2006 Fall BOG: Mill Mountain

May 2, 2022

Photos

The eighty-seventh Board of Governors meeting was hosted by the Mill Mountain Garden Club at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center on October 17-19, 2006. The meeting was chaired by Jane Coulter and Patti Palmer.

The Board of Directors met for lunch and board meeting on October 17 at the beautiful home of Kae and Chan Bolling.

Sally Guy opened the board meeting by announcing GCV receipt of a Zone VII Award from the Garden Club of America for the preservation and restoration efforts over three quarters of a century.

On behalf of the Strategic Planning Committee, First Vice President Cabell West presented two options for a GCV mission statement. The board then adopted, “The Garden Club of Virginia exists to celebrate the beauty of the land, to conserve the gifts of nature and to challenge future generations to build on this heritage.” Kim Nash reported that committees had been asked to identify two-year and five-year strategic planning goals prior to the May 2007 Annual Meeting.

Financial matters covered a broad range of topics. Board members expressed concern about the lack of revenue for the SEED Fund, compared to the number of requests for use of those funds. Muff Nolde, Meg Clement and Suzanne Munson were tasked with establishing policies and procedures for funds raised by individual club projects during HGW. And funds remaining upon completion of the Balustrade project totaled $13,714.40, to be available for general use in the Endowment. And finally, on behalf of the Finance Committee, Anne recommended a fiscal year change from April – March to July – June, to be voted on at the January 2007 Board of Directors meeting. Grace Rice moved on behalf of the Symposium Committee that the board approve a $20,000 short-term loan to assist with start-up expenses. Motion carried.

Catherine Whitham reported on continued Development Committee efforts to increase annual giving, including the creation of a gift acceptance procedure. Meg Clement reported that 2006 Registers were distributed to all GCV members. Immediate Past President Deedy Bumgardner reported on updates to GCV employee guidelines and presented the 2006 edition of The Garden Club of Virginia Members’ Handbook.

Attendees gathered Tuesday evening for cocktails at the O. Winston Link Museum, followed by Dutch treat dinner at Billy’s Ritz, a popular local restaurant in the city’s historic market area.

President Sally Guy Brown called the meeting to order Wednesday morning and asked Mill Mountain Garden Club president Kay Kelly to introduce Roanoke mayor, Nelson Harris. Kay then provided a preview of events and introduced club historians Jane Butler and Jill Pendleton who recited a poem paying tribute to the 79-year-old club.

Sally Guy began her report by summarizing areas earmarked by the 2006 Strategic Plan and was followed by more detailed reports from committees.

Charged with oversight of communication initiatives, First Vice President Cabell West reported plans to launch a new publication, GCV Year in Review, designed to promote GCV activities. Second Vice President Kim Nash, responsible for educational programs, reported plans to develop two-year and five-year goals — those based on strategic plan suggestions and those set by individual committees.

Common Wealth Award Chairman Nancy Lowry called on Huntington Garden Club president Carol Hogg to provide an update on her club’s 2005 Common Wealth Award project at the Virginia Living Museum, “Virginia’s Botanical History, 1607 to Today.” She described the “1607 Garden,” scheduled to open April 2007, with its salt marsh of grasses and seaside perennials, wax myrtle and marsh elder shrubs, and a woodland garden of pines, flowering trees and shrubs. Displays would include plants introduced by Native Americans and colonists, as well as an area dedicated to early naturalists and botanists.

Having been recently consolidated into one position, the Journal Editor and the Chairman of the Editorial Board became a volunteer position with Peggy Federhart assuming the responsibility. She reported on procedural changes, including the use of online file sharing among editors. The June 2006 Journal was the first to be posted on the GCV website to supplement the printed edition.

Jocelyn Connors reported on plans for a study trip to southern Spain in October 2008, to be led by Mary Anne Wilson, Director of the Junior Year in Spain program for Sweet Briar.

Finance Chairman Anne Baldwin announced a name change from the Conservation Awards Fund to the GCV Conservation Fund. She explained that in 1996, when the fund was established, it was designated for purchasing medals. In 1998, 150 de Lacy Gray medals were donated to the GCV, eliminating the need for future funding. The name change was made to create additional funding opportunities for conservation initiatives.

In keeping with strategic plan goals to grow the Endowment and the Common Wealth Award Fund, Investment Chairman Nancy Bowles announced that beginning 2006, $100,000 from HGW proceeds would be added to the GCV Endowment each year for five years, and 5% of HGW proceeds would be added to the Common Wealth Award Fund each year for ten years.

Attendees traveled to Hollins University where lunch was served prior to the presentation of the Beale Memorial Garden. The afternoon offered a visit to Mill Mountain Garden Club’s award-winning Wildflower Garden.

The awards banquet followed that evening at the Hotel Roanoke. The 2006 Common Wealth Award was presented to the Nansemond River Garden Club for “The Cedar Hill Project: The Heritage Garden.” Second place was awarded to Albemarle Garden Club for “Morea: A Living Classroom.”

Thursday morning business began with Development Committee liaison Catherine Whitham reporting on plans to raise awareness of GCV through education; to serve as GCV ambassadors; and to encourage and facilitate growth of the GCV Endowment and the Common Wealth Award Fund.

Online Chairman and Webmaster Nina Mustard followed with reviews of training workshops and Journal articles; website progress; and increasing responsibilities with the President’s Message, Journal mailings and the GCV Register. In response to a question of two-year goals, an Online Committee member suggested the committee offer only 20-minute goals, given the rapidly changing technology. Nina stated, “In reality, we can offer to support, educate, facilitate, communicate and commiserate. Mostly, we can offer to shine the spotlight on all the wonderful activities of the Garden Club of Virginia.”

Parliamentarian and Editor of the Register Meg Clement noted the 2006-2007 GCV Register had been expanded to include formal names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and social names of every member of the GCV. It also included GCV Bylaws, standing rules, flower show awards, restoration projects and web pages that identify local, state and federal government representatives. She pointed out that every member of the GCV should have received a copy.

Public Relations Chairman Linda Consolvo apologized and sought forgiveness for her incessant “wants” — I want a nice smile, I want your newspaper articles, I want your club photos and more. Symposium Chairman Mina Wood described plans in progress for the first GCV Symposium, and the Speakers Series Committee announced that Ken Druse is the 2007 featured speaker.

The meeting closed with a choice of three seminars — Development conducted by Ann Sanders and Catherine Whitham, Restoration conducted by Mary Lou Seilheimer and Online conducted by Nina Mustard.