The following letter
has recently been sent
To: Rose and Horticultural
Society Presidents in Canada,
I would like to share with you some of my thoughts on how and where I
might help your society, the Canadian Rose Society (CRS) and rosarians across the country to be more successful and
enjoy their roses more. The rose society scene across Canada needs help.
Although some societies are doing well, more are floundering or have
stopped operating. On the other hand, there are locations in the
country where rosarians want a rose society and
there isn’t one.
My personal belief is the CRS has to take some ownership for this lack
of growth. We have not provided the leadership nor communicated well
with the local societies across the country. I want this to change,
starting with working together on how we can help each other and all
benefit from a closer association. To do this is going to mean we
have to make some changes in direction and attitude. You may well be
asking what changes can be implemented, and why should you align more
closely with the CRS.
The Canadian Rose Society, as a national body, should and can
provide educational programs and standards that will help local societies
grow. To this end:
· We are moving to
revitalize our network of Regional Directors in each province. They will
work with noted rosarians and rose consultants
to provide help at the local level.
· Judging Schools will
be organized where needed to strengthen the standards at shows and provide
technical help at every level.
· Our current
publications will reach a higher standard and become
self-sufficient. This will lead to finances being available to
increase growth in parts of the country where clubs are weak or do not
exist.
· We will work hard to
get as many nurseries and outlets that sell roses to join the CRS; this
will facilitate having accurate knowledge about the quality, rootstock and
the availability of varieties.
· We must make better
use of Demonstration Gardens especially where new members are
concerned. This could make all the difference in providing a source
to take new members to get them acquainted with the basics of rose
gardening.
· We will revise our
educational programs to better satisfy our national needs.
· Our Web Site is
currently being up-dated and will provide the medium for faster and better
methods to reach rose growers across the country and the world.
· We will provide
closer ties with Canadian scientists, to share their achievements and
knowledge, for example where we are going with pesticides and fertilizers.
· We will improve
communication.
· Last but not least,
we will be able to share with each other, what we are doing right and what
we are doing wrong - what works and what does not work.
I recently ran a rose-judging seminar and took the opportunity to get
feedback on the CRS from the participants. Here is a summary of what
was said.
The CRS;
· is an accreditation
body (standards)
· is a clearing house
for rose information,
· helps with
information on climatic conditions across the country,
· educates suppliers,
· should alter the
concept that growing roses is difficult,
· should get garden
writers to use the CRS as a source of information,
· should have a
provincial page in our publications,
· local rose societies
feel that the CRS is competing with them. We need each other and
should be helping these societies
· should become more
visible
· should develop more
meaningful corporate memberships.
I want to concentrate on building an atmosphere of trust and a good
working relationship between rosarians across
the country. The CRS exists to help local rose societies, not to
dictate to them. I need your views. I do not want to
tell you what to do. I want you to tell me what we can do together.
Obviously, I cannot do this on my own. We both need the desire to
want to move ahead for the sake of ourselves and our fellow rosarians. It is in this light that I am writing
to you. I am pleased to take the lead but I need your suggestions
and a few words from you saying you would like to join me in getting the
ball rolling. A meeting of all the Presidents of the local societies
and myself may be the most effective way to start
“really” working together.
In addition to the rose societies, this letter is being sent to the
Horticultural societies in Canada.
Their support of the CRS in any manner will enhance our efforts to
encourage rose growing which in turn will have a positive effect on the
whole horticultural scene across Canada.
I would appreciate hearing from you by September 10th.
In the mean time, please feel free to communicate with me. If you send
me your phone number and when is a good time, I
will call you.
Sincerely
Rachel Flood
President – Canadian Rose Society
155, Edgehill
Drive, Kitchener,
Ont. N2P 2C6
E-mail: rachelmflood1@aol.com
Tel: 519-653-9505
Fax: 519-650-2336