JARS v64n2 - Bronze Medal Awards
Bronze Medal Awards
EUGENE CHAPTER
Bronze Medal: Merle Sanders
The Eugene Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society takes great pleasure in presenting its highest honor, the Bronze Medal, to Merle Sanders.For many years Eugene Chapter members have been privileged to enjoy companionable good humor, keen insights, and numerous excellent hybrid creations from one of our "southernmost" members - Merle Sanders of Roseburg. Merle has logged many miles on the one-hundred-mile-plus round trip to chapter meetings and flower shows to share these gifts with all of us. His delightful garden has been an inspiration open to all as we climbed the hillside with Merle and heard his comments on many beautiful rhododendrons growing there. And he has put pen to paper in writing many article for our newsletter, ranging all the way from fun comments to thoughtful observations on the culture of rhododendrons. We therefore gratefully present this recognition. (Merle Sanders passed away on Nov. 22, 2009.)
EUREKA CHAPTER
Bronze Medal: Ellie Gayner
Since you joined the Eureka Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society in April 2000, you have been an active participant in the chapter's programs and activities. More importantly, you have been active in promoting the chapter's programs and activities in local media. These efforts have paid significant dividends for the chapter, which has continued to increase its membership as a result of your efforts. You have worked long and hard to establish personal relationships with local newspaper, television and radio people, thus insuring that your information about chapter activities is fairly and accurately reported.You have also been involved many other ways in chapter programs. You are a regular volunteer at the annual Rhododendron Show and Sale. You have helped with the tasks involved in membership renewal. You participate in the Eureka Chapter's telephone tree calling members before each meeting. You have often supplied refreshments for our monthly meetings.
In recognition of these outstanding efforts on behalf of the chapter, the Eureka Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society is proud to award the Bronze Medal to Ellie Gayner.
KOMO KULSHAN CHAPTER
Bronze Medal: Jerry Rock
Jerry is a valuable member of Komo Kulshan Chapter and is currently serving as our vice president coordinating the programs for each of our meetings. He is also a valuable member of Pilchuck Chapter, having held several offices in the past. Jerry freely shares his knowledge about rhododendrons and azaleas to anyone and everyone. This is really important for our new members who are learning about rhododendrons. Jerry enjoys teaching and will do presentations on just about anything relating to rhododendrons. He has provided programs for school children, other garden clubs and rhododendron chapters. At ARS displays and booths in the community and nurseries you will see him talking with people about rhododendrons. He has been known to share his knowledge about rhododendrons just about anywhere including the local grocery store. He participates actively in our meetings and several times has been our auctioneer at our spring auction. Specifically for Komo Kulshan he supports our chapter membership by providing transportation for a few members who prefer not to drive at night to our meetings. He also supports our chapter by encouraging other chapter members to be involved with us and for us to participate in other chapters' events. Jerry is also known for helping to raise money for our chapter by "upping" the bids on rare or unique plants.The purpose of ARS is to encourage interest in and to disseminate knowledge about rhododendrons and azaleas. Without a doubt, Jerry achieves this purpose on a regular basis. It is with great pleasure that Komo Kulshan Chapter of the ARS presents the Bronze Medal to Jerry Rock this 15th day of October, 2009.
Bronze Medal: Shirley Rock
Shirley is not only a valuable member of Komo Kulshan Chapter but also of the ARS, the Pilchuck Chapter and has a love for fuchsias. She has served Komo Kulshan as the secretary/treasurer and is currently the treasurer. She helps with the plant sales and our auction in the spring by keeping the records of sales, marking the plants and collecting the money. She is always present and engaging at rhododendron booths, displays and sales arranged in our communities and local nurseries. She takes time to teach others by sharing her knowledge and her photographs, and encourages others to become actively involved in their chapters. Shirley will provide her computer and projector for presentations and often provides the presentation when needed on short notice.At the ARS level when the need was identified, Shirley came forward and volunteered to be the ARS Membership Committee chairperson and developed a program to help chapters identify what works to retain and expand memberships. She placed the information she gathered onto DVDs and provided a copy to all the chapters of ARS. For our International Annual Convention in Everett she volunteered to take over the treasurer's responsibilities onsite organizing the payment system, collecting all the receipts daily and entering the hundreds of credit card receipts into the telephonic system, one by one, and resolving the payment problems as they arose. She provided ideas of items to be sold in the store, created posters, and designed and created the booklet of maps for the private garden tours. She has also developed ideas, prepared the props and coordinated putting the displays together for our ARS booth at several of the Northwest Flower and Garden Shows in Seattle.
Shirley works well with local chapters, and with district and all ARS members to achieve the purpose of ARS to encourage interest in and to disseminate knowledge about rhododendrons and azaleas. It is with great pleasure that the Komo Kulshan Chapter of the ARS presents the Bronze Medal to Shirley Rock this 15th day of October, 2009.
MIDDLE ATLANTIC CHAPTER
Bronze Medal: James Brant
The Middle Atlantic Chapter is pleased to award James Brant with the Bronze Medal in recognition of your many contributions to our chapter, year after year, including president, member of the Board of Directors, and leader of many projects that have benefited Gregory Bald and other mountain balds for their enhancement and study. These projects have brought gratitude of the National Park Service and their renewed appreciation of our native species and natural hybrids that are national treasures.From the time you joined us, you always look for what needs doing, and then pitch in with remarkable energy to get it done. Whether it is helping with chores at meetings, organizing meetings, working on the convention, working on the chapter's exhibit at Maymont Flower Show, or hosting Board and Species Study meetings, you are always working for the chapter. For these and other contributions, we gratefully present our chapter's highest honor.
MIDWEST CHAPTER
Bronze Medal: John Migas
It is with sincere appreciation that The Midwest Chapter presents to John Migas the Bronze Medal of the American Rhododendron Society in recognition of his many years of dedicated service as vice president and president of our chapter. John has been a competent leader with his involvement and dedication for the success of our club. A few of these activities include plant sales, social events and garden visits. He is generous in giving his time to transporting plants from his nursery and another Michigan rhododendron grower to our annual plant sale held at the Chicago Botanical gardens. He also helps arrange seminars on root cuttings, hybridizing, soil preparation and John started the tradition of our annual Christmas Party starting in 2007.John operates a very eclectic and highly regarded (by Midwest azalea and rhododendron growers) garden nursery specializing in azaleas and rhododendrons in Saugatuck, Michigan. He is happy to share his extensive inventory with our members and often provides us with advice and recommendations. John has been and continues to be in touch with his members on club matters and events. December 5, 2009.
MOUNT ARROWSMITH CHAPTER
Bronze Medal: Ron and Judy McMaster
The ARS Bronze Medal, our highest award for chapter members, is a fitting honor for Ron and Judy McMaster, who have worked diligently for the Mount Arrowsmith Chapter for many years. Ron has served on the executive in many capacities including president and represented the island as District Alternate Director. As well he has been active in many fund-raising events.Judy served on the executive for several years and worked on many committees, including the Truss Show and the annual Garden Tour. Both have willingly taken on any chores they were asked to do. Ron and Judy have also hosted speakers, opened their beautiful seaside home to MARS garden tours and on many occasions welcomed chapter members to windup parties. MARS salutes you!
NOYO CHAPTER
Bronze Medal: Robert Boddy
This award is presented to Bob Boddy for his seemingly endless contributions to horticulture in the Western US and to the local rhododendron community.Bob has served as chapter president for the California Association of Nurserymen, as Western Regional President for the International Plant Propagators Society, and as a Board member of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Bob has been an innovator in the nursery business throughout his career that has been ongoing for over half a century. Currently, his focus is on developing small container plants for home use. He's been active in the Heather Society as well as the ARS.
The Noyo Chapter has been fortunate to have Bob as a member for many years. He's a charter member, was the chapter's sixth president, has served on the Board of Directors, the Nominating Committee, and has worked on the annual Plant Show and Sale. Bob has hosted several meetings and potlucks at his Descanso Nursery. He has instructed our members in many aspects of rhododendron propagation and care. Through the chapter Bob has introduced several new rhododendron hybrids. These introductions have contributed substantially to the recent financial success and notoriety of the chapter. Over the years Bob has contributed countless numbers of plants for our monthly plant raffles and for the show.
Bob has been instrumental in helping the Noyo Chapter fulfill its mission of encouraging interest in and disseminating information about the genus Rhododendro n. It is with great pleasure that the Noyo Chapter presents to Bob Boddy, for the second time, its highest award.
