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AHS Region 2/Great Lakes Newsletter
Region 2 Symposium 2000 (continued)
A Presentation by Kath
athy Guest
Beyond Napkin Folding:
Star
tarting ting and Maintaining a Daylily Club
by Paul Limmer, New York,
and Dr. Joann Stewart, Georgia
Kathy Guest is a member of BADS (the Buffalo Area
Daylily Society). Her title wouldn’t lead you to believe
that you were going to be given a fishing lesson, but
her “modus operandi” advice was aimed toward reeling
in fairly wary game: potential daylily club members,
and making them happy about it!
While some potential members would eagerly join a
club, Kathy pointed out that, in most cases, potential
members simply don’t realize the advantages of membership
in a plant-specific group; so, it’s necessary to
hook them before you can reel.....................
Why A Daylily Club
She outlined the club membership advantages, which
Daylily clubs are flower clubs, and
flower clubs should be fun and
should not be taken so seriously that
they become life-consuming.
Kathy Guest
can be pointed out to prospective members: (1) camaraderie
with a common interest group, (2) tapping into
the common pool of knowledge among members and
increasing knowledge collectively, (3) increasing the
quality of plant material in your area (something
achieved better collectively than on your own), and (4)
the simple “good green fun” of being with other plant
people.
Where to Start
Her best advice about where to start was recognizing
that you can do it. A single person may make the
decisions, pick a date, enlist the aid of friends or members
of other “green organizations,” contact the RVP
and nearest clubs for support. She advised that simplicity
is the key to obtaining newcomer interest, and
that showing slides is preferable to holding cut scape
exhibits in the early stages, because slides may be interwoven
into almost any presentation.
I have a Barn, Let’s Have a Show–Think GREEN
Locations for slide presentations might be found
through other “green organizations,” such as specific
botanical clubs in the area, but any site with capacities
for 30-60 might be considered. In order of preference
were locations of other “green groups,” civic
groups, and cooperative extension sites. Less desirable
“Kathy held
the audience
in the palm
of her hand
without the
aid of
gorgeous
slides of
eyezones,
edges, colors,
forms, and
incredible
advances in
daylilies.”
but also possible for meetings were the sites such as
zoos. Last, but not outside acceptability were schools
and library facilities.
Baiting the Hook
Kathy’s advice about attracting visitors for the purpose
of forming a club was not dissimilar to advice
about catching fish. Baiting the hook is the place to
start!
Catchy but simple titles to presentations and confidence-inspiring
information/advice messages are essential
to bolstering enthusiasm.
Ways to get the word out included using existing “ green
groups” (garden clubs or other plant-specific groups)
as information vehicles, possibly including mass mailings
from their club membership lists, but also exploring
using available media coverage.
Aiming for a 2-week maximum advance publicity time
frame for maximum exposure ensures “freshness” appeal
to the prospective attendee. Press releases, flyers,
and catalogs were all recommended attention grabbers.
She recommended that the meetings have a small charge,
to ensure that participants would feel they were to receive
value for money and that they were not simply
attending a free (and, therefore, worthless) presentation.
Goin’ Fishin’
Before the first meeting, make sure you have these in place:
♦Keeping money on hand to make change for bills and
coins (for entrance fees)
♦Items for door prizes and raffles, raffle tickets
♦Handouts
♦Designated “shmoozers” to welcome visitors in a friendly
way and to smooth the awkwardness of “first visits.”
(continued on next page)
Page 24 Spring/Summer 2000