Betty Schutte (center) receives the 2005 Massie Medal for Distinguished Achievement from Massie Medal Chairman Sarah Bass (left) and GCV President Deedy Bumgardner.

 

Madame President and Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am honored to be here tonight to present the highest award given to “one of our own”—the Massie Medal for Distinguished Achievement.  By definition in our bylaws, “ the recipient, in the judgment of the Committee, must have done outstanding work in gardening, served The Garden Club of Virginia with unusual distinction, improved the quality of life or have been effective in the protection, restoration or preservation of the natural beauties of our Commonwealth.”

Our winner tonight has done this and much more.  She has been a valued member of her own garden club for many years and has served on most every committee they have and has been both Second and First Vice President before leading her Club as President in 1981-83. 

Her involvement with the GCV began in 1988; when she was elected  Parliamentarian, then went on to be the Corresponding Secretary, Second Vice President, First Vice President, and then President.  She continued her service for The Garden Club of Virginia by continuing to serve on numerous committees after her presidency, including Restorations, Investment, Long-Range Planning and Nominations, three times!

If all of this was not enough, after stepping down as GCV President in 1998, she was instrumental, along with other preservationist and members of the General Assembly, to insure the passage of House Bill 1206 in 1999, creating the Capitol Square Preservation Council. The Council was charged with developing plans and recommendations for the preservation and maintenance for the enhancement of the historical and architectural integrity of the grounds of the State Capitol.  She was appointed by the Garden Club of Virginia’s Board of Directors to be the very first GCV representative to the Council and was then elected Chairman of the group by their other distinguished members.  Her leadership inspired the adoption of the by –laws, hiring of the executive director and helping to select a nationally ranked landscape architect.  After rotating from the position of Chairman, she still remains very active in numerous other committee positions.

At this time it is my pleasure to award the Massie Medal to Betty Gwaltney Schutte.

Sarah Bass

GCV Massie Medal Chairman