ASHEVILLE, NC — The National Watermelon Association kicked off its 108th annual convention, here, on Feb. 22 with an opening reception at the historic Omni Grove Park Inn, overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina. This year’s convention is notable for the retirement of longtime Executive Director Bob Morrissey and National Watermelon Queen Coordinator Eleanore Bullock, and the welcoming of new Executive Director George Szczepanski and National Watermelon Queen Coordinator Kerri Wiggins.