JARS v59n4 - From the Executive Director

From the Executive Director
Laura Grant
Toronto, Ontario

Where would the world be without volunteers? Our Society is no exception. Dedicated, hard working members of our many chapters are responsible for the monthly newsletters, speakers, refreshments, plant shows and sales. Many, very important duties are carried out in the background, such as taking care of the Society's finances. Membership recruitment and renewals are other tasks that require accuracy and a lot of hard work.

You can help your membership chair by paying your membership dues early in the fall and get your name on the 2006 membership list. Only those paid-up members on Dec.1st will be sure to receive the winter Journal.

We are planning to reprint those colorful "An Invitation to the Wonderful World of Rhododendrons & Azaleas" brochures. It explains the objectives of ARS and the benefits of belonging to this great Society. Many of you have found this to be a great tool in the past, for obtaining new members at public shows and events.

It goes without saying that printing of these brochures will be a costly undertaking. We invite your support and please contact our office for details. I would also like to thank those of you who have contributed already to this worthwhile project.

The chapters of District 4 have recently had the most successful 25th annual celebration at the Western Regional Conference in Newport, Oregon. With such interesting and diverse speaker program offered, it is not surprising that the attendance exceeded every expectation.

Chapters of District 7 would like to invite you all to East Windsor, New Jersey, in November, to another gathering of rhodoholics for fun and education. I am looking forward to meeting many of you then.