On the QT | The Official Newsletter of GWA April-May 2016 | Page 3

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

KIRK R. BROWN

Involvement is the key to our success

S

pend the next 15 minutes committing to join in, register for,
participate with or communicate about something you read
in this newsletter. Your assignment is to think about doing the
most you can to show support and promote this association of
garden communicators. Here is your challenge: to get involved
in this wonderful world of professional opportunity!

Visit the new and greatly expanded digital universe of GWA at our
enhanced web site: www.gardenwriters.org. This is communicatorconnection central. Update all of your information. Surf the many
pages. Discover all of the things that you never knew GWA had, or did
or dreamed. Use the power of the database manager to discover other
members that share your region, specialty, interest or history. Check
back regularly to see how much more the site can do to help your
career, make your connections and expand your resources.

Meet in a world-class venue at a GWA regional event near you:

• Monticello and Ashlawn during Seed Savers weekend in
Charlottesville, Virginia
• Ladew Topiary Gardens with Cavano’s Perennials and Manor View
Farms in Monkton, Maryland
• Schmidt’s and Iseli’s nurseries in Boring, Oregon, the same week as
Festival of Flowers in Portland
• Naumkeag and Edith Wharton’s The Mount in Stockbridge,
Massachusetts
• Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, Bernheim Arboretum, Cave Hill
Cemetery and other gardens in Louisville, Kentucky
• Tulsa Botanic Garden and Garden Center of Tulsa in one of
America’s Garden Capitals: Tulsa OK! Details to come.
Host a Connect meeting for two people at a venue you can choose.
Pick up the phone. Drop an email or a text message to info@
gardenwriters.org. No strings. No hassles. Just fun and networking with
a cash bar and separate checks.
Register for Next Generation Summit: New Routes to Horticulture on
Aug. 6 in Philadelphia, America’s garden capital, hosted by Longwood
Gardens. It’s a one-day educational program featuring national and
international speakers on horticultural frontiers and career paths. Enjoy
a behind-the-scenes tour of this world-class estate. If you think young
and want to be in charge of your fate, you will not want to miss the
networking at this empowering program. Additionally, thanks to the
cooperation of Greater Philadelphia Gardens, you will be able to tour
the many public gardens for free with your ticket of registration for the
days before and after this event. And on Saturday night, experience the
delights of a private dinner party at Chanticleer: A Pleasure Garden!

Make an active verb of: Atlanta Conference and Expo. This is the BIG
EVENT to renew old friendships, build new partnerships, work at
mentoring others or on your own career goals, develop strategic links
with industry vendors, sponsors and speakers. This year with karaoke!
Do you have your confirmed flight and hotel reservations yet?

Join a committee. Volunteer to help with one of the Regional or
Connect Meetings. Tell a friend, professional associate, mentor,
student, cousin or in-law to join. Let them know that there is real value
in association membership.

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