NABF Newsletter #2

Feature #9

REPORT ON THE 5th WORLD BONSAI CONVENTION

By Glenn Reusch and Chris Yeapanis

As we hope you all know, the 5th World Bonsai Convention will be held May 28 - 31, 2005 in Washington D.C. at the Washington Hilton Hotel. The host for the convention, and this website, is the North American Bonsai Federation (NABF), and through it the World Bonsai Friendship Federation.

The three original sponsors of the 5th WBC are the National Bonsai Foundation, the Potomac Bonsai Association and the U.S. National Arboretum. Now, we are excited to announce that the American Bonsai Society (ABS) and Bonsai Clubs International (BCI) have agreed to join in an historic alliance with the 5th WBC as cosponsors. With these two major bonsai organizations foregoing their individual conventions and joining 5th WBC, our goal of one large convention, in 2005, supporting peace and friendship around the world through bonsai, takes a huge step forward.

We thank the ABS and BCI presidents, George Heffelfinger and Alan Walker, the boards of both organizations, and their memberships for their wonderful support in this effort. It is terrific to have the North American and international bonsai community coming together for the 5th WBC and standing solidly behind its goals. This will be a convention to remember.

As the convention co-chairs, we have received nominations for speakers and workshop leaders from around the world. Speakers are planned for bonsai, suiseki, bonsai pots and bonsai history. We have assembled a tentative list so the initial contacts will be made soon. We know you will be excited by the talent and wide ranging skills of these masters. We look forward to sharing the completed list with you as soon as the individuals are confirmed.

The 5th WBC organizing committee is meeting regularly at the convention site, the Washington Hilton. Being designed for conventions, this hotel suits our needs like no other. We have space for extensive exhibits of trees, suiseki, pots, photographs, and over 40,000 square feet of space for vendors from across the globe. Workshop rooms are large, with plenty of space for silent observers. The Washington Hilton is located in an excellent neighborhood, with restaurants, museums, and all the entertainment in the nation's capital within easy reach.

Plan to come early to the 5th WBC and stay late to enjoy the most memorable bonsai convention, do the sightseeing you have been promising you would do some day, and catch up with the entertainment scene in D.C.