From The President
Ted Stecki
Voorhees, New Jersey

        As your new president, I want to say thanks to everyone for giving me the opportunity to serve the Society as president for the next two years. We face many challenges that I hope I can address and resolve during my term in office. I have an excellent staff supporting me including officers, directors, staff and committee chairs. Our big issue at the present is obtaining new members and retaining them. Membership dues contribute to a little over 68% of the Society's total income. Salaries for our editor, assistant editor and the executive director contribute to approximately 45% of our total expenses, and these three positions are the only paid ones paid in the Society. All others, twelve directors, committee chairs, officers, and secretary are volunteers and receive no subsistence. Shirley Rock, our membership chairperson, has communicated with all of the chapter presidents to get their opinions on getting new chapter members and retaining them. Shirley is determined to grow our membership from its present 4,000 members back to over 5,000, where it was about a decade ago.
        Following Sonja Nelson, our recently retired Journal editor, we have been fortunate to acquire a new editor, Dr. Glen Jamieson, who brings a lot of experience with him to enable us to keep our journal one of the best among those of horticultural societies. We have also been fortunate to have Sonja remain as the assistant editor to do layouts for the Journal and to help Glen as needed. Sandra McDonald, chair of the Editorial Committee, has an excellent team that will be watching over the Journal's content and its expenses and also providing any assistance as required. Bill Mangels our treasurer watches over our finances and investments. Bill has one of the most important jobs in the Society, for if we make money on our investments, Bill gets credit, but if we do not, he has explaining to do!
        I joined the Society in 1970 to learn about the genus Rhododendron. Over the years, I have learned much from various chapter members and the many friends that I have made. I am a team player and people oriented. My e-mail and telephone is always ready to receive and hear your comments, both good and bad. I look forward to keeping the Society on course and to help our Society remain a world-class organization.