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Spotsylvania women's club urges county to preserve Marshall Center for community use
Summary
Members of the Spotsylvania County Women's Club told the Board of Supervisors they were concerned that a proposed renovation of the Marshall Center for school use could displace longstanding community groups that rely on the facility.
At Tuesday's meeting, Judith Rogers of the Cortland District addressed the Board of Supervisors on behalf of the Spotsylvania County Women's Club, urging officials to preserve the Marshall Center as a community facility.
Rogers said the women's club, organized in the 1950s and active in supporting scholarships, veterans and local charitable work, has held monthly meetings and held fundraisers at the Marshall Center since the early 1990s. "Our club president recently requested dates for next year and was told they weren't scheduling yet, so that lends credibility to our concerns," she said.
Why it matters: multiple nonprofits and civic groups use county community centers for meetings, meals and fundraising. Rogers warned that renovating the Marshall Center for school use could limit access for longstanding civic activities and for senior gatherings that, she said, are sometimes the only social outing for participants.
Rogers described the club's activities in detail: providing Easter baskets for homeless children, donating to Treasure House and McGuire VA Hospital, hosting luncheons and craft shows, and running programs that serve seniors and cancer patients. She asked the board to consider upgrades to the Marshall Center auditorium's lighting and sound so the building could serve more public events.
The board did not take formal action during public presentations on the issue. Several supervisors later thanked Rogers and asked county staff to follow up so community groups could confirm space and scheduling availability.
Ending: Rogers invited supervisors to the club's upcoming luncheon and asked that the county preserve access to the Marshall Center for community groups if the facility is repurposed.
