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RIDS Members

Learn more about RIDS members, who are just about as diverse as the flowers they grow!

RIDS member dedication has kept the organization going (and growing!) for over 40 years.  William “Pop” Dykstra, who was the last remaining charter member of RIDS, passed away in the fall of 2007. So while none of RIDS’ current members can trace their history with the organization back to its humble beginnings, many of our present members have been involved for years (decades even!).  This page introduces some of our colorful members, and includes photos (where available) of their equally colorful gardens!

This is by no means a complete list.  Members who wished to submit photos or information about themselves are listed below, in alphabetical order by last name. Where members have also submitted photos, there is a link within each respective profile. Click on the link to view that member’s garden or favorite blooms.

In Memorium – Jess Saur

May 12, 2013
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Our long-time RIDS member and friend, Jess W. Saur, of Middletown, RI, passed away on Friday, February 12, 2016, after a short but intense battle with vasculitis. Jess was born in August 1935 in Jersey Shore, PA. In 1951 he joined the Navy and became a Boatswain’s Mate. He serve
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In Memoriam: William “Pop” Dykstra

May 12, 2013
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William "Pop" Dykstra died on Pentacost Sunday. He sang in the Church choir in the morning, went home and layed down to take a nap. He was 91. Bill, or "Pop" as he was better known, was a Christian gentleman in the classic sense of the word.
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In Memoriam: Roberta Achtermeier

May 12, 2013
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Roberta Achtermeier passed away in May 2006. Roberta, President of RIDS from 2000 to 2002, had been ill for some time, but her death was unexpected. Roberta’s mother offered all of her dahlias and garden books to the Society.
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Al Werling

May 12, 2013
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Al Werling drives from Connecticut to attend RIDS meetings each month. He has been a member of RIDS since 2003, and a member of ADS since 2004. Al can always be counted upon to help set up and tear down the staging for RIDS dahlia shows.
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Gayle Wentworth

May 12, 2013
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Gayle Wentworth became addicted to dahlias about in 2002 after a friend shared some extra tubers with her. She now grows over 850 dahlias in her Connecticut garden, adding to her collection each year.
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Walter “Walt” and Dot Taylor

May 12, 2013
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Walter "Walt" and Dot Taylor got hooked on dahlias in 1982 after attending a tuber auction. They have been active members of RIDS for 25 years, and ADS for 20 years.
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Nicholas Sterling

May 12, 2013
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Nicholas Sterling practically grew up in the dahlia patch helping his parents with their dahlias each year. Nicholas served as secretary of RIDS for a number of years, and after a 3-year hiatus, accepted the position once again, serving until 2010.
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Joyce and Eliot Sterling

May 12, 2013
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Joyce and Eliot Sterling have been growing dahlias since 1963. When asked how they became interested in growing dahlias, Joyce said she couldn’t remember since it was so long ago. But, she said Harry Dixon taught her a lot about growing and exhibiting, as did Robert Graves.
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Joe and Ginny Schuttert

May 12, 2013
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Joe and Ginny Schuttert have been growing dahlias since 2002 and recently joined RIDS. They grow about 50 plants of 20 different varieties, and while they have not yet entered dahlia shows, they are considering it in the future.
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Peter Roberti

May 12, 2013
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Peter Roberti and daughters Gina, Jacqueline and Alexandra were first introduced to dahlias when they were out for a drive and happened upon Walter and Dot Taylor’s gardens. Of course, they couldn’t leave without some dahlias!
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Debbie Puerini

Debbie Puerini

April 27, 2013
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One of the society’s Massachusetts residents, Debbie Puerini first heard about the RIDS tuber auction from a local newspaper in May of 2007.
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Bill Matteson

April 27, 2013
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Bill Matteson has been growing dahlias since about 1988, and has been a member of RIDS and ADS since 1993. Bill is an ADS Accredited Dahlia Judge.
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Joyce MacInnes

April 27, 2013
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Joyce MacInnes, the RIDS “Sunshine Gal” has been growing dahlias since 1990. That’s also how long she’s been a member of RIDS and ADS. When asked how she started, Joyce said, “A friend gave me a few tubers to grow and I was hooked!”
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Donna Lane

April 27, 2013
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Donna Lane has been dabbling in dahlias since 1967. Like many others, she was given a plant by a co-worker and has been hopelessly hooked ever since.
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Carlyn L. Jehle

April 27, 2013
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Carlyn L. Jehle began growing dahlias in 2004 when she had access to a greenhouse. She has been a member of RIDS and ADS since 2004, and grows over 50 dahlias of 30 varieties.
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Jim Donahue

April 27, 2013
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Jim Donahue, horticulturist for the Preservation Society of Newport County at Green Animals since 2004, was made an honorary member in 2007 as a result of his work with RIDS to re-establish a dahlia garden at Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
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Barton “Bart” Buffington

April 27, 2013
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Barton "Bart" Buffington was introduced to dahlias when his wife’s cleaning lady brought them some extra tubers and recommended they join RIDS.
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Louise Brown

April 27, 2013
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Louise Brown is a relative newcomer to growing dahlias having started in 2005, the same year she joined RIDS. In 2004 she bought tubers at the hardware store for her son who liked growing things.
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Nancy and Larry Alley

April 21, 2013
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Nancy has been growing dahlias since the 1970s, when a neighbor gave her mom some maroon and white dahlias. When she moved into her current home, she had the land for many more.
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Joan and Larry Additon

April 21, 2013
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Larry, a retired engineer, and Joan, a retired nurse, have been growing dahlias since 1969, when they were given tubers by Chet Whaley and Fred Gould, early members of the Rhode Island Dahlia Society. They were hooked! They joined RIDS in 1988.
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