Annual Meeting 2026
The past year demonstrated exciting progress but our work to preserve and promote the Tavern is far from done. In this annual meeting, members gathered at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum for the Society’s Annual Membership Meeting and reception. President Ron Vassallo highlighted a year of progress—including an endowment exceeding $276,000, a new website, and advances toward the Historic American Tavern Trail—and outlined priorities for 2027. Treasurer Cathy Van Way reviewed the Society’s financial position and proposed budget, while members considered bylaw changes designed to strengthen Board participation, support focused task forces, and clarify coordination with the Office of Historic Alexandria. Together, these steps positioned the Society to preserve Gadsby’s Tavern and share its stories with future generations.
June 21, 2026
Thank you members and donors for helping us achieve our Endowment Fund goal!
“This has been a year of real progress. We set out to strengthen the Society’s base, and we have done that.”
— Ron Vassallo
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After years of pursuing our $250,000 goal for the Society’s Endowment Fund, dedicated members and donors helped us sustain the Tavern’s future.
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A generous donation from the William H. Donner Foundation enabled the board to commission the design and deployment of a more engaging website.
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We have begun discussions with several historic taverns to establish a historic tavern trail along the eastern seaboard that celebrates the role of the tavern in shaping the American republic.
