PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE In my bonsai garden spring has sprung with leaves and flowers sprouting everywhere.  After a particularly cold winter in Florida the change of season offers a refreshing respite.  Change also hangs in the air for BCI.  The change facing BCI has not been one season in the making but rather building over the last few years. The bonsai community moves along with the rest of the world and there is no doubt both bonsai art and BCI have been affected.  A combination of the difficult economy and omnipresence of the Internet have shaped the global bonsai village as never before.  How BCI responds to these events will be critical for the continued success of the organization.  Assuring is that the current BCI Board has taken steps to adapt to the change and to enter our next metaphorical season in strong shape. Here are a few of BCI ‘s products that enable it to remain relevant to the practice of modern bonsai and stone art in our changing world.   Fellowship: As the world’s oldest international bonsai organization (BCI is in its 48th year) BCI offers enthusiasts in bonsai and related arts the chance to exchange fellowship with like-minded friends around the globe. Our soon to be released web-based BCI Friendship Exchange will make it easy to meet and enjoy camaraderie with fellow members around the world. Information and Publications: BCI offers members our regular Ambassador newsletter and our quarterly international publication – BONSAI and Stone Appreciation Magazine, which as you can tell from this issue has been recently upgraded to be one of the best bonsai magazines available. We also offer a book service for hard to find books and BCI custom clothing. Our soon to be updated web page with all manner of bonsai and related art information will have a particularly important role for BCI and will vastly increase in scope. For instance, our upgraded web page will have an electronic copy of our magazine, which will allow BCI to offer an optional reduced membership fee for those that enjoy reading magazines online thereby avoiding the rising cost of paper magazine publishing and mailing.  Conventions: International BCI conventions lead the way by globally promoting the art and providing educational opportunities, as well as the chance to enjoy memorable bonsai display and demonstrations. This year’s convention in Louisville is rapidly approaching and is detailed more thoroughly in this issue. I am really looking forward to the convention’s programs and to Louisville as it has much to offer visitors besides bonsai. Future BCI conventions will visit many areas of the globe including the Denver, Colorado, Yangzhou, China, and the Gold Coast of Australia. Awards and Recognition: We regularly hold competitions just for members (such as the competition to have your tree’s or stone’s photo on the cover of the magazine) to help promote the art.  BCI Board members also award recognition to trees at regional shows they attend. BCI Tours of Exotic Bonsai Sites: In November 2011, there will be an amazing BCI Tour of two major bonsai shows in southern Japan.  While a good number of members have already signed up, there remains room and time to sign up so I encourage all who can to join us in Japan.   Additionally, in 2012 as part of our Denver convention, there will be an exciting tour of the Rocky Mountains, USA. BCI membership qualifies you to join these phenomenal tours. Fund Raising : BCI has had many generous donations over the past few months and we sincerely thank those that have donated, including new life time members, Leland Vanderpool (USA), Bradley Barlow, (Australia) and Enrique Castano, (Mexico).  Our Board has organized a Fund Raising Committee with the goal of raising sufficient funds to enable BCI to thrive and to help promote the art globally.  We welcome any fundraising suggestions you may have and any donations you may be able to make. After all, BCI is a volunteer organization and thrives on the generous support and donations of its members.   To remain relevant in the modern world, BCI will focus on you, our individual members. While we still welcome clubs, BCI needs to grow its individual membership, so please talk to your friends and fellow local club members about joining BCI as individual members.  And if you are reading your club’s issue of this magazine, please join BCI as an individual member.   On a personal note, the BCI family is saddened to hear that recently retired BCI Vice President and long term board member, Willi Benz, is seriously ill.    Willi and his wife, Gudrun, have been most faithful supporters of BCI for many years.  Their contributions to BCI have been numerous, for instance, they have both attended most BCI meetings no matter where held.  Despite his illness, Willi and Gundrun still managed to provide the insightful article about Omiya, Japan, in this issue.  I know the global members of BCI join me in wishing the best for WIlli and Gudrun.   Thanks.   Regards, and see you in Louisville. Rob Kempinski BCI is recognized as a 501.c.3 non-profit organization by the IRS. This means that donations above membership dues are likely to be deductible for USA taxpayer donors. This President's Message appears in the 2ndQuarterly 2011 issue of BONSAI MAGAZINE & STONE APPRECIATION, the official publication of Bonsai Clubs International.  Email to: BCI Web Master  Email to: BCI Business Office