bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - How To Get Club members To Support The Club

Our local bonsai club in Rocheser, New York (Bonsai Society of Upstate New York) is over 30 years old. We now have well over 100 members according to our treasurer and usually get 50-75 per meeting. Some of our member drive over one hour to attend meetings from Syracuse, Bufflo and Ithaca, New York.

Everyone helps, always. We have a large exhibition in May and we only have one 90 minute meeting to organize it. Everyone knows what to do, and we do it. We do not care who gets credit for the job, we all pitch in. No politics here.

A few years ago we had the opportunity to get bonsai artist Mr. Gondo from Japan for an unscheduled meeting. We asked the members if they wanted to learn from him and they all said yes. So I told them, we can charge $10 to get in for this special meeting, OR they must buy raffle tickets (1/$1, 7/$5 15/$20) to support this extra event. Well they did. We hosted Mr. Gondo and his assistant, paid their expenses and purchaesed the demo tree, and imported Satsuki azalea for abou $600. After paying all the expenses this great program cost the club $35.

On Tuesday evening we had our annual holiday party. I showed slides from Japan and the Ginkgo Show. Members brought in deserts to share, club provided punch/coffee. Afterwards we had a blind auction (people bring gifts, mostly bonsai related) wrapped and we auction them off for the club. I thanked the members for their gifts and told them that this auction is our largest money making event for the year. We actually make more money here than our spring show in May. So I told them we expect them to support the auction. we had great items. End result we saw some great bonsai in slides, had delicious deserts and fun with the auction AND we raised over $1,100 for our club. It was a snowy windy icy night, so distance members could not attend, we only had 50-60 people.

So I guess you must treat your members nice, give them good programs and ask them to support and work.

Bonsai is alive, well and growing in Upstate New York.

Bill

22-Dec-2005	#7
I.B. bonsaiTALK Artisan Join Date: May-2004 Location: Rochester, NY Country: U.S.A. Posts: 136	Our local bonsai club in Rocheser, New York (Bonsai Society of Upstate New York) is over 30 years old. We now have well over 100 members according to our treasurer and usually get 50-75 per meeting. Some of our member drive over one hour to attend meetings from Syracuse, Bufflo and Ithaca, New York. Everyone helps, always. We have a large exhibition in May and we only have one 90 minute meeting to organize it. Everyone knows what to do, and we do it. We do not care who gets credit for the job, we all pitch in. No politics here. A few years ago we had the opportunity to get bonsai artist Mr. Gondo from Japan for an unscheduled meeting. We asked the members if they wanted to learn from him and they all said yes. So I told them, we can charge $10 to get in for this special meeting, OR they must buy raffle tickets (1/$1, 7/$5 15/$20) to support this extra event. Well they did. We hosted Mr. Gondo and his assistant, paid their expenses and purchaesed the demo tree, and imported Satsuki azalea for abou $600. After paying all the expenses this great program cost the club $35. On Tuesday evening we had our annual holiday party. I showed slides from Japan and the Ginkgo Show. Members brought in deserts to share, club provided punch/coffee. Afterwards we had a blind auction (people bring gifts, mostly bonsai related) wrapped and we auction them off for the club. I thanked the members for their gifts and told them that this auction is our largest money making event for the year. We actually make more money here than our spring show in May. So I told them we expect them to support the auction. we had great items. End result we saw some great bonsai in slides, had delicious deserts and fun with the auction AND we raised over $1,100 for our club. It was a snowy windy icy night, so distance members could not attend, we only had 50-60 people. So I guess you must treat your members nice, give them good programs and ask them to support and work. Bonsai is alive, well and growing in Upstate New York. Bill __________________ William N. Valavanis