Page 3 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2016Q4

President’s Message

s I start to write this message I have been travelling for several
weeks and am now in China meeting up with most of the BCI
Aboard tomorrow.
We went to a family reunion in England and then spent several
days touring in Wales with Kath and Malcolm Hughes, and then
attending Lindsay's son’s wedding in Ireland, followed by a long-
planned cruise.
My husband Lindsay also served on the BCI board for several
years. At the start of his term BCI magazine was just a Bonsai maga-
zine. When it was initially suggested that stones be included in the
magazine, Lindsay very strongly opposed this move.
Fast forward 25 years. How things have changed.
Our base in Wales was a lovely spot on the Conwy River. The river BCI tours are very popular and we have two
was fast flowing and Lindsay, who is now a passionate stone collec-
tor couldn't wait to explore the river. He collected several very nice more planned in 2018. In April, BCI Director I.S.
stones, one of which was very large. We got the stone back to Kath NG is hosting 2018 Malaysia - BCI International
and Malcolm’s home and cleaned and culled them out. The large Friendship Tour and Exhibition, featuring
one was a keeper!
It wasn't possible to send the stone home by post as it exceeded Bonsai, Stones and Wood. BCI Vice President
the International postage limit of 20 kg. This stone and a couple of and Chair of BCI Convention Committee, Helen
smaller ones travelled with us for the next four adventurous weeks.
The large stone is the subject of a fun article by Kath Hughes which Su, is coordinating a four- or five-day tour
may appear in a future edition of the magazine. in conjunction with the BCI Convention in
Malcolm was very sceptical about the airline allowing us to travel
with the stones when he dropped us at the airport on route to Ireland. Mulhouse, France in October, 2018.
No major problem, we made our 60 kg baggage allowance with 1 kg
spare! I might add I left home with 15 kg of baggage. I mentioned in Mulhouse, France in October, 2018. We will keep you posted as
to Lindsay at this point how opposed he was to stones back in the information is available.
mid eighties! BCI Business Manager Larry Stephan represented BCI at the
Stone and Bonsai collecting are both addictive. I don't know any- National Exhibition in Rochester hosted by Bill Valavanis. By all
one who has just one of either. All of you bonsai lovers who are not accounts this was once again a great success and we congratulate Bill
interested in stones, I warn you, wait until you get your first as a gift and thank him for the invite. These exhibitions are held biannually in
or you find one in the wild, and you will be hooked. Rochester, New York, the next one is scheduled for September, 2018
You might be interested to know that the largest room in our home and Lindsay and I have both been invited to attend.
is now dedicated to displaying stones and our 30-foot shed is full of Our Tech Guru Bonnie Moore has been working on some changes
daiza making machinery. Yes, things have changed. Lindsay shares to the Website. These should be up and running soon.
one of his daiza-making techniques in this issue. We have launched a campaign to encourage lapsed members to
The purpose of BCI board members going to China was at the rejoin BCI. Those whose membership expired in 2016 were offered a
generosity of Mr. Chen Chang. The board was invited to participate bonus issue if they rejoin before the mail out of this issue. They were
in the opening of three additional BCI Bonsai Co-operation Cen- also invited to let us know why, if they are not renewing. We hope
tres. In Rugau, Jiangsu; MuYang, Jiangsu; and Kunming, Yunnan. I this information will help us improve our services.
met up with the group in Guangzhou where we participated in the Also in this issue we are featuring the second part of an article
opening of the 9th China National Bonsai Exhibition and the 1st by Tom Elias and Hiromi Nakaoji on cut stones. The first part sure
BCI China Committee Exhibition. Around 800 bonsai and over 200 provoked some debate. Hope you enjoy the second part.
stones were exhibited. We feature trees and stones from this exhibi- Our last event for the year is the BCI Regional Convention in
tion along with other events in which the board participated, in this Mysore, India, December 19th to 22nd. It is not too late to register
issue. The Chinese are very proactive in promoting bonsai through and you can find a link on the BCI website: www.bonsai-bci.com
these Co-operation Centres, of which we now have nine. They are under conventions.
also conducting workshops for kids, teaching the next generation As we draw to the end of 2016 I would like to thank the BCI Direc-
the art of bonsai. During the opening ceremony of the exhibition tors, Contractors, Authors and Contributors, and especially our BCI
we signed the contract for the BCI 2019 Convention. Editor Joe Grande, for their support and dedication to BCI.
BCI tours are very popular and we have two more planned in 2018. We at BCI, wish you all a Happy Holiday season and a Healthy and
In April, BCI Director I.S. Ng is hosting 2018 Malaysia - BCI Interna- Prosperous New Year.
tional Friendship Tour and Exhibition, featuring Bonsai, Stones and
Wood. This tour will also include sightseeing. BCI Vice President Cheers from Down Under,
and Chair of BCI Convention Committee, Helen Su, is coordinat- Glenis Bebb
ing a four- or five-day tour in conjunction with the BCI Convention

October/November/December 2016 | BCI | 1