2025 AVSA 79th Annual Convention

May 25 – June 1, 2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

There is no hotel shuttle service. Per the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the best cost is Uber or Lyft with an estimated cost of $40-$45 one way. Taxis are available but tend to cost more due to taxes.

Also available is the Super Shuttle Express. One way cost is approximately $68 for a four-passenger vehicle. If people choose to coordinate, the cost can then be divided. Reservations need to be made 24 hours in advance. Reservations online are free. Reservations made with an agent cost $3.00.

Free parking was negotiated by AVSA. Guests staying at the hotel who have booked using the group rate, will have a note on their reservation that parking is waived. Other guests are directed to mention they are there for the event and their parking will be complimentary as well.

Information on how to Judge or Clerk at the show is available here.

AVSA offers a discount of $15 when you book at the convention hotel by May 5, 2025 through one of two methods:

  • Calling the toll-free number and referencing the group name of “African Violet Society of America”
  • Utilizing the online link provided on the AVSA convention website

Detail information for either can be found on the Hotel Information page here.

The DoubleTree by Hilton, Kansas City – Overland Park provides a discounted room price for groups. AVSA negotiated a price for Kings or Queens for $129 plus 9.35% state tax and 9.0% hotel occupancy tax. 

The last day to receive DoubleTree’s discounted room group rate is May 5, 2025 or until the group room block is full, whichever comes first.

One day passes are available to AVSA members for $55.00 per day. The pass allows you to participate in the raffle, attend the presentations, visit the show room and shop in the sales room on that day.

Yes!  The public is very welcome to come be part of the fun.

A Show room pass of $5.00 gets you into the show and sale rooms. There will be 100s of plants and designs in the show room for your viewing pleasure and the sales room will be filled with plants and supplies.

If you join the African Violet Society of America ($40.00 USD for USA residents and $60 USD for International residents) during your visit, you can get into the show and sale rooms for free.

If a spouse/friend would like to accompany you, but not attend any of the presentations or see the showroom, they do not need to register for convention. You are able to purchase the meals or tours for them on your registration. There is a limit. Only two (2) tickets are allowed for each meal or tour selected.

People come for many reasons. Some come early to enjoy the tours and the AVSA reduced rates of the hotel as a vacation/convention. Others come on Wednesday for the convention activities.

It’s not the type of convention where you go from one presentation or activity to the next. There is down time in between activities. Conversations pop up about care, culture, lighting, soil, etc. just to name a few. Everyone does something a little different and you go home with new ideas to try in your own environment.

There is a first-time convention go-er’s meeting on Wednesday afternoon where convention activities are explained in more detail. It gives everyone a chance to meet other first-timers and there is plenty of time for questions.

Plan to spend time in the show and sale rooms on Thursday (afternoon and evening) , Friday and Saturday. Hours can be spent just walking around looking at all the beautiful plants. Shop in the sales room. It opens on Thursday and a line always starts an hour or two before it opens. You’ll find yourself visiting the sales room multiple times as the crowds thin and you find another special plant or supply item that you don’t want to leave behind.

Be sure to attend all the presentations for great education on various topics. Don’t miss the Luncheon Auction where people donate plants and most anything violet related. There’s always a treasure to go home with and each purchase is a donation to AVSA.

AVSA is 99.9% a volunteer organization. Consider volunteering to meet new people and make your own personal contribution to the success of this year’s convention.

Whether you come for the week or only a few days, each person will get something different from the experience. Hope to see you there!

You do not need to register for convention to enter the sales room on Friday or Saturday. There are admission fee of $5.00 for members and non-members.

If a person or a group would like to consider donating an item for the “Goodie Bag” please send an email to Steve Scheuerman at christopherviolets@yahoo.com

A minimum amount to send would be 200. The ideal amount is 225. Anything between 200 and 225 will be sincerely and gratefully accepted.

All donations are very much appreciated!

Yes, you will be able to attend the Meet the Directors luncheon and the judging school. The lunch break between the classroom portion and the practice judging and exam will be from 12:15 pm until 1:30 pm. and the Directors Luncheon is at 12:30 to 1:30. If you require further information, check the convention website for full information on the Judging School click here.

If a plant is listed in First Class, a description is not required. If a plant is not listed in First Class, the exhibitor would need a printed copy from the hybridizer or the seller of the plant that provides the blossom type and color, the foliage type and color, and the type of African violet (large, standard, semi, etc.).
As a note, it is known that obtaining descriptions for Russian/Ukraine varieties are more difficult. Classifications will have a separate database of Russian/Ukraine varieties it may refer to, to be helpful to the member during classifications. However, it is the responsibility of the member to come prepared with descriptions for all varieties not listed in First Class.