BGLM Volunteer Appreciation Day
By George Haas
September 7, 2024
On September 2, 2024 (Labor Day), the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt, Oakland, California, hosted its Volunteer Appreciation Day. It was a special day to recognize and show appreciation to all volunteers who care for and operate the Bonsai Garden.
The Bonsai Garden is an all-volunteer organization. The Bonsai Garden collection is permanent home to museum quality bonsai and suiseki art. Volunteers for the Bonsai Garden are considered its greatest assets since there would be no collection without the dedication and special talents of so many individuals. The volunteers fill roles that include:
o Bonsai
o Docent
o Gift Shop
o IT/Social Media, Writing Skills
o Landscaping
o Photography/Videography
o Special Events
Volunteers need no special experience since training is provided to individuals wanting to learn and support the Bonsai Garden.
Volunteer Appreciation Day is the opportunity to reward certain individuals for their talent, time and energy contributed to the Bonsai Garden. This year the following individuals were recognized:
Jan Smith, Treasurer
George Haas, Marketing Manager
Linda Soliven, Docent and Historian
Emily Gallivan, Photography and 25th Anniversary Book
Robert Henderson, former Docent Instructor
Jeanette Arnold, Associate Curator
Rick Trumm, Associate Curator
Janet Nelson, Associate Curator
Bob and Polly Gould, years of support
Mas Nakajimi, Suiseki Collector
Kathy Shaner, Curator 1999-2022
Gary Tom, Curator
Gordon Deeg, Director
The following people did not get recognized due to their absence from the party
John Nackley
Mike Mello
Jerry Carpenter
Janice Dilbeck
Carl Osterholm
Dennis Hawkins
9 Alison and Ron Limoges
10 Robert Henderson, Rick and Alise Offeman and Bev Martinez
