Join Us

Membership Benefits
Membership in the Shreveport Bonsai Society comes with many benefits. Active members reap rewards that far exceed the membership dues.

Monthly Newsletter
Each month the Club President publishes a newsletter announcing bonsai events and news. It comes out each month right before the meeting and helps me remember what I need to bring to the meeting. He'll usually include some timely bonsai tips or maybe a bit of bonsai history.

Reach the next level
If you are interested in exploring the art of bonsai, nothing gets you to the next level quicker than joining a bonsai club. Books are great for providing general practices, ideas and the science of bonsai. But, like any other art, bonsai can only be truly advanced though experience and practice. Every new artist's first painting is junk. There's no reason to expect that your first bonsai trees will be show quality. I think my first dozen or so attempts at bonsai were disastrous. The Shreveport Bonsai Society has members at every level of experience. There's always somebody willing to help you reach your next level, whatever that level may be. Every bonsai master has killed many trees and experienced many failures.

Take advantage of centuries of bonsai experience.
If you have a bonsai problem, chances are somebody in the club has had the same problem and probably knows exactly what to do. At the very least somebody will know what not to do. I have plenty stories about what doesn't work and a few about what does. I don't mind sharing my lessons.

Free workshops, demonstrations and lectures.
We have been able to offer at least one free workshop every year that comes with a tree, pot, soil and expert guidance to get you started. This alone is worth at least $50. We have several lectures and demonstrations each year. In 2005 we established a goal of hosting at least one nationally known bonsai master for a workshop and/or a demonstration. Those cost of these events requires an additional fee but you save time and the travel expenses that would normally be required to work with these masters.

Prizes
Raffles have become an exciting part of our monthly meetings. Here's how it works. Like any other hobbyist, bonsai enthusiasts accumulate bonsai stuff. Over the years trees, pots, tools, books and other stuff begin to clutter our homes. We like to give stuff away if it helps promote bonsai in the Shreveport area. Some of the more obsessed members have more trees than they can care for. These trees need homes and the raffle helps them get rid of excess trees and offers somebody a chance to try something new. I love to give away a tree and have another member create something wonderful from it. The raffle is a purely voluntary way to donate your bonsai clutter to promote the art of bonsai. The old adage 'one man's trash is another man's treasure' could not be truer. Tickets are $1.

Show off your work
One of my favorite benefits is the annual spring show. This is where all members are invited to display their successes. Invite your friends and family to the show. You really feel like you've reached a new level when you see people off the street admiring your work, and they will.

Come join us,
Jeff White

Feel free to attend a meeting and see how you like it. If you decide to join you can do so at the meeting.

Members wishing to send their dues by mail should mail a check payable to the Shreveport Bonsai Society for $20.00:

Shreveport Bonsai Society
c/o Bob Specian
2601 Highland Ave
Shreveport, LA 71104

Name:_________________________________________________

Address:______________________________________________

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Individual [ ] $20.00 *New Member _____

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