My Experience with the American Hibiscus Society
- A Tribute to Bernard Pages and the Conrad-Sunrise Chapter -
By Eddie Griffith
Conrad-Sunrise Chapter president Bernard Pages received award for "most chapter members in attendance"
from American Hibiscus Society president Roz Merrit during 2003 national convention.
Photo by Pat Merrit
My first experience with the A.H.S. began in December 2000 when I received a membership as a gift for completing the 15-week training program to become a Master Gardener. Before attending my first meeting I received my first newsletter, where I found my name mentioned, welcoming me as a new member. Already, I was impressed with the friendly enthusiasm about new members. When I arrived at my first meeting I was overwhelmed by the members who greeted and introduced themselves to me, they all made it a point to welcome me to their "club" and informed me about the nature of their meetings and how the mini-show was conducted. After all the introductions, I loaded up on the refreshments that were laid out and sat down to observe what was going on around me. Though the atmosphere was friendly, it also seemed somewhat chaotic and unstructured. Then shortly after 7:30 a gentleman wearing a black and white tuxedo hastily entered the building and went directly to the podium. He proceeded to address the group with a very heavy French accent (I thought to myself that perhaps I was culturally in over my head). It then occurred to me that this man was the M.C. for these meetings. I later found out that this man was Bernard Pages, and that he was the President of what was then called Sunrise Chapter of the American Hibiscus Society. Bernard approached me later on during the meeting with a sign up sheet for volunteering at the information booth that the chapter had at the Palm Beach International Tropical Flower and Garden Show the following February. Though I was a new member and somewhat apprehensive about giving out information about a society that I just joined. I reluctantly agreed to help out and knew I could rely on my knowledge as a master gardener to help me get by. When it was my scheduled time to be at our booth there was someone else who was scheduled to be there as well, and his name is Sam Chaney, a long time member of the society. What a great learning experience it was to observe someone with so much experience and handle so well all the questions that the patrons of this event had asked him about Hibiscus culture. Thank you Sam! During the time that I was at our booth Bernard Pages arrived and invited me to take a break from the booth and check out all the other display and vendor booths. Bernard assured me that Sam could handle the booth alone with ease. He was right. And while we were away the press showed up at our booth and took a stunning picture of Sam and our display booth that appeared in the Palm Beach Post the following day. During this break I took with Bernard, I discovered that he had the same passion for horticulture and for sharing it with others that I have. That day marked the beginning of a budding relationship between Bernard and me that has continued to progress with nothing less than positive results for both of us.
The February meeting proved to be another memorable experience for me, having arrived and receiving the same friendly greetings as my first meeting I realized that I was among some of the most generous and friendly people I have ever met in one place. Elaine Scobey was quick to get my address to send me information about hybridization. Don & Beverly Bernard had won a plant in our raffle and gave it to me just because I was a new member. (At the time I only had 2 hybrids and 8 garden varieties, so my only chance at increasing my collection was buying raffle tickets, winning as an amateur in our mini-show, or waiting for the next sale) Thank you Don & Beverly.
By mid-year after having been involved in several chapter events and the friendship between Bernard and me had developed further, Bernard approached me at one of our meetings and asked if I could help him and the chapter out with a problem that they were experiencing. He explained that a longtime chapter member and officer on the chapter’s board of directors could no longer serve as a board member, and that the position of treasurer needed to be filled. Bernard asked if I would take that responsibility until the next elections in November. Once again I reluctantly agreed. Shortly afterwards I started attending board meetings and quietly observed how the chapter’s affairs were handled. For me the experience was well worth it. It was like attending two meetings a month instead of one, and it gave me a better opportunity to get to know the people on the board like John Webster and D’Ann Brown, both of whom I respected and admired. It also gave me a chance to share my ideas and opinions in a most positive and productive way. Needless to say, I was thrilled to be officially elected as treasurer by our members the following November.
In May of 2002 Bernard asked me for my support in a decision that he wanted the board of directors to make about changing the name " Sunrise Chapter" to "Conrad-Sunrise Chapter". When I asked him why he wanted to make this change he proceeded to tell me all that the Conrads had done for the American Hibiscus Society and our chapter. He explained to me that he wanted to acknowledge their contributions to them so that they would be able enjoy that acknowledgement while they are still active and contributing members of the society. Other chapters have added or changed their names as a tribute to a member who has passed away; Bernard felt that it was a good idea to say thank you to someone, instead of a memory of someone. I couldn’t agree more with that consideration, which is why I was happy to support his decision.
Bernard Pages and I attended the June 2002 national convention together in Orlando. Among the many programs that he attended was the judges training class where he fully committed himself to becoming a judge for the nationally sanctioned shows. (Bernard has sat at the judges’ tables at four shows this season, which displays a level of commitment that I would consider to be above average). At the closing general session on Sunday morning all the chapter presidents were required to give a brief report on their chapters status. While many of the reports were not so brief and some seemed to focus on the decline of memberships. I am proud to tell you that Bernard’s report was short and sweet. His focus was on the positive events that our chapter is involved with and the steady increase in our chapter’s membership. Moreover, he was met with a standing ovation when he announced that our chapter was changing its name to the "Conrad" Sunrise Chapter of the American Hibiscus Society.
I have learned a great deal about leadership skills from Bernard Pages. He has implemented some great ideas in our local chapter and continues to seek to improve the experience that people will have while attending our meetings and events. Bernard has the ability to recognize a potential asset for our society and the patience and skills to the development of such assets. I have attended many affairs with Bernard, and I am always amazed at his grace and social skills. He is an approachable, humble man who is willing to try new ideas and to build on old ones for the benefit of others.
Bernard Pages has been nominated to serve on the board of directors on a national level in 2004. He has proven to be a great and dedicated leader. You would be doing the American Hibiscus Society and yourselves a great service if you show your support by voting for him. I am sure that he will make an outstanding director and represent our region well.
The Conrad-Sunrise Chapter of the American Hibiscus Society would not be the great organization it is without its members and their active participation at our meetings and events. Just by entering blooms in the mini-show you have augmented the experience for all other attendees. There are so many of you that I can not mention you all by name, but I would like to thank you for all that you have done to share your love of Hibiscus with me and every one else in our society.