The question of a single national organization is a good one, but I don't believe it would ever work in this country for the reasons people have already offered--

1) Geography, which limits travel for many, and which also determines who can grow what trees where. I can try growing a ficus in NY state by bringing it indoors for the winter, but somebody in Arizona won't be able to grow a larch unless he or she has a lot of freezer space for the winter, and someplace out of the sun during the summer.

2)differing views. Let's face it--some see bonsai as just a hobby, some see it as an art, and some see it as both. Those are three distinctive viewpoints right there, and there may be others. Then, there are those who for several times around buy a mallsai, watch it die, then get another one and watch that one die, and never figure out why. I encounter these people every time I do a demo or talk. I always ask, "how many have had a bonsai?" and a lot of people raise their hands, then I ask how many still have them, and most put their hands down.

The time to talk about such an organization might be the WBFF convention in Washington DC in 2005, but if Andy is all hyped up to do this, he'll have to convince the planners of the event that a workshop or plenary session on such a topic is worthwhile. From my perspective, it's tilting at windmills, but I won't try to stop him.

In terms of the WBFF convention, which I plan to be attending, I think there should be a major push for national media coverage, just as aggressive a push as can be mustered. This will undoubtedly be a world-class exhibition and event such as this country has never seen. If the publicity is managed properly it could help to introduce bonsai to a whole new generation of people. Pre-event publicity outside of bonsai circles is a must. A full-page ad in TIME magazine, for instance. I'm sure the Nat. Arboretum will be doing their part, but advertising at whatever level the budget will allow for is important to draw more than just people who already do bonsai. A full-page ad in TIME magazine, for instance. Something like that. This event needs to draw the people at all levels--those who have never even owned a mallsai, those who will never own a bonsai but are curious, and those who who want to go beyond their dead mallsais.

A lot of influence is exerted by local people teaching others, though, and that can't be discounted. I've read stories in the last couple of years about people finding out that John Naka lived in their neighborhood, for instance. He's one example of a hardworking, persistent teacher. How many people have learned from him over the years?

So, a national umbrella organization? I won't be standing in line for it, or holding my breath. On a more regular basis than the WBFF event, regional exhibits are a good way. If you're doing an exhibit for your club, Andy, that's exactly the kind of thing that will do more IMHO to educate people about bonsai than some National Association of Bonsai Gurus/Enthusiasts/Artistes/Growers could do. I suspect that you see such a national organization as one which sets standards, but in our society that would be extremely difficult to do, if not well-nigh impossible. We're not just talking about collecting things here, be they stamps, Elvis memorabilia, or antique radios, we're talking about working with living things, and as we all know that adds a whole new level to our particular obsession.

Craig Cowing

Hi Craig,

I appreciate your perspective. I was a bit tickled when you wrote:

"From my perspective, it's tilting at windmills, but I won't try to stop him."

Ha! I find it is always fun to keep in mind that while it is clear that the windmills are not giants, we can't discount the possibility that they might be giants.

;-)

Kind regards,
Don Andy Rutledge
www.andyrutledge.com/palaver/main.htm
zone 8, Texas

I guess I'd see a few very different goals being rolled into one here. The bottom line question is "What do you want your organization to do?--promote the best that bonsai can be, or promote it to the general public or even the established arts"

Those are very very different goals that would also seem to be a little at odds with one another. Futhering appreciation of bonsai as an art to the general public is a very tall order. Even REAL arts programs--regional and national-- are flummoxed when it comes to doing that. Sure, an ad in TIME magazine would be great, but to what end--other than spending $20 or $30 K? Effective publicity is more than an ad in a magazine. It's a targeted program aimed at a specific goal.

If you're after better quality show quality bonsai and bonsai exhibits, then you're addressing a completely different audience than bonsai neophytes and art snobs. I'd say the foundation of that "better bonsai" organization in the U.S. is already out there and already belongs to ABS and BCI and could probably be pusuaded to participate.

And finally, you're never going to overcome the geographic distances here in the U.S. (species of plants used in bonsai, by the way, really aren't much of an obstacle-- a good tree is a good tree if it's a ficus or a California Juniper). Getting a bunch of excellent U.S. bonsai in the same place from all over the country a the same time is a big problem--look at all the regional sports conferences that have tackled this problem in the last century. They aren't split up that way for nothing. They could provide a model for what you're after organizationwise.