The 2022 Massie Medal Award for Distinguished Achievement, the GCV’s most prestigious award, was presented at the Annual Meeting Awards Banquet to Victoria Burrell Alexander from Hunting Creek Garden Club (center). Her medal was inscribed “For generously sharing your knowledge and expertise for the betterment of the Club”.
The Covid pandemic brought disruptions and new situations for the GCV to face. Our Centennial celebration was halted in March 2020 and the 2020 Massie Medal could not be presented until the 2021 Board of Governors’ meeting. The Massie Medal Committee did not meet in 2021 to make an award selection. So, it is fitting that this year’s 2022 Massie Medal recipient was serving in a key Board position as Treasurer when the pandemic began. Vicky was instrumental in helping to make many of the decisions that kept our GCV on an even financial keel and able to face the many challenges.
Vicky has been an active member of Hunting Creek Garden Club since she joined in 2001. Her technical knowledge has been helpful to her own club, as she first served as the Communications and Database Chairman. She went on to develop the HCGC website and has set up an electronic archive catalogue. She served her club as Treasurer, Vice President, and President from 2013-2015. In 2018, she welcomed GCV members to Alexandria as Co-Chair for the Board of Governors Meeting. In addition, Vicky is an avid gardener and arranger. She happily shares her knowledge with fellow club members on their arranging teams for HGW and GCV flower shows. Since completing the GCV judging program, Vicky also serves as a judge for the GCV and other clubs.
The Flower Shows Committee brought Vicky into involvement with the GCV. Once again, her technical expertise was called on to rewrite and edit the Flower Shows Handbook. She helped to implement many positive improvements as the Flower Shows Committee Judges Chairman. Vicky also began serving on the Finance Committee and served as Chair from 2016-2018. She then moved on to serve as Treasurer from 2018-2020. Vicky is a current member of the Restoration Committee and began serving as Treasurer for this committee in 2018. She has shared her financial expertise with all these committees and spent countless hours working on strategic financial planning for the GCV.
Vicky has served with unusual dedication and distinction, and the GCV is fortunate that she was in a key position during the pandemic and able to share her knowledge and expertise for the betterment of our club.
