My local bonsai club was founded in 1978. It was once a very strong garden club, boasting up to fifty members, whose trees won competitions, some of which now reside in the permanent collection of the NC Arboretum, US. Fast forward to today, there are only ~ twenty members, of which a dozen are active. The founding members have all passed. The remainder are in or near retirement. I am the youngest by more than twenty years (joined in 2009).
We've had some discussions about how to ignite interest in bonsai and bring more people, but to little avail. Those that come stay for a few sessions, but few remain after a year. The older ones find it more & more difficult to care for their trees as they age. The younger generation aren't ready to dedicate the time needed, and some don't want to listen to opinionated people, who often drift off topic (this has been brought up to me on three separate occasions). In my brief time, half the club has passed away or stopped coming, and only two other new members have filled in gaps. In short, my club is dying.
A few of us are trying to change that. I've asked for advice from other clubs, who recommended showing the trees in more public settings, advertising, changing of format, electing younger people to the planning committee, or asking members to stay on topic (good luck with that!). A few say, start your own club. It has also been said, "Some clubs thrive. Some clubs die." It is the reality.
What have others done, and what are others doing, with their clubs to keep them growing? Social media? More public displays? What's your advice? What interested you to start in bonsai? What kept you going? Why did you join a club? Why didn't you join a club?
Thanks in advance for the advice.