Part 1 - AHS Region 2

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AHS Region 2 Winter Symposium 2006THE CLEVELAND WINTER SYMPOSIUM: In A NutshellBy Curt HansonHMMM, The festivities began Friday night with “HappyHour” and an inspirational talk from AHS president KevinWalek. Encouraging new ideas to continue the dynamics ofone of America’s premier plant societies, Kevin has provento be a “hands on” administrator with a fresh approach topromote, encourage and foster the development and improvementof the genus Hemerocallis and the public interesttherein.Melanie Vassallo charmed us with a preview of the Nationalconvention in Long Island, New York this July, showingus that the Big Apple is not just skyscrapers and showtunes. Joe Goudeau brought us some Cajun country dayliliesand humor. Dan Hansen poked fun at some of the mythsand elaborate demands involved in today’s ultra competitivehigh end daylily culture. Slides and digital images of futureintroductions and cool new seedlings followed. The hospitalityroom and pub was open for those to carry on into thenight with fellowship and laughter.During the breakfast hour, Sara and Steve Zolock ofBelle Vernon, PA gave us an intimate tour of their gardenand hybridizing program. AHS journal editor Allen McLainexplained about our publications and invited us again toparticipate by writing creative and informative articles. DaveMussar, the president of the Ontario club, presented an indepth biography of one of our regions pioneering icons,Brother Charles Recamp. David Kirchhoff provided a mixedbag of commentary, humor, and opinions on how to bestserve our society. After lunch, Nikki Schmith presented uswith a briskly paced primer on Powerpoint, providing tips forbeginners and pros alike. Don Lovell gave us a tour of whatwe might expect at the National Convention in Minneapolisin 2007 and from the hybridizers of Region 1. Linda Agin ofAlabama explained how her hobby in antiques blossomedinto an obsession with daylilies, and Frank Smith of Floridagave us a glimpse of his world in orchids, landscaping resortsand building a daylily program.After each speaker a door prize was randomly chosen.Most of these were $100 gift certificates from the tophybridizers. Soon we were back with a social hour and theanticipated famous buffet before the “great auction” gotunderway. Successful bidders got an exciting array of newand in some cases impossible to obtain cultivars. The hospitalityroom was again crowded with wine, micro-brews, andlaughter, late into the night.Sunday morning began with a continental breakfast andCharles Douglas of Browns Ferry North Carolina givingus a tour of his expanding daylily operation. Don Jerabekof Indianapolis mixed his subtle humor with an update onWatson Park gardens. The event ended with slides of 2006introductions.This brief overview only provides a glimpse of the officialevent. The real magic was within the personal camaraderieof seeing old friends and meeting new ones. The WinterSymposium is Region 2’s annual kickoff to another fabulousyear in our gardens! We’ll do it again next year, and lookforward to seeing you!Hal Rice and Nick Balashenjoying the many speakers. (1)Registering....Curt Hansen talks to MargoReed and Bret Clemet. (3)Joyce Hersh and Lee Underschultzregistering all Symposiumattendees. (3)JR Blanton managing thePowerpoint presentations. (3)RVP Gisela Meckstrothgives Regional updates toattendees. (3)Gayle Tannebaum and RichSchaplowski from Region 11 enjoythe Region 2 symposium. (3)Images from:(1) Sharon Cusick (2) Karen Cuila (3) Narda JonesDon Jerabek thoughtsomeone was kiddingwhen asked to pose for aspeaker’s picture. (2)Page 20 Spring-Summer 2006 AHS Region 2/Great Lakes Newsletter
AHS Region 2 Winter Symposium 2006A Review of Featured SpeakersKevin Walek:Town Hall Style ForumBy Diane Pruden, Milford, MIKevin Walek, President of AHS, addressed the attendees early onat the symposium and then made himself available the weekend.As President-Elect, he had given a similar talk at another region’smeeting this past October.In identifying important items for histwo-year term as President, Kevin stressedincreasing the membership numbers inAHS and improving lines of communicationwith local clubs, the regional and thenational organization. It was clear thathe values direct communication with themembership whether or not the individualshold office or even aspire to hold officialpositions. At several times, he gave bothhis phone number and Email address andencouraged anyone with questions or suggestionsto feel free to contact him directly.Kevin told us that he had been givingspecific assignments to Board membersat the rate of about one per week since heassumed office on January 1. He expectsresults and implementation of these assignmentsby the summer board meeting thatwill occur at the AHS National Conventionthis summer.Membership is critical! When asked fora show of hands, two attendees indicatedthat they were not AHS members. In anexample to all and a demonstration of hiscommitment, Kevin stated that he wouldpay the first year membership for the firstperson who had raised their hand. He hasalso appointed a committee headed by KayDay to explore ways to increase membership,in particular a voucher program fornew members in which they would receivea dollar amount off the price of a daylilychosen from a list.Highlights of other issues and initiativesunderway are as follows:• A dues increase will be proposed at theconvention this summer.• A committee headed by Peggy Jeffcoat has been formed toreview all the AHS specialty awards and to have recommenda-The many hats of Kevin WalekImages by Narda Jonestions for the board at the convention. Other members of thiscommittee are David Kirchhoff, Gary Colby, Rich Rosen andBetty Roberts.• Betty Roberts has reviewed motions previously passed by theboards since the founding of AHS and has provided him witha listing of seventy conflicting motions. Furthermore, Kevin’sreview has found that the Policy and Procedures Manual is inconflict with many motions made by the boards over the years.Further work will be done to resolve these matters.• A rewrite of the Regional Officer’shandbook is in process. Job descriptionsin this handbook do not match the actualduties carried out by these officers.• A frequent question has regarded AHSInsurance. What and who does it cover?What are we paying for? Are we perhapspaying too much for the coverage? Apparentlythis coverage was obtained withouta bidding process. The master documentis a one-inch thick binder. The policycontents need to be communicated to theregions.• A committee is reviewing Round RobinAccreditation. This includes both thewritten and Email Robins.• Another concern is that there is no mastercopy of AHS documents and severalconflicting versions exist.• A thorough review of conventions isbeing made and Regional Directors willbe surveyed for suggestions regardingchanges.• Linda Sue Barnes has raised the issuethat many veterinarians (according to theASPCA) seem to think that hemerocallisplants are toxic to indoor only cats. Thisis contrary to the experience of numerousAHS members. This is something to belooked into in terms of an AHS response,etc.• Kevin has written an article, which willappear in The Daylily Journal, about hisphilosophy for the AHS and his term as itsPresident.In concluding his remarks, PresidentWalek stated that his goal was for “TheAmerican Hemerocallis Society to be the Number 1 plant societyin America!”AHS Region 2/Great Lakes NewsletterSpring-Summer 2006 Page 21
Page 1 and 2: American Hemerocallis SocietySpring
Page 3 and 4: American Hemerocallis SocietySpring
Page 5 and 6: Once again Curt Hanson and hismany
Page 7 and 8: Statement of Cash Receipts and Disb
Page 9 and 10: FEATURE ARTICLETRACKING PEDIGREES-
Page 11 and 12: Veriest School of Peace (continued
Page 13 and 14: meeting in 2004.” “It’s been
Page 15 and 16: AHS Region 2/Great Lakes Newsletter
Page 17 and 18: WILCOX GARDENSBob and Ethel Wilcox1
Page 19: GARDENVIEW HORTICULTURALPARKHenry R
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Part 1 - AHS Region 2

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