I envy all those of you who are less encumbered with work obligations due to good planning or retirement or independent wealth! How I would love to make the rounds of the conventions, if only to meet face-to-face many of the people I have heard of, emailed, or spoken to. Unfortunately, I am bound to be here as much as possible, so vacation time is split between instruction and pleasing my bride. Not much time left for gallavanting...

What a wonderful program the ABS has planned for their first 'bonsai educational seminar'...It would be difficult to make a choice of only four classes to attend...

Like Mr. Chris I probably won't get the opportunity to attend many if any of these seminars, but I am truly glad to see the commitment of ABS to making this work...With the success of this program, hopefully other state, regional, and national organizations will also recognize the importance of instruction and education in the near future...

This should be the future of bonsai in the United States, and other countries throughout the world...This is the type of commitment needed to insure 'better bonsai' will be created by many in the future...I applaud ABS and the directors for having the courage to offer something new...

Regards
Behr

Ron, the seminars are definitely a great idea. In my other hobby (model horse collecting) we are also going toward teaching seminars. I have given four, across the country, and all have been successful. Half day Friday for arrival and set up, some intro....work Sat and Sun, and everyone leaves Monday. You can concentrate, give each person one-on-one time, have time for socializing as well. Of course, ours are not multi-coursed....yet. But the experiment has been successful and more will come. I have sold out each time.

Another thing we are discussing is "retreats", where only the teachers go. Each person brings their knowledge, and perhaps something to demo to the others. We are considering our first retreat on the Carolina coast, and we would be renting one of those large cottages or whatever they are, that sleep a dozen people. Without the distraction of beginners, we can share our knowledge on a deeper level, to people who will understand it without tedious explanations. It is also meant to be a social event, with perhaps a trip to a museum, and of course a lot of food. (We are all women, so socializing and food are critical to it's success)

The internet has changed the dynamics of our model hobby, mostly because vendors are no longer the lynchpin of the shows. We can buy and sell anything, at any time, from anyone. Of course, in bonsai, that is different...shipping the trees is much more difficult. But we have found in our hobby that the people are willing to travel a long way, and attend longer seminars, if you give them something that they cannot get over the internet or at smaller venues. Give them WOW and they will come.

Joanie

Never know The seminars may just come to you. They are held in a different location every time.

They could also come to where you live ;o)

Bonsai has had this for many years. Only we call them study groups. I am in 3 of them now. One in the area and two that I have to travel to.
They work pretty well. Time well spent

Chris,

Yes this work thing is way overrated, it's getting so bad that I actually had to start planning my life around it.

Ron,

Thanks for the info, great thread!



Will

I've often thought the same way. Until I started thinking about the fact that those who "have everything", or at least we think they have, aren't happier than us, who have to work for a living. Not a bit happier.

I'd rather think that life presents us with those challenges for a good reason. There is nothing like achieving what we want through ingenuity, instead of being rewarded for nothing.

I am far from having everything. Or even a lot of things ;o)
Others play golf, go to movies or out to dinner on a regular basis. Me I just go to bonsai things. It all costs just about the same.
You just can't do it all.