. Second place recipient, the Charlottesville Garden Club, was presented with $2,000 for Gardening in Virginia: A Garden Website.

When the business meeting reconvened Thursday morning, special guest Lance Johnson, speaking on behalf of Nora Belle Comer, Director of the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center, described the variety of camping and environmental education programs and conferences held at this rural retreat.

Flower Shows Chairman Di Cook announced that the Garden Club of the Northern Neck had donated a new Rose Show Perpetual Trophy honoring Charlotte and Jim Hundley.

At the close of business, attendees were offered three seminar topics: Restorations led by Mina Wood; GCV Database led by Page Sullenberger; and Obtaining Houses for HGW led by Peggy Talman.

Remember “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah?” Mary Bruce Glaize delivered a “new camp song” tribute to Warren County and the 85th Board of Governors meeting was adjourned.