Birdwatchers

 

NEWS

 

  For Immediate Release                        

 Contact:  Nancy Doane, Executive Director, 540-882-3018

 

 Waterford Foundation Announces  

2010 Lifetime Achievement and

Volunteer of the Year Awards

 

WATERFORD, VIRGINIA, April 22, 2011--Harpers Ferry National Park Chief Historian Dennis E. Frye opened the Waterford Foundation's Annual Meeting on April 19th with a rousing account of the April 19, 1861 riots and fighting in Baltimore, Maryland that almost took that state into the Confederacy. He reminisced about his own early friendship with the late John Divine, respected Waterford historian, commended the Foundation on its outstanding preservation work, and promised to return to the Waterford Homes Tour & Crafts Exhibit this year to sign his new book, Under Fire: Harpers Ferry and the Civil War which will be published later this year.

 

Foundation President Bonnie Getty proudly announced that construction of the much anticipated Waterford Old School Auditorium will finally begin on July 1.  She also presented  the organization's highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, to longtime volunteer and resident Ruth (Robbie) Smith. "Robbie's contributions to the Waterford Foundation are many and diverse," she said in making the award. "She has never stopped volunteering for the Waterford Foundation since the early 1980s. But it is especially as a force for the Waterford Fair that we honor her today."

 

Ms. Smith served as Fair Chair from 1986 to 1992, then continued on as Chair of the Food Committee, as organizer of the Fair booklet page-donor program, and as an adjunct member of the Finance Committee devoting days of leave time to the Fair's financial operation. In addition, Ms. Smith was elected to the Board of Directors in 1999, where she served two terms, through 2004, and was an elected officer for two of those years, first as Treasurer and then as Vice President. Much appreciated for her wit and charm, Ms. Smith is well known for her humorous vignettes in Waterford's July 4th parade.

               

Well known local architect Karl Reidel was presented with the Volunteer of the Year Award by Foundation Vice President Walter Music .  "While his contributions span a number of the Foundation's programs, it is his expertise as an architect that has been particularly invaluable, especially this past year," said Mr. Music. "In our recent initiative to expand the Waterford Historic and Cultural District, he worked diligently hammer out the draft of rural guidelines which would ultimately become an addendum to the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance." As chair of the Land Use's Design Review Subcommittee, he spearheaded the Foundation's review of property owners' requests for changes on properties whose easements and covenants are overseen by the Foundation; and made a significant contribution to updating and amending easements the Foundation has donated to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 

                                                                                                                                               

The Foundation's Partnership Award was presented to Bruce Cleveland, President of Presidential Bank, by Executive Director Nancy Doane.  "Bruce Cleveland served on the Foundation's Board of Directors from 2001-2006, was its President and Treasurer through the turbulent years of saving the Phillips Farm, and has continued to be a valued member of our Finance Committee. He was also instrumental in establishing the Foundation's Endowment Fund, which will one day be significantly boosted by our upcoming Planned Giving Program.  Bruce also continues to serve as Chairman of the Foundation's Endowment Investment Committee. The Waterford Foundation has had nothing but good value and good service from Presidential Bank and our presidential friend, Bruce Cleveland."  

 

Loudoun Supervisor Sally Kurtz received a standing ovation when she was presented as a Special Honoree at the meeting.  Executive Director Doane said: "Throughout Sally's service, she has responded without hesitation to our numerous calls for help.  Be it a developer's plan which threatened the Phillips Farm and jeopardized our national historic landmark designation, our need to secure funds to rebuff future development pressures, the spurious-yet real-call for our de-designation as a state and national historic landmark, our mourning and need for rebuilding funds when the Old School was engulfed in flames, or support for our legislative initiatives, Sally was always-absolutely ALWAYS-there for us.  A second call was never needed.  You could find her right in the trenches, rolling up her sleeves and fighting the good fights right by our side."

 

Special award winners included former ReedSmith planner Ann E. Goode, ReedSmith colleagues Jaima Brown and Sally Hankins and County Historic Preservation Planner Heidi Siebentritt who were so instrumental in the recently approved expansion of the Waterford Historic and Cultural Conservation District-the county historic district-by 458 acres. "We are exceptionally pleased to say the Waterford Historic District is now 761 acres in size.  Simply put, it would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of these four women."

 

A special Landmark Award was given for the first time to Foundation Director of Properties and Land Use Margaret Good. "The Foundation has a long standing policy of excluding current members of its Board or members of its staff from receiving awards or recognition at our Annual Meeting," said Vice President Music.  "However, this award to Margaret was unanimously supported by the Board. Especially during this past year, as significant strides have been taken to care for our properties, enhance and amend our easements, and expand-actually double-the size of the Waterford Historic and Cultural District, her contributions have been nothing short of amazing."   

 

President Getty also commended outstanding outgoing Foundation Board members Stephanie Kenyon, Lori Kimball, and Susan Sutter.  

 

Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott K. York was on hand to present the official 2011 Preserve America Community designation, signed by First Lady Michelle Obama, to Bonnie Getty, Foundation President, and Ed Good, President of the Waterford Citizens Association.   Bryant Bays, Loudoun-Prince William Forester with the Virginia Department of Forestry, presented the Foundation with its 2011 Forest Stewardship Award, citing the organization for its practice of thoughtful land stewardship which "leaves a better world than you found to those who will follow.

 

 The Waterford Foundation, Inc., founded in 1943, is dedicated to preserving the historic buildings and open spaces of the National Historic Landmark District of Waterford, Virginia. The Waterford Foundation strives to increase public knowledge of life and work in an early American rural community through education. The Waterford Foundation is supported through grants, donor contributions, and proceeds from the annual Waterford Homes Tour and Crafts Exhibit.   For further information, contact the Waterford Foundation at 540-882-3018 or consult our website, www.waterfordfoundation.org.

 

The Waterford Foundation, Inc., founded in 1943, is dedicated to preserving the historic buildings and open spaces of the National Historic Landmark District of Waterford, Virginia. The Waterford Foundation strives to increase public knowledge of life and work in an early American rural community through education. The Waterford Foundation is supported through grants, donor contributions, and proceeds from the annual Waterford Homes Tour and Crafts Exhibit.  

 

For further information, contact the Waterford Foundation at 540-882-3018 or consult our website, www.waterfordfoundation.org.

 

WATERFORD FOUNDATION, INC., P.O. Box 142, Waterford, Virginia 20197