This will be the last rose society newsletter for 2006. It is time to put the roses to bed, sit back, relax, think about all of the great things that happened in your rose garden this past growing season, and start to make plans for another great season next year.
My term as president will expire in a month or so. I am looking forward to a little slower pace, but I thoroughly enjoyed working with and serving you the past two years. I learned a lot about how rose societies are run, but I learned more about the good people that volunteered and assisted me in doing my job. There are many people to thank, and I plan to do that at the Awards Banquet, but I do want to give special thanks to my wife, Cathy, who had to put up with all of the everyday ups and downs of the rose society. She stood by me all the way; I am very lucky to have had an assistant like Cathy. If I, through the rose society programs or in the monthly newsletter, have made growing roses easier and more enjoyable for you the past two years, then I have accomplished what I set out to do.
You have elected new officers for 2007, and I am sure you will give them the same support that you gave me the last two years. The new officers will soon be working on programs and events for 2007. Please give Barbara Stauch, our new president, a call about your concerns and ideas for programs the upcoming year. With that in mind, please take some time and complete the questionnaire enclosed with this newsletter. The information you submit will help the new board tailor next year's programs to your needs and desires. Please return the questionnaire to Barbara at 304 Lake Wood Ct., Avon, IN 46123-6322.
There are two events left on the 2006 calendar: the Awards Banquet and the Christmas Party. There are announcements for both events elsewhere in the newsletter. I encourage you to read those announcements and make plans to come to each function. Greg Sanders, a member or our rose society, but who resides in Louisville, will present a slide program on new rose introductions at the banquet. We will send out a reminder via E-Vite to those on the internet. Make sure you respond by November 13th so we can have your correct meal request at the banquet.
Well, I hope to see you at the banquet or the Christmas party, and if I don't, I'll see you at a rose meeting next year. Being president of the rose society has its highs and lows, but in the main it is a constant good thing.
It has been my pleasure.
Mark Nolen, President