Dahlia Legacy Project

The Puget Sound Dahlia Association places Art Wuerth in nomination for the Federation of Northwest Dahlia Growers Hall of Fame. No other member has individually assisted each Federation club or saved club officials as much time as has Art. But first some history.

A couple of decades ago – before Art – the judging chair from each club had to individually contact every judge and ask about their availability to judge at the show in question. This was before email, so it was accomplished by sending a snail- mail letter to each judge. The letters included a self-addressed postcard for the recipient to return. It was up to the judging chairs to track down those who didn’t bother to respond.

And don’t forget clerks. In addition to confirming judges, the show officials had to run down enough clerks so one was available for each team – using the same snail-mail process. And from the judges’ perspectives, each was inundated with a slew of letters requesting their judging expertise at the various shows along with postcards to return showing their availability.

And then along came Art. The CWU accounting grad and computer geek saw a problem with an easy fix – as long as someone took the bull by the horns and got it done. Art asked the Federation board if it would be OK for him to determine the judging availability of every judge at every Federation show, compile the results, and hand each judging chair lists of judges and clerks available for their show. The Federation board joyously said, “Heck yes.” Art’s plan was accomplished by the magic of email, of course. And it was also accomplished by untold numbers of volunteer hours courtesy of Art staring at a computer screen.

This process has saved local club officials hundreds of hours – and hundreds of dollars. Few now remember the bad old days of the individual letters, postcards, and individual follow-ups. But those of us who do realize what a gem we have in Art Wuerth.

In addition to his years of work securing judges and clerks for all Federation club shows, Art has also spent many years on the Federation board as one of two at-large members.

If that wasn’t enough, Art has also established a dahlia club. When his local Evergreen State Dahlia Association went on hiatus and merged with the Grays Harbor Dahlia Society, Art firmly believed that the Olympia area deserved to have its own local society and show. He founded, funded, and continues to be heavily involved with the South Sound Dahlia Society.

For contributing so much of his time, talents, and initiative to the Federation and to nurturing dahlia culture in the Olympia area, the PSDA seeks Hall of Fame recognition for Art Wuerth.