Like everyone else, I felt like Spring would never arrive! I don't know about you, but I feel renewed! I've been outside cleaning off flower beds, picking up sticks and branches, and soaking and cleaning gourds!  I also cut and cleaned some gourds to get them ready for shows! Are we all ready for some shows? Boy, I am!    
          I went to the Indiana State Show the first weekend of April, the first State Show and Competition I have ever attended! I had hoped to enter a few gourds in the Competition, but alas, we got there 15 minutes too late. Bummer. I met a lot of terrific people and saw some fabulous gourds! The Indiana Gourd Society put on a great show!
          I had contacted Helen Thomas a few days before the festival, and asked if she needed any help with her booth on Saturday. We took turns running the booth and enjoying the Festival! Helen is such a great friend! She introduced me to everyone there, and I do mean everyone! I swear she knows everyone who stepped onto the fairgrounds. I wish I could have stayed longer.
          Speaking of Shows, we have one coming up on June 7th at the Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, IL during the town festival "Arthur Days". The Arthur Tourism Board is really a go getter, and this gives us the opportunity to make this a great vending and workshop venue.
          For those of you who haven't been, this is a really nice show. The gourds are beautiful with a couple of old one room Schoolhouses for workshops and they raise and sell gourds. So all you gourd enthusiasts call or e-mail me to set up at this Show. The more the merrier! I will be giving a woodburning class, and vending. Anyone wanting to help at the registration booth would be greatly appreciated!
          To all our southern members, please come! I have met very few of you, and we have been trying to bring more things down state in order to entice you to come! The same goes for our northern members. We can't have a strong organization without all of you.
          I know no one expects me to be another Lincoln, they broke the mold with him, but I sure would like to meet you, share the crafts, and provide opportunities for all of us! Although money from sales can be a large motivator, learning new techniques, building friendships and communicating have their own weight and value. This could be a great organization, offering many opportunities to all of us. But we can't do that if you don't come. 
          
          See you June 7th!
          Betsy Davis-Parker