2009 Spring Annual Meeting: Virginia Beach

July 9, 2022

Photos

The eighty-ninth Annual Meeting of the Garden Club of Virginia was hosted by the Virginia Beach Garden Club on May 12-14, 2009, at the Sheraton Oceanfront Hotel. “Tidewater Treasures” was chaired by Molly Rueger and Joan Lyons.

The Board of Directors met on Tuesday, May 12 at the home of Susan Wynne for lunch, followed by the board meeting.

President Cabell West commended board members for meeting challenges and changes presented by the Strategic Plan and the economic downturn.

A review of recent, electronic board votes included approval, at the request of the Blue Ridge Garden Club, to send a resolution to Governor Timothy Kaine calling for full public review process on whether and how the plans announced by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America would impact the Maury River, wildlife habitat, natural and cultural features and public recreation and peace of Goshen Pass and the surrounding area.

Financial reports included confirmation that GCV checking accounts had been moved to Union Bank and Trust; approval of the 2009-2010 budget; a decision to exempt the PR Chairman from registration fees for all GCV events except Board of Governors and Annual Meeting; and approval for the Development Committee to investigate the establishment of an Annual Fund for unrestricted operating needs.

In a break with long-standing tradition, the Board of Directors approved a recommendation by the editorial board of the Journal that the use of the uppercase “T” before the title of the Garden Club of Virginia be eliminated, stating, “The lowercase “t” should be used with the name of the club (the GCV or the Garden Club of Virginia) in running text.”

President Cabell West called the Annual Meeting to order Wednesday afternoon, May 13, 2009, at the Sheraton Oceanfront Hotel, thanking members of the Virginia Beach Garden Club for their hospitality. Prior to the meeting, attendees had been offered optional tours of the Contemporary Art Center, First Landing State Park, the Virginia Aquarium, the DeWitt Cottage, the Life Saving Museum and four members’ gardens.

Cabell called on Conservation and Beautification Chairman Anne Doyle who announced the establishment of the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award.

“With great gratitude for the gracious memorial from her family, the Garden Club of Virginia hereby establishes the Bessie Bocock Carter Conservation Award. The award will fund implementation of a conservation project that will serve as a catalyst for community action. It is a monetary award for natural resource conservation or environmental protection within the Commonwealth.”

Bessie’s son Dr. Jack Carter then accepted the award on behalf of his family and thanked the members of the Garden Club of Virginia for honoring his mother and her legacy in the field of conservation.

Cabell reported on a board vote to realign HGW and GCV districts to strengthen communication between clubs, and shared her plans to assign a Director at Large to each club district.

Horticulture Committee Chairman Mary Eades announced 2009 Horticulture Award of Merit recipients: Augusta Pollard Watson, The Blue Ridge Garden Club; Lucy Rhame von Raab, The Hunting Creek Garden Club; Vickie Fuquay, The Garden Club of Danville; Mary Jac Meadows, Chatham Garden Club; Uta Rowe, The Elizabeth River Garden Club; Julie Patterson, Rivanna Garden Club; Susan Lindsey, The Garden Club of the Northern Neck; and Mary Lou Brown, The Ashland Garden Club.

Cocktails and the awards banquet were held Wednesday evening at the Princess Anne Country Club.

Cabell reconvened the meeting Thursday morning and congratulated award recipients. She then called on Virginia Beach President Mac Houfec, who introduced speaker Gordon Heyward, nationally recognized garden designer, writer and lecturer who presented, “Art and Your Garden.”

Business reports resumed with the announcement that Colophon New Media had been selected to replace the aging GCV website and database, scheduled for completion June. GCV Online Chairman Nina Mustard then presented a PowerPoint overview of social media tools.

With only one application received, Linda Consolvo announced Hillside Garden Club as the recipient of the 2009 for the Common Wealth Award for the Anne Spencer Garden in Lynchburg. The amount of the award would be announced at the fall Board of Governors in October.

Attendees then approved a motion by Nominations Chairman Deedy Bumgardner to accept the nominations presented for 2009-2011 Directors at Large: Charlotte Benjamin, The Garden Club of Fairfax; Julie Grover, The Blue Ridge Garden Club; and Louise Tayloe, Rivanna Garden Club.