Finally getting around to finishing off GSBF Convention stuff before they get too old. Saturday Night dinner award was chalked full of people. Most of them are listed and a great write up can be seen on the GSBF website. I'm just going to hightlight just one of them that is a bit closer to home.
Frank Nagata was posthumously awarded "The Most Prestigious Circle of Sensei Award"
Yes, thats correct the founder of our club Nagata-san himself. He brought bonsai into the main stream light that it is today in Southern California like other giants: John Naka, Khan and Kay Komai, and Harry Hirao.
Here is a rare picture that I found of Nagata-san.
Mrs. Karen Margolis is Frank Nagata-san granddaughter and the daughter of Khan and Kay Komai. She made a wonderful speech about how Nagata-san must be so excited to learn that his lifes work is being continued into this modern era. There was not a dry eye in the house after this lady spoke.
Mrs. Margolis stated, "None of my siblings nor I followed the art of bonsai. But, we adopted Lindsay Shiba as our bonsai brother!" After her speech the Margolis family donated a check to GSBF under Frank Nagata name.
Picture of Lindsay Shiba, Karen Margolis, and GSBF President Abe Far