Dave's Garden national party - dead idea

Islandshari, you expressed my sentiments exactly. I was trying to post something along the very same lines yesterday before I lost Internet connection for most of the day. I too am saddened that it was called off for now, but understand why it is happening. (I think I do anyway.)

I will be looking forward to it getting off the ground at a later date.

Ruby

I have to also agree with Connie W on the way that the questions were asked. I too couldn't answer to number one about "at any cost," nor did I feel that asking about "ifs" at this point were necessary. So, the efforts here were not in vain, next time we will know a few more things about trying to get a head count.

This will happen, of this I am sure. There are just too many of us wanting it to happen for it to lay idly by for too long.

Ruby

Oh yeah, one more comment and then I go and check other forums. I heard several people mention starting a savings fund in order to have funds for the trip. I have been saving coins for a couple or three years and rolled them yesterday. I was going to open a special travel account for the Expo too.

I rolled up $279.00 which I consider a very good start. I am still going to open a special savings account for travel.

Ruby

Perhaps we need a "Garden Party Fund" where folks could donate a dollar or two or three for a future event. Set a date in the future and if for some reason the event were scrapped, donate the money to charity.

Uh oh, well I just realized what that would mean - who would be treasurer and take care of the donations? I sometimes don't think things through first before speaking. Each of us could start our own "garden party money jar" to save up for such a thing.

I think you all should consider Shellabellas idea and maybe start from there. I too am sorry
that it did not work out for next year but maybe starting small and building from there!!

I'm sorry but I just don't get it. LouC, put on a Round-Up, post it for everyone to see, people will come, or not. What is the difference between a Round-Up and a.....well, whatever it was you were trying to do? Please do not confuse my comments as criticism. I am not being critical, I'm just confused. That's what Round-Ups are - I think.

Like Nike says: Just Do It!

I've never been to a RU but I think they are just regional for folks in a general area. The DG Garden Party was going to be for all of us paying subscribers from anywhere in the world who wanted and found it possible to attend. I think it would be a lot of fun to meet face to face with folks from other areas of the country who have DG in common, to share meals, different tutorials, shop vendors etc.

Islandsheri said:

A Round-Up does not have any rules saying it's a strictly regional event. Invite the world. Just do it.

LouC, you have no reason to cry. I have been reading about this since the day the idea came up. I know how much work, research and behind the scene input you and the committee has done. I know, because I have been there. I ran one of the largest Senior Centers in the County. You want to try something..try getting 8,000 seniors to come to the same mind in planning an event! Even though the idea was killed this time, your hard work will serve as the foundation of the same type event in the future. You and the committee have very effectively written the protocol of planning such an event. And did a fantastic job! Congrats!!!

I also agree that the discussion/poll wasn't left up long enough. Last year I don't think I logged on DG at all in January or February. A lot of people have been busy with the holidays and aren't thinking much about gardening right now.

And I also have to agree that the wording of the questions made it hard. I live relatively close to wherever it would've been. I don't have a job--I can travel whenever. Yet, "no matter what" is still a bit hard to commit to.

Do we have to kill this just yet? Seems to me that there's still enough interest to at least keep the idea alive.

As to the RU's being regional...yes...to some extent....but when I posted the very first one (In Crossville, TN) I asked "who would be interested in a DG RU"....thinking that it would primarily be just those from TN....Well....we were blessed with DG'ers from CT, Oh, Nc, VA, FL, KY, MS, GA & AZ....did I leave some states out?

Even Dave was there...as he lived in TN at that time. It was a 2 night thing. We had such fun. We will never forget 'Shoe singing Size Tens Jo

Wow!!
Islandshari
I don't know what I missed but this has nothing to do with negativity to me. I haven't seen or read any either. I do see that some people have things in their lives that have to be taken care of, like bills and children. I don't think anyone meant to upset or hurt anyone else...they were being honest. Some people really can't drive that far and they should not be made to feel bad about it. I have children-and aren't kids supposed to come before flowers- I think so.
So if you are upset because some couldn't go or had stipulations, I am so very sorry, but some things have a higher importance to us. I am sure Dave understands this as do many people here. Dave's Gardeners are wonderful people and I hope no one else read that post and the copy of that post the way I did, or felt the way I did after reading it.
Robbi

When we do have the DG Garden Party Conference I would love to have a whole seminar of Shoeism's!

I've kept quiet until now because I knew there was no I would be able to go.

I'm of the mindset if you "build it they will come". If you call it DG's biggest RU (or whatever you like), post it where you wish and let people know, I think you'd have an amazing turn out, as Jo said. The very first was memorable and amazing.

It is my opinion that you should chose a location, plan for 100 and go from there. I read through other posts and it was obvious most Texans (and those close to Texas) were excited about a huge get together in Texas (or near). I don't think I was alone in feeling like it was too far to go and too much money (for a family of 8) and feeling like an outsider on the posts. You have a second group of people that can clear their schedules, free up cash and could attend. You had a third group of people that would like to go but may have to juggle a bit but could possibly attend. That kind of left the rest of the people split into two groups-those that had no interest and those that would love to go but just don't have the money/health/ability to get there. I know this breakdown is fairly general but it kind of roughs out the majority of things I read.

In the very least, if/when this idea is revisited, the committee should just pick a location and ask who can come or at least narrow it down to say three cities and ask who could/would like to do it. At that point you could secure hotels, meeting places and vendors.

My opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it. :)

fixed a typo!

This message was edited Jan 10, 2008 1:36 PM

Badseed...one of the highlights of the First RU was when 5 little girls got into the mud and different DG'ers were busy washing mud off their little bodies...# 6 had not arrived at this time...LOL Jo

ROTFLOL I laughed when it was over but not when four of them sunk brand new shoes in ankle deep mud. LOL Number 5 will be 6 on Tuesday and number 6 is almost 4. Can you believe that????

Wish I could have seen that!!! Sounds like great fun!! I have boys and they won't play in the mud with me!! Not fair :o)

distantkin, you misunderstood me. The criticism and negativity I was referring to was not in any way (!) directed at those who posted that they would not be able to come...by all means, I understand that some just cannot. It was directed at those who were complaining about the committee's order of business, limitations and decisions. Over and over instead of reading that those things had already been said. I truly apologize if you thought that I was placing "flowers above children"...never would do that. Raised three of my own, and now helping out with the grands....

Yokwe,
Shari

ahhh-I do apologize! Thanks for explaining that. I really would love to come to something like that...this is my first year at Dave's so I haven't been to a RU even so imagine how wonderful it would be for me to go to the biggest RU ever as a first :o)

Just a question and an observation, not a criticism: Was everyone thinking that the potential attendees were among the 300,000+ members? I'd think that if someone wasn't involved enough to be a paid subscriber, they wouldn't be interested in attending.

Are all of you aware of the Round Up Forum? You will notice that the first one is a "sticky" and is called "Round ups at a Glance"...This is where I post all the up and coming round ups that I have been told about. Pick one!! Have a ball!!

The year is just starting but we already have some CONFIRMED...

Jo

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/roundup/all/

I'm thinking the Original impetus for a national meeting as suggested by (can't remember who had the original idea...sorry!) was so that we could meet the people from near and afar that we've been chatting with for years on DG.

The whole thing turned into a "convention" type thing instead...with talk of venders, booths, etc. ( To be honest, we probably all go to local "garden shows" or simply look up stuff we're interested in on DG or the net!) That type of meeting is difficult to plan and dicey for investors. I can totally understand Dave saying that it would have to be done by the DG'ers themselves, not the business part of DG. Obviously Dave has a good business head on him or we all would not be here chatting, learning, etc.

Since most of those who committed to attend were from Texas, (bc of the 500 mile thing) could we not just designate a weekend (say, in Fort Worth or Dallas?) and have one place where we would all meet for one heck of a good time? For example, one of the huge hotels out by the airport...like the HIlton where DH and I often stay. If people all made their own reservations and plans, --except for one large meeting, say in a park or even in the lobby/huge indoor pool area, etc. (read: free), then splinter groups could plan trips to the Ft. W. Botanical Gardens, nurseries, museums, restaurants, etc. while they chatted on DG during the months before. This Could be planned for this summer, when people normally take vacations. Someone just needs to name a Saturday and whoever could come the first year would...no discussion/polling what date would work for whom. People from other states might be able to come.

This would not be like a roundup because people would not bring plants, but would meet DG friends in person from all over the state to socialize and talk about gardening.

I think if something like that happened it might GROW naturally into something quite large. I may read this in the morning and wonder why I wrote it, but it is unusual to have such great friends as we have on DG and never meet. It's like my pen pal (10 years!) from Japan I never met in person...I'll always regret it!

I think that I was one of the first (though likely not THE first) to suggest something like workshops. I wouldn't travel up to 500 miles to say hello. But I would travel up to 500 miles to say hello and see someone demo and/or explain something that I don't know how to do like say hybridization or pruning hibs or whatever. So long as we were going to get together it would be nice if some of the DGrs who know how to do some of the more complicated stuff would show the less brilliant (ie me) how to do some of their specialties. It doesn't have to be some famous author or personality, we have enough talent to draw from on here. Just an opinion.

Anne

ConnieW: I like your way of thinking! I would travel 500 miles to meet friends for a weekend and visit Botanical Gardens & nurseries! Sounds like a fun weekend! I will definitely be watching the threads to see if anything like this comes about!

I love Connie's idea. I am already planning to go to the state and national AV shows this year and trying to make the Begonia national show in Houston. I would gladly go anywhere just to chat and meet DGers from everywhere. That sounds like a winner of an idea. The only seminars eachof us would be interested would have to be geared to our own areas so I find that not feasible.

I don't care about seminars but would love to visit nurseries and botanical gardens and just have time to meet and visit with other DG'ers.

Lin, you know me well enough that , if there is a nursery within 50 miles, I will find it!
gail

How ironic. The whole idea was for a social gathering.

And if you didn't want to go to the seminar/demo you didn't have to. And if you wanted to go on a field trip you could. And if you just wanted to hang out and visit that also was an option.

Anne

Connie ... thanks so much for putting how I felt into words. LOL I'd sure do my best to get to Texas to hug your neck ... and any of my other DG family. I have plenty of opportunities to go to seminars :)... and demos are just not my style unless it's "hands on". :) I did, however, vote "yes" because I thought that's what the vote was asking for ... a yes or no answer. I was expecting it to go to another stage of voting, though, and figured that's where I might have to drop out due to price or such.

Thanks to everyone who put so much work into this. Please don't give up. I believe in miracles!
~Susan

That's the thing...We have so many opportunities through local garden clubs, the internet, trade shows, home and garden shows, extension offices, and other venues to attend workshops and see what's bright and shiny new in the world of gardening. Howie and I would rather drive six hours to visit with friends we've made on DG and just kick back and enjoy a potluck with them than an hour and spend a day looking through a huge garden show with little chance to hug necks and chew the fat with DG folks.

Well said GW. :) What's a party all about, after all?

Hey, what about this....Have a well-publicized DG's Biggest Roundup and time it so it happens the same weekend as a big Texas-area home and garden show? People who wanted to attend the show could do that, and those who wanted to hang out could do that. Shoot, I don't know about you, but I'd think Dave would be a keynote speaker at any major garden show!

I'd like to say one thing and that is that many here are either
a) farmers and gardeners that have a really hard time just being able to go for a day and
b) too far away.

I think that if choices of places were given, that there would have been a better response, but possibly the same outcome. I realize it is hard for Dave to go to other parts of the country, but many here have that same argument. Times are hard right now on a lot of people and if any of you started saving for this, why stop?; why don't you save up and build up (really big) one of the regional roundups....perhaps even the TX one. Don't let the idea die because everyone can't get to TX....those that can....get on that wagon of the TX regional roundup........maybe it will grow to a big RU one of these years.

Nothing is accomplished by pulling your toes out of the water so quickly...

If you BUILD it, they will come....

:) Kathy

I still plan to attend more Round-Ups other than our IA & CA. They are very enjoyable.

And of course you are all welcome to come to our Iowa Round-Up. Maybe attending other RU's other than your own will give you more ideas for a national affair.

Gardenwife, I think you're brilliant! If we have it on the same weekend as a home and garden show, then we don't have the hassle of planning all that stuff. For now atleast, so we can get this tradition started. We find out how many people will come, then we can expand if we want and do our own convention. San Antonio and Austin both have home and garden shows.

I might come if it was at the same time as a good garden show.

H&G Show in Dallas this weekend. We finally broke down and went last year. Ticket was expensive and there were preformed pond liners, bathroom remodels, tile and floor materials, hot tubs, etc. We were only interested in gardening of any variety and we were hard put to find any. Very, very small area where a begonia club and a succulent club had brought a few of their own plants for sale. We were really disappointed. Hopefully, they are better in other parts of the country. The ad promises a lot and delivers very little here. my 2 cents.

I've found home and garden shows in general are typically heavy on the home and light on the garden, you really need to find the dedicated flower/garden shows if you want the garden stuff.