Bronze Medal Awards

CAPE COD CHAPTER

Jacqueline Staples

The Cape Cod Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society is delighted to bestow its highest honor, the Bronze Medal Award, to Jacqueline Staples in recognition of your dedication and willingness to assist wherever and whenever there was a need. Over the many years of your membership, you have acted as mentor, entertained visiting dignitaries and fellow chapter members, attended maintenance gatherings at the Orleans Rhododendron Display Garden, assisted at plant sales, and served as hospitality hostess in addition to your current duties as director of the chapter. All of these activities, and others not mentioned here, you performed in your usual unassuming, professional manner. Please accept our humble gratitude and this well deserved award, Jackie, for being such an important part of the chapter. May 18, 2003.

GREAT LAKES CHAPTER

John Heinze

The Great Lakes Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society is pleased to present the Bronze Medal to John Heinze in recognition for his many years of service for this chapter. John has served as president, vice-president, director, and currently as District 11 Director. He has donated his time and plants of rhododendrons and azaleas to the Toledo Botanical Gardens in Toledo, Ohio, raising the public awareness of the genus Rhododendron . He also donated his time and plants to enhance the grounds of the Catholic Diocese Cathedral Church in Toledo, Ohio. John's jovial personality and humor have enlivened many chapter meetings. He served as judge at many chapter truss shows. He has served as auctioneer at plant auctions and donated plants for the auctions. The Great Lakes Chapter is proud to present our chapter's highest award, the Bronze Medal, to John Heinze. May 24, 2003.

KOMO KULSHAN CHAPTER

Lori and Dalen Bayes

The Komo Kulshan Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society is proud to present its Bronze Medal, the chapter's highest award, to Lori and Dalen Bayes. Lori and Dalen have been members of the chapter for nineteen years and in that time have become two of its most stalwart members. They brought to the chapter an interest in all plants and have since developed a broad knowledge of rhododendrons as they developed their woodland garden on Sumas Mountain—a knowledge they willing share with members. They have also shared their adventures canoeing in the Far North through slides and anecdotes. Lori has served on the chapter board of directors and as our steadfast secretary/treasure for several years. She has also helped Dalen maintain the chapter library. Dalen has served on the chapter board of directors and as president, vice president and program chairman, a vital service to which he brings his ample ingenuity. He has also served as District 2 Alternate Director. They also have generously contributed plants to our auctions, where Dalen has proved his talent as auctioneer. When the Komo Kulshan Chapter was asked to host the 2002 Western Regional Conference, Lori and Dalen jumped into the fray and not only served on its planning committee but also took on important tasks, Lori the formidable task of conference treasurer along with banquet preparations and Dalen the task of organizing the memorable trip to Mt. Baker. But most of all, the chapter thanks Lori and Dalen for their cheerfulness and hospitality toward every member and for helping to make chapter hospitality toward every memeber and for making chapter meetings fun. May 2003.

MIDDLE ATLANTIC CHAPTER

Donald W. Hyatt

The Middle Atlantic Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society presents to Donald W. Hyatt this Bronze Medal Award in recognition of his many contributions of time and effort to our chapter. Don has written articles for the ARS Journal, developed his own web site for native azaleas and a prototype for our chapter. He has given talks to our chapter and at our regional meeting in Williamsburg. He has supplied table favors, auction plants, and participated in panel discussions. He has been an active member and host for our Species Study Group and has participated in several of the Species Study Group trips. For these things and his overall willingness to help when needed, we present with sincere appreciation this Bronze Medal, our chapter's highest honor. April 26, 2003.

PORTLAND CHAPTER

Diana Hoffman

As a new devotee of rhododendrons, you joined the Portland Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society to learn all you could about your new interest. You were soon recruited to become chapter secretary. You willingly accepted this position and performed these duties with great skill. You also provided creative ideas during the chapter's board meetings that were useful to all the committees. Because of your unique business background and experience, you were subsequently approached about serving as the chapter's treasurer. You readily accepted this position and fulfilled these responsibilities with enthusiasm, using your fiscal knowledge and leadership ability. You produced quality financial statements and also performed in depth studies on subjects of specific concern when requested. For your outstanding service, the Portland Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society is proud to present the Bronze Medal to Diana Hoffman. May 15, 2003.

PRINCETON CHAPTER

Willi and Irene Muenchrath

The American Rhododendron Society, Princeton Chapter, takes pride and pleasure in awarding the Society's Bronze Medal to Willi and Irene Muenchrath. The Princeton Chapter and the American Rhododendron Society were fortunate when Willi and Irene Muenchrath became members in 1992. Since that time, Willi and Irene, you have distinguished yourselves by your dedication and service to our Society. The social period of our meetings is a time for exchanging ideas and getting to know one another and as such is an important part of each meeting. The chapter is in your debt for the seven years that you have labored to provide hospitality and refreshments during the social period. We have all learned to look forward to Willi's greeting and Irene's oven masterpieces. We have also learned to look forward to the propagation workshops and cuttings exchanges which you have hosted over the years in the peaceful woods and gardens which surround your home. Therefore, this ninth day of March, 2003, in recognition of your service to the chapter and the Society, the Princeton Chapter presents you with this Bronze Medal.

Rosemary Staba

The American Rhododendron Society, Princeton Chapter, takes pride and pleasure in awarding the Society's Bronze Medal to Rosemary Staba. Your efforts on behalf of our chapter have been numerous, effective, and helpful to so many members. As book chairwoman, board member, study group member, plant sale and truss show supporter, you have assisted and supported virtually every chapter activity. This medal is in appreciative recognition of your efforts. Thank you, Rosemary. Therefore this ninth day of March 2003, in recognition of your service to the chapter and the Society, the Princeton Chapter presents you with this Bronze Medal.

Peg Van Patton

The American Rhododendron Society, Princeton Chapter, takes pride and pleasure in awarding the Society's Bronze Medal to Peg Van Patton. Peg has been a member of the ARS since 1978, a tenure of 23 years, during which she has consistently been an enthusiastic, willing and effective supporter of all of our chapter activities. She is an avid rhododendron collector, a successful grower and a keen observer of cultivar characteristics. She has served as a member of the chapter Board of Directors. As our plant show chairman for the last eight years, she has organized and directed our spectacular truss shows, one of our chapter's proudest achievements. She is a master in recruiting qualified judges and especially of exhorting members to submit entries that frequently exceed 300 per show. We salute her diligence in show arrangements and selection of appropriate awards, hallmarks of Princeton Chapter shows. We are especially grateful for her efforts in publicizing both our truss show and plant sale activities. At our plant sales she is always an energetic and tireless sales person and promoter of Society activities. Therefore this ninth day of March 2003, we present this medal with affection and warmest appreciation.