About MAAVS

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:

Marie Burns (BAVC
Diane Richardson (BAVC
Sharon Toolan (BAVC)
Janet Haag (BAVC)
Joyce Stenger (Sugarloaf)
Ken Barbi (Potomac Council)
Laurene Jones (Old Dominion)
Carol Van (Tidewater)
Audrea Salzmann (Tidewater)
Andrea Burrell (Sugarloaf)
Julia Stahl (BAVC)
Betty Lages (BAVC)

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):

1991 Virginia Beach, VA

1992 Baltimore, MD

1993 Richmond, VA

1994 Frederick, MD

1995 Pittsburgh, PA

1996 Virginia Beach, VA

1997 Williamsburg, VA

1998 Baltimore, MD

1999 Richmond, VA

2000 Frazer, PA

2001 Raleigh, NC

2002 Rochester, NY

2003 Raleigh/Cary, NC

2008 Fredericksburg, VA

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:

Diane Richardson 1991-1995
Sue Hoffmann 1995-1999
Linda Ablanalp 1999-2001
Ken Barbi 2001 - 2005
Rodney Barnett 2005 - 2007
Rich Follett current

[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