Hi everyone, I'm back. This year I drove to the convention. That was one long days drive but worth it. It took about 11 hours door to door, and that was with very little stopping. I took up a carload of plants--mostly sale plants plus show plants and came home with a carload of plants--my show plants, unsold sales plants and lots of new plants (!!). It was another great convention; and, I love Portland--my first visit (what a beautiful city). I hear it rains alot there but we saw only some scattered sprinkles. As usual I was totally busy from the time I arrived till the time I left. There is never enough time to do all the things one wants to do, attend all the activities of the convention and visit with all the people. I did manage to get barely enough sleep, and I managed to eat very well too! There is very good food to be found in downtown Portland. Our hotel was great--the best of all the various hotels I have stayed in over the years since I started going to AGGS conventions. The rooms were all suites with sitting rooms with a pull out sleeper sofa and a bedroom with two queen sized beds. So, three of us split the cost of the room, which came with breakfast as well as a cocktail hour each day. We made good use of both. We were right downtown with lots of interesting things to walk to, including chinatown, Powell's Books (world's largest), museums, shops, and great restaurants. The convention plant sale came off really well. I met Ming (!) there and we had a nice chat, during which I talked her into buying at least one plant she hadn't considered. Ming, I really hope you join the local chapter--you would enjoy it and they would love to have you join. They are a small chapter and yet they did an outstanding job of hosting. What we have learned over the years is that we can help local chapters that are quite small, so that they can host a convention without burning out. Many of the tough jobs were handled by people from out of town, so that the chapter members were not overwhelmed. The plant sales chairman was from my local chapter, the speakers chair from Tennessee, the show chair from Seattle, etc. Next year we are going to have the very tough job of registration handled by Bob, our wonderful and talented Membership chairman. Maggie, you did a great job doing that this year. The show was very very nice this year. We were treated to some fantastic plants that came down from Vancouver and Seattle. I wish you could all have seen it. It is both inspiring and shocking to see what others can do that I never seem to achieve. The best in show was a perfect Sinningia 'Amazade', a small growing hybrid of two species. It beat out a spectacular new hybrid Florist Gloxinia, grown by the same person and hybridized in Vancouver ('Peridot's Darth Vader'). Its been many years since a Glox won a trophy. Third place went to a huge tall Kohleria tubiflora, covered with bright orange flowers from head to toe. It was my personal favorite. All three were brought down from Vancouver (Oh, those Canadians :)). Arleen won the two top honors while Bill won the sweepstakes for most overall blue ribbons. There is also a very large section of arrangements and crafts. One craft that really stood out was a beaded necklace of a cluster of branches and flowers of columnea. It was unbelievable. It wasn't made to be worn, I think, but it as a display piece. That came from Tucson. On Friday we had our annual Awards banquet where the winners were announced. It is a great tradition as the people are called up, one by one, to hear of their wins and receive their awards. I didn't win any, but I did have a nice time, as I was the Master of Ceremonies. I started out the program with a little speech; and I surprised myself with how well it came out--it was impromptu, but with notes. Afterwards about twenty people came up and shook my hand--wow, talk about a swelled head... I basically talked about the history of the society, gesneriad growing and the banquet, putting everything into a context, contrasting how the first convention in the early 50's compared with today. I also made a point of welcoming all the first time attendees and reminding everyone that that night was really a special tradition that goes way back. After my talk the awards presentation was made and then the banquet was over--but then the show opened for everyone to see the plants once again with the winners now placed with their special ribbons. The show stayed open to nearly Mid-night. So, it was a typical 7:30 AM to Midnight convention day for me. Jen, I have wanted to have a convention in Minneapolis for many years. They did host in the 80's and still have some of the same members who worked on the convention then. They have expressed interest but are a small chapter and no local members came this year. The convention sites are basically picked when a local chapter offers. Last week we got two new offers; so, now we have convention sites for the next three years--Rochester, followed by Miami and then Denver. We would love to add Minneapolis to the list. Our new convention chairman is Paul Susi--send him an email and get him on it. Sometimes the local chapters just need a little prodding. I know that if the Twin Cities chapter hosted, that much of the work would be shared by others in the Midwest, plus all over. Meanwhile, ahem, someone needs to join the local chapter, even if visits to distant meetings might be only now and then. I am certain that the chapter would also love to come to visit you! Nikki, I am really sorry you couldn't make it. I knew you had registered and hadn't canceled, so, each day I hoped you would make it. Vincent, thanks for all your hospitality --I wish we could have talked more. John, sorry we missed you this year. We all know why you didn't make it--you devil, you changed the name on Gloxinia lindenii and some others. By the way, the program on new taxonomic discoveries in the rhizomatous gesneriads was wonderful and very well presented. (It looks like we have Seemania back again after all these years...). First thing today, I went around and changed my labels--Gloxinella lindenii, Seemania....perennis, latifolia??? um, oh well, just kidding about the relabeling, but it will happen when the dust settles and you tell us what to do. Oh yeah, I should also tell all what's new. Our new president is Carol Ann Bonner from Nashville, my friend and a great plant grower, plant collector, propagator as well as T shirt and pin designer and Society officer. And, after a mail-in vote by the society we changed the names of both the society and the journal. We are now "The Gesneriad Society" and the journal is "Gesneriads". It passed with the 2/3's requirement. So now you all know; and I need to unpack and water. Jon

It is so good to hear from you all!! Brock long time no hear:) and you too Dorothy even though I have written but they probably didn't reach you or no doubt you have been too busy with all of your children and your new grandbaby girl:) It would be so wonderful if you could make it. I still hope to meet alot of you there, like Denise from Snowpeak and all of you. I couldn't make the one in Fresno and it was this close! I get a little help from our society as we have funds for a president to attend some iris functions, it doesn't cover everything basically the cost of registration but that is a big help! I am rooming with another iris lover so that will help with the cost of the room and I plan on being there for all of it, the convention that is, I did not sign up for the additional tours what with the cost of all of the rest. I look forward to still hearing from alot more that will be attending. Guess I am going to have to stock up on compact flash cards:) Yvette

I will be going--I live in Cedar Rapids. Some of us from the HHS got together last night to stuff the name tags--saw lots of names I recognized!. Tonight they will be able to get into the hotel to stuff bags. I unfortunately will have to work. : ( I will be helping at one of the gardens on the tour! Not entering any leaves, but am really curious since this is my first convention. As for hat--still thinking on it. I am a last minute person for things like that. Yes, I am interested in a meeting place. Just need to figure out where. Maybe by the bar on left side of lobby, or the glass elevators on right side of lobby? And, what day & time? Terri This post was edited by Terri9094 on Tue, Jun 10, 14 at 15:07

All my pics are in the camera, and we aren't going straight home. I'll have mine in a week or two. Great tour gardens both days, hope the photos do them justice. After seeing them in the garden, I "had" to have Pinani Island Surf, Prairie Moon and Foglight. I'd already bought everything I really wanted (no Android or Crocodile Socks to be found) , but the bright golds were really eye catchers. Currently skipping the banquet, needed some time off my feet.