Arizona Chapter - California Rare Fruit Growers

Patrick Speaks

As the newly elected Chairman of the AzCRFG, I thank you for your confidence and ask for your support to build upon the superb leadership of past president, Jim Oravetz.

I will lead an open forum at this meeting to highlight membership objectives for the 2008 year. To capitalize on so much growth and development in our Valley, our non-profit organization should seize the mandate to be up front and share and promote our knowledge of the culture of warm climate fruit.
Our prime objective should be to hone and fine-tune the skills and knowledge of our own members in the art and skill of horticulture to make our gardens more prolific and our communities more attractive. This is our opportunity to change this God forsaken desert into a tropical paradise resembling, sort of, the Garden of Eden.

That ambiance will attract more members. We are bound, each and every one of us, by our non-profit status to freely share our intelligence with gardening neighbors. Please consider methods that you may initiate to improve our fraternity. Be an active, not passive, participant in our demonstration garden and greenhouse and, contribute to the field trips, propagation projects, garden fairs and improved communication efforts we plan, with your help, to implement during the next growing season.

In summary, we will, at this January meeting, strive to explore and mine your fertile minds to determine where into the loamy soil you would like to take this band of warm climate fruit gardeners in 2008.

What topics, specifically, and which growing skills do you want to develop and refine. Start thinking now about how you personally can make a positive contribution to this planning session. Keep in mind that we are a teaching entity, not an entertainment gig. Club work-shops, guest speakers, team club presenters, horticultural field trips to exhibits or museums; what do you believe would best contribute to your home garden skills and in the Arizona Rare Fruit Growers demonstration garden and greenhouse where every member is invited to exercise his talent with a rake, shovel or hoe any Saturday or at will to refine his or her own horticultural skills. The overall efficiency in 2008 of this rare fruit club depends strictly on your participation. This meeting will be your show!

Chairman Patrick Hallman
Editor Dick Gross