What to Expect from a Bonsai Club?

[Utamaro13]

Wanted some feedback from everyone on what you would expect from a bonsai club or what you would like to see / benefit by joining a club?

Basically to join a bonsai club what is your wish list of expectations? why would you join a club in your area? what would get you excited to attend all meetings and events? and ultimately recommend the club to others to join?

Appreciate any feedback - positive and negative.

[kcpoole]

Cameraderie, To be able to enjoy your interests with like minded people and to be able to discuss our trees

Education, To be able to learn from others that have, been there done that. To learn in a group setting is a great experience and something most people thouroughly enjoy.
For those that are very knowlegable, to be able to impart that knowlege to others is a wonderfully uplifting feeling

Potential to extend your horizons and opportunities as being with a group may allow you to go places, see and do things an indidualy may not be able ( Group digs, excursions)

Groups purchases

Ken

[Jester]

Personally I would like to see a lot of younger people coming forward and having more of an active role and the opportunity for members to exhibit several times throughout the year. I would also expect to see some good knowledgable guest speakers soming in to share their knowledge. All in all, though I would expect to see more proactivity and ideas that are outside the square rather than this feeling of stagnation.

Just my thoughts.

PS Oh yeah, and more women

[Utamaro13]

Thank you Ken and Jester!

[Gerard]

What to expect??

Do you mean ...what should someone expect to get?

Or................what someone should expect to give?

I am a member at three clubs and have found that the best way to learn is to become involved. I will give my opinions and am very pleased when someone suggests a better way. I show my trees and listen to what people have to say about them in order to improve them. I attend as many workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions and sales as I possibly can because I want them to be successful and encourage organisers to continue to provide these opportunities.

When I attend a club I "expect" nothing more than a chance to make contact with other enthusiasts with whom I can share my experiences, the rest is up to me!

[Pup]

A Bonsai Club should be able to teach you how to improve your Bonsai. Your concept of Bonsai and above all, help you enjoy what you have, in terms of your Bonsai.

We all have opinions of what we see as good Bonsai and where they should be heading. The most important thing about your Bonsai is to enjoy them.

Now as a senior member of two clubs, I am always willing to help new comers with what I have over the years found to to be tried and true ways of improving styling fertilising my trees.
Passing information that you have not proved is like saying such in courts of law, it is hearsay and not admissible. When you have proven it then it is safe to say you can do it this way or not that way.

The one annoying thing to any member who is trying to help, is to have the same tree put up for help time after time. It proves that the person doing this has no ability or is too lazy to do it them selves. This is not what to expect from a club. It is your tree you should under supervision do the work.

To enjoy your membership as well as the friends you make though it. The opportunity to participate in shows digs and bulk buying, does make it enjoyable.
Cheers Pup

[MelaQuin]

You can read lots of books but you get more from one club meeting because you can ask questions, listen to other comments, pick up information swirling around you as well as directed at you.

I have been in three clubs, attend as many workshops as I can and I have learned so much this way. I advise any newcomer to the art to join a club. Maybe if you are starting in your 20s or earlier you can amble along doing your own thing but when you start the art later in life you need to learn as much as fast as you can and attending club meetings and workshop is the way to go. And frankly, if you start young and join a club you will still learn more faster than simply by reading.

I've been involved in other interests over the years and have unfailingly found bonsai people more outgoing, friendly and helpful and it is simply so grand to be with a mob of enthusiasts who don't think you are batty because you play with little trees.

[Loretta]

I would love to be a member of a bonsai club but recently had a not so pleasant experience on a first visit to one. I will endeavour to return and try again with them (if their club is the only option) I intend to make further enquiries to see if there is ant other clubs in Tnsv. But having said that, What I wish for and expect from being a club member has all been said in the previous posts, you have said it all. I think it would be exciting to sit with like minded people, discuss trees, give and take constructive critiscism with the anticipation of knowing you'll be back in a few weeks to share what you have accomplished or seek advise when you're in a cunundrum I think it would be fabulous to go out collecting with a group, I'd love to do that! !
I had my first pottery class last saturday and just absolutely loved every minute Made an odd shaped bonsai pot and a flat tray type to plant a forrest on. Bought the trees for it today, 5 smallish "Wisteria Trees". Nothing like learning and sharing

cheers Loretta

[MattA]

The only thing you should expect from being involved in a club is the chance to learn from others experiences and share your own. A beginner can teach just as much as an 'expert'!

The advantage of joining your local club and attending meetings is the opportunity to share your trees & seek help/advice from people who can see the tree 'in the bark'. This forum and others like it is a great way to see what is going on outside our own locale and also seek the same help & advice as you can at a normal club, tho it is often difficult when all you have to go on is a photo, particularly when it comes to styling. No matter how many photo's you take/post its not the same as being able to get your eyes right into & around every bend, twist, branch & leaf.

For myself, one of the biggest benefits of being a member of my local club is access to the diverse & well stocked library, containing alot of books that I just wouldnt be able to access anywhere else. And the friendships that have developed over time and it took TIME, just like our trees and everything else worthwhile does.

Matt