Denise and I had an easy flight from San Francisco to Richmond. Past President Frank Butler picked us up at the airport. It was raining very hard and the restaurant that Frank wished to take us to was in an area that was prone to flooding so we opted to have dinner at the hotel. We had a nice dinner, a few cocktails and some friendly conversation until it was time to retire for the night.
Friday, November 13, 2009
We joined Frank for breakfast then met up with Dan and Elizabeth Benka at 11 AM for a tour of the city of Richmond, a very entertaining ride I might say.
It was still very overcast so we were not able to see the view of the skyline that was usually visible from the approach to the city that Dan had selected. As we got closer we could see portions of the city and it is quite spectacular. We drove through some of the area before our first stop at St. Johns Church, a living memorial to American liberty and the location of Patrick Henry's famous speech and his plea "Give me liberty or give me death".
Richmond is the former capital of the Confederacy and is often referred to as the city of monuments. This is most displayed along Monument Avenue, a National Historic Landmark where statues, monuments and historic mansions line the street. There are monuments to General Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Jeb Stewart as well as Arthur Ash, the tennis legend.
Our tour continued through the Jackson Ward area, once known as the "Harlem of the South", The Wilton Plantation House, then through the downtown area. Our last stop was a quick drive through the Hollywood Cemetery, named for the Holly Trees and not the California "tinsel town". Interred here are two U.S. Presidents, James Monroe and John Tyler, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and thousands of Confederate soldiers. Perhaps the most memorable part of the tour was getting LOST in the Cemetery. This is quite a large portion of land with roads leading everywhere, or in our case NOWHERE. As we drove through we began to notice that there were some familiar sights where we had just been. Up, down and around we drove until finally we found a car that seemed to be heading out and perhaps the driver knew where he was. EUREKA! We found the exit. I was starting to hum the Kingston Trio song "The man who never returned".
We escaped from the Cemetery just in time to make our lunch reservations at the Tobacco House restaurant, a restored tobacco warehouse from the 1860's. One of the options for lunch was "She Crab Soup" something I had never tried. It sounded good to everyone so it was She Crab Soup all around. WOW! what a treat, something I will remember and look for in future trips.
After lunch we drove past the White House of the Confederacy on our way back to the hotel and the beginning of the whirlwind of weekend activities.
The hospitality room was open although supplies were continually arriving, being unpacked and set up for the arriving Senators. The magic hour of 6:30PM began the exodus to the Longhorn Steak House for dinner. There were so many early arrivals that we needed two seatings to accommodate everyone but the food was well worth the wait.
We returned to the hotel just in time for Frank Butler to escort me to the Virginia Gentleman Corps Commander Call to meet the current and past commanders. I then had to rush back to the hospitality room where I was requested to speak to the Virginia Jaycees First Timers. I was able to spend a short time with the first timers before it was time for the Virginia Gentlemen Corps meeting. After the Corps meeting Ariel took Denise and me over to the Jaycees room to see all the memorabilia displays. There were some awesome photos, newsletters, pins and other items dating back to the 40's and 50's. Back to the hospitality room and a well deserved drink before our next task. Denise and I were the judges for the best holiday drink contest. Luckily there were only two drinks entered so we had a fighting chance to remain fairly sober. The winner was a chocolate/peppermint drink concocted by Art Eisenberg. The clock was reaching the witching hour so it was off to bed.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
There was some time after breakfast to prepare for another busy but exciting day. Everyone began to assemble in the ballroom foyer at 10:30 to meet and greet before the Virginia Senate 40th Anniversary Luncheon. There was a good crowd of Senators from Maryland attending in support of the Virginia Senate including Presidential Advisor and Past President Calvin and Dianne Baerveldt, Chaplain Larry and Ronnie Bohn and from Florida Doug and Kay White. Of course Secretary Steve and Dawn Southerland were also on hand to celebrate with the Virginia Senate.
The venue was well organized by Anne Johnson with some history presentations as well as some humorous interludes. I had the honor of presenting the Return The Favor Award to Dawana Harris-Bey as she was unable to be in Pittsburgh. The "Senator" arrives and greets the assembly with his amazing powers of perception - the photo says it all.
Past US JCI President Frank Butler did my introduction with a repeat of a story that I told on him when I had the honor of seconding his nomination for President . It took him over 16 years but he did "Return the Favor" - Thanks Frank that was the best GOTCHA ever.
Following the 40th Anniversary festivities the VA Senate convened their business meeting. The agenda was quickly dispatched with all reports short and sweet as many of the folks had to get to the VA JC Foundation meeting at 3PM. We had a short time to socialize in the hospitality room before it was time to change into our formal attire and return to the Banquet Room for the Outstanding Young Virginians banquet and program.
There were 4 honorees including an 8 year old girl with some impressive qualifications. I was given the opportunity to participate in the presentation of 4 new Senatorships to some well deserving young Jaycees as well as the First Timer participants awards.
After the Banquet everyone packed themselves into the Senate Suite where the first order of business was a reception for the OYV Recipients where I presented a toast to them and their accomplishments. This reception lasted about 15 minutes then most of the Jaycees headed off to the dance in the ballroom. The next toast I presented was to the 4 new Senators and everyone raised their glass of champagne to them and their honor. President Ariel, VP Rod, JC liaison Sherry and myself retired to a private room with the new Senators for a short orientation into the VA Senate. I had a copy of our September Mentors magazine and a presidential pin for each of the new Senators.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Ariel cooked everyone breakfast in the hospitality room then VP Rod Williams took Denise and me to the airport for our flight home.
My thanks to all the Virginia Senators and especially president Ariel for all the hospitality and friendship that Denise and I experienced on this awesome weekend.
