Sun, 14/03/2010 - 19:04 — mapleadmin
The Doubletree has set up a web-page especially for us, and it would be good for rooms to be reserved as soon as possible. They are actually giving us October 25-November 1 with the $99.00 rate, which includes a complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfast. (Don't forget to ask for your warm fabulous cookie upon arrival). Therefore, if any of you would be interested in arriving early, or staying two days after, the same rate applies. There is so much to see and do in Dallas, it might be worth your time to see the sights. A listing of a few of those sights will be posted on our website so it would be good for you to check periodically to see what is new for you. As I pull this conference together, you will be the first to know the details. My sincere thanks go to Graham Jones, who is responsible for updating the website as we send information, and I must say, does the job promptly. My cowgirl hat goes off to Graham.
Naturally, the full schedule of the conference will be listed in the Summer newsletter, but, remember to check out the website! If possible, as promptly as possible, after seeing the registration sheet posted on the website, please send those directly to me, as I will be keeping up with the registration on a daily basis. This is extremely important for the meals and busses. I may also need to add more rooms at the hotel. If you are unable to manouver the hotel website, for some reason, the telephone number is: 1-214-691-8700.
Rental cars are available at DFW International, as well as Dallas Love Field, with is the airport for Southwest Airlines. However, if a shuttle service is needed, SUPER SHUTTLE is the shuttle of choice. All phone numbers will be listed on the website at a later date.
As I announced earlier in Portland, as well as on the website, the banquet will be held at the famous Southfork Ranch, near Dallas. Many of you will remember this as the ranch of the old TV hit show "Dallas" fame. All of the outdoor filming for the TV series was held at this ranch. However, the inside was a family home, therefore a mock-up of the inside (a much larger version) was constructed in Hollywood. We will have a complete tour of the ranch, and the home. This is where we will have our silent auction, also. Ed Shinn has generously accepted my plea to conduct this silent auction, and is seeking assistance from other members. Please call or e-mail Ed and volunteer your services. Due to the fact that the trees offered for auction might not be allowed on the planes, he may find another way of offering them....i.e., pictures with detailed descriptions, etc. For Ed's e-mail address or phone number, please contact me. Additionally, should you have a donation for the event, he would need to know that also, with a complete description. All donations will be gratefully accepted!
At the Portland conference, the board, and the membership voted on our very first set of by-laws. Thank you for helping us begin a new time in our North American Branch history. These by-laws are just a beginning, with, I am sure, many amendments in the future; however we are off and running, and I feel we have come a long way in the past year, as these by-laws were written and re-written many times to suit the needs of the society. We also voted to add a life membership for $750.00 for one, and $1,000.00 for two in one family household. I encourage those who can to take advantage of this new membership level.
Our membership is growing! We have had many people re-join, and some new members. We had dropped down to 135 members a little over a year ago, however you are reaching out to your friends and encouraging them to join, and the new website is immensely helpful, also with recruiting. We are now ordering 175 newsletters, with a few members less than that. Thank you for encouraging people to join us in learning more about maples!
Happy Spring to all of you. Let's keep in touch.
Sharon Nelson
The Spring Greetings!
At the time of this note I am sitting beside my breakfast room windows dreaming of the beautiful, warm sunny days ahead. The only nice thing about Winter is in knowing Spring is just around the corner. In Texas the Winter has been unusually cold, with snow, ice, hail and unkind treatment to tree limbs. This year we had a 6-inch snow, which was the most we had since 1948! So much for climate warming...we seem to be returning to the four seasons, gradually, as I remember as a small girl, growing up in beautiful Northeast Texas. Now, Spring, bring on the leaves!
Our hearts are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Schmidt, owner of Don Schmidt Nursery in Oregon. As many of you remember, who attended the Oregon meeting last October, Jim hosted a tour of his incredibly beautiful private garden at their home. He welcomed us warmly, gave individual attention to anyone asking questions, served us cool drinks, and proudly smiled throughout the entire tour of the magnificent garden. It was one of the most beautiful and selective private collections I personally have ever viewed. Jim will be missed in the nursery industry, as well in the maple world of friends. Our hearts and our sympathy go to the Schmidt family. The Maple Society, NAB, conference dates for this year are October 28-30 and will be held in beautiful Dallas, Texas. We are proud to host this year's conference, which includes six excellent speakers, of which Hugh Angus and Peter Gregory are the two featured speakers. This is a meeting not to be missed! The host hotel is the Doubletree Hotel at NW Hwy. at 8250 N. Central Expressway (Hwy.75). The hotel is truly beautiful, Texas decor, completely renovated three years ago, and with all the "extras" anyone could possibly wish for. They have actually jumped through hoops to accommodate us, and meet our expectations for the conference hotel.The Doubletree has set up a web-page especially for us, and it would be good for rooms to be reserved as soon as possible. They are actually giving us October 25-November 1 with the $99.00 rate, which includes a complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfast. (Don't forget to ask for your warm fabulous cookie upon arrival). Therefore, if any of you would be interested in arriving early, or staying two days after, the same rate applies. There is so much to see and do in Dallas, it might be worth your time to see the sights. A listing of a few of those sights will be posted on our website so it would be good for you to check periodically to see what is new for you. As I pull this conference together, you will be the first to know the details. My sincere thanks go to Graham Jones, who is responsible for updating the website as we send information, and I must say, does the job promptly. My cowgirl hat goes off to Graham.
Naturally, the full schedule of the conference will be listed in the Summer newsletter, but, remember to check out the website! If possible, as promptly as possible, after seeing the registration sheet posted on the website, please send those directly to me, as I will be keeping up with the registration on a daily basis. This is extremely important for the meals and busses. I may also need to add more rooms at the hotel. If you are unable to manouver the hotel website, for some reason, the telephone number is: 1-214-691-8700.
Rental cars are available at DFW International, as well as Dallas Love Field, with is the airport for Southwest Airlines. However, if a shuttle service is needed, SUPER SHUTTLE is the shuttle of choice. All phone numbers will be listed on the website at a later date.
As I announced earlier in Portland, as well as on the website, the banquet will be held at the famous Southfork Ranch, near Dallas. Many of you will remember this as the ranch of the old TV hit show "Dallas" fame. All of the outdoor filming for the TV series was held at this ranch. However, the inside was a family home, therefore a mock-up of the inside (a much larger version) was constructed in Hollywood. We will have a complete tour of the ranch, and the home. This is where we will have our silent auction, also. Ed Shinn has generously accepted my plea to conduct this silent auction, and is seeking assistance from other members. Please call or e-mail Ed and volunteer your services. Due to the fact that the trees offered for auction might not be allowed on the planes, he may find another way of offering them....i.e., pictures with detailed descriptions, etc. For Ed's e-mail address or phone number, please contact me. Additionally, should you have a donation for the event, he would need to know that also, with a complete description. All donations will be gratefully accepted!
At the Portland conference, the board, and the membership voted on our very first set of by-laws. Thank you for helping us begin a new time in our North American Branch history. These by-laws are just a beginning, with, I am sure, many amendments in the future; however we are off and running, and I feel we have come a long way in the past year, as these by-laws were written and re-written many times to suit the needs of the society. We also voted to add a life membership for $750.00 for one, and $1,000.00 for two in one family household. I encourage those who can to take advantage of this new membership level.
Our membership is growing! We have had many people re-join, and some new members. We had dropped down to 135 members a little over a year ago, however you are reaching out to your friends and encouraging them to join, and the new website is immensely helpful, also with recruiting. We are now ordering 175 newsletters, with a few members less than that. Thank you for encouraging people to join us in learning more about maples!
Happy Spring to all of you. Let's keep in touch.
Sharon Nelson