I come from a long line of gardeners. My love of roses dates to my early childhood and those memorable specimens grown by my Great Grandmother Sanders. Her garden was a showcase for varieties of tea roses that scented our entire neighborhood in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Most of my family still resides in this region. Moving to Shreveport and working within the Gardens of the American Rose Center is like coming home for me.
I come to the American Rose Society from my recent position as Executive Director of Triangle Impact; this organization is the North Carolina affiliate of Hands On Network, a national volunteer management and community service nonprofit. My professional background also includes extensive nonprofit leadership in fundraising for education, public television and public radio. All of these positions allowed me to work very closely with community and corporate leaders. I will use that experience to advance the work of the Society.
But, enough about me: What may I do for you, our valued members and supporters of the American Rose Society? There are several areas within the Society where I hope to make an immediate difference. These include:
- Membership – In the June issue of American Rose, President Steve Jones told us that membership is declining. I want to expand the rolls and grow our membership to include more people who have an interest in roses. We can do this by reaching out to future generations of rose gardeners, working with affinity groups such as other gardening clubs and societies, building relationships with groups that cater to those of the same demographic as our membership, and increasing awareness of our own societies and gardens.
- Customer Service – Taking care of our members and customers is job number one at the national office. I want each member to be completely happy with the service received by the staff of the American Rose Society. Calls and emails will be answered promptly, efficiently and courteously. We will do our very best to satisfy your needs. You deserve nothing less.
- Magazine – I want our beautiful magazine to continue the tradition of editorial excellence and to be a useful and entertaining tool for our readers. I look forward to each issue, as I know you do. We will continue to give value to your subscription by including articles that educate and provide reasons to proudly share your magazine with family and friends. We also want to attract new, quality advertisers that you want to know about in order to promote the future development of our publications.
- Fundraising – I will sustain and expand the important work of the Society by supplementing the membership dues we all pay with an emphasis on strategic giving and planned charitable gifts. We want to create meaningful giving options for our valued donors. These options can include bequests, a number of different income-producing charitable gift annuities, or even gifts of stocks or appreciated securities. We also plan to reach out to local, regional and national corporations through sponsorships and product endorsement programs.
- Programs – I hope to expand our program offerings both on the national level and at our beautiful Gardens of the American Rose Center with increased funding through appropriate grants and targeted fundraising. These programs might include an educational component aimed at school children and initiatives that would increase the positive exposure of the Society while also providing a service to the community. More news on these and other ideas will be forthcoming.
- Gardens of the American Rose Center – I want to continue the enhancement of our beautiful gardens in Shreveport by working closely with our garden staff, volunteers, local and state government leaders, and the tourism industry. Our gardens are a national treasure, and I want them to be a destination for families visiting the region. We have such an opportunity to continue the good work that has already been done and take the gardens to the next level of development. We have a great facility in the newly completed Klima Rose Hall, and I look forward to developing this as a meeting space and conference center.
- Our Staff – The people who serve as the staff for the American Rose Society are our greatest asset. I will continue to support their good work on behalf of our membership and help them continue to provide the highest levels of service. I also want to expand our volunteer base as a supplement to paid staff. We plan to reach out to local groups whose members have an affinity for the work we do and invite them to volunteer at the American Rose Center. All of our dedicated staff, whether paid or volunteer, love the organization. They take great pride in the work of the Society and are eager to find new ways to do their job better. We’re always available to help you.
These are ambitious plans that can only be accomplished with your help and support. If we can complete these goals, we will stabilize our financial outlook and introduce more people to the joys of growing roses. I am confident that we will be successful.
I look forward to getting to know each of you. My office is always open to you, and I invite you to contact me anytime I may be of service. Please come and see us in Shreveport.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Ware, Executive Director
American Rose Society
