Natural selection seems to have resulted in hard-working and garden-cultivating behaviors prevalent in the human population, each at a frequency of less than 1, and the intersection of these two behaviors at an even lower frequency than either alone. So, there will probably always be at least some people who like to garden and want to do it better, but not that many. Bulbs tend to be rounded or rounded-cylindrical and thus cute, like babies, Japanese comic-book characters, kittens and some of the more fun adult body parts. So at least some gardeners will probably always be drawn to bulbs. Many people have the experience of discovering novelties that catch their attention and turn their behavior in a different direction. (I mean hobbies and interests rather than mating behavior.) Our task is to present our hobby to these people. *** Population dynamics may be studied in organisms in the field or plant societies (the same situation, really.) Smaller populations with many very-long-term members are not necessarily at risk of extinction so long as occasional recruitment occurs. The recruitment may be sporadic rather than at a constant low rate. Examples include saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) population near Tucson and the fan palm (Washingtonia filifera) population in the Kofa mountains in western Arizona. All individuals were older, and no recruitment in either population was observed for decades after their discoveries; both populations were of concern for extinction at some time. But plentiful rains for some years led to recruitment of viable members, and now both populations are considered secure. Populations surviving in environments that don't change much wind up well-adapted to their environment. Characteristics not necessary for a low-change environment may remain in the population unused or they may drop from the population as members leave over time. A risk to smaller, lower-turnover populations is that conditions may change and unused characteristics that might help deal with the change might be gone from the population. Populations with small numbers of long-term members yet very high turnover of newer members may be at risk of losing their core characteristics and going off in a new direction. Populations with no long-term members but rapid turnover of new members are unstable and tend not to last very long. Perhaps the population most likely to survive change would have some long-term members among a substantial number of members with different times in the group, and a moderately high rate of new members joining with their new ideas. My impression is that the more successful online groups have such population structures. *** It seems to me the most important work for hobbyist organizations wishing to attract more members is to make themselves known as widely as possible, both online and in the wet world. The Internet has made this easier and harder: Easier to find topics of interest, but so many possibilities that it is very distracting. Shows, displays and other events attract members if they are well-sited, well-advertised and well-attended. Most of coastal California has an ideal winter-bulb climate and a huge population, so public events there would probably attract more new members than in someplace like Fargo, North Dakota. Confirmed bulb twitchers do not always live near others, so the Internet is a necessity. But, maintaining either an online or physical presence is an enormous amount of work! And, one must keep in mind what is the product. Specialty plant society members want something different than do general garden society members or subscribers to celebrity Twitter feeds. An Internet strategy that consists of "let's get a Facebook page" is probably not going to work for a specialty society. The one Tim Harvey mentioned has a Facebook page; most of the members are aware of it but only a tiny fraction ever visits. Why don't they? Facebook is for social interaction and chatting. Members of plant societies want information on plants and the social interaction is less important. On Facebook, families and social groups can exchange photos and ramble at length about many different topics. It's hard to pick out something of interest among all the extraneous and non-threaded postings. Visitors have to scroll past political rants and gossip to find material of interest. Facebook is not intended for sharing complex information the way our Wiki is. Facebook is an online replica of the experience of sitting in the living room and chatting with friends: it's an enjoyable waste of time. Our Wiki is an online replica of going to a library. People seeking one of these experiences will probably not want the other at that moment. I come to the PBS for bulb information, not for discussions of political views, cats, vinyl record collections, or barbeque recipes. I can ignore all those things everywhere else on the Internet, but I can't get bulb information anywhere else than here. Fortunately for the PBS, we are highly visible on the Web, due to the immense work of members like Mary Sue and Dell. Right now there seems to be nobody available for putting together and promoting heavily physical events in California open to the public, but if that could be done we would probably attract a lot of new members. California newspaper garden sections have more and more articles devoted to plants native to similar climates and bulbs fit right in. Many of you living in that state are wonderful writers who could contribute local gardening articles to the San Diego Tribune, Orange County Register, Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee or San Francisco Chronicle. *** Volunteer overwork is a problem with all volunteer groups. Clubs that meet in person have a tendency to view new members as draft animals, especially if they're young - around 50 or so - or as interlopers, regarded warily. More successful societies are friendly and welcoming without pressuring newcomers to do anything beyond showing up and listening. A lot of newer members who feel welcome will later volunteer. So the most important thing is to make them feel welcome once here. I think we do this pretty well even if I do make them read too much. Leo Martin Phoenix Arizona USA