2018 Convention People and Activities
Photos courtesy of: Winston Goretsky, Mel Grice, Stephen Maciejewski, Dale Martens, Julie Mavity-Hudson, Molly Schneider, Peter Shalit, and Paul Susi
Logo
Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center
Specially made sugar cookies received at the front desk when checking in
Poster created by the New England Gesneriad Society
New England Chapter Members - Past and Present
Registration
Stewarts' Greenhouse
Bob Stewart welcoming
Guided greenhouse tours
Julie Mavity-Hudson and group enjoying their visit
Mel Grice taking photos
More to see in the greenhouses
Group with Bob in the greenhouse - Left to right, Peter Shalit, Bob Stewart, Bob Clark, Hung Nguyen and Kathy Spissman
Next stop: Garden in the Woods
Guided tour through the woodland gardens
Enjoying the blooming field flowers
Many woodland garden trails to see
Back at the hotel – Hung Nguyen displaying the 2018 tee-shirts
Boarding the bus for the tour
Volunteer Paul Lee checking in Paul Susi and Mel Grice
Arrival at Logee’s in Connecticut
Special welcome upon arrival
Tour group
Irina Nicholson and others enjoying the plants
Eileen McGrath and Mollie Schneider enjoying more plants
Gesneriads and other plants for sale
Other specimen plants to admire
Checking out
Bus trip back to the hotel - Judy Anderson, Doris Brownlie, Wei Yi-gang and Wen Fang on the bus trip back to the hotel
Sally Robinson, Arleen Dewell, Austin Grevious an M.J. Tyler chatting at the hotel
Dick and Wanda Macnair
Pat and Phyllis Savage
Elizabeth Varley, Francisco Correa, Molly Schneider and Paul Susi at the Host Chapter Social
John and Keri Buell
Mary Bozoian and Judy Becker
Michael Riley and Betsy Szymczak
Paul Kroll and Molly Schneider
Nancy Crites and Donna Guiliano
Lloyd and Eunice Carmichael
Ginny Heatter and Dolores Reed
Levin Tilghman and Betsy Branson
Local Convention Chair Phyllis Savage
Dmitry Ozherelyev and Dale Martens
Stephen Maciejewski at the Conservation Meeting
Wen Fang presenting on conservation efforts in China
Carolyn Ripps presenting conservation report from Brazil
Wen Fang presenting on Vietnam
Dale Martens at Judging School Workshop
Workshop attendees listening intently
Winston Goretsky presenting next photography session
Informal discussion group moderated by Brandon Erikson
Society Convention Chair Jo Anne Martinez
Chapters & Affiliates luncheon with Karyn Cichocki
Chapters being recognized
Bruce & Beverley Williams and Steven Kerr
Afternoon judging school session
Jim Roberts, Tom Bruning, and Paul Lee practice judging
Fay Wagman, Laura Buckner, Barb Festenstein
More practice judging discussions
Apparel sales with Kathy Spissman and Johnnie Berry
New tee-shirt design
Long Island Chapter members at GHA meeting (left to right, Rosemary Platz, Marilyn Heinrich, Paul Susi, Ray Coyle and Jeremy Stevens)
Dale Martens chairing the GHA meeting
Jay Sespico, editor of CrossWords
Dmitry Ozherelyev presenting at the GHA meeting
GHA audience ready for the door prize drawings
Making door prize selections
Late evening board discussion about future conventions
Audience at first morning lecture
Rick Fadden, Stephen Maciejewski, and Ron Myhr setting up
Stephen Maciejewski on “Exploring for Gesneriads in the Wilds of China”
Mary Jo Modica helping with the China book sales
Student Sid Sharma with a videoblog on Lawrenceville in Ecuador program
Student Brandon Li presenting “The Biodiversity of the Cordillera del Cóndor"
Student Emily Guo presenting "Approaches for Studying Plant Diversity"
Student Martin Siaw from China presenting “How to Fall in Love with Gesneriads”
Student grant recipients Sid Sharma, Brandon Li, Emily Guo and Martin Siaw with their grant certificates
Lawrenceville students enjoying lunch with their parents
Activities at Flower Show Entries
Ron Myhr grooms his entries
Inspection of entries
Checking of entries
Entries Chair Jim Roberts
Social Media discussion
Informal discussion with moderator Ron Myhr
Plant sales set-up
Buffet line at dinner
The Annual Meeting Head Table
Members at the Annual Meeting
Judy and Larry Skog
Margaret Califano, Heidi Dillenbeck, Mary Jo Modica
Hung Nguyen and Paulo Castello da Costa
Leslie Milde and Rosemarie Rigoli
Marilyn Heinrich, Lilya Veneziano, and Laura Buckner
David Pierce and Rick Fadden
Molly Schneider with Award of Appreciation Committee
Mary Helen Maran receiving 2018 Award of Appreciation
Previous Award of Appreciation recipients being recognized
Michael Kartuz, Leslie Milde, Marcia Kilpatrick
Bob & Dee Stewart and Julie Mavity-Hudson
The line-up for plant sales entry
Rob & Olive Ma Robinson
Making selections at the plant sale
Plant shopping and discussions
Judy Zinni with her color-coordinated Sinningia purchase
Checking out at plant sales
Dale Martens all shopped out
Judges Chair Eileen McGrath giving instructions
Judges and clerks (left to right, Marian Yeager, Jay Sespico, Michael Riley, Molly Schneider, Tom Bruning and Gloria Utzig)
Kathy Coleman and Mary Helen Maran
Julie Mavity-Hudson in the silent auction room
Betsy Gottshall monitoring the final bids
Crowd at the opening of the flower show
Cheri and Rick Pogozelski
Viewing the show
Wen Fang photographing the show with Wei Yi-gang
Friday afternoon Board meeting
Bob and Dee Stewart
Speaker Bob Stewart lecturing on Water, Soil, and Your Plants
Awards Chair Paul Susi ironing special award ribbons
Socializing at the cocktail hour before the awards banquet
Deanna Belli and Winston Goretsky
Palmer Allen, Elizabeth Varley, Barb Borleske
Judy Anderson and Maureen Pratt
Gloria & Ned Utzig and Judy Becker
Steven Kerr and Karen Horner
Debra & Alan LaVergne
Jerry & Nancy Kast and Francisco Correa & Michael Riley
Julie Mavity-Hudson, Peter Shalit, Darcy Adshead
Attendees at the awards banquet
Group enjoying the program
Gary Hunter, Mary Schaeffer, Jeremy Stevens, Tom Finnegan
Susan Grose and George Timberlake
Karen Allen and Dale Martens
Amanda and Laura Buckner
Karyn Cichocki receiving the Artistic Sweepstakes award from Awards Chairperson Paul Susi
Winston Goretsky receiving the Arts Sweepstakes award
Barb Borleske receiving the Runner-Up to Horticulture Sweepstakes award
Brandon Erikson receiving the Horticulture Sweepstakes award
Bill Price with his Best in Horticulture Collection of primulinas
The flower show
Judges and clerks at the critique
Bill Price discussing his Best in Show Collection
Arleen Dewell reviewing entries at the critique
Dale Martens’ lecture “Growing Show Plants”
Speakers Drew Norris and Jim Roberts
Lecture “Experiencing the Grandeur and Gesneriad Diversity of Ecuador”
Pat Savage checking meal tickets
Buffet lunch
Tom Bruning acknowledging our commercial growers
Special Russian award presentation to Winston Goretsky
Mel Grice and Paul Susi, Convention 2019 Co-Chairs
Review of the live auction items
Bill Price, auctioneer, and the team
Helper Jon Dixon encouraging bids from the audience
Last opportunity to admire the flower show entries
Jay Sespico sharing cuttings of his show plants at breakdown with Wen Fang
Mary Schaeffer and Barb Borleske packing up entries
Jeremy Stevens packing his miniature sinningia entries
Wen Fang readying paperwork for the phytosanitary inspection
Boarding the bus for the Saturday evening closing dinner
Socializing at the Dolphin Restaurant
New England seafood buffet main course
Drew Norris, Jim Roberts, and Gary Vellenzer digging in
Back to the hotel to pack up and prepare for next year in Cincinnati
Photo credits