JARS v60n1 - Bronze Medal Awards

Bronze Medal Awards

CASCADE CHAPTER

Bonnie Campbell

The Cascade Chapter is proud to award Bonnie Campbell the highest honor that any chapter can bestow upon a chapter member, the Bronze Medal. This medal is awarded to Bonnie to show the chapter's great respect and its gratitude for her service to both the Cascade Chapter and the rhododendron community. Over the past few years we've noticed that Bonnie Campbell has a lot to do with the success of the Cascade Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. She has been vice president of the club and responsible for many great programs. She has also been show chair for the past three years. It was during this time that we became fully aware of the effort she has put forth for our chapter. As show chair she took seriously the responsibility to see that all aspects of the show and awards went well. She worked on a new system for identifying show entries - both trusses and plants. She obtained information from several other chapters about their show rules. She then devised our own system and has refined it each succeeding year. She made sure our judges were taken care of, the show had plenty of volunteers, and that everyone had a good experience, including a good lunch. As a board member she is cooperative, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. Clearly we must recognize her contribution to our chapter and present her with Bronze Medal as a token of our appreciation.

COWICHAN VALLEY CHAPTER

Doris & Ian Anderson

The Cowichan Valley Chapter is pleased to present the Bronze Medal, the chapter's highest honour, to Doris and Ian Anderson for their combined distinction and long time contributions to the chapter. Ian's energy and enthusiasm have guided him through fourteen years of various executive positions within the chapter, from director, to treasurer, to vice president and onto the presidency. Doris' willingness to support Ian in his executive duties is only eclipsed by her readiness to volunteer and participate in all chapter activities, from the monthly meeting plant sales and raffles, to the sharing of plant material and knowledge of rhododendron seed propagation, to the opening of their home and garden to numerous chapter functions. In recognition of your many contributions, the Cowichan Valley Chapter is pleased to present to Ian and Doris Anderson, the Bronze Medal. June 4, 2005.

Daphne Jackson

The Cowichan Valley Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society takes great pleasure in awarding the Bronze Medal to Daphne Jackson for her years of service and participation in all aspects of chapter activities. From the beginning of the Cowichan Chapter as a charter member, your enthusiasm for the genus Rhododendron has led you to positions as secretary and as a director on several occasions. You have, numerous times over the years, given slide presentation at chapter meetings, graciously shared cutting material to chapter propagators and opened your garden to countless tours and picnics. Your gardening skills have been proven numerous times through your participation in chapter truss shows and the awards you have received, while your talent as a painter is displayed in many a member's home. Therefore, on June 4, 2005, in recognition of your contribution, the Cowichan Valley Chapter presents to you the Bronze Medal, its highest award.

HAWAII CHAPTER

Richard Marques & Sherla Bertelmann

Our members know that you are a wonderful husband and wife team who worked tirelessly to found Hawaii's only nursery specializing in vireyas. We also are keenly aware that you have worked together to do so very much to help our chapter and its members in a great variety of ways:

Richard, you served as vice president and then two terms as president. During your administration you supplied the motivation along with boundless energy and expertise to make our public vireya garden a reality. Through your efforts and sharing of knowledge as well as plants you were able to generate much local excitement for this wonderful section of the Rhododendron genus. Now the public has a place to enjoy not only many hybrids, but a growing number of species planted in a special bed.

Sherla, you served as chapter treasurer and now you are serving your second term as president. In addition to putting on vireya displays at numerous flower shows including you own garden you organized the "Vireya Around the World" seminar in 2003 with speakers from four countries. You were able to achieve national recognition for our chapter through sponsorship of the ARS 2004 Western Regional Conference. Furthermore, under your guidance our membership has grown to over 100 members.

Sherla and Richard, together you have not only done much for the Vireya section and the Hawaii chapter but you have endeared yourselves to all of us who enjoy the pleasure of knowing and working with you. Just your presence brightens our lives.

OLYMPIA CHAPTER

Connie Klein

Connie began attending chapter meetings in 1987 as a guest of rhododendron enthusiast Paul Rogers. Her knowledge of the genus Rhododendron rapidly increased as did her positive contributions and support to our chapter. She faithfully served over the years as a volunteer on spring work parties at Tumwater Falls Park, at the annual May truss shows, at the Thurston County Fairgrounds rhody planting, and in many substantive roles and chairs in the chapter. She held offices through president to the great benefit of the chapter and continues to serve as past president on the chapter's Board of Directors. Connie served on the 2003 ARS International Convention steering committee for three years as a key contributor in preconvention planning and activities, and assisted the various convention committees in the advancement of their efforts. She was called at a pivotal leadership moment and, without hesitation, assumed the overall chair. The "Treasures of the Pacific Northwest" convention not only was a huge success in terms of content and participant enjoyment, it earned substantial financial benefit for the American Rhododendron Society and chapters of District 3. Her kind spirit, organizational skills, determination, attention to detail and calm demeanor were essential ingredients to the success of this convention. It is with great pride, admiration and appreciation that the Olympia Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society recognizes Connie Klein for her long term and very substantial record of dedication to our chapter and the goals of the Society. Presented this 12th day of December 2003.

TAPPAN ZEE CHAPTER

Arnold Card

In recognition of your efforts in promoting the objectives of the Tappan Zee Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, we are honored to present you with our highest award. During the eight years of your membership, you have generously assisted the chapter in its activities, given your time and labor to insure the success of its plant sales, and most recently completed a two year term as chapter president. For these contributions, the Tappan Zee Chapter is proud to present the Bronze Medal to you this 21st day of September 2005.