Marie Glass's love of African violets is well known in the Pequea Valley area, and the longtime Factory Ministries volunteer does not shrink from giving advice about the delicate plants. When I complained that my large African violet keeps outgrowing its pot but does not bloom, she directed me to be a little less kind to it. "Don't move it so fast," she admonished me. "Keep it root-bound. If it still doesn't bloom, it's looking for more light."

In 2022, Marie decided to share her knowledge of African violets with area residents by holding a class she calls Purple People at The Factory building. Class participants learned about different types of violets and how to grow them, bugs and diseases that affect the plants, and about resources to help identify some of the 15,000 registered international violets.

Marie's efforts were rewarded when she was asked to give a presentation about the class at the affiliate breakfast at the 79th annual African Violet Society convention in Kansas City/Overland Park, Mo., on May 30. "I talked about how Purple People came about," recalled Marie of her presentation. Marie's inspiration for the class has its roots in a 2013 trip to Russia she took with her husband, Richard. "(After I saw) what violets did for the Russian people, I felt I could pay it forward," noted Marie. Richard accompanied her to the convention to witness her presentation. "He was so overwhelmed by my speech that he didn't take any pictures," recalled Marie.

The trip to Russia was special because it included meeting Vladimir Kelgin, known as the man who brought African violets to Russia, at his shop in Moscow. Marie recalled that Kelgin explained to her that violets are only for beauty and that he wanted to bring beauty to Russia.

To prepare for her presentation, Marie created a multi-media show using pictures from the classes she has taught. "I explained to the affiliates that our strong suit here (at The Factory) is empowering people," said Marie, adding that she wanted to inspire her audience to reach out to those who are intimidated by the fuzzy-leafed plants. "I was challenging them to empower people who like seeing violets, but think they could never grow them," she said.

"Each of the seven classes focused on a different type of African violet as well as a hybridizer or commercial grower," explained Marie. "Class members went home with a plant or planted leaf start of that type with information on ways of growing and propagating that particular type."

To prepare the lessons, Marie reached into her background as a public school teacher, and she shared those techniques with the violet aficionados at the convention. "I showed them pictures of fun things that an elementary school teacher would know," she stated. "(For instance), I never just gave the violets out." Instead, Marie held prize drawings - at Easter, each student picked an egg and found the name of the type of violet they had been assigned inside. Drawings for prizes such as wicking cord, violet food, and mealy bug killer were held regularly. Marie also used contests in her classes, giving each student a project plant that was not blooming. "There was a little competition to see who could get them to bloom by the end," Marie explained.

Marie's delight with her students and their accomplishments was also part of the presentation. "This is Josie. She loved the names of the violets," shared Marie. "(Some of the names) would send her into giggle fits."

Marie put her lesson plans together in a curriculum packet and had 40 packets ready to give out at the end of her talk. Nearly all the packets were picked up by representatives of African Violet Society affiliate chapters from all over the United States. "This was presented as a challenge to affiliates to educate potential members so that they would achieve success and experience the beauty offered by the African violet family," shared Marie.

Marie's most recent Purple People class was offered to interested participants beginning in March. Between the end of the class and Marie's trip to Kansas City, she gave students a "growing break." Then, during the May 22 bingo event held at The Factory, Marie displayed the work of her class members. "Close to 100 people saw this show, and it made the Purple People very proud," stated Marie, who added that 14 future students have signed up for the next Purple People class.

Marie encouraged her audience at the convention to share what they had learned with their friends. "I offered to give them more (handouts) if they were interested," she said. "One person in California who heard of them contacted me." She is also a retired teacher, and Marie and the interested party have already exchanged several emails.

For more information about the next Purple People session, readers may call 717-687-9594.