New England Rose Society Marks 85 Years of Growth and Gratitude
Regan Duffee | President, New England Rose Society
March 2026
Reprinted from The Rose Window, the newsletter of the ARS Yankee District
It was a perfect autumn day for the New England Rose Society’s 85th Founders Day celebration, held at the historic Wamsutta Club in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The day began at 10 a.m. with a private tour of the Glass Museum, located in the club’s lower level, which was originally the building’s bowling alley. The 90-minute tour, led by Kirk, offered a fascinating look at the artistry and history behind the collection.
After the tour, members gathered in the upstairs salon, where they enjoyed time to mingle and reconnect before lunch. At noon, attendees moved into the main dining room for a luncheon program filled with reflection, recognition, and inspiration.
NERS President Lauren Gisel opened the ceremony with a heartfelt Year in Review, highlighting the many accomplishments of the past year. She emphasized that NERS thrives because of the efforts of its volunteers and recognized Valentina Nardini for her exceptional work in creating the new website, which launched in April 2025. The site has streamlined many of the society’s activities, including membership renewals, event registration, consulting rosarian connections, and the annual rose sale fundraiser.
American Rose Society President Craig Dorschel then took the podium and shared exciting news about the future of the ARS. He announced that the organization is beginning a period of change, transitioning away from the Shreveport, Louisiana headquarters and garden to focus more on serving and growing memberships throughout the country. He noted that this shift will bring the ARS closer to its members and help ensure a more connected, modern organization. Many members expressed optimism and support for this positive and necessary
step forward.
Craig then introduced keynote speaker Teddie Mower, who traveled from Indiana to give a moving presentation on Anne Belovich and her extraordinary garden. Teddie’s talk shared the story of Anne’s lifelong dedication to preserving heritage and climbing roses, as well as her belief that these old varieties should remain accessible to the public. Through her work, Anne saved hundreds of rare roses from extinction, planting them across her gardens overlooking Puget Sound. She also worked with rosarians across the country to ensure her collection would continue to live on through projects such as the Save the Rambler initiative. Teddie emphasized how Anne’s garden became a living archive of rose history, and how collaboration between societies like NERS and ARS is vital to continuing her mission.
Teddie Mower gives a presentation on Anne Belovich and her preservation efforts. (credit: Chu Jung)
Craig Dorschel provides ARS updates.
(credit: Chu Jung)
Following Teddie’s presentation, NERS Vice President Regan Duffee spoke about the society’s direct involvement in the initiative to save Anne’s roses, not just the ramblers, but all varieties at risk of being lost. She explained how certain roses were selected to be trialed in New England and how this work has strengthened connections among gardeners, educators, and volunteers throughout the region. The presentation reflected both the scientific and emotional commitment behind preserving these living pieces of horticultural history.
To close the program, Craig Dorschel presented several American Rose Society Presidential Citations. One was awarded to the New England Rose Society for its preservation efforts. Individual citations were presented to both Lauren Gisel and Regan Duffee for their contributions to the ARS NextGen Committee, which is helping to modernize the organization and engage the next generation of rosarians. A citation was also presented to Teddie Mower in recognition of her leadership and dedication to the Save the Rambler Project.
The day ended with warm applause and gratitude for everyone who made the event possible, especially Teddie, whose participation marked the culmination of a year-long collaboration. As members departed, there was a strong sense of pride, optimism, and community spirit, a reminder that the love of roses continues to bring people together and inspire action for generations to come.
Group photo of Founders’ Day attendees. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to capture all the attendees.
(credit: Chu Jung)