AusBonsai

Hi Everyone

We are preparing for our inaugural Bonsai Week event at the National Collection.
We have a number of FREE activities planned for the week of 29 February to 6 March 2016.

Each day we will have FREE guided tours of the Collection, no need to register for this. Depending on demand, we will do 2 or 3 of these per day (more if needed).
Each day we will have FREE demonstrations of bonsai techniques, again no need to register.
Times for both of these have yet to be confirmed, I will keep you posted.

Mr Pavel Slovak from the Czech Republic will be our International guest this year. Pavel will be conducting a number of FREE Master-classes. The numbers for these are restricted, and are being offered to Volunteers at the NBPCA, to Lenders and Donors of trees, and to members of bonsai clubs in Australia.
If you are either a Volunteer, a Lender or have Donated a tree and would like more information about these Master-classes, please get in touch with me directly at leigh.taafe@act.gov.au .
If you do not fit into the Volunteer/Lender/Donor category and you are a member of an Australian Bonsai Club that is affiliated with either the AABC or the BFA you also have an opportunity to be included in a Master-class. If this is you, please ask your club president or secretary on how to get involved.

The Clubs Master-class will be held on Thursday 3 March.
Lenders and Donors will have their Master-class on Saturday 5 March.
Volunteers will have their Master-class on Sunday 6 March.

So that leaves Friday! Friday will be the day that everyone will want to be involved. Here is what I have in store for Friday.
In addition to the guided tours and morning bonsai techniques demonstrations, I will be holding two must see events.

The first one will be Pavel critiquing a selection of NBPCA owned trees. This will be held during the afternoon on the Friday, a start time is yet to be confirmed, but will be around 1 or 2 pm at a guess.

The second event will be a Gala Cocktail Evening Demonstration by Pavel. To be held in the Award Winning Village Centre. The format will be similar to our "Evening with Mauro" that was held during his visit to Australia. This event will start at about 5:30 (to be confirmed) and will have a cocktail style relaxed atmosphere. Dress up and experience the Arboretum and National Collection at dusk. The Bonsai and Penjing adopt an entirely different persona at dark under lights. There will be a cost associated with this event, but it will only be a cost to cover the food and drink that is included, the cost will possibly be about $35 (to be confirmed) and will be to cover a drink on arrival and substantial canapes, after that the bar will be open for anyone interested.

So, in order to help me plan, I am asking in the first instance for Ausbonsai members to help me out by participating in the following poll. Based on this input I may ask for further registration for the critique, and of course the Gala Cocktail Evening Demonstration will be a ticketed event.

Thanks for helping.
Leigh.

Happy New Year

Just over 8 weeks till this event.
Let me know if you can come.

We will have more details about this event next week. In the mean time, any more votes for people attending?

Unfortunately not attending but looks like you've got some great stuff lined up for those who are. Look forward to hearing all about it. Enjoy people!

Hi Everyone

We have had quite a lot of interest in the Master Classes with Pavel. I have had many nominations for participant positions in the 3 different workshops. Just a reminder that nominations for these workshops will close Friday 29th January. So if you are a lender/donor/volunteer and considering nominating yourself, or if your club has yet to nominate up to 2 people, please do so before this date.

Regards
Leigh

Will there be observer places at the master classes or is only for participants?

Hi Dan

Observer places will be available, however they are reserved for lenders/donors/volunteers who have nominated for an observer spot at this stage. We have limited space in the venue for the master-classes, it may be possible to tag team with someone who has won an observer place, but you would have to organise that yourself. I may have to restrict this to a certain extent if it becomes too disruptive for participants of the workshop.

All nominations close on 29th Feb. I will have the lists of all participants and observers available soon after that.

Also, I expect to have the full schedule of events and pricing for the cocktail demonstration available by tomorrow.

Cheers
Leigh