President’s Letter – February 2025
Prairie State Bonsai Society
Dear Members,
As we look back on 2024, we ended the year with a wonderful holiday celebration at Larry Magee’s home in Wayne, IL, on Wednesday, December 4. We are incredibly grateful to Larry for graciously hosting this festive gathering for the second year in a row. It was such a delight to connect with fellow members over food and drinks. The White Elephant Gift Exchange was, as always, full of laughs and surprises! Additionally, Larry generously donated a beautiful bonsai tree as a door prize, which was won by Francelle “Elle” Nieto-Brodnick — congratulations, Elle!
Looking ahead, we have an engaging program lined up for our February meeting. We will feature an exciting video presentation of Chris Baker and Jennifer Price-Svihla critiquing trees displayed during our DA Show. This session promises to be an invaluable opportunity for our members and artists to gain insights and refine their bonsai skills. Don’t miss this chance to learn and grow—mark your calendar for the meeting on February 5, 2025!
On another note, we regret that the pots created during the September 11, 2024, workshop were not ready for distribution due to firing delays. However, we’re pleased to share that they should be available at our February meeting. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
We’re thrilled about the lineup of special events planned for 2025, including:
- The Silhouette Show – Saturday and Sunday, February 22–23, 2025.
- The Annual Picnic – Sunday, June 29, 2025.
- The DA Show – August 2025.
- A RiverWalk in Naperville – mid-summer (dates TBD).
Thank you all for your continued support and enthusiasm. It’s your passion and dedication that make our society’s events so successful and enjoyable. Let’s continue nurturing our love for bonsai and sharing it with others in 2025.
Best regards,
Badar Zulqarni
President, Prairie State Bonsai Society
