New Style of Convention
Let's Make it Happen!

Tom Micheletti, Deer Park, IL
   
There is nothing more rewarding to a gardener than to hear the accolades from fellow gardeners extolling the delight and joy derived from visiting their garden. All over this country there are great gardens that we may never see if individuals or local groups are not willing to host an AHS Convention. That is the premise that went into the planning for this summer’s convention. As I have said before, two cheeseheads planned and executed a very fun and enjoyable event. By all accounts, the 2013 American Hosta Society convention in Milwaukee this past June was a HUGE success! From the numerous comments received, it was considered one of the most enjoyable gatherings attendees had experienced. The new concept of self-guided tours to the gardens was, to say the least a bit controversial, but attendees overwhelmingly endorsed it. Many said, while they were skeptical going into the convention, they liked it better than being on buses and shuttled to the gardens. 
Two Cheeseheads - Jack and Tom
   
They elicited the following positive comments: “We weren’t on a schedule established by bus routes.” “We could eat lunch when and where we wanted.” “We didn’t have to put up with bus bathrooms!” “There were no large crowds at the gardens.” “Parking was not a problem.” “We could spend time talking to the gardeners.” Gardeners echoed similar comments, “We could spend time talking to attendees and answering questions about our garden.” The accolades received went on and on.

The only negative comments, and they weren’t all that negative, were concerns that attendees were limited to driving with the same people to the gardens, and didn’t get to interact with others on the bus. However, generally speaking, most people sit on the bus with the same friends they drove with, and there is little interaction with others on the buses other than those sitting immediately around them. 
Rob Mortko and Dave Wanninger
 
There was also concern that some of the social interaction that conventions provide would be lost. I also have a similar concern, because I attended the hostatality suite and there weren’t many people there. I remember previous hostatality suites hosting wall-to-wall crowds, with standing room only. I have noticed a decline in attendance at hostatality suites over the years, and I am concerned with the lack of participation. I know our population is aging and we get tired more easily; I know I do, but I hope we don’t lose the social interaction that hostatality offers. 
Silent Auction
 
With no prospect for a 2013 convention, Jack Barta and I offered to host this convention experimenting with a different format. We actually thought it worked quite well. We didn’t have to run decisions by a committee. We just got together and decided. Our filter for decisions was, “What’s best for the convention, attendees, and the AHS?” We were representing the AHS in all matters of the convention. We asked people to help with key positions, and many stepped up to volunteer, offering their assistance. We took advantage of many of them in order to make things happen. We want to say thank you again to everyone that helped make this convention the success it was. 
Hosta Friends
 
Another thing we did to modify the convention was to reduce the number of days from four to three. Things commenced on Thursday and finished on Saturday. A normal convention would start on Wednesday and go through Saturday. This made for a very tight schedule with little down time, and also reduced the need for an additional nights stay at the hotel, helping keep costs down. The other contributing factor to this cost-effective convention was that we did not have to pay for buses. I received a thank you card from an attendee, stating that he was skeptical about not having buses, but really liked the new concept. He added that he estimated that, between his wife and him, they saved around $500 compared to previous conventions. 
Van Wade and Mike Shadrack
 
So what does the future hold? Well, it is all up to the hosting committees. The decision is theirs to make, buses or self-guided tours? What Jack and I also accomplished was to show that it doesn’t take a large group of people to host a convention. The AHS will do the Hosta Show and auction, and people that attend are more than willing to help out where needed. One just needs to ask. Given a specific task, most people are happy to help. I will also assist with convention planning, and I know I can speak for Jack in saying he will help as well. Fortunately we have convention hosts for 2014, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and 2015, Raleigh, North Carolina. Without future conventions, the fate of the American Hosta Society could be in jeopardy. There is too much at stake not to host a convention. One just needs to arrange eight to ten gardens that can be toured in an area and help assemble some local volunteers and the AHS can help make it happen.

I get very sad thinking that the possibility exists where there may be no AHS convention. Conventions provide the time to spend with hosta friends. I see them only once or twice a year, and that time is precious! In a discussion with Van Wade at the convention he said that one could fly over this country and about every 100 miles there would be a hosta friend one could visit. That makes for a lot of gardens that can be visited! We can no longer sit back and wait for someone else to do it! Won’t you step up and offer to host an AHS convention? It can be a lot of work, but it is also a very rewarding experience. Contact Cindy Tomashek, AHS VP in charge of conventions, or call me, and offer to host a convention. Let’s help insure that the AHS stays alive and well, far into the future! 
Owen Purvis with Steve Cunningham
   

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