2025 ADS Awards (to People)

ADS President’s Award was accorded to Randy Foith, by ADS President Mark Oldenkamp. Randy is the Immediate Past President of the Midwest Dahlia Conference. Randy has been active in the Midwest Dahlia Conference for two decades. He served as President for nearly ten years, retiring from this position in late 2024. The Conference thrived under his leadership with many updates and improvements. He relinquished his role only when he was sure the job would be in good hands. Congratulations to Randy Foith on receiving the ADS  President’s Award in 2025. Randy and his wife Kathy had registered to be at the show, but unfortunately, their plans had to be changed. Being absent from this presentation makes Randy no less deserving of this award. 

 

Special Awards was privileged to present two ADS Gold Medals at the 2025 National Show in Chicago. The ADS Gold Medal is the highest medal award given by the Society.

 

Elva Sellens

Elva is the ADS’s current Membership Chair, a board position she has faithfully held since 2018. Every member of the ADS can be thankful we have had Elva processing our memberships. This is a volunteer position that is hard to fill, and one that requires great diligence. Completing the various tasks of membership means Elva has given an substantial amount of her personal time over the past seven years, especially with the increases in ADS membership. Elva has done a superb job.

Congratulations to Elva Sellens on being a recipient of the ADS Gold Medal.

 

Charles Miehm  

Charles is the current ADS Treasurer. Charles has long tenure in being active in the American Dahlia Society. He previously served as a Regional Vice President and he is one of those persons, along with his wife Nancy, who have participated in ADS affairs for many years. Charles has been our elected Treasurer since 2018 with the job evolving significantly during that time. The digital age has not made Charles’s role less complex, actually the opposite has occurred. The expectations of the ADS Executive Committee and the greater Board are that Charles’s financial reports must have the details necessary to make informed decisions. Charles has met that challenge by dedicating himself to expanding the ADS budgeting and reporting systems. He duly gives his wife Nancy credit for helping with this process. On behalf of the ADS, Special Awards is pleased to present Charles with the ADS Gold Medal.

ADS Silver Medals

Special Awards was honored to present two ADS Silver Medals at the 2025 National Show. The Silver Medal is presented to people who have demonstrated a significant presence outside of their local area of dahlia involvement. When this medal is awarded, the expectation is: The awardees will continue to serve as ambassadors for the dahlia, extending their influence beyond the conferences and societies they represent, and through their actions, they will provide favor to the American Dahlia Society.

Receiving ADS Silver Medals were:

Sue Fitzgerald

Going back over a decade, Sue has gained notoriety beyond her home society for video recording show events throughout the Midwest. Her videos appear on the Internet and social media, and they have garnered interest from a range of interested viewers. Sue has been a key contributor to the Southtown Dahlia Club, holding offices for many years. She has especially championed a popular community dahlia garden sponsored by her home society. Always willing to make inspiring dahlia presentations to other groups, doing several every year, Sue definitely personifies the definition of a “Dahlia Ambassador.” Sue’s energy towards the dahlia abounds and the ADS is proud to present Sue Fitzgerald with the ADS Silver Medal.

 

James “Jim” Kassner

Jim’s initial interest in growing dahlias was to do his personal best. That is still the case, though like a select number of dahlia aficionados, he began increasing his involvement outside of his personal garden and local societies. It did not take too many years, and Jim was accepting new responsibilities at the Midwest Dahlia Conference. He is the current conference Secretary–Treasurer. Jim has played a major role in this year’s combined 2025 ADS/MDC/CSDS Show taking on the responsibilities of General Events Chair and Show Chair. He is an industrious worker who also knows how to successfully delegate tasks to others. Jim commented recently that he views the greatest importance of dahlia shows is that they provide the opportunity to create new interest in the dahlia. That statement personifies what it means to be a “Dahlia Ambassador.” Congratulations to Jim Kassner, on receiving the ADS Silver Medal.

Four ADS Commemorative Medals were presented at the 2025 National Show.

The recipients were local Central States Dahlia Society members who have been identified as accepting multiple responsibilities and for dedicating much time and thought into planning to make the 58^th National show a success. It has been said that “many hands make for light work.” Central States Dahlia Society possesses many talented and dedicated members and while all who contributed to the show’s success did not receive a medal, the ADS expresses its gratitude to all the CSDS members who provided their thoughts and hard work that made for a successful show.

At the show banquet the following CSDS members received ADS Commemorative Medals:

 

Rosemarie Magura

Rosemarie Magura, is the current President of Central States Dahlia Society. Rosemarie conducted the many meetings leading up to the show. She engaged in the planning and coordination of events, and she worked closely with all the members on the show committee. This required a significant amount of Rosemarie’s time and energy. Central States Dahlia Society and the ADS expressed its sincere appreciation to Rosemarie.

Mike Hartel is a current Director of Central States Dahlia Society Show. Mike showed his logistical skills working closely with the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Show Chair to maximize the effectiveness of the various spaces allowed for the show. There were constraints put on the use of the available space and Mike became an invaluable member of the show committee by working with the show team and the hosting venue to overcome several obstacles. Mike’s technical background was special bonus to CSDS in 2025.

 

Laura Matz is a current Director of Central States Dahlia Society. Laura’s participation on the show committee evolved from being involved in planning to accepting the show’s clerical responsibilities. This is a huge task and responsibility in hosting a major show where timely reporting means having everything in order by the awards banquet the day of the show. Laura is very organized, and this has proven valuable to the society.

 

 

 

At the conclusion of the show awards banquet, Trustees Harry Rissetto and Ron Miner, previous awardees of the ADS Presidential Life Membership Award, with the assistance of President Mark Oldenkamp, presented this prestigious award to a surprised Jerry Landerholm. A beautiful handmade dahlia quilt designed and made by Barbara Miner, complete with embroidered wording commemorating the presentation was given to Jerry. 

  

Congratulations to all of the awardees at the 2025 combined ADS/MDC/CSDS show!