Aims and Objectives
The Society was formed in 1984 by Raymond Evison. The membership now covers 27 countries, providing the world-wide interest and appeal for this fascinating genus. Members come from many different cultures - from China and Japan, from Poland, Latvia and Estonia, from Germany, Great Britain and Sweden, from Australia, USA and Canada, making the Society truly international. The aims of the Society are;
- to improve and extend the cultivation of Clematis,
- to disseminate knowledge of Clematis and Clematis culture by means of publications, promotions, exhibitions,
- to stimulate scientific research, international co-operation and exchange, meeting, international conferences and other appropriate activities.
The language of the Society is English.
Benefits of Membership
Members of the Society receive a copy of the Society's publication, 'Clematis International', as well as a minimum of two newsletters a year containing details of the Society's activities and offering participation in the Seed Exchange, a means by which members are provided with the opportunity to grow varieties of Clematis often unobtainable in their own country.
A Membership List is normally issued annually, enabling Members to contact one another.
The International Clematis Society is affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society of the United Kingdom. I would like to draw the attention of members to an offer available to them. The RHS publication, "The Plantsman", was relaunched in March 2002 under its new editor, Dr Christopher Grey-Wilson. Members of any RHS affiliated societies are eligible to a 20% discount on the standard subscription rate. For further details, please visit RHS - New Look Plantsman
Conferences and Meetings
Since the Society started it has held a number of successful conferences in various countries; 1985 in London; 1989 in Sweden; 1992 in Estonia; 1994 in Germany; 1995 in Stuttgart, Southern Germany, and Switzerland; 1996 in Cambridge, Great Britain and May 1997 in Sagamihara City, Japan.
In August 1998 we joined the Swedish Clematis Society to celebrate their 10th anniversary in and around Stockholm with an optional extension to Estonia.
In 1999 there was no International Conference but there were two Members Meetings, one in Guernsey, GB and the other in Dortmund, Germany.
The millenium saw 'Clematis 2000' held in Dresden, former East Germany with an optional tour to Hof and Würtzburg to the west. This Conference was preceded by a pre-conference meeting in Warsaw, Poland.
We celebrated the start of the new Century with our first ever meeting in the USA. The 2001 meeting was held in Oregon.
2002 was held in Poland with an excursion to see Clematis alpina growing in the wild in the Tatra mountains prior to the main meeting.
More information is now available under Past I.Cl.S. Events.
A number of Future meetings are planned, including Cambridge, UK in 2004.
'Clematis International'
This is the Society's journal, normally produced annually and generally despatched in the first half of the year. It contains news and updates on Clematis issues, articles from members from around the world, both academic and practical, book reviews and much more.
The Seed Exchange
Members can take advantage of seeds being offered by the Society and, of course, contribute seed to the Seed Exchange, giving the opportunity and fun of trying something new and exciting from other countries.
Requests for donations of seeds are sent out in September/October, with the Seed Exchange List itself available from February/March the following year.
More information on the Seed Exchange is given on the Web page Collecting and Growing Seeds.
International Clematis Registrar
The Society works closely with the International Clematis Registrar for Clematis. It encourages members to assist personally by providing details of old and new cultivars so that the register of names can be as complete as possible.
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