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    President's Message

September, 2011

Dear ROSARIANS of the WFRS Member Countries,

It is two years and four months since members of the World Federation of Rose Societies met in Vancouver for the most enjoyable gathering of rose friends in what must be one of the most attractive cities of the world. In just over a year, we in South Africa look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful land of friendliness and sunshine. Please read all about ROSAFRICA 2012 elsewhere on the website and in World Rose News - this convention promises to be different and exciting. Please make sure this information reaches all members of your rose societies.

I have just returned from my third tour of International Rose Trials in Europe this year and once again I thank all those responsible for the warm welcome I received everywhere and for the excellent work being done in the name of the rose. It is important to keep promoting the WFRS and the rose. Twice on these travels I visited our founder President Baroness Lily de Gerlache de Gomery who always shows a keen interest in the happenings of the WFRS and its members.

You will be receiving correspondence from your societies in the name of the WFRS requesting information for the Rose Hall of Fame and other related subjects as we work towards the World Convention in October 2012. Please make the job of the Standing Committee Chairmen and our hard working Executive Director easier by replying as soon as possible. Good communication is vital to the efficient operation of the WFRS.

I have been invited to give a presentation at the National Convention of the American Rose Society in Los Angeles and to give a presentation to the Vancouver Rose Society in October and in November I have been invited to visit and give presentations in Argentine, Uruguay and Chile, all of which I very much look forward to. These visits give me a wonderful opportunity to meet our members in their own countries amongst their magnificent roses, for which I am grateful.

With the Japanese Heritage Rose Society convention reinstated I look forward to seeing many of you next May at what I know will be a very special gathering among people who have suffered greatly with such courage and determination to return their beautiful country to normal.

Yours sincerely in roses,

Sheenagh Harris