From The President
H. Edward Reiley
Woodsboro, Maryland

The most important things in our lives are: being in good health, our families, and having good friends. Proper selection of parents is the best assurance of good health and attending ARS Conventions is the best way to find new friends.

As I reflect over the years since joining the ARS in 1969, the one thing that immediately springs forward is the many great, priceless friends Mary and I have made over the years. Many of them are from our local chapter and many more are from chapters all over the US, Canada, and Scotland. How fortunate we have been to meet these great people.

Society conventions are much more than a place to pick up good information, those just must-have plants, good food, and a time to relax and vacation in new beautiful places; they are a place to pick up new friends and visit with familiar friends. For me the ARS convention is a homecoming and I anxiously await each meeting.

If you are a regular attendee of ARS conventions you are shaking your head "yes" at this point. If you do not attend, you have no idea what you are missing. Life is too short a journey to miss out on such pleasure. Plan to be with us at the next meeting and you will experience educational seminars, plant and book sales like no others, and best of all great people just waiting to be your newest friend.

I look forward to seeing you there.