Conservation and Beautification

October 24, 2022

Chairman Karen Jones, The Martinsville Garden Club

The 2010 Conservation Workshop was held September 13 at the Kent-Valentine House. “Back to Basics,” attracted a full house with 78 attendees. Republican Senator Richard Stuart and Democrat Delegate Albert Pollard entertained attendees with examples of how they work together toward the same conservation goals, emphasizing the importance of clean air and water. They encouraged active letter writing and phone campaigns in defense of the environment and assured attendees of the effectiveness of those campaigns. Following the exchange with legislators, the 2010 recipient of the Bessie Bocock Carter Comservation Award, the four Richmond garden clubs, described how they worked together and with the city on restoring trees to the urban landscape. The workshop wrapped up with three GCV clubs presenting their popular conservation projects during breakout luncheon sessions.

The 52nd Annual Conservation Forum was held at William & Mary’s Sadler Center on November 5, 2010. The event, “Beneath the Surface,” was chaired by Marilyn South and Chamie Valentine and featured keynote speaker, Dr. Sandra Whitehouse, a marine scientist and senior policy advisor for the Ocean Conservancy, shared her expertise in coordinating policies to protect oceans and marine ecosystems, while sustaining vital maritime commerce. The forum focused on the health of the ocean, pollution, dead zones and sustainable fishing. An afternoon field trip to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in Yorktown was led by widely acclaimed marine biologists and oceanographers. Photos

The 2010 Dugdale Award was presented to Lipton Tea of Suffolk and generated enthusiasm for the sustainability program initiated by this outstanding corporate citizen.

Legislative Day was held January 17, 2011, facilitated by the Virginia Conservation Network. The new venue at Center Stage was a great improvement and eliminated the need for van transportation to the Capitol. Marsha Merrell, Catharine Gilliam and Betsy Agelasto studied conservation legislation and presented recommendations to the Executive Committee for approval. Photos

The 2011 Conservation Workshop was held September 26 at KVH, chaired by Hollis Stauber, was was attended by 68 members. “Conservation in Virginia – What is Working?” featured keynote Robert Lee, director of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, and Doug Domenech, Secretary of Natural Resources. Members from the Augusta Garden Club, Rivanna Garden Club and the Garden Club of Norfolk led breakout sessions during lunch to discuss their water quality projects. Photos

The 2011 Conservation Forum was held November 3 at the University of Richmond’s Jepson Center. “Uranium: What Should Virginia Do?” The forum featured fourteen speakers and panelists from related fields who represented a broad range of viewpoints and attracted media and legislative attention. The forum prompted the Garden Club of Virginia to adopt its Uranium Mining Position Statement the following summer. The 2011 Dugdale Award was presented to the Alliance to Save the Mattaponi. Photos

Betsy Agelasto of the Virginia Beach Garden Club presented the issues coming before the 2012 General Assembly of Virginia to the Board of Directors at its 2010 January meeting.  She handed out a document of the 2012 GCV Legislative Agenda prepared by her committee. Issues coming before the General Assembly were:

• Uranium mining — no legislation will be presented on this topic.
• Soil and Water Boards — support the amendment to restore dedicated funding for these established programs in the budget.
• Renewable Energy through Portfolio standards — support HB 657, HB 69 and HB 312.
• Invasive Plants — support HB 396 to control invasive plants.
• Sea Level Rise — support the title and intent of a bill calling for the study of relative sea-level rise in Tidewater Virginia.
• Navigable waters — oppose HB67 that would redefine navigable waters and may weaken the protection of wetlands.

Discussion followed concerning our votes for numbered bills. They often change and, hence, Deedy Bumgardner made the following motion: Motion: Deedy Bumgardner moved that we support the title and intent of bills we endorse. Motion was seconded and passed.

Legislative Day 2012 was held January 23, 2012, chaired by Betsy Agelasto and Catharine Gilliam with the help of Nancy Kyler. The forum was again held in partnership with the Virginia Conservation Network with Anne Beals acting as liaison. Each legislator was given a copy of Historic Gardens of Virginia – a reminder of the preservation work the Garden Club of Virginia has provided for the state throughout the decades. Photos

The Garden Club of Virginia was awarded the inaugural Thomas Jefferson Medal for Conservation by the Virginia Natural History Museum on February 9, 2012. Presented in recognition of significant conservation efforts in Virginia, the medal was accepted by President Kim Nash on behalf of the club at the Library of Virginia.