Dixon Historical Cemetery Association

Hello All,

President Sally Ware has cancelled all workdays at the Dixon until further notice due to the coronavirus. This is in compliance with the Governor’s order, and of course, none of us wants to jeopardize anyone’s safety.
 
FYI, Sally has learned from Michael Pulice, our representative at the VA Dept. of Historical Resources, that the meeting planned for March 19th was cancelled without a new date being set. We’ll just have to wait this out, like everything else. Nothing has changed as far as our position. We are still in line to get the “go forward” when the board meets.

Also, Sally reports that Brandon Bradley, our tree man has put tree work on hold until a later time. This is understandable, and he will let us know when he is ready to start work again. We would sign a contract at that time for the professional work we need to remove large trees near the fences.

Meanwhile, we thank Sally and others who steadily contribute to preserving the Historical Dixon Cemetery. In the photo below, you see the recent grading that Greg Evans has done toward a driveway and a smooth, easy-to-mow, parking area.

Good health and safety to all,

Will Cardwell

Nicely graded approach to Dixon Historical Cemetery. Awaits seeding and gravel driveway.

A MESSAGE TO OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS FROM THE PRESIDENT:

     We are obviously living through a very difficult and strange time that is affecting every aspect of our daily life. In our concern over this extremely dangerous virus, we have decided that in an abundance of caution, we should not hold our meeting in a person-to-person environment at this time, but to communicate with our members and friends by e-mail.  As you review this Substituted Agenda, we encourage you to please respond, by e-mail, to Will Cardwell (wcardwell@gmail.com) with specific information, or whatever you might have questions about, or with any additional information you have on any subject included in this Agenda. He will review the e-mails and publish the responses on the website (DixonCem.org)  I will provide a format with some basic information in the following paragraphs:

We would like to approve the Minutes of Directors’ Meeting, dated August 25, 2019. Please e-mail any corrections you find to Will Cardwell.  No response from you will mean you approve the minutes as published.

With regard to the Nominating Committee, the individuals who have agreed to serve on the committee are Ed Booth, Greg Evans, and Bob Ware. At the appropriate time, they will present a slate of three nominees as directors who will replace the three current directors rotating off. Nominations can also be taken from the floor, followed by discussion, and then a vote.

Aubrey Booth will provide information that is pertinent to his Treasurer’s Report as well as dues for the next fiscal year  (2020-2021). Aubrey will also provide due dates for SCC and 501c3 annual filings.

Aubrey and Ed Booth have been working to map grave sites and had planned to make a presentation at the meeting. They might wish to give a brief explanation here, and make a presentation at the next person-to person meeting.

Greg Evans has put in many hours using his own equipment to get up stumps and smooth out a road up to the entrance of the cemetery.  Greg might wish to provide a brief summary of this work for Will Cardwell to put on the website.

Spring clean-up and mowing schedules have been set up by Will Cardwell:  Spring clean-up/Work days – April 4, 11, 18, and 25. A mowing schedule will be e-mailed to you.  **We can use all the help we can get to continue cleaning and clearing the cemetery, and we especially need help repairing the fence. This work is done in the open air, so “distancing” can be controlled. However, the decision to participate in this activity, at this time, is an individual one. No lunches will be available during the April work schedule for safety reasons.

Regarding the application process with the Virginia Department of Historical Resources (VDHR), most of you already know the good news that we have gotten over the first hurdle. The cemetery was found eligible for evaluation and is now listed on the State Review Board (SRB) agenda. Our representative is confident that the Review Board will concur with the committee, which means that it is very hopeful we can move into the final phase to become eligible for the state and National Registers.  Stay tuned! 

Will Cardwell had a very successful meeting with Dr. Owen Cardwell, now a professor of Leadership Studies at the University of Lynchburg, and one of two African-American students who integrated E.C. Glass High School in 1962. Will Cardwell might wish to publish a brief summary of his meeting on the website.

Other Projects in Progress would include an update on progress at the Dixon to be published in the May issue of Lynch’s Ferry Magazine by Revely Carwile, and an update with April work schedule to be published in the next issue of the Campbell County magazine – The Chronicle by Sally Ware.

Other meetings are as yet unscheduled due to the future uncertainty of coronavirus mandates from state and/or Federal authorities. We will be doing everything we can to keep our member and friends informed. Your comments are important to us and we welcome them.

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARTICULAR MEETING AGENDA, PLEASE RESPOND TO WILL CARDWELL BY E-MAIL  (wcardwell@gmail.com) NO LATER THAN MARCH 28, 2020. HE WILL PUBLISH THEM ON THE ASSOCIATION’S WEBSITE THEREAFTER (DixonCem.org). 

Tuesday, 15 October  2019

Hello Friends of the Dixon,

Just a brief message to tell you I am honored to be the current president of The Dixon Historical Cemetery Association, Inc.  You should also know that Will and Dolly Cardwell are continuing to bring their expertise and guidance to the organization as well. We definitely need their valuable input. Also, Revely Carwile, Jr. will continue as the association secretary, and Aubrey Booth continues as treasurer. Many thanks go to both of them for their excellent work.  In addition to the three officers mentioned above, the current board of directors will consist of Edward Booth, Steve Driskill, Greg Evans, Will Henderson, Jimmy Hamilton, and Connie Nichols. I am very lucky to have this great team to work with!

WORK DAYS:
As we start our new fiscal year, we are focusing on our fall work days which begin in a few weeks. As a reminder, fall work days will be November 2, 9, 16, and 23. I hope we will have a large group of  volunteers  join us on those dates.  We depend entirely on volunteers, and we so very much appreciate all of our volunteer help. We will also provide a light lunch (on site) each work day.

PROJECTS:
At our last directors’ meeting, we discussed a number of projects that are either underway or anticipated. When we break for lunch on Nov. 2, I would like to continue to discuss where we are on some of the issues presented at the directors’ meeting, and get your thoughts on other issues as we move forward.

COMMITTEES:
Committees for the new fiscal year were announced at our recent Annual Meeting on 8 September 2019, but since some members were not present at the meeting, I will re-confirm on the November 2^nd work day.

With best regards to all,

Sally Ware

Today I am naming the Nominating Committee to nominate DHCA Officers for the 2019-2020 year. They are: Jim Henderson-Chair, Steve Driskill and Connie Nichols. This year, all three Directors whose terms are expiring are officer positions: President, Secretary and Treasurer. Present plans are for us to meet August 4, 2019.

Mowing the cemetery over the summer is going along fine. This coming week, Connie and friends plan to mow, weather permitting. there are still open slots. See “About-Us” menu, them click on “Mowing Schedule”.

Will Cardwell, Pres.

The day soon became warmer and dryer and the seven of us left a much neater site with the big stump pile burning. Austin with his tractor aided by a hard working Steve made such a difference! Will H. and I mowed, Connie raked, Dolly served our nice lunch and Gladys stopped by to take pictures. Jim came by after attending a memorial service and helping friends in need that morning. We missed Aubrey and others as Aubrey recovers from his recent hospitalization.

Dolly and I will be away for this Saturday’s work day, Nov. 3rd. We will be helping family in Charlotte NC. Jim and Will H. will be your hosts and Connie will provide lunch. In addition to weed eating, there are still fallen limbs and brush to make the smoldering stump fire blaze. As the front areas become clear there is more to clear in the back parts of the cemetery.

Best to you all for your spirit of support in so many ways – many far away or unable to be present, and others doing the good physical work and providing the means. -Will

Here are highlights of our great Annual Meeting held September 9, 2018:

Cleanup Saturdays at the Cemetery this year are:

Saturday October 27, 2018 from 9:00 to 3:00
Saturday November 3, 2018 from 9:00 to 3:00
Saturday November 10, 2018 from 9:00 to 3:00
Saturday November 17, 2018 from 9:00 to 3:00

Lunch will be served at noon each day. Any of these tools that you can bring and use safely will come in handy:

String Trimmer
Loppers, clippers
Chain Saw
Rake

Big News – We plan to begin maintaining access to the cemetery Year-Round this year! You can help make it possible for visitors to park and walk through the cemetery even during weed growth season. More information will be forthcoming on opportunities next Spring and Summer to mow and string-trim – or recruit a friend or two to do so.

Work is at your own risk. There are opportunities for all to help in ways that are wise and safe for you.

You are accessing this greatly improved Dixon website. Thank you to my friend and talented web designer, Mike Hickcox, for making this possible. I am still working to add and update data and activate new features, so stay tuned.

News from Director Sally Ware- “We have just received our tax-exempt approval from the IRS for the Dixon. One more step is accomplished! I appreciate the help and thoughtful comments from each of you as we started this process, and I especially thank Aubrey for his help in commandeering the financial aspects necessary to make it happen. Aubrey will maintain the original letter of approval for the corporate file, and I will also be mailing a copy of the letter to Will. Thanks to all as we continue to move forward.”

Thank YOU, Sally for your skill and diligence in successfully filing for this official designation for the Dixon. Another great DHCA milestone has been achieved.