BAY NEWS

Newsletter of the American Gesneriad Society of San Francisco

Volume 27, No. 3, March 2005

Next Meeting: Sunday, March 20, 2005

Program: Pests and Their Management

The Prez Sez...

by Katherine Henwood

This lovely weather of the past week has sent me outdoors to weed, trim, think about planting, and into the greenhouse for more of the same! Discovered that I have lost all but three of my achimenes so spent a happy morning checking out the Kartuz on-line list.  And probably ordered way too many!

I'm looking at plants with an eye to our coming exhibit and show...looking at what can be propagated in time, late for some of these things, I know.  I hope that you are doing the same.  Constant attention to care and grooming will pay off!

The Yearbook should be ready for you at the March meeting.  Our topic for the day will be pests and their management.  Bring questions and methods that you have tried and whether you have had success or failure with it.

Looking forward to seeing you all.

AGGS Newsviews

by Lorah Gross

David Waugh gave me the July 2004 issue and the Winter 2004-2005 issue of Newsviews, which is a newsletter that is compiled by Leslie Milde. She combs newsletters from groups from across the country and picks out articles to include in her publication of Newsviews. I can’t seem to decide on articles to reprint here, so I will contact Leslie and ask her if I would be able to put her newsletters up on our website so that everyone can enjoy all of the articles.

Show and Tell and Raffle Table

by Lorah Gross

Anna Chou brought three Cyclamen plants, one small red plant, and a flowering plant for the raffle table. Alan Lavergne brought xCodonatanthus ‘Sunset’ for the raffle table. Gene Sussli brought Achimenes cuttings in winter season growth for show and tell and donated 2 propogation boxes, Streptocarpus with blue flowers, and Streptocarpus leaf cuttings to the raffle table. Katherine Henwood brought Sinningia ‘Cherry Sprite’, Chirita ‘Atruko’, and Tercanitha and Sinningia seedlings for show and tell and donated Hoya kerrii and St. Paulia grotii to the raffle table. Paula DeBella brought four African Violets (St. Paulia?) for show and tell: 1) “Vampire’s Kiss” 2) “Bob Sorbin” 3) “Firehouse” 4) “Emerald Love” and she also brought a Streptocarpella violet color. She donated an orchid and two bunches of daffodils to the raffle table, just to be different. Terri Campbell brought Kohleria ‘Sunshine’ for show and tell and donated Kohleria ‘Trinidad’ to the raffle table. Harriette Poss brought Aescananthus ‘Pagoda Roof’ and Codonanthe ‘Holiday Bells’ for show and tell. She donated Aescananthus ‘Pagoda Roof’ and Columnea ‘Aladus Harp’ to the raffle table.

Jon Dixon gets his own paragraph in this newsletter. He brought the following for show and tell:

A nice coleus, the following Kohlerias: ‘Beltane’, Lucianii, a new hybrid of his called ‘Grape Fizz’, and Sunshine. He also brought Aech. Longicaulis, Columnea ‘Mary Jane Evans’, Chirita ‘Betty’ and demo of prop., Petrocosmea begoniifolia, Episcia “SD 16” (his hybrid) and ‘Sparkle Plenty’ (also his hybrid). Under the dome are the following Episcias: ‘Silver Night’, Country Classic, Checkerboard, reptans (species), SD #3 (his hybrid) and Ronny. There is also a Petrocosmea sp. G25KC00 and the following Kohlerias: ‘Francis B.’, ‘Jester’, ‘Mother’s Lipstick’, ‘Bach’, ‘Cimarron’. He donated four Epscias to the raffle table.

Minutes of The American Gesneriad Society of San Francisco

February 20, 2005 Meeting

by David Waugh, Secretary

The meeting was called to order at 1:14pm by President Katherine Henwood.   The following were also present:  David Waugh, Harriette Poss, David and Irene Fey, Terri Campbell, Gene Sussli, Alan LaVergne, Anna Chou, Dale Loughins, Jon Dixon, Paula De Bella, Larry Williams

The minutes of the January meeting, in the February newsletter, were approved as

printed.

The Treasurer reported we are in good condition and will afford all expenses needed for our June Sale and the August Show and Sale.  Our membership has remained at the same level as last year—approximately 29.   The exact number of paid members will be reported at the March meeting.

The President advised the members that a Board Meeting was held in the morning where the meeting dates and programs for the rest of the year were worked out.  These will be in the March newsletter in the Board Minutes and in the 2005 Yearbook to be distributed at the March meeting. 

Other activities were discussed, including our own June Display and Sale, and August Show and Sale.   Various chairs (who will be in charge) were decided.   Terri Campbell is the Chair for the August Show.  David Waugh is in charge of publicity for both the June sale and the August Show and Sale.  The August Show will use the Merit method of Judging, meaning that each plant within each class will be judged on its own merit resulting (probably) in Blue Ribbons rather than each plant competing with the others within each class for one Blue Ribbon.

The July AGGS Convention in Portland, Oregon was discussed.   Alan LaVergne is in charge of the plant sales at the convention and he encouraged as many as possible to come to the convention and also contribute plants for the plant sale.   Since the Portland club is small, they would appreciate anyone going to the convention to also volunteer for job assignments.

Gene Sussly brought up the subject of the San Mateo County Fair.   It is 10 days in August and has a section devoted to floral displays.   Last year there were 5 Saintpaulia divisions and only 1 other gesneriads.  Since the 10 day affair draws about 160,000 people there is great exposure for anything we display.   Gene would like to see entries from members of our club and he will press the fair people to add more divisions so that we might win more awards.   He would take the responsibility of watering and caring for the display plants during the 10 day run.   Members seemed interested in participating in the fair and Gene will get back to us with the show dates and entry deadline.

The program was suggestions on propagation methods and exchange of cuttings.  Each of us quickly explained the cuttings we had and methods of propagation.   Jon Dixon is in to big 12 x 21 trays with a high clear cover to keep humidity high for his cuttings.  Gene Sussly just recently discovered that closed containers do hasten the rooting of cuttings, at least for his experiments with episcia and streptocarpus.  Terri Campbell had various cuttings and rhizomes to exchange.  Katherine had kohleria rhizomes and seedlings of sinningia.   Harriette had various codonanthe, aeschynanthus and columnea cuttings available.  David Waugh brought dirt, labels, and a chirita (everyone said it really was a saintpaulia) in desperate need of dividing and repotting.

We then did Show and Tell and the raffle.

The meeting adjourned about 3:50pm

Minutes of The American Gesneriad Society of San Francisco

February 20, 2005 Board Meeting

by David Waugh, Secretary

The Board Meeting was called to order at 10:25am by President, Katherine Henwood.  Those also in attendance were Vice President, Terri Lynn Campbell;  Treasurer, Irene Fey;  Secretary, David Waugh;  Board members Harriette Poss, Gene Sussli, and Alan LaVergne.  Board member Ben Franklin had previously advised he would not be able to attend the meeting.

Minutes:  There were no corrections to the minutes of the January meeting printed in the February newsletter.

Treasurer’s Report:  We have more than adequate funds in our treasury for expenses during the year including the sale in June, and the Show and Sale in late August.

Committee Reports

Meeting Programs   Committee Chair:  Terri Campbell

February 20 (previously announced) Plant propagation & cutting exchange party

            March 20 Pests and their control

            April 17  Dog Show

            May  Field Trip TBA

            June 4  Plant Sale

            June 19  Slide Show

            (July 5-10 AGGS Convention 2005, Portland, Oregon)

            July 17 Discussion AGGS Convention 2005

            August 21 Speaker TBA and finalize Show and Sale

            August 26-28 Show and Sale

            September 18  TBA

            October  Field Trip TBA

            November 20  Ron Parsons Slide Show

            December 18 Holiday Party

            January 15, 2006  TBA

It was suggested we might post on Gesneriphiles if AGGS members are traveling to San Francisco area, they are welcome to our meetings and, maybe, some might be interested in speaking at one of our meetings.  It was not clarified who would see that this was posted on to Gesneriphiles.     

Show and Sale August 27, 28   Show Chair:  Terri Campbell   

The type of judging for the Show was discussed.  The options are:

Merit, where each plant in each classification is judged on its own merit (except

 Best is judged competitively)

Competitive, where the plants in each classification are judged against each other

 for the best of the classification

Since the goal of the show is to create interest in gesneriads by having good show plants, those in favor of Merit judging felt it would encourage more entries.  Those in favor of Competitive judging felt we would be complying with AGGS rules which follow Competitive judging rules.

A vote was taken and Merit judging was agreed on for the August show.

Three judges will be required.  If we are unable to find three judges in the Bay Area it was suggested we make a call for judges on Gesneriphiles and offer to pay their one way fare.

Show and sale Publicity   David Waugh    He will be responsible for getting the names and addresses of Bay Area newspapers so that fliers and announcements can be sent to them.

Sales Chairman      It was decided that as long as we have cashiers, everyone pitches in to set up the tables, and later answer questions during the two days of the sale.  No chairman is needed.

 Meeting Refreshment Chairman   David Waugh agreed to set up the coffee pot water and Terri Campbell agreed to survey the table near the end of the meeting and determine if instant coffee, plates, cups etc are in need to be purchased before the next meeting and advise David.

Supplies   Katherine Henwood agreed to continue to handle the pot/fertilizer sales.  

Unfinished business

Bank signature cards    Because of the change of officers, one name needs to be removed from the authorized signatures and one name needs to be added.   The Treasurer is going to try to work out a method to get the proper authorized signatures without requiring anyone to have to drive to Richmond to accomplish the task. 

Paid up members 2005   The Treasurer will compile a list and send to President Katherine Henwood who will proceed to prepare the 2005 yearbook with paid up members listed therein.

Purchase of slide projector  Ron Parsons has been delegated to check out the cost of purchasing a slide projector.   The Kodak Carousel is no longer made but there are good used ones available.   He will be reporting back to us on this

New Business

AGGS Convention Portland, Oregon July 5-10

Alan LaVerne is Chair of the plant sales at the July AGGS Convention in Portland,

Oregon and as such is in touch with the various Convention Chairs.   He reports that they will need outside help from members of other clubs because Portland is a small club.   Any volunteers will be appreciated.

The proposed change of name of our parent organization (AGGS) and the parent organization journal (The Gloxinian) was discussed but there was no concensus.   Club members who are also members of AGGS can participate in voting for or against a name change.

Gene Sussli brought up the subject of the San Mateo County Fair.   It is a 10 day affair in August (dates not firm yet) and there are many classifications of many plant families shown there.   Unfortunately, not much else besides Saint Paulia and Streptocarpus of the gesneriad family are shown.  If some of our members could contribute plants for the show, Gene would water and care for the plants during the 10 days of the fair. Gene would also see if the fair could expand the classes so more prizes might be awarded at the fair.  This subject will be brought up at the regular meeting.

When should the Board meet again?   It was decided to have another Board meeting on July 17, before the regular meeting.

2005 Officers

President:  Katherine Henwood

Vice President:  Terri Lynn Campbell

Secretary:  David Waugh

Treasurer:  Irene Fey (please request Irene’s address from Lorah Gross)

Newsletter Editor: Lorah Gross lorah@lorah.net

Meetings: Usually third Sunday of each month, 1-4 p.m. at Library of County Fair Bldg., Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.  (Enter from parking lot North side of 10^th Avenue and Lincoln Blvd., turn right through gate next to building, go to third door) 

2005 meetings: TBA

Dues: $10 single, $11 family. Make checks payable to AGS SF, mail to Treasurer.

Website: http://www.agssf.org