History of MAAVS


In The Beginning

The thought for a new violet society was introduced by Joyce Stenger (Sugarloaf) at a meeting of the Potomac Council of African Violet Judges (PCAVJ). Her idea was to have a Mid Atlantic Meeting of AV judges so that we could exchange judging ideas and unify the groups.  This motion was seconded and passed. Before the motion could be implemented,  the Gulf War began which meant key people might not be available for planning. Jack Wilson (then president of the PCAVJ) sent a note informing the Baltimore AV Club (BAVC) that the Potomac Council of African Violet Judges will not pursue the motion.

Diane Richardson and Marie Burns of BAVC decided to try to  form a group that included not only the judges but all violet growers interested in attending an affordable, fun convention where they could share ideas and get to know people from other clubs. The first organizational meeting was by by invitation.  This meeting was held on March 9, 1991 in Marie's living room.  The following people were in attendance:
At the March 9 meeting in Marie Burns house, the small group of individuals each put $20 into a startup fund and installed Diane Richardson as the first President and thus MAAVS was born. In the Fall of 1991, November 1 - 4,  MAAVS held the first annual convention in Virginia Beach at the Holiday Inn on the Ocean. 


MAAVS Announced in AVM

Volume 44 No 3, May 1991 of African Violet magazine had this announcement of the formation of MAAVS written by Ken Barbi.

MAAVS in The Twenty First Century

November 12, 2001 after the "Carolina Patchwork of Quilts" convention in Raleigh, NC this official MAAVS web site was launched, http://maavs.org/ . Four years later, on December 6, 2005 MAAVS really entered the electronic age with the eMailing of the MAAVS eMemo. Ken Barbi created an Adobe PDF version of the printed MEMO and through the facilities of the MAAVS ISP it went out to the MAAVS eMemo subscribers.  What, you didn't know about the eMemo??? You better go to http://maavs.org/ and look for the sign up link!!!! (or click on the menu text to the left of this page.) Click here to accesss this historic eMemo (warning 2 megabyte Adobe PDF file).

MAAVS on Facebook

Expanding MAAVS into the Social Networking world, MAAVS now has a Facebook page. Come visit us on Facebook and become a Fan! The following is the link to our Facebook page:
Mid Atlantic African Violet Society on Facebook

MAAVS Conventions

We have been blessed over the years with an exciting and diversified group of host clubs and their respective cities for past conventions. Look at where some of our annual conventions have been held (some years have links to convention pictures):

AVSA 2002 Convention

In the spring of 2002, May 19-25,  MAAVS was  host to the 56th International AVSA Convention in Washington, DC.
Preserved here are the historic pictures of  this convention. The African Violet Show was one of the best ever since MAAVS
has some of the finest African Violet Growers in the country.  Take a look at our AVSA convention pages for a MAAVS-centric
view of this Violet show.

Presidents

The above conventions had some strong and talented leadership over the years:

MAAVS Presidents[click to zoom]

Seated above at the 2005 convention in Richmond, VA 
MAAVS Presidents Ken Barbi, Linda Ablanalp, Sue Hoffmann, Diane Richardson



Programs

Past convention souvenier book covers are a reflection of the varied and colorful history that MAAVS has experienced throughout the years. Presented here are booklet covers from all our conventions to date. All covers may be zoomed to larger size by clicking on them.

 

1991

Make Friends With Violets

Virginia Beach, VA

1992

Those Bewitching Violets

Baltimore, MD

1993

A Cornucopia of Violets

Richmond, VA

 

1994

Red White and Violets

Frederick, MD

1995

Violet Reflections

Pittsburgh, PA

 

1996

Violet Vibes in the Fabulous Fifties

Virginia Beach, VA

1997

The Blooming of A Nation

Williamsburg, VA

1998

Violets Along the Chesapeake

Baltimore, MD

1999

Violets on Broadway

Richmond, VA

2000

Mummers, Pretzels, Violets & More

Frazer, PA

2001

A Carolina Patchwork of Violets

Raleigh, NC

2002

Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun

Rochester, NY

2003

Viva Las Violets

Raleigh/Cary, NC
2003 Show schedule (pdf)
 2004

 

Star Spangled Violets

Annapolis, MD
2004 Show schedule (pdf)
2005

 Mr Violet Discovers Richmond

Mr Violet Discovers Richmond

Richmond, VA
2005 Show schedule (pdf)
2006

MAAVS 2006 cover

Violets Around the World

Owego, NY
2006 Show schedule (pdf)
Award winners (text listing)
2007

007 Bond...James Bond

007, Bond...James Bond

York, PA
2007 Show schedule (pdf)
Award Winners (text listing)
2008

Violets along the Shenandoah

Violets along the Shenandoah

Fredericksburg, VA
2008 Show schedule (pdf)
Award Winners (text listing)
2009
2009 cover

Things Go Better with African Violets
Williamsburg, VA
2009 Show schedule (pdf)
2010


Owego, NY

Mid Atlantic African Violet Society