29 September 2007: Meeting and Luncheon, Historic Christ Church, Irvington, Virginia

   
Beautiful fall weather and an outstanding location were the backdrops for the September 29, 2007 Membership Meeting of the Chesapeake Bay Company at Historic Christ Church. Members gathered at the Bayne Center at Christ Church for the Membership Meeting, and greatly enjoyed a PowerPoint presentation and engaging talk by Jamie May, Senior Staff Archaeologist at the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities in Jamestown. Jamie has been actively involved for over a decade with the meticulous excavation and preservation of the artifacts unearthed at Jamestown, and presented a "Jamestown Rediscovery" presentation that kept members spellbound from start to finish. Her intimate knowledge of the subject matter kept even this "tough audience" attentive to every slide and each detail. Some of her hard work is illustrated in this photograph of her unearthing of wine bottles at the Jamestown site:

     It was particularly timely to have her speak at the September 29 meeting, because October 2007 has been designated as "Virginia Archaeology Month":

      Her description of various "finds" at Jamestown included the details of various trash pits and wells discovered on the site. Often items simply tossed in these locations for disposal (sometimes accidentally so) have provided valuable clues to the daily life of early settlers. The identification of the discoveries has proved almost as challenging as locating them, but many have been placed in their proper historical context through careful investigative research. The archaeological digs continue at Jamestown, and every day brings some new artifact to light. A question from the audience about one of the medical implements discovered brought a moment of humor to the question and answer period.
       Two new members were proposed and accepted to the Chesapeake Bay Company of the Jamestowne Society: Bryan Godfrey of Richmond, Virginia, and Dr. Donald Richardson, of Melbourne, Florida. Bryan was in attendance.  Guests who attended both the meeting and the luncheon included Nancy Clark and Betty Page Schroeder, who are invited to return again and also to consider membership in our Company.
       The resignation of Mary Stewart as Company Treasurer was regretfully accepted. Mary has health reasons for the resignation, and our gratitude for her excellent service was noted and conveyed to her. A replacement for Treasurer will be appointed by the Governor, and the membership will elect a Treasurer for the remainder of the term at the Spring 2008 Meeting.
       Following the speaker's presentation, members and guests enjoyed an excellent luncheon prepared and served by Classic Catering, consisting of baked chicken breast, rice pilaf, green beans, rolls and butter, iced tea/coffee, cheesecake with cherries. Needless to say, many of us did not require dinner that evening! Nancy Tripp of Classic Catering is to be commended for a stellar performance.
       Following the luncheon, members and guests were invited to tour the beautiful church sanctuary at Christ Church, with a personal tour by Camille Bennett, Executive Director of Historic Christ Church. Those who took the tour reported learning many new details about the historic structure and grounds. Camille has our sincere gratitude for her assistance in making sure that our meeting there was perfect! The setting is unparalleled, but the professionalism of all involved at Christ Church is not to be overlooked in contributing to the effectiveness of the meeting.
       Members were informed that the next meeting is scheduled to take place at Henricus Historical Park, where a field trip had been earlier scheduled this past summer, which had been cancelled due to the heat and humidity on the day scheduled. Details on the Saturday, April 19, 2008 Spring Meeting will be provided closer to the date, but members are encouraged to save the date at this time, and plan to bring family members and guests (excessive heat/humidity neither hoped for nor expected in late April). The location has been confirmed by Henricus Historical Park for that date, the program will feature Margaret Carlini, Education Support Specialist at Henricus, who will focus on 17th Century Medicine. The meeting venue will be the Mount Malady Hospital building which has been reconstructed to resemble what historians believe was the center for recent immigrants to the colony who were taken there, as well as for those who were ill in the settlement. Those of us who have current maladies no doubt can relate to what it must have been like for 17th Century ancestors who had to endure similar or worse conditions without benefit of modern treatment. The lunch will be catered .
       The date and place for the Fall 2008 Meeting have been set and secured. The date will be Saturday, October 25, 2008 at Historic Christ Church. Stay tuned!
        

28 April 2007: Meeting and Luncheon, Andrew Chapel Church, Montross, Virginia

    The  meeting was convened at Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church in Montross, Westmoreland County. During the meeting, Beatrice Jenkins England was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Nancy Carter Crump Emory as Historian.
         Members present welcomed Kelly Carson Johnson, Executive Director of the Jamestowne Society, who had traveled from Richmond to be with the group that day. She provided a history of the Jamestowne Society to the group, from its founding 14 May 1936 by George Craighead Gregory. The Society was incorporated in 1958, and gained tax exempt status in 1983. In 1997, the Society website made its debut; it can be accessed at http://jamestowne.org and 2001 was when the group computerized its database of membership information. Kelly Johnson began her tenure as Executive Director of the Jamestowne Society in 2002. In 2005, the Society purchased its own office building, located at 3410 Hermitage Road in Richmond, not far from the Diamond Ball Park. The most recent number of members in the Jamestowne Society is 6,779. Kelly provided new details for the 400th anniversary events. Many of the Chesapeake Bay Company plan to attend the program on the Island on May 12, the luncheon, and the banquet later that day. The group greatly appreciated Kelly's taking time to travel to the Northern Neck, especially so when she is in the midst of last-minute preparations for the May 12 program, luncheon and banquet.
         Following Kelly's presentation on the history of the Jamestowne Society and on the 400th anniversary events, the members watched a 30-minute public-television documentary, "Jamestown: Founding of America," produced by WHRO in Norfolk in association with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.  The film was shown initially by WHRO on December 28, 2006. It was a treat to have this special opportunity to see it. Information on the documentary is shown below from the press release issued by WHRO:

Permission for the screening was graciously given by Martha Edwards, Executive Producer of the film, and by John Heimerl, Chief Enterprise Officer of WHRO. Those interested in purchasing a copy of the DVD should contact WHRO directly.
         A summer field trip to the City of Henricus  is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, June 10 (details will be distributed to the membership). The fall meeting of the group is scheduled for Saturday, September 29 at Historic Christ Church in Irvington, Virginia.
        

8 November 2006: Meeting, Tour and Luncheon, Jamestown Settlement Park, near Jamestown Island, Virginia

       The  meeting was convened in the Cafe at Jamestown Settlement Park, located near Jamestown Island. During the meeting, a new slate of officers was presented by the Nominating Committee chairperson, Beatrice Jenkins England: Governor, Susan Godman Rager; Lieutenant Governor, Jean Booth McKenney; Secretary, Margaret Glenn Taylor; Treasurer, Mary Elizabeth Stewart; Chaplain, Cora Sue Elmore Spruill; Historian, Nancy Carter Crump Emory. The officers were elected by members present. Judith Conner presented updated information on the 2007 celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestowne from the National Society.

       Following the meeting, members and prospective members and guests toured the new 30,000 square foot museum exhibit at the Settlement Park, which was opened to the public in mid-October 2006, and listened intently as the tour guide provided background information for the exhibits and the dioramas. The two-hour guided tour continued outside at the Settlement Park, with stops at the Indian village, the fort, and the ships.  Costumed interpreters demonstrated crafts and survival skills which were important to the Jamestown settlers and to the native Indian inhabitants of the area. Afterward, the group reconvened for lunch in the Cafe. The afternoon was free for those in attendance to choose between visiting Jamestowne Island, taking the Jamestown-Scotland ferry for a view of the historic island from the water, or going to nearby Colonial Williamsburg as they chose.  Check the Photo Gallery for photos of the day!

20 May 2006: Organizational Meeting and Luncheon, Bayne Center, Historic Christ Church, Irvington, Virginia

       Dr. Ann Tyler Netick, Governor of the Jamestowne Society, spoke briefly and presented the Chesapeake Bay Company Charter to Judith Blackburn Conner, Organizing Governor.  Judith Blackburn Conner was appointed in January 2005 by the Jamestowne Society Executive Committee to serve as Organizing Governor. She then appointed the following officers to serve until the November 2006 election: Ann Carter Lee, Lieutenant Governor; Beatrice Jenkins England, Secretary; Diane Meredith Scott, Chaplain; Mary Elizabeth Stewart, Treasurer. The Company was chartered with 31 members.

       The program, "Getting Ready for 2007: Your Jamestowne Reading List," was presented by Susan Godman Rager, which included a packet of materials on the books chosen, and excerpts from them. Judith Conner recapped the Godspeed's sailing schedule for the summer, and noted that the fall meeting of the Jamestowne Society will be November 4 at the Commonwealth Club in Richmond.  She brought news from the Jamestowne Society May 2006 meeting to the group. Members enjoyed a catered luncheon. Afterwards, they viewed exhibits in the Christ Church Museum, as well as the film at the Museum narrated by Roger Mudd.  Members then toured the beautiful colonial church, built in the 1730s, with a docent who provided many insights into the construction and the history of the building. Check the Photo Gallery for photos of the day!