2009 BOG: Warrenton

July 11, 2022

Photos

The 90th Board of Governors Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Warrenton Garden Club on October 13-15, 2009, at the North Wales Estate, chaired by Betty Lawrence and Sherry Twining.

Kim Nash hosted the Board of Directors for lunch and meeting at her home on Tuesday, October 13. Present Cabell West called the meeting to order and thanked board members for 100 percent participation in giving to the Annual Fund.

She asked committee chairmen and liaisons to begin diligently tracking progress of initiatives — to determine what works and what does not, and to measure the success of GCV marketing initiatives. She also asked that committee chairmen and liaisons investigate the possibility of holding district meetings when appropriate.

The ad hoc Marketing Committee, formed May 2009 to review a strategy for branding the Garden Club of Virginia, selected the Flores Shop in Ashland, Virginia, to prepare a GCV marketing plan.

Development Chairman Martha Wertz reported that Karmen Payne Gustin had been hired as the first Director of Development of the GCV, beginning September 1. A graduate of the University of Richmond with a BA in English literature, Karmen has 10 years of fundraising and management experience, with a proven record in building increased annual fund and grants income. Karmen last served as Associate Director of Development and Director of the Annual Fund for the Science Museum of Virginia Foundation. In addition to the establishment of an Annual Fund for the GCV, Karmen will be seeking grant funds for the GCV as a part of her duties and will also work with major gifts and planned giving.

The Admissions Committee submitted two names for GCV Honorary Membership: J. Dean Norton, proposed by the Alexandria Garden Club and endorsed by the Hunting Creek Garden Club; and Peter Hatch, proposed by Albemarle Garden Club and endorsed by the Charlottesville Garden Club and the Rivanna Garden Club.

The board approved a gift to William Booker as a token of the GCV’s appreciation and in honor of his retirement after eight years of service at the Kent-Valentine House.

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Garden Club of Virginia, submitted by Hunton & Williams, LLP and presented by Parliamentarian Dianne Spence, received approved, as were changes to GCV bylaws that included Voting at Meetings and Action Without a Meeting. After discussion, the board concurred that chairmen of Flower Shows, Horticulture and Development committees should be members of the Board of Directors. The vote to expand the Board of Directors will take place at the January board meeting. Dianne noted that Roberts Rules states, “an ex-officio member may be counted in a quorum but should not be counted as a member.”

President Cabell West called the 90th meeting of the GCV Board of Governors to order and thanked Penny Dart, president of the Warrenton Garden Club; Betty Lawrence and Sherry Twining, chairmen of the BOG meeting; and the members of the Warrenton Garden Club for hosting the delightful dinner at the home of Bibi de Heller on Tuesday night. She also thanked Kim Nash for hosting the luncheon and Board of Directors meeting at her home on Tuesday afternoon.

Personnel Chairman Missy Buckingham thanked staff members: Rose Marie Tronge, Executive Director of the Garden Club of Virginia; Suzanne Munson, Executive Director of Historic Garden Week; Christine Harris, Assistant to the Executive Director of Historic Garden Week; Theresa Blackwell Thomas, Kent Valentine House Manager; and Don Tronge, Maintenance Supervisor. She then introduced newest staff member Karmen Payne Gustin, Director of Development. An experienced development professional, Karmen has worked in Richmond for the Virginia Home for Boys, United Way, the Massey Cancer Center and most recently, she served as the Director of the Annual Fund and the Associate Director of Development at the Science Museum of Virginia.

Corresponding Secretary Meg Clement announced that, at the recommendation of the ad hoc Marketing Committee, GCV had retained a marketing firm to help ensure “that our voices will all come together as one choir to sing the song of the GCV.”

Online Chairman Nina Mustard was pleased to report the new website was up and running smoothly, with new graphics, clear navigation and the addition of an email module, social networking tools and blogs. Database administration has been centralized with Rose Marie Tronge at headquarters to better coordinate Journal mailings, Constant Contact emails and training for club online chairmen. Nina followed by announcing the launch of a new website, www.kentvalentinehouse.com, aimed directly at prospective rental clients. She closed with, “The GCV Online Committee is now in the enviable position of meeting, not to solve problems, but to dream about the future. We invite you to offer suggestions.”

Directors at Large then reported on club activities. Historian Judy Kidd summarized a meeting of club historians on September 24, 2009, at the Kent-Valentine House with Lee Shepherd from the Virginia Historical Society. Lee emphasized the importance of preserving our records and shared ideas for archival storage tools. He reminded attendees that Restoration Committee files from selected projects are now housed at the Virginia Historical Society and encouraged all clubs to think about the Virginia Historical Society as a place for their valuable archives.

Prior to afternoon adjournment of the Board of Governors, Common Wealth Award Chairman Linda Consolvo introduced Brunswick Garden Club President Diane Wagner, who shared a PowerPoint presentation update of their 2008 Commonwealth Award project, Fort Christanna.

Following adjournment, attendees enjoyed cocktails at North Wales Estate, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Michael V. Prentiss, followed by the awards banquet at Fauquier Springs Country Club. Janet Hickman, president of the Hillside Garden Club, accepted the Common Wealth Award in the amount of $10,000 for her club’s project, the Anne Spencer Garden.

Development Chairman Martha Wertz began the meeting Thursday morning by announcing the establishment of the GCV Annual Fund and called the following forward to assist with the announcement: Karen Jamison, Williamsburg; Mina Wood, Lynchburg; Catherine Whitman, Three Chopt; Barbara Luton, Blue Ridge; Sally Guy Brown, Alexandria; Marsha Merrell, James River; and Karmen Gustin, Director of Development. She then introduced Lee Switz of Richmond who has served as a consultant to the GCV and assisted with the Strategic Plan. Presentations followed to explain the “whys and hows” of the fund, and encouraged attendees to be ambassadors to the Annual Fund.

Attendees then gathered in discussion groups by districts. The topics were: Questions about the Annual Fund; How to energize members; How to encourage members to use the revised website; and How to make our flower shows even better.