CAG Recognizes Honorees and New Board

A number of Georgetown citizens were given awards for distinguished service by District Council member Jack Evans and CAG President Bob vom Eigen at the annual meeting of the Citizens Association of Georgetown, held May 23 at Dumbarton House. In addition, reelected board members and officers were recognized.

 Lee Child, June Libin and Edith Schafer of the Georgetown Garden Club were awarded the William A. Cochran Community Service Award for “exceptional efforts to protect and enhance the community’s parkland and architectural resources.” All three are longtime Georgetown residents and garden club members who literally get their hands dirty on club projects, including the restoration and replanting of gardens and trees at Dumbarton Oaks, on Book Hill, in Georgetown’s Rose, Montrose and Volta Parks, at Tudor Place and through Trees for Georgetown. Schafer wrote the text for “Gardens of Georgetown,” a book of photographs by Jenny Gorman, which together with the annual Georgetown Garden Tour has raised more than half a million dollars for Georgetown garden projects.

 Kevin Brandt of the National Park Service, who has been particularly supportive of the restoration of the C&O Canal in Georgetown, was awarded the Charles Atherton Award for exceptional service by a dedicated public-sector professional for outstanding work preserving and protecting historical Georgetown.

Michael Rankin of TTR/Sotheby’s was awarded the Martin-Davidson award for “outstanding businesses that have contributed significantly to the community” — in particular recognition of his leadership in making the international realty company the number-one-ranked Philanthropic Small Company in the Washington Metropolitan Area (so named by the Washington Business Journal).  

Jennifer Altemus Romm, CAG’s current vice president, was given the Belin Award for distinguished service to Georgetown over the years. She was CAG’s president previously.

Special appreciation awards were also given to Appalachian Spring owners David and Paula Brooks, who are closing their Georgetown store after 48 years. “It’s been a great pleasure being a part of Georgetown the past 50 years,” said Brooks, choking up as he addressed the crowd.

Also recognized were the dozen or so “public safety block captains,” who are forming an ever more visible crime watch/first communicators brigade in Georgetown.

 All standing board directors were reinstalled. Officers include President Eigen, VP Romm, Secretary Hazel Denton and Treasurer John Richardson.