Sign-up Sheets

Photography Day 2023 – Saturday August 26, 2023

Saturday Aug 26, 2023 / 10am – 4:30pm
Cords Photography, 681 17th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Caskets Arts Building Studio 110

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What:
The MN Bonsai Society is pleased to be able to offer a Photography Day for its members such that

  • Members will receive professionally shot photos of a minimum of two trees.
  • The Bonsai Society will obtain a portfolio of home grown, royalty-free stock images for marketing materials
  • The Bonsai Society will gain a library of digital assets from which future merchandise could be created / curated.

Who:
We will be engaging Minneapolis commercial photographer Jeff Cords of Cords Photography (https://cordsphotography.com). Jeff very generously provided us with a complimentary test shoot at his studio on April 29th of this year to understand expectations and ensure both he and we will be happy with the final product. From our perspective, everybody was very satisfied with both the process and the results.  Examples from this test shoot are shown below.

When & Where:
Based on the traffic and flow that was observed during the test photo shoot, we will be scheduling in half-hour blocks starting at 10am and ending at 4:30pm with a half-hour break from 1:00pm-1:30pm. Each half-hour block will have first come, first, serve reservations for up to 3 people (or six trees). Members may bring additional trees if so desired, but anything over two is not guaranteed to get photographed. If there is time left over in any given half-hour block, additional shots may be possible. Do note that the scheduling and process will move along at a fairly brisk pace so please arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time to allow for expediting and staging of the trees. We will not have time in the schedule for any set dressing (no scrolls), but totems / talismans can be accommodated as shown. Individuals are also welcome to bring their own stands / slabs if so desired.

Cords Photography Studio is in NE Minneapolis in the Casket Arts Building:

https://goo.gl/maps/Xk7CH7thJx8zbDGPA

Enter through the door shown below, up the half-flight of stairs and immediately to the right. Other accessible building entrances are available if needed.  There will also be carts and volunteer expeditors available for those that need help in moving larger trees.  Again, it is important that you arrive sufficiently before your reserved half-hour slot to make sure your tree(s) are ready to go at the appointed time.

https://goo.gl/maps/N9n2DSzPo3Lkdw2m7

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Signup below!

For the 2023 Photography Day, we will be able to accommodate up to 36 members on a first come first serve basis. All current members are welcome to have their trees photographed. Specimens in any state of development or refinement are welcome.

We are also looking for 6 volunteers ( 2 members per 2-hour shift) to help expedite throughout the day. The middle shift is two and a half hours as it covers the midday break. If you have never been on a commercial photoshoot, it is a fun, chill day with lots to observe and learn.

Please contact Steve Holzgraefe with any questions – holzgraefe{at}outlook.com

State Fair Tree Sign-up 2023

DELIVERY OF TREES, SET UP AND TEARDOWN

Trees and stones must be delivered to the HORTICULTURE building on Thursday night after 10 pm and before 11:00 pm. Exhibitors should stay with their trees until their entries are tagged and labeled. Exhibitors and members are highly encouraged to help with show set up. Trees are delivered through the HORTICULTURE gate on the south side of the fairgrounds after fair closing at 10 pm. Admission will not be charged to those who are delivering and /or picking up trees between 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm with proper parking pass on your vehicles, which will be supplied to exhibitors and helper with set up and tear down. Trees must be picked up Saturday evening at 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm.

SIGN UP SHEETS, TREE FORMS & JUDGING CRITERIA

Sign up sheets and Tree Registration Forms will also be available at the General Meetings this summer. If you have questions regarding volunteering or signing up to exhibit please contact cherylsykora@aol.com.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the fair!!!

View event details and download forms here https://minnesotabonsaisociety.org/events-2/state-fair-show/

Please contact Cheryl – cherylsykora@aol.com with any questions.

State Fair Volunteer Sign-up 2023

To help make the show a success for everyone, we need volunteers. Each volunteer will get a FREE ticket and FREE parking at the fair. When you arrive, just check in at the back volunteer area at the back of the bonsai exhibit.

The first part of this exciting process that needs volunteers is to help load the truck on Thursday afternoon at 4pm. Then, the set-up of our show occurs after 10pm on Thursday evening until set up is finished.

We need volunteers to staff the show during the two day MBS exhibit. Shifts on the days of the show are: 9 am -12 pm, 11:30 am -3 pm, 2:30 pm-6:00 pm and 5:30 pm-9:00 pm on both days. These shifts require you to sit by the trees and answer questions. Don’t worry, no experience required! It is a lot of fun working these shifts.

Then we need volunteers to help take down the show on Saturday evening. To complete the event, we need volunteers to help unload the truck on Sunday morning.

Remember as a State Fair volunteer you will receive a free fair ticket, a parking pass to the HORT LOT (if you get there when space is available), bottled water during your shift and a lot of self-satisfaction in participating in a great show!

Don’t forget to wear your member badge! If you do not have one, volunteer badges will be available to use.

Please contact Cheryl – cherylsykora@aol.com with any questions.