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| I'm the white fish. |
At the symposium, there was just so much more; more people (over 400), more buses, more events, more swag, and way more information. It was a bit overwhelming. I was so flaked out, I forgot that I was going to
The attendees were from across the country and Canada. I found myself holding up my name tag so people could read it a lå "Harriet Jones former Prime Minister" from Doctor Who. It had a special ribbon on it saying "First Timer," and everyone was so welcoming and helpful to me as a newbie. I took copious notes at the educational sessions (serious flashbacks to my days in academia) and tons of pictures at the gardens we visited. Thanks goes to Irvin at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, who was put in charge of the weather, it was nearly perfect. A bit of overcast or fog would have been ideal, but I'm not complaining.
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| Indianapolis Art Museum |
Contact me about being your sponsor if you wish to join GWA, it has a lot to offer. There are local regional meetings if the idea of a big symposium is too much for you.
11 comments:
I am glad you had such a good time. I was wondering what this symposium was all about.
I too have been wondering. Is it mostly for garden writers in the magazines and books? It seems so many bloggers attend, but I guess many have penned books and articles. I did not realize you visited gardens too. I love that image in blue with the lighted view at the end. The peak of the purple chair invites the viewer down the grand hall-like walkway.
So glad you had a great time. Wish I could have been there but it coincides with the first week of school, making it tough. But my DH's family is there, so that would have been nice, too.
I've been to a couple of GWA symposiums and I think they get better every year. Wish I could have joined you all.
Good to know and hopefully I can go next year. Lovely picture as always.
So glad you enjoyed the trip, Barbara, and your comments as a first timer are worth noting.
To gardenwalkgardentalk -- Garden Writers Association has about 1,600 members...writers, editors, photographers, bloggers, authors, plant breeders and others in the green industry. Check out gardenwriters.org for more info on the benifits, or contact me. Next year the meeting will be in Tucson.
The more I hear about the meeting the more I know I want to attend the next ones~gail
Glad you had a good time! The Symposium sounds like a really cool event; I wish I could ever make it there!
I was just reading about GWA today. Definitely something to consider. I supposed I should start with something smaller since I'm a relative newbie to garden writing. Thanks for the info, and I'm glad you had a great time!
I wish I could have been there with you, Barbara!
Lisa - the symposium is a great place to network and to learn about writing and writing opportunities.
GWGT - there are more bloggers joining GWA, and established authors and writers are becoming interested in starting blogs too, so bloggers will not feel out of place.
Diana - if it hadn't been within driving distance, I wouldn't have been able to go either, as school started here last week too. I saw the kids off on Friday morning and hit the road. It was a little difficult to get back Monday night & discover that picture day was the following morning.
Pat - at least we got to see each other in Seattle. Maybe next year.
Layanee - thanks!
Jo Ellen - I would imagine the other first-timers felt a bit overwhelmed at first too, but hopefully they didn't feel quite so rushed. There was a misunderstanding of the time zones and Daylight Savings Time, which got me off on the wrong foot.
Gail - I know you would find something worthwhile in the sessions and would enjoy the garden tours.
Rose - too bad it won't be anywhere near Chicago for the next several years. At least you can attend the regional meeting at the Flower & Garden show, but those meetings are but a drop to the vast ocean of a symposium.
PlantPostings - whenever you're ready, GWA will be there. You might feel more comfortable joining & just attending the regional meetings for a couple of years, like I did. The regional meetings are much, much smaller.
Helen - I do too, but I know you've been a traveling gardener this summer.
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