RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard Association and Virginia National Guard Enlisted Association announced today that the originally scheduled mixer event scheduled for Friday, July 29, at Vagabond: Restaurant and Lounge, has been cancelled. The Friday mixer has been replaced by an exclusive evening guided tour of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Capitol Building.

“While Vagabond is a phenomenal venue and we were all very excited to network and share in a fun experience together, we couldn’t make all details happen,” Andrew J. Czaplicki, VNGA president, explained. “I think the new event adds a ton of history and context to our associations’ purpose.”

According to the General Assembly’s webpage, the Capitol of Virginia was designed in 1785 by Thomas Jefferson with help from Charles Louis Clerisseau while Jefferson was serving as U. S. Minister to France. The Virginia General Assembly occupied the Capitol in 1788 and members of the Virginia executive and judicial branches moved into the building in 1789. It is the first American State Capitol designed after the Revolutionary War and the first public building in the New World to be constructed in the form of a classical Roman temple. The east wing for the House of Delegates and the west wing for the Senate of Virginia were opened in 1906 and remain in use by lawmakers today.

Conference attendees will depart the conference hotel and receive a professionally guided tour of the Capitol and surrounding grounds.

“Tours are not typically done during the evening,” Czaplicki said. “But if you’ve ever driven by the Capitol at night, there’s just something cool about it and draws you in– I’m really excited about it!”

The afterhours guided tour had to be approved by both the Commonwealth of Virginia’s House of Delegates and Senate Clerks, Czaplicki explained.

The annual joint conference of the VNGA and VNGEA, and the annual Virginia National Guard Military Ball and Gala registration closes Thursday, July 18, 2022. Registrations are accepted through midnight on Thursday. Register at this link.

The weekend activities are open to all currently serving and former members of the Virginia National Guard, the VNGA, the VNGEA, the Virginia National Guard Historical Foundation and friends of the National Guard. Junior Officers and experienced leaders will benefit from the career-specific breakout sessions, as well as from each other, in a friendly networking environment.

Registration closes at midnight Thursday, July 18, 2022. Reserve your spot here!

Reporters, Editors & Producers: Leaders are available for interviews or to appear as subject matter experts on issues related to the Virginia National Guard Association. Email contact@vnga.us to schedule an interview or appearance.