The Garden show staff from our annual show at the Cow Palace has informed us that they will not be using the lower section of the facility for 2007. This means that we will be having a much smaller show, possibly only two or three booths in one of the vendor areas of the main facility. The board has decided to concentrate the use of this space by sacrificing the sales table and using the space for a small exhibit and a demonstration and education area; the cost to keep the sales area would have been an additional $1800, about the same amount that the club nets from the show in years past.

Because of this development the board and all BSSF members should be thinking about ways in which we can promote the club to the general public; places where we can have a larger show; and opportunities to sell material. The show this past winter at the Asian Art Museum offered a prestigious place to show trees, and we plan to continue this relationship in the future. There have also been ideas as follows: a small booth at the Ferry Building Farmers market on some Saturdays to sell bonsai and do outreach and education. A booth at the Orchid show in February to do the same; rental of one of the adjacent parts of Fort Mason during the Orchid show for our own show; (nothing like cross marketing eh?) or a return to showing at the County Fair Building once again. Each one of these options represents special challenges to the club which we have not faced in a the years during which we’ve shown at the Cow Palace.

The board would like to invite all members to participate in this decision process. Please talk to board members with your suggestions and desires for the future of our club.

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