Thoughts on a BIG DG "Get Together"?

I was thinking the other day after having the pleasure of meeting CoCo and hearing of other nice occasions of fellow DG'ers meeting each other...
What are your thoughts on arranging a BIG nationwide, or rather worldwide, get together somewhere in the middle- wherever that may be- for all to come to? This is just a thought, but could be done or should it be done? Sort of a "convention" of sorts... next year sometime or winter....
Just thought I'd put the idea out...
-JSS

We've given a lot of thought into renting out a convention center (or similar venue) in Knoxville, TN for the purposes of having a DG conference. I think it'd be a lot of fun, and it's mulling through our collective brains here behind the scenes.

Dave

Knoxville is close enough for me to drive. 6-7 hours. Sounds like a fun adventure. Can we leave the kids at home?

zipppppeeeeee
i will get to see my friends,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

North East Texas, along the Red River is as Central as you're gonna get. Hint, Hint!!!!

"eyes"

Well, folks - get out your maps! Kansas City, Missouri is the CENTER of the United States, so come one, come ALL, and let's have a regular hoe-down!!!!!

I agree,Kc,Mo''Interstate 70''

My front yard sounds nice.

Mine too,c'mon CoCo,right up I-35,Lol''

KC? I used to live there. It's a great place to live and visit, but boy, what a trek. Who is going to buy my airplane ticket?

I'd be interested in a convention of sorts but it depends on the time of year, since little ones are in school. Hey, since I travel for a rabbit convention (held yearly in a different state), I may as well travel for a plant convention...lol. Just keep us posted on the idea :)
Trish

sis an coco nana is coming to rest up a bit,i am on my way

Hey Bama,how'bout a "carpool"??? FUN'''Y'll
come,best Kansas City Steaks or whatever ya
like here'''

Kidlettes are optional,should we take a vote????

Gee Dave, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to "jump the gun"...but... it sounds really wonderful!
Your area is fine...especially since you started this!!!
"Founders...keepers", as they say! LOL!!
Kids or NO KIds..I'llb ethere!! And CoCo...don;t you worry none- we'll lasso you and drive you on u to Tennessee, if that's where it's at!! LOL!!!
Gee, can I pack my bags now???LOL!!!
Let me know Dave if there is anything I can do on my end...
You may want to also check on Elks Club, Churches, etc...sometimes they have very nice places available for very little money!!

Don't matter to me''

Here's a thought. Since we are all spread out all over the country, maybe it would be more feasible to have a Statewide Reunion in each state, and then at a later time, we could have a representative of each state take pictures, seeds, cards and whatever to
a Get Together at Dave's and Trish"s. I really feel that we can get a greater participation this way. We have to be realistic here, too many variables for one central location for all at this time. Pipe up and tell us what you think of this.

"eyes"

Yeh, that would work but guess I'm
the "Lone Ranger" here'Lol Oh well'

Well, there's a lot of thought involved with putting together a national DG conference. We would love to do it, and, in fact, earlier this year had even planned one. It turned very sour very fast, however, and we canceled the plans.

The idea is still strong in our minds, however, and we really want to do it. It's simply a matter of logistics and time. Putting together a conference on a large scale takes a lot of time and money. We are lacking on both, to tell the truth.

One idea I had was to try to get some garden-related corporations to "sponsor" the get-together, to pay for the facilities and such. Knoxville is home to HGTV, who is active in a lot of local garden-related activities. I think that by talking to the right people, we may be able to gain their cooperation.

In the short term, however, smaller local DG gatherings are happening all the time. I love reading threads about people meeting each other in real life. It's great to see real-life relationships formed via DG.

Dave

My Point is just that. I don't have to worry about Travel expenses, as one of my sons is in Management with Southwest Airlines, and I fly Comp. But a lot of others, like yourself, may be hard pressed to find the funds for such an excursion. Wish we could all win a Lottery, or something. Sis, you Kansas gals could come on down and meet with us Texans, and I believe we have some out there from Arkansas, too. Hey, my
next door neighbor is a Kansas Gal.

"eyes"

I used to (and still do, on occasion) frequent a cyberforum where the participants are very close and get together on a regular basis. They did it on a statewide or regional level, though. Even at that, many people said they would come and never showed up. Another thing was that the same people would consistently do this!

I think your HGTV idea is a winner, Dave. Maybe they would even do a show about it. I think, given some creative treatment, the idea of gardeners sharing in cyberspace and getting together in RT has possibilities for an interesting gardening show. If you want some help suggesting it as an idea, I will volunteer my services as I am in the field of communications.

NJCher

.

THAT would be a very cool show. I know I'd watch it. I met and spoke with Paul James once at the Columbus Home and Garden Show in 2000; wish we'd had some memorable conversation now and would help us pitch a show! Go for it!!

Paul James lives in Tulsa,Ok'''

Sis, I remember when Paul was on KOTV (CBS affiliate in Tulsa), and did a weekly gardening show, and when he announced he was leaving to have a show on the still-fledgling HGTV. I guess that means I can say I "knew" him when...... :)

I heard he has and still is active in television production, but I don't know if he's based in Tulsa or Knoxville now. I've been a fan for a long time; his show is great for new and casual gardeners - makes everything seem easy and fun, not oh-so-serious like some shows.

A great place in Oklahoma wouldn't be too far from Tulsa, woulfd be "Ten Killer"! Hey guys, they even have
Scuba Diving There! And Cabins!
Then there the "Fin and Feather Inn",
and it has everything!

"eyes"

GV,Paul travels and still lives in Tulsa'I
visited with him not long ago on the HGTV
Chat' Paul's a hoot and loves what he does,
gardening' I practically live on HGTV or Fox
News here' I'm almost positive he will help
with anything you suggest concerning our
get-togethers'
"Eyes" Ten Killer sounds great,haven't been
there for many moons,not since our last fam.
reunion,wayyy back when,LOL''

Lake Tenkiller....yep it's a nice area, Eyes. We lived just outside Tulsa for 15 years, moved back "home" about a year ago......I can't say I miss the constant wind of Oklahoma! Sis, that's good to know.....maybe we should schmoooze him into joining DG, and/or plugging it in an upcoming show!

OK,then how 'bout a "Paul James Blitz" from all of
us to him at HGTV?????????????

Paul James did an appearance last year here in Michigan. It was sponsered by the Oakland County Master Gardeners and a local nursery.
As Dave indicated it would probably be cost effective to get a co-sponser such as a seed company or other garden related business to help share the costs.

By that time DG should have at least 5000 members.
Paul

Sis - works for me! Or at least get a link on HGTV's site to DG somehow. Where there's a will (and thousands of e-mails) there's a way, maybe?

Well if you are going to try to get a Seed company, then it should be Burpee or Parks since they are the best Known. If
they don't consider it, Home Harvest,
Ferry Morse just might.

"eyes'

PS: What are we waiting for? Where's the email addy???

Whoa there, please don't go asking anybody for any kind of sponsorships or similar things on behalf of Dave's Garden. We don't even know for sure that we are even going to try doing a conference in 2002, and if we do decide to do it, I want it to be Trish or myself who makes the initial contact.

Then, if they need further pursuation, we'll turn the membership loose on them. :-)

In the meantime, lots of members already do send E-mails to their favorite garden-related companies, letting them know about DG and such. This is encouraged!

Dave

Will do that Dave'''What you said and you're the
boss here'''Everybody hear'n what Dave said????

Okey Dokey, Dave......we're just a little exhuberant here.

"eyes"

Would love to meet DG members--great idea about the sponsorship by HGTV or some of the seed companies. Knoxville is a hike from NY but maybe.....

SandyR

But Sandy,it's all downhill gettin'there'Lol

I would still like to know how many of us Texans, Okies, Arkansans, and Kansans
Would like to meet up for a weekend up around Lake Tenkiller. Contact me if any of you are interested. I still have all the brochures, maps, rates, facilties of the
Oklahoma State Parks. OMG, and if you
haven't done it, you need to take the Talimena Scenic Byway, a way up into the clouds you will go. Absolutely breathtaking in the spring and the fall!

"eyes"

We used to do this in the Garden.com chatroom. They were usually regional meetings. They had one around Toronto, and one in Jersy and one in California. Plans for one in the southeast were on the burner when Garden.com went under.

hey dave,
if and when you decide ,one of my good friends is on HGTV
AND COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR,SHE IS VERY CLOSE KNIT WITH
THE KNOXVILLE PART,I COULD INTRODUCE YOU AN TRISH
SHE COULD AND WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO YOU AN TRISH
GETTING YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR,LOL SORT OF SPEAK,
I DO 2 CRAFT SHOWS WITH HER YEARLY AS WELL AS LIVING
CLOSEBY.SHE DOES THE DRIED FLORALS ON HGTV,SO GARDENING
IS ONE OF HER FAVORITES,JUST LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GIVE HER A CALL.

I think a nationwide get together is a GREAT idea. Of course I'm happy about Knoxville bc it's only 3 hours away :-) Sounds like a BIG undertaking. Couldn't we just all meet in a state park and bring plants and a covered dish - then we could walk the trails and take cuttings :-) JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously Dave and Trish, I'm sure you could count on your membership to help you - just let us know what you want us to do...........vic