The December meeting will be our annual Holiday party, which is our big social event of the year. We hope that members of all faiths will join us to celebrate Christmas, Hanukah or what ever you would like to celebrate with the rest of us. The idea is to share a good time with your friends at the FWCBS.

Please do not forget that the meeting night has been moved to Tuesday, December 4^th, at the Hope Presbyterian Church, 1698 S. Belcher Rd. Clearwater Fl. The doors to the hall open at 7:00 and the serious eating will begin at 7:30, hope to see you there.

Roland and Jean Schnabel presented a judging workshop. They reviewed with the membership the qualities than make up a prize winning show plant. Members brought plants for mock judging, and the Schnabel’s, with assistance from Tom Wolfe critiqued each entry. Their insight was very informative and eye opening, they conducted a review that will assist us on meeting the requirements for world class entries. Our Society is expected to field a considerable number of entries at the World Conference, we need to be ready.

Everyone who attended learned a great deal about what judges are looking for at the show. It will help each of us better prepare for our mock show at the January meeting and then the big show at the World Conference. We want to thank the Schnabel’s and Tom Wolfe for sharing their knowledge with the rest of us.

The birthday members for the month of December are Fay O’Rourke, Mike Kiehl, and Linda Cathcart. We want to wish them a happy birthday.

There is uncertainty in our everyday lives that was not there before the events of September 11. When the ground seems to shift under our feet we try to maintain our balance by taking refuge in the things we enjoy. This is Prime Time for bromeliads. We take comfort in the wonderful shapes and color and get back to the basic things that make us appreciate a new day. Sales of bromeliads have never been better than they are now. Species and hybrids are being discovered by the new collector and rediscovered by those who had lost interest when life seemed more complicated.

There will be a spectacular collection of bromeliads in the Exhibits, Show and Sales at the Hilton Hotel in St. Petersburg. All affiliates are urged to share their activities in a floor exhibit, table exhibit or scrapbook. Registrants may enter in the show and sell their "spares" in the Membership Sales. With only five months left before the World Bromeliad Conference, it is time to register, make room reservations, start selecting and grooming show plants and request barcodes for those that will be available for sale.

WBC2002—MAY 14-19 [MAIN ACTIVITIES, MAY 17 THRU 19]

REGISTRATION-CAROLYN SCHOENAU 1-352-372-6589

HILTON ST. PETERSBURG, 333 1^ST ST. SOUTH, ST. PETERSBURG, FL. 33701

RESERVATIONS- 1-888-843-6929 [MENTION YOU ARE WITH WBC]

EXHIBIT INFORMATION-ROLAND SCHNABEL 1-813-988-7046

SALES-JOYCE BREHM 1-858-277-1030 [BAR CODES ARE REQUIRED BUT SUPPLIED FREE OF CHARGE]

TOURS-INEZ DOLOTOWSKI 1-941-748-2120

COMMERCIAL EXHIBITS, SALES-DENNIS CATHCART 1-941-351-2267

Don’t let the Beast in,.join the Beauty at the World Bromeliad Conference 2002.

Since this is a covered dish party everyone is responsible for part of the refreshments this month. The club will be supplying drinks, turkey, shrimp platter, a meat platter, cheese tray, rolls, and all of the plastic tools needed and cups and plates. We only call it a covered dish dinner, you do not need to bring your own dish to eat off, but we would like everyone to bring a dish to share with others. If you would like to coordinate what you are going to bring and did not get a chance to sign-up at the November meeting, call Sara Boynton at 734-8661. We will be happy with what ever shows up, and everyone is encouraged to bring something to share, but if that poses a problem, please just come and enjoy the food and fun.

There will be a bromeliad plant exchange at the party. This means that each person should bring a nice, clean bromeliad gift, which will be exchanged during the evening. There will be some door prizes this year, but we have cut back some from previous years to save some money. If anyone would like to bring some extra door prizes this year, they are encouraged to do so. The main thing is to come and socialize.

The following is a short list of disorders that can affect bromeliads.

Brown marks on leaves. Watering in direct sun.

Over watering

Poor drainage

Light intensity too strong

Improper use of pesticides.

Leaves enlongated Not enough light

(long and thin) Too much Nitrogen content in

fertilizer.

Leaf tips brown. Drainage inadequate.

(yellow) Too dry or cold

Not enough air movement

Alkaline water

Leaves wilting Lack of water

Bad drainage

Inner leaves sticking together No water in cup.

(quilling) Bad drainage

Bottom leaves yellow-brown Characteristic of healthy plant

(dying) which sheds older leaves as it

ages.

Bottom leaves brown at base. Over watering

Mixture too dense, bad drainage

Leaves imbedded into mixture .

The Florida State Fair is going to be from February 7 – 18 this year. In past years the FWCBS has entered a display, but last year we did not, due to a lack of manpower. If someone would like to head this project or even help, please contact Fay O’Rourke, as soon as possible as plans must be made soon. I was supposed to mention this at the last meeting and forgot. Hope that someone would like to take on this project, but this is going to be a busy year for us as a club and no one will be too upset with us if we miss out on this opportunity this year.

December 4 – FWCBS Holiday Party

January 8 – January meeting rescheduled for New Year’s Day – Mock Show

May 15, 2002, The beginning of the World Bromeliad Conference, St. Petersburg Hilton, Florida.