ASQ Section 0511 October 2024 Ranger Outing Announcement
Saturday, 5 October 2024, 12:00 pm — 1:15 pm
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct, Vienna, VA 22182 / Phone: 703.255.3631Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Ranger Outing Event
Event Organized by
Carolyn Miller
ASQ Section 0511 Arrangements Chair and Ranger Outings Lead
The Tour:
ASQ Section 0511 is pleased to have arranged for an approximate seventy five minute (one and one quarter hour) ranger-led tour of Meadowlark Botanical Garden's grounds, followed by an on-site picnic lunch brought in by your ranger lead. Space limitations provide for a maximum of twenty (20) participants per pre-reserved guide, so reserve your spot while you can!
A garden for all seasons, at the core of Meadowlark is a wonderful public garden to stroll and relax, and a center for environmental and horticultural education. Subject to change, aspects of our tour will include the Volgenau Conservatory holding the Mediterranean collection, herb garden, Gardiner and Caroline lakes, Hosta trail, and bonsai pavilion.'
The Venue:
The 95 acre Meadowlark park embodies the Virginia Piedmont, with large hills dropping off to small streams, forested hollows, ornamental gardens, native plants, lakes, trails, and expansive views. In 1935, Gardiner Means and social historian Caroline Ware purchased a 74-acre farm in Virginia's rolling Piedmont, outside of Washington, D.C., which was subsequently entrusted in the summer of 1980 to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA). Caroline Ware had hoped that the property would remain a haven for trees, shrubs, flowers, and wildlife and, in honor of Ware's wishes to preserve the bounty of the Virginia country side, the NVRPA bought a contiguous 21-acre parcel. The property currently boasts three lakes, gazebos, trails, sculptures, collections of hosta, daylilies, ornamental cherry trees, lilac, Siberian iris, lotus, an azalea garden, a variety of air, land, and water wildlife, and so much more. Meadowlark officially opened in April 1987 with Means and Ware as guests of honor, both having passed away less than three years later.
There are 3.5 miles of paved walking trails and 1.25 miles of mulched trails. A paved ADA accessible trail is designated on a digital map with a thick white line leading from the Visitor Center to the Lake Caroline Gazebo. Please be mindful that fishing, swimming, disturbance of garden beds, and disturbing or feeding the wildlife found throughout Meadowlark is not permitted.
The tour will meet at the Visitor Center, where you will find the gift shop and restrooms. Parking is free. Should a wheelchair be required, one may be available upon advance request.
Lunch will be provided following the tour, in the picnic area located outside of the fenced Garden property, adjacent to the Lilac Pavilion, near the parking area. Picnic tables are available on a first come first served basis.
Things to Remember:
- ASQ Section 0511 Ranger Outing events are eligible for .5 Recertification Unit (RU).
- Participation will require commuting to the location and spending time there comparable in duration to regular ASQ meetings.
- The tour will commence promptly at the noted time. Please arrive on time as missing more than fifteen (15) minutes of the tour may result in forfeiture of reimbursement as well as associated RUs for participation.
- A networking meal, in the picnic area, will follow the event. There is NOT a To-Go option. You will need to stay and participate in the networking lunch to receive the meal and associated reimbursement.
- You (and guest, if applicable) must register with successful payment here: https://app.memberplanet.com/#/event/asqnorthernvirginiasection/20241005-MeadowlarkRO
- Payment and reimbursement details are listed on the registration page.
Event Leader Background:
Carolyn Miller is a Senior Analyst in charge of Exam Compliance, Internal Audits, and Risk Management at Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). She is also an ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA). Her experience includes the fields of compliance, quality assurance, R&D, regulatory, marketing, and sales. In her work, she applies operating principles within a lean, six sigma driven organization and uses her knowledge and background of risk management and due diligence. She is a published author of a revenue-generating QA policy manual for community pharmacies. Carolyn has been the ASQ Section 0511 Arrangements Chair since 2015. If you have been to the Section's restaurant events during these years or have come to any of our Ranger Outings events, you have used the results of her generous volunteer service!
Section Leadership Committee meeting
6:00pm — 7:00pm – Section Leadership Committee meeting on 9 October 2024
Joining by a direct link:
Meeting link: https://asq.webex.com/asq/j.php?MTID=mf9eacfe383eb679d2189a2bc3466debf
Joining by meeting information (requires entering the password):
Web address: https://asq.webex.com/asq
Meeting number: 2558 731 5440
Password: vcXvNJjF372
Joining by phone (you will have to identify yourself by name when you have joined):
Phone number: 1-408-792-6300 Call-in number (US/Canada)
Access code: 2558 731 5440
Next Meeting:
Wednesday, 13 November 2024 — TBA
Call for Speakers!!!
Would you or someone you know like to speak at a future ASQ meeting? We're always looking for volunteers. Be creative! Exercise your public presentation skills! Earn recertification credits! Get a free dinner! Please contact programs24@asq0511.org.
About Us:
ASQ Section 0511 is a geographic community that lives intertwined with the network of ASQ Divisions — technical communities specializing in specific quality domains and supporting ASQ Certifications in their domains.