"The purpose of the American Rhododendron Society is the encouragement of the culture of rhododendrons, including azaleas, and the increase of the general understanding of and interest in all aspects of these plants." Those words are written in the first article of our bylaws.

Since 1945 we've been looking for inventive ways to introduce newcomers to the Society. It's shocking to think of how many people purchase rhododendrons each year who would be delighted to know that an organization such as ours exists.

With the advent of the Internet, people looking for information about rhododendrons no longer need to rely on the wisdom of the garden center or the local library. But, not everyone has access to the Internet, and it will be a long time before we replace all of the information to be found in a well-endowed library.

It's the goal of the Society to begin the year 2000 with at least 6,000 members - a number almost reached last year. Is your chapter doing its part to fulfil the mission of the Society? Why not think about being a benefactor to your local library and organize some information days at the local garden center.

Just one $28 gift membership to your local library can reach hundreds of people. Here's the checklist of sponsorship you or your chapter can give to get the most "bang for the buck and the time" you give to your community:

1. A gift membership to your local library
2. A gift membership to your local botanical or other public garden
3. Take the responsibility of leaving membership information at your garden center [Your chapter can obtain brochures and free journals from my office (OARS)]
4. Organize information days at the garden center while the rhododendron season is in full bloom
5. Make a simple poster for the garden center or public garden saying:

Dee Daneri, ARS Executive Director, and Mike Stewart, Western Vice-president and ARS Membership Chairman, led a lively discussion at a two hour seminar at the ARS Convention in Bellevue. Here are some of the items discussed, handouts and ideas from a room full of ARS members.

• Establish a membership committee in your chapter to work on ways to bring in new members and to retain them.
• Distribute excess Journals at shows and other community events as promotional material, Include membership applications.
• Solicit your local garden store for membership in the ARS. See if they would be willing to distribute information about the ARS.
• Offer to be an information person on rhododendrons at your local garden store once a year during blooming season. Include ARS membership information.
• Have your chapter sponsor your local library to a membership.
• Invite other garden group to your meeting. Have a special speaker, etc.
• All botanical gardens, nurseries and garden centers in your region should have information about the ARS.
• Commercial members should be asked to include ARS membership information in their catalog.
• Some commercial nursery members have offered a free membership with a purchase of over $200.00 in plants. This may be good for both the new member and the Nurseryman.
• Don't leave home without a membership application.
• Read the "Ideas for Chapters" section in the Rhododendron News by Herb and Betty Spady.
• Offer a free plant with a membership in the ARS.
• Analyze why someone joins the ARS, and see if and how the chapter is meeting their needs. Some reasons why members join:

Amongst the many small 'Projects' I am currently taking forward is one on Membership. This may be of some interest. You will be aware that around a year ago we introduced a colour cover to the new format of the Scottish Chapter's 'Newsletter' and 'Yearbook'.

A good community project is to ask your garden centers to let your group sponsor a Saturday (or another time) answering questions about rhododendrons. It doesn’t have to be anymore than an hour. You’ll be surprised at the interest and response you get for very little effort. Besides that, it is really ‘fun’ to do and you’ll feel good about it. This also helps to fulfill our non-profit obligation to educate the public about the genus Rhododendron. (Suggestion of Mike Stewart, Western Vice President)

[These ‘news briefs’ are taken from a few of the chapters’ newsletters in March and April, 1999. Only a few have been cited. The editor, bettyspady@aol.com, would like to know if you would like this continued as part of the Rhododendron and Azalea News.]

Mount Arrowsmith (MARS) (March 9, 1999) is in Parksville, Vancouver Island, B.C. Speaker Don McWatt of Island Specialty Nursery, Chemainus, in his program, "Hellebores and Cyclamen" said that the new species of Hellebores are primarily from central Europe. Drop flower hellebores seeds itself. Seeds take about a year to germinate. They don’t like their roots disturbed so don’t divide real well. The pink flowered ones open white and turn pink. Deer don’t eat them. They like organic feeding and mulch but not too deep.

Susquehanna Valley Chapter (March 21, 1999) met in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Joe Minahan was elected President of the chapter. The group was treated to a program by Win Howe showing slides of a tour to Scotland during the May 1996 ARS Annual Convention. The chapter has boosted their membership by eight.

Connecticut Chapter’s program in March 1999 was given by Dr. Stephen Spongberg. He spoke on the "History of Plant Collecting in East Asia" and "The Polly Hill Arboretum." The Chapter’s Website is now on the Internet.

De Anza Chapter (Los Altos, California area) program was a panel of six members who gave presentations on fertilizers, container growing, soils, identifying plants and companion plants. It was very well received.

Eureka Chapter’s (California) March speaker was Don Wallace, Singing Tree Nursery, who gave an excellent program on photographing gardens. He began by displaying the equipment he uses. He then showed a series of slides that illustrates the importance of record-keeping, film type, time of day to photograph, accessory light reflection and F-stops and exposure time.

Eugene Chapter in Oregon (April 1999) elected Michael Robert as president. ARS Journal Editor presented a program with slides from many gardens, some of which will be used in her upcoming book, Landscaping with Rhododendrons. It is to be published by Timber Press sometime this next year.

New York Chapter featured information for beginners interested in showing trusses and azalea sprays at their March meeting. Patricia Brack and "Bud" Gehnrich gave demonstrations. Charles Rasweiler was elected president.

Southern California’s (Los Angeles area) At the March meeting, Tom Nuccio gave the history of his family’s second generation Nursery and displayed some of the plants which had made success possible. These plants were then donated to the Plant Sales Table. A favorite of his is R. ‘Red Bird’ with R. ‘Pink Ruffles’ probably the best new hybrid.

North Island Rhododendron Society (Vancouver Island). On March 9 members heard Betty Kennedy give a fantastic history of the Finnery Garden at the University of Victoria. In addition Marjorie Corsaut gave an educational talk on growing plants from seedlings that have sprouted in the garden.

Fraser Valley Rhododendron Society (Maple Ridge, British Columbia area) was given a spectacular slide presentation by Norbert Wuensche at the March meeting. He combined his electronics business along with his passions about rhododendrons and photography to come up with this great program right down to the music.

Hawaii Chapter met with Friends of the Zoo in March. Both presidents expressed enthusiasm for the idea of adding a Vireya Rhododendron Garden to the Zoo Garden area. Bill Moyles from California Chapter came to help get the chapter started with this new project.

Whidbey Island Chapter held its first annual Rhododendron Flower Truss show in April.

Ozark Chapter encompasses all or parts of several states. They meet twice a year. Members come from Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Louisiana. Their spring meeting was held in Heber Springs/Clinton, Arkansas. Speakers were John Thornton ("Hybridizing for Heat tolerant Rhododendrons") and Sue Mohr ("Tips on Pruning Azaleas and Rhododendrons"). Four gardens in the area were on tour.

Princeton Chapter’s speaker in March was John Weagle from Halifax, Nova Scotia who spoke on the current status of rhododendrons in Nova Scotia and new plants.

Pine Barrens Chapter in New Jersey heard a program in March by Hank Shannen about the development of his "Rare Find Nursery."

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Program Planners

Check Calendar Pages of present and back issues of Rhododendron and Azalea News for ideas of what kinds of programs were given and who has given them at other chapter meetings.

A new Speakers’ Bureau list will soon be available from the ARS website (http//www.rhododendron.org). For privacy considerations of the speakers listed, access to this information will require the chapter codes.  The ARS Board of Directors decided to make the list of speakers available this way because of the high cost of printing and mailing copies (several hundred dollars). Details have not yet been worked out but we hope that a few "hard copies" will also be available. Notices will be mailed to the chapter presidents when the new list is ready, probably by August 1999. Keep watch for it. If you have any questions, write bettyspady@aol.com. Be sure to title the subject "Speakers’ Bureau."

Subj: Need your help

From: CKyle5775

I would like to give a class on how to identify rhododendrons. I gave one short class on DNA (we read Dr. Benjamin D. Hall's, "DNA Changes Accompanying the Evolution of Plant Species," in the Vol. 52 of the ARS journal). What is the next step? Is there an outline on what to cover? Are there tapes that we can view? The long-term goal is to be able to look at a plant and tell what the species is. Like myself, there are other members who have plants, but don't know the name. If we could look at the plant's characteristics (leave, flower, shape, color, and size etc.) and put it into a group, this would help.

Curt Kyle, Program Planner, Lewis County Chapter

The Calendar of Garden Events now has 400 listings of shows, festivals, tours and plant swaps. See what's listed for your area at http://www.gardencalendar.com.

And don't forget, if your plant society, public garden, garden club or other gardening group has an upcoming event, make sure our readers can find out about it by adding it to the calendar at http://www.gardencalendar.com/addform.cgi.

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Garden of the Month: Kitsap Chapter has a column known as "Garden of the Month" which the editor profiles about chapter members’ gardens. This seems like a nice way to acquaint members with other members’ gardens. (From Kitsap Chapter Newsletter, February 1999.

Rhododendron of the Month: Species and/or Hybrid of the month -- an item in the newsletter written by the editor or another member. These were presented in several different ways. Some were quite short and to the point while others gave an in-depth article about the plant.

Check your Spelling Reminder: Don’t forget to use your spelling checker. Checking spelling is so easy to use on the computer. When you have finished, a good proof reading doesn’t hurt either. All of us need a reminder to use this tool once in a while.

Rhododendron Species Names Spelling Checklist: In addition to your computer Spelling and Grammar Check, you can copy and paste  a spelling checklist of rhododendron subgenera and species by clicking here(revised 06/07/99).  This can be added to your own spell checking custom or special dictionary. (The rhododendron spell checker is courtesy of Dr. Herbert A. Spady, Willamette Chapter ARS.)

 Do you have ideas to share with others? Do you have a special problem which you’d like someone to help you solve? Send to bettyspady@aol.com.

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