Judith’s Corner - December, 2003

    I’m having the best time, and I couldn’t be more surprised. The very, very, very, very, very, very, very last thing I ever expected to be was President of the Rose Society. In fact, I moved to Colorado to get away from leadership positions--I didn’t want to be the boss of anything, anymore!

    Then I was lured into GVRS by a pruning demonstration, and I got interested in roses. I met some of the other members, and was charmed. I took on the newsletter because it wasn’t a Board position, and because I actually like doing newsletters. I haven’t aspired to any other position.

    I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again--this should have been Janet Coleman’s year to reap Presidential benefits. In 2003, Janet pulled GVRS out of a quagmire, and put her everything into keeping us alive. She did all of that while living through one of the toughest years of her life, so I understand why she decided not to do it again, but it breaks my heart.

    It’s particularly frustrating because, suddenly, everything is coming together, and 2004 is going to be a thrilling year! We have terrific people doing terrific work--I hardly have to lift a finger! Really--it’s astonishing! I haven’t had to be a boss of anything--I can’t believe my good luck. I sure wish Janet was wearing this crown! She truly is the one that deserves this bounty of hard-working members.

    Janet isn’t disappearing--she’ll remain our Rose Show chair (for the third time in a row, I might add) and she’s going to assist Torri Junge with Bloomin’ Deals. Please be sure to thank her when you see her--if there hadn’t been a Janet, we wouldn’t be on the local horticultural map.
    OK--enough mushy stuff.

    The American Rose Society (ARS) has a new President through 2006. Marilyn Wellan, a longtime rosarian and ARS leader, is the 51st President of ARS, and grows her 600 roses in Colfax, Louisiana. In a lengthy interview in American Rose magazine, she lays out an ambitious plan for growth and development in a changing economy for a national organization. Boy, am I glad I don’t have her job!

    However, stripped of the factors of size and nationwide communication, we have these things in common: we want to increase membership, we want to reach further into our communities, and we want everyone to enjoy being a member. She talks about marketing the organization, member education, and serving the needs of both the computer, and non-computer, rosarians. Where have I heard all of this before? 

    Marilyn sums her presidential wishes up this way: “ . . . a smooth running organization, plenty of money to work with, 40,000 contented members, nationwide acclaim for our society, and no black spot.” I’ll take just 50 more members, local acclaim, and no powdery mildew--otherwise, Marilyn and I are on the same page for 2004!

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