Bill Valavanis, Dave DeGroot and Kathy Shaner presenting at past Shohin Seminar

The Shohin Seminar is considered to be one of the best opportunities in the U.S. to learn about Shohin. 

Workshop participation is decided by lottery

Because these world-class instructors are donating their time and travel expenses, the cost of the workshops is simply the cost of the bonsai material you will be working on. This makes workshop seats a highly sought after commodity. To give everyone an equal chance workshop participation is decided by lottery.

How the lottery works

On the registration form, please list your choices in order of preference. Choose as many as pique your interest. That way if your first choice of workshop is already filled by the time your name is pulled during the lottery, we can slot you in to a next choice on your list. During the Lottery, the names of all full seminar registrants who wish to participate in the workshops are put into a basket. Names are pulled one by one from the basket. As each name is pulled, we match open workshop seats against the choice list for that name. Once all full registrants have been matched with one workshop, the process is repeated for people who wish to attend a second workshop. This double pass process is then repeated for all Day Pass registrants. We give preference to full seminar registrants because the facilities costs are predicated on occupying hotel rooms. Full registrants are helping us meet that quota.

Rank your choices next to the workshops in order of preference. Please specify a single order of preference for all workshops eg: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc., NOT 1, 2, 3 for morning and 1, 2, 3 for afternoon.

Deposits must cover your most expensive choice (2 most expensive choices if requesting a second workshop)

Any workshop seats that remain available after the lottery and any seats that become available due to emergency cancellations will be posted on a marker board at the registrar’s desk during the Seminar.

Workshop Schedule

• All workshops are held on Saturday, February 4, 2023.

• Please bring your own tools. Wire will be provided.
• Some of the most respected bonsai masters in the United States donate their time and expertise at the biennial California Shohin Seminar.  View the list of our honored guest presenters.
• Session A: 9:00 – 11:45 a.m.

• Session B: 2:00 – 4:45 p.m.

The 2022 Seminar was postponed until this year due to COVID which has resulted in an unusual opportunity for GSBF Clubs:  There are still seats available in a number of workshops. They are now being filled on a “first come, first served” basis by emailing calshohin@yahoo.com 

Session A: Saturday February 4, 2023 – 9:00 am – 11:45 am. 

Session B: 2:00 pm – 4:45 pm 

Registration must be postmarked by December 15th, 2022, to be a part of the workshop lottery.