| Dick Westfall, President of the Midwest Dahlia Conference, called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at Peddler's Village Event Center. Dick announced that the Roll Call would be dispensed with and the Registration List would be used to document attendance.
A moment of silence was observed for the ill and deceased members. TREASURER'S REPORT; Lilly Ann Seipel reported a balance of $3,212.71. Ann Moynahan moved the treasurer's report be filed for audit, seconded by Rick Peters. SECRETARY'S REPORT; Lilly Ann reported that the minutes of the fall meeting had been mailed to the president and treasurer of all the Conference Societies. Mac Boyer moved the minutes be accepted as mailed, seconded by Rick Peters, motion carried. Dick Westfall asked all the societies to keep Lilly Ann informed of any changes ant he officers of their society. This is very important so that each Midwest Society is kept up to date. Dan Franklin reported on the raffle, which will be held at the banquet of the Midwest Show this year. Charles Cairn has obtained an oil painting of Jessica, painted by David Andrews of Madison, Wisconsin. The painting was placed on the stage for everyone to see. The tickets for this painting will be $1.00 each or six for $5.00. Lilly Ann will give tickets to any society requesting them to take back with them. They will also be available at the Judging Seminar in Michigan and at the Midwest Show in September. Rick Peters reported on the Midwest Web Site. Calvin deRuyter designed the web page and has done a tremendous job. He has put a lot of time, effort and money into this project. If any Midwest Society would like to have a link to (sic. should be "page on" as a link to existing member sites is free) the site it would only cost them $25 per year. On behalf of the Midwest Conference Dick thanked Cal and Rick for all their work. Ellis reported on the Midwest Show to be held in St. Louis on Sept. 28, 2002. Ellis announced that the exhibitors would be allowed to start setting up their blooms starting at noon Friday, Sept. 27. He had the show schedule and registration available for anyone wanting one. Charles Craig reported for the Education Committee. Rick Peters and Charles Craig have been working on the Judges Seminar to be held at the Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids on July 27, 2002. Each society present at the meeting today received material showing the schedule, speakers, map, and places to stay in the area. Those societies not present were mailed this information. Rick advised that this information is also in the June Bulletin. The Seminar will start at 9 a.m. and last until approx. 3:15 p.m. Mac Boyer showed the new Hunter Green Show Vases that are available to any society needing them at a price of $1.85 ea. plus postage. Mac also had available the large print classification book for $2.00. Monique Volden read a letter from LaVerne Bartel, President of Badger State Dahlia Society thanking the Midwest Conference for the contribution from the Spring Auction and the membership dues money that helped them in hosting the Midwest Conference Show in August 2001. Dick announced that the Midwest Board has accepted the bid from Elkhart to host the Midwest Conference Show in the year 2005. Dick asked if anyone would like to host the Conference Show for the year 2004, since no society has bid for that year as yet. The J.C. Moore bronze medals were given to the Midwest Conference Members who had a representative at the meeting. Lilly Ann will mail the medals to those that were not present. The Midwest Societies should thank Bud Moore for his generous donations of these bronze medals that he has been giving every year. Dick thanked Mac and Norma Boyer, Dan and Cathy Franklin and the Elkhart Society for hosting the Spring Meeting. Corny Morgan moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by John Thermal. Respectfully submitted
Lilly Ann Seipel, Secretary/Treasurer 
Participants at the srping meeting mill around after the
business meeting and before the program.
Participants at the srping meeting mill around after the
business meeting and before the program. You can see just
some of the plants that were later auctioned off to raise
money for the 2002 show host society.
Dan Franklin presented the program "Growing
Dalias in Containers." He used slides showing the whole
sequence of a dahlia year from storage back to storage,
all in containers!
The plant sale then occupied a couple hours of intense
bidding. The sale raised $1521.
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