A good number of people have recently joined PBS, and welcome to them all. This is a good time of year to join because you get the remainder of 2013 and all of 2014 for one annual dues payment. If you're a current member, don't forget that renewal dues payment is due on January 1. You can pay with PayPal via the PBS website. We are developing clusters of members in various parts of North America and beyond. Nhu Nguyen organized a very successful meeting in Berkeley a while back. This would be a good time to think about planning get-togethers in late winter or early spring, when so many of our favorite plants are in bloom. These don't have to be major efforts. Perhaps some Saturday people could meet for a potluck lunch, a sharing of photos on a portable screen or television, and visits to a couple of nearby gardens. I'm thinking of combining a PBS event with one of the annual early spring garden tours our NARGS chapter organizes, for example. If you're interested in organizing such an event, please write to me directly and I can provide you with the names and e-mail addresses of PBS members in your local area. Best regards, Jane McGary Membership Coordinator, PBS