By Judy Seeley
Virginia Meador
The Upstate Chapter Offers Its Thanks
For the past four years, Virginia Meador has served as the Upstate Chapter President. Generally, terms of office run for two years, but in November 2020 Virginia volunteered to stay on for a second “Covid” term. During that time, she worked with the Board of Directors as they made the myriad difficult decisions canceling in-person activities, including general meetings, plant sales, and field trips. During her tenure and through her leadership we learned to hold meetings by Zoom; plant sales via online ordering; and field trips through camaraderie-by-newsletter.
Post-Covid, one of her last official acts as President was signing the contract between the Upstate Chapter and the Conestee Foundation leasing land in the Conestee Nature Preserve as a new site for the Upstate Native Nursery.
Virginia’s commitment to the SCNPS and its mission has been deep and long. Before becoming President, she served as both Field Trips Chair and Board Vice-President; she continues to serve on the Board as Past President. And she loves to lead native plant walks and to share her knowledge of the natural world through “hands-on” teaching.
Virginia’s signature opening at meetings was, “Welcome to the Upstate Chapter, where we work to save the world, one native plant at a time.” As we offer her our thanks for her many years of dedication and service, we’d also like to add: Yes, Virginia, we (with your help) will continue to work to save the world!
