CONVENTION ON THE ORDER OF MARY KAY

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/791952/

I hope this link works. Go here to sign up.

I'm so excited....I just can't hide it...lalalala

Glory would you mind going to the link and signing up. I remember somewhere way up this thread you had really good ideas..

Now this is not to begin checking it out untill 2008.

right, and we need people behind this early.. I have some DG Watchdog top 20 ideas too...

And adds - we can have loads of banners and such...

I would like to suggest our First Ever Motivational Speaker...none other than our own dear Horseshoe!!! He sure can motivate me into doing things...like planting stuff. Jo

Write it down. Write it down. We don't want to loose one single idea.

Maybe we can get a forum for all this open only to those in charge?

I was thinking same thing.

I would limit the people in charge too.. maybe 10-15 for now with more closer to come.

Also LouC would you be in charge and get us under you to do the work but just watch over everything?

I second the motion...all in favor? Jo

JO check out the thread.. McGlory might take the post!!!

LouC will be on team I am sure...

OK...I will just be an observer....Jo

Jo - we need help! Get over there and help us get this started!!

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/791952/

I vote for LouC as president and instigator fem fetale of the DG conventions
LouC
LouC
LouC!
All in favor say IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Okay, I stirred up the pot, and mabe panicked LouC a bit....LOL, she taught me everything I know about stirring!

I think listening to the folks on the thread, the common denominator is price, subject and location.

The questions would be:
1)Anyone connected with a large hotel organization in suggested locations
to work on a hotel/food/buffet package
2)Approaching an airline with receiving a special group rate under the DG
Group umbrella / other travel discount suggestions?
3) Topics and forums. Since we come from everywhere, interests and gardening techniques are - from everywhere. Main Topics can be something general and appicable to most gardening like Composting and Soils, Propagaton, photography, sustainable alternatives and host of other general topics that most of us are interested in. That is not to say however that specialized topics should be excluded, sometimes these subjects offer others a "rest" during the busy convention.
4) Who presents topics? There is enough talent here at DG that soliciting volunteers should be easy, whether it is or not remains to be seen.
other ideas for speakers: Approach local Arboretums and Botanical gardens

These can be focus items to begin with.

Rj

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Ladies and gentlemen I concede to the Speaker of the House. Here, here!

hahahahah

RJ look above and link to the new thread of "Volunteers for the conference".
We need your ideas as they are just what we are looking for. Copy and paste, please.

LouC

okay ..

What a great idea! I've been to Dallas many times, but can always make another trip, especially for gardening info. Imagine booth after booth with gardening doo-dads, books, tools, seeds, bulbs, bare-root roses, etc. that we could visit / buy from!

Yea...count me in!!
Connie

I'm hoping I can keep up withthe thread posting hehe like 400 on the Volunteer page! lol I'd like to help.

r30

Remember that Dave also said:

I agree with Drapelady that "None of us individually could nor would want to try to take on such a large task. It would be like individuals trying to hold a Microsoft Expo without Microsoft being at the helm. But it is an excellant idea. "

There would be upfront costs and legal issues. Signage and handouts for the actual event would be needed. Hotels, convention centers, airlines, etc. may require deposits and signed contracts for group packages. Someone would have to be legally responsible for signing these things. If you would be charging vendors for display space, someone would have to collect that money and be accountable for it in a separate bank account. This is not a DG-sponsored event, but a private DG member-sponsored event and I'd urge you to cover all issues carefully as you proceed. It's what you don't think of in the beginning that comes back to bite you in the end.

This is all driven by gleeful enthusiasm right now which is great, but it is rather like herding cats unless there is structure and official leadership. Planning this event for 2009 would be sensible and allow enough time for things to fall into place.

June

June, would you please post your reply on this thread also?
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/791952/
Josephine.

This message was edited Nov 21, 2007 12:20 PM

Thank you, Jo. You will see that we a comment from Trish as of just a little while ago.

I would love to attend the convention if at all possible.

I would definately attend if we can get it organized.

June_ nmexico - is so right.... we need to proceed very carefully and allow plenty of time.

Any DG members with experience planning conventions and/ or attorneys... we NEED you services, if possible!!!!!!

Trish has already stated that DG will take care of all legalities. We just need to come up with a head count of those who are even vaguely interested and would support it if all questions could be worked out satisfactorily to the majority. McGlory and a couple of others are experienced in this sort of business. Glad to know that but every city has a convention bureau that is in business to serve the city and organize conventions. We just need to tap all of the possibilities. Would be surprised if this could be arranged by 2009. 2010 probably more like it. No stone will be left unturned.

I am thinking like Trish (or was it Terry...) does. We can look to an informal start-out count of about 500 people. I hope that many will attend! 500 Is a lot of folks! And if our number is 500 or less, we might be able to find a location that is not a "Civic Center" or a "Convention Center", that would rent for a lot less.

I just know that $$ is an object for everyone. and the more frugal we can be with charges and spending $$, the higher our final attendance count will be.

We are listening..

May I make a suggestion? someone may have already stated this (haven't read entire thread)

An Exposition held in the south makes sense if it is held in the winter. Temperatures will be reasonably mild, while at the same time, the gardens of northerners will be sleeping.

Those of us with limited time in the gardens would like a break from winter, and want to spend the growing season at home.

Seandor, most agree with you I think.

I am voting for the South, in the winter. Would Love to attend, but until I know where, costs involved, and when, I can't say for sure if I will be able to be there or not.

bump

selfishly i say coastal southern SC coastal GA or Jacksonville, FL area... but that's just me

Dave, himself, has requested 500 mile radius from College Station, his home.
Does this fit the criteria? If so, we would be more than happy to consider it.
Nothing is in stone...nothing.

ok nvm
PS i was pretty much JK

Sorry, I don't text message so don't understand the JK...to me that is John Kennedy. hahahah My kids think I terrible because I only want to talk on the phone, not type.

just kidding lol (laugh out loud). typing is useful during boring cclasses that you are already doing well in

ok

500 miles pretty much doesn't go outside of Texas. Dave went to the CA Round-Up with no complaints. Where in these threads did he say it had to be within 500 miles of his hometown.

If you do it in Texas, it will just be another Texas Round-Up. Texas is not in the center of the US.

Please don't take offense, but it needs to first have something to offer that would draw all DGers and secondly needs to be more central.

texas is kind of central (longitudally speaking) and if it were at houston or somehere near the coast, it could be a vacation

this is copied from a post by Dave further up this thread.

One thing you should check on is which conventions are going on when?

Such as Austin, TX 2008 april 14-19 Iris Nationals are in place.

D