CONVENTION ON THE ORDER OF MARY KAY

Morning Candyce, Yes wouldn't it be awesome.

I think "Exposition" is a much more enticing name than "Conference"...

The First Annual Dave's Garden Exposition

I love it!

At first, I wondered just how much vendor interest we could generate. But vendors flock to the home and garden shows... and we are a far more targeted audience. Most of us get our mailboxes stuffed with garden catalogs, and I'd guess our membership includes an unusually high percentage of higher spenders when it comes to those tempting plants and garden supplies.

critter, I agree. Do you think you would like to attend if it happens?

I said "count me in!" a bunch of posts ago. I've been watching this thread to see what sorts of ideas people come up with. I think it's a neat idea to have something that's broader in scope and differently organized than a RoundUp, although the regional gatherings of all sizes are wonderful also!

Sorry critter, I see it way up there. :)

Debbie

Guess the reason I stuck the word "Convention" on it is because it has the same conotation for most people. It could be called a picnic by the pond and I would be happy. Just any way we can develop to bring the DGer's into a large place together. I will repeat, gardening removes the stress and creates a lot of laid back people. We would not want the cost of anything to change that. We have been retired for over a year and are having a hard time keeping up with what we thought we would be able to do. Another huge expense is not in the cards.

Oh, I'm not objecting to the use of the word "convention" -- I just liked the word "exposition!"

I think some of the bigger home and garden shows use the term "Expo."

And I don't know where I got the word "Conference"... that was from another life! :-)

Another idea is to book into Camps...like 4-H camps...they are not in use during the "off-season" and many of them rent out to things like this...I know a great one about 50 miles from Atlanta...I used to go there for 4-H Regional Leaders Meetings each fall...we would have about 500 leaders...and we slept in the cabins where the kids usually sleep.

Another is in Virginia.....and a great one in WV

Look at it this way Lou, if its in Dallas, your only talking door charge. :)


I know alot of the 755 viewers to this post (awesome) would like to come. Only about 10 percent of you have replied. A simple yes or no would give us an idea if its even worth thinking about. Remember this is hypothetical until Dave gives his input. Let us here from you .


Question: Do you think its a good idea?

Answer: Yes or no

Keep those cards and letters coming, boys and girls. They are getting better by the moment. Yay!

True, Debbie.

This is mainly to find out how many would be interested in getting together.

Not where or how. That would have to be determined AFTER we knew if there was enough interest to make it feasible. And what Dave's take is.

I vote yes now but will only know for sure once we find out the date and cost.

Betty

Sorry wrong .

This message was edited Nov 17, 2007 10:37 AM

good grief, YES!

yes

If it should be scheduled for Dallas, don't forget to contact garden writer Neil Sperry. His weekly columns appear in a number of newspapers, his monthly magazine - Gardens - is very popular and he might be available as a speaker. Also the staff of Texas Gardener magazine can offer ideas.

Roses? Tyler, TX is famous for them, and the nursery people there will be glad to participate. Also the Antique Rose Emporium here in the San Antonio area.

yes

Keep em' coming. Thankyou Yuska for the info. I'm keeping notes

Debbie

Howard Garrett, the Dirt Doctor also lives in Dallas.

Never know about Neill Sperry. He hosts his own Home & Garden Show in Arlington (halfway between Dallas/Ft. worth) every spring. Of course, it is a little different. Strictly open to the public, no club sort of thing.

Yes, to the convention exposition national ru or whatever....lol

Joyce

and maybe that tropical hibiscus guy that lives around here. who is that?

and what about argyle acres and i forget the name of the other iris place.....how could i forget that?

why not just have it in conjunction with a home and garden expo that is going on at the same time and maybe reserve a hotel just for dg'ers. the hotel would have meeting rooms that could be setup for members to meet and have coffee and refreshments and also either walking distance or a shuttle bus to the expo. as for what city, how about the city that has the cheapest fares from the most places, and also of course a garden expo. just off the top of my head i would think a hub city such as dallas, denver,chicago, atlanta, or las vegas maybe for the cheapest fares? since most of the garden expos are probably aimed at the locals (not needing hotel space), there would probably be some empty hotels.
if the exhibitors knew that dg'ers were coming to town from all over the country, they might be interested in cooking something up a little special.

This is getting better all the time. I knew if we got enough smart people, we could develop something that would be palatable for the masses.

Yes. I'd definitely be interested in this big event, and would sure try to attend. :)

some of your larger convention centers have more exhibit space if need be, and if dg'ers were coming to town it might draw some more exhibitors that target dg and as a bonus be exposed to the local public that might not otherwise be exposed to dg or those companies.
the smaller shows sometimes have 2 or 3 shows going on at once. for example if you had a mailorder rose vendor that already had dg'ers business, but by exhibiting would expose the public who had no idea they even existed while also entertaining and getting more business from dg'ers. just a thought.

Okay, I'll be the first to say this on the main thread here...

I wouldn't go.

Not that I don't love DG, and wouldn't love to meet all the folks who are names without faces, but, my personal realities are:
*My budget is limited, and so is my time
*My gardening location is so different from 'most everyone elses (with the exception of the other good folks in the desert southwest) that most programming on what happens in the rest of the other regions of the country wouldn't be applicable
*At my local swaps, I not only meet friends but get to exchange plants and ideas that stand a good chance at working here at home

I think it sounds like it would be a lot of fun, though, for those who choose to go (if, of course, it gets Dave's blessing), and wish you all the best in organizing and pulling it all together!

I'll go if it works out! Yes, my time and budget are very, very limited.. but as previously mentioned, a few months ~ or more ~ to sock away extra pennies for something truely exciting will make it work.
You can count me in!

Barb

Len, that's a really good idea. If we still want to work toward our own DG expo down the road, having a major DG presence at an established convention will show vendors etc. that we can put together the numbers to make such a effort worthwhile.

This sounds great to me, unfortunately being on a fixed income it is out of the question on attending. I'm sure there are other members in the same boat who live farther away than me.

Maybe down the line there could be more than one a year at different locations or centally located in the middle of the US.

But I do think it's a great idea.

I understand, Robyn. We are in the same boat.

By the way. It has not been determined there would even be a get-together. The place to be held is way out in the future. Just a straw poll to see who is interested.

there is still many details to be worked out, and i think the more of those that get worked out could make it possible for more people to attend. for example, room sharing, perhaps charter buses carrying members to wherever it would be as long as it wasn't too far. i think the bus ride would be as much fun with all your local members.
as the details and prices, dates etc. are worked out would help people decide better if they might attend or not. I think everyone would like to attend or think it's an overall good idea.

Wait til Dad gets home and finds out what you kids are up to.... Just kidding ;0)

i know...

nap, thats the story of my life...

Off topic, but had to ask. diehrdsouthrnr, may I ask how old you are? Just curious how you got into gardening.

Lana

*laughs* I was wondering the same thing.... lol

r30

lol...16... i'm a sophmore in highschool....

*snickering at the rose comments and Tyler...Cocoa-lulu and I know of them for sure
I'm bet Chamblee's would do something since they ship all over.

I think the idea of the convention expo would be neat and I like the idea of doing it in other places ...as mentioned not everyone can afford to make a long trip...IF it gets the ok and happens maybe moving it around each year would work good so everyone can have a chance to attend.
It would have to offer things that wold work in other states not just the one it is being held in