How to Join the Nanaimo Rhododendron Society

You join the Nanaimo Rhododendron Society (NRS) by applying for membership at one of its regular meetings. The site does not describe an online signup form or state a fee, so the meeting is the confirmed route: attend a regular meeting at Beban Park, 2300 Bowen Road, in Nanaimo, and submit your membership application there.

What to Know Before You Go

The NRS was established in September 1992 and is affiliated with the American Rhododendron Society, as one of seven chapters in British Columbia. Its stated purpose is to introduce members and the public to rhododendrons through meetings, garden tours, and flower shows, and to give people with similar interests a chance to meet.

That matters for joining: membership is tied to a group that meets in person, so your application is handled at the same gatherings where the society does its work.

Steps to Join

1. Check the events calendar for the next regular meeting. The site lists upcoming events with dates and times; look for entries labelled "Regular meeting."
2. Go to Beban Park, 2300 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, at the listed start time. Regular meetings run 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
3. Apply for membership at the meeting. The site directs prospective members to apply at the next regular meeting.
4. Ask about benefits while you are there, or read the benefits page first. The site links to a page explaining the benefits of joining; reviewing it beforehand helps you decide before you apply.

Expected result: you leave the meeting with your application submitted and a clear idea of what membership involves.

Dates You Can Use

The published calendar includes regular meetings on:

• November 12, 2026, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• January 14, 2027, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• February 11, 2027, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, with speaker Hunter Jarrett
• March 11, 2027, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, with speaker Christine Quist

The same calendar lists other activities, such as Hailey Grove work parties (morning sessions) and a Christmas Auction on December 3, 2026. These are society events, but the site names regular meetings as the place to apply, so plan around a regular meeting date rather than a work party.

Common Snags

• Assuming you can join online. No online application is described; the meeting is the stated route.
• Expecting a published fee. The site does not list membership costs, so treat any figure you see elsewhere as unconfirmed and ask at the meeting.
• Arriving at the wrong event. Work parties and the auction are on the calendar but are not identified as membership application points.
• Missing a date change. The calendar is the authoritative list; confirm the next regular meeting there before travelling to Beban Park.

After You Join

The site points members to meetings, garden tours, and flower shows as the core activities, and notes the society is also on Facebook. Once your application is in, the regular meeting schedule gives you a recurring way to take part and to meet other growers.