Affiliate Reps, Officers, and Newsletter Editors
Happy 2026!
I’m pleased to welcome our newest Affiliate Clubs—the Cactus & Succulent Society of Maryland, the Charleston Cactus & Succulent Society, and the Chesapeake Cactus & Succulent Society. We’re excited to have you as part of the CSSA community.
Annual Affiliate Updates
Please be sure to review and update your club’s public-facing information on the CSSA website so prospective members can easily find you. Use the link below to make updates. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your listing or affiliate membership, please contact me or the CSSA business office.
Click here to update your information
CSSA Board Updates
On January 18, the CSSA Board held its first meeting of 2026. During the meeting Der-Shing Helmer was appointed by unanimous vote to fill a Board vacancy for the remainder of the year. Der-Shing is a member of the San Diego club and currently serves as its Vice President.
For more information on the CSSA Board, click here.
Director Candidate Nominations (2027 Election Cycle)
During the January 18, 2026 Board meeting, the Nominations Committee was elected.
Nomination requirements and a description of Director responsibilities for the 2027 election cycle are available on the CSSA website. CSSA members and Affiliate Societies are encouraged to submit the names of qualified candidates.
Click here for more information.
Nominations may also be submitted by individual CSSA members by email or postal mail and must include five (5) CSSA member signatures and a written acceptance from the nominee. Nominations will be accepted from January 1 through April 1.
Nominations may be sent to:
CSSA, PO Box 41187, Pasadena, CA 91114 OR cactusandsucculentsociety@gmail.com
Affiliate Society Spotlight
CSSA is committed to promoting and supporting our Affiliate Societies by increasing their visibility at the national level. Affiliate clubs are invited to participate in our Affiliate Spotlight program.
Learn more here.
Special CSSA Supporting Membership Offer
CSSA is pleased to offer a discounted Supporting Membership to members of Affiliate Societies. This membership, normally $20, is available to Affiliate members for $10.
Learn more here.
Youth Educational Grant Initiative
CSSA is excited to launch the 2026 Youth Education Grant Initiative, a pilot program designed to inspire the next generation of cactus and succulent enthusiasts. Affiliate Societies may apply for up to $1,000 to support replicable, creative, hands-on youth education projects.
Learn more here.
2026 CSSA Photo Contest
Join us for the 4th Annual CSSA Photo Contest! This year’s theme is From the Garden (Cultivated Plants).
The submission deadline is April 1, 2026. Contest details.
CSSA Speakers List
We’ve compiled a growing list of speakers available to present at affiliate club meetings and events, either in person or via Zoom.
View the speakers list here.
Plant-of-the-Month (POM) Guide and Articles
Interested in adding a Plant-of-the-Month competition to your meetings? CSSA has created a detailed guide to help you plan and run this engaging activity.
Access the Guide here.
We also created a growing library of short, publication-ready articles covering plant genera and related topics to support your Plant-of-the-Month activities. More than 30 articles are currently available, with additional content coming soon.
Access the Article Library here.
The CSSA Library Needs a New Home
For more than 40 years, the Cactus and Succulent Society of America (CSSA) has been fortunate to house its library at The Huntington, where it has served generations of researchers, authors, students, and plant enthusiasts. Recently, The Huntington informed us that they now need the space for their own institutional use, and as a result, CSSA must relocate its library.
The library of the Cactus & Succulent Society has been in existence for over 100 years and is truly a world-class collection, with many materials that are not widely available elsewhere. We are looking for long-term space. Please contact our business office if you have any ideas.
Click here for more information.
Stay safe and take care,
John Martinez
CSSA Affiliate Committee Chair
affiliate@cactusandsucculentsociety.org
Along with the entire Affiliate Committee: Ann Hopkinson, Judith Goodrode, Zack Repko, Art Scarpa, and Kris Thompson
