Ready , Set , Go to Buffalo
Glean Everything You Can from # GWA2017
BY CAROL MICHEL
Congratulations on making the wise decision to finally attend your first GWA conference . Want some tips to make it a great experience ? Sure you do !
1 . Prepare for the conference ahead of time . If you aren ’ t online , get online and hook up via social media . Make sure to sign up for the Facebook groups GWA : Annual Conference & Expo to get the latest scoop on the conference , and GWA : The Association of Garden Communicators to get the latest on the organization . Look for the hash tag # GWA2017 on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram to see what people are saying before , during and after the conference .
2 . Bring your business cards . Even in today ’ s online world of Linking in , Facebook friending and Twitter following , business cards are still helpful . You ’ ll get a lot of cards so jot something on the back to remember each person . And double check your own card to make sure it has all the info you want to share on it .
3 . Attend the Expo . Stop at every booth if you can and thank the exhibitors ( and sponsors ) for attending and then listen to them tell you about their products or services . It ’ s tempting to pass up a booth that you don ’ t think interests you , but you shouldn ’ t . You never know what opportunities await .
4 . Attend the seminars . Garden communicators share freely what they know and have learned as writers , speakers , marketers , bloggers and photographers . You ’ ll pick up tips and tricks and industry insider info .
5 . Meet people . Meet your garden writing idols and favorite authors . Meet your Facebook friends in person . Seek out those people who are wearing so many pins from past confer- ences they are practically bent over from the weight of them . Those people have a lot of knowledge and are willing to share it with you . Introduce yourself to attendees with lots of ribbons attached to their badges : Fellow , Board Member , Local Committee , Hall of Fame , Mentor , Speaker , President , Vice-President , Secretary , Treasurer — they all want to meet you !
6 . Prepare to get some plants . Some vendors will give you sample plants to take home and trial in your garden . Yes , you ’ ll pack them in your suitcase . The key to having room for plants is to not over pack , so that there is actually room in your suitcase for the plants . Knock the soil off to allow for tighter packing , wrap the roots in wet newspaper and then put the plants in plastic bags that you brought from home . Plant as soon as possible when you get home .
7 . Wear your First-Timer ribbon . No , it doesn ’ t make you look like a newbie . It makes you look like a smart person who finally decided to attend the GWA conference . You ’ ll be pleasantly surprised by the number of people who introduce themselves to you and offer to help when they see your First-Timer ribbon .
8 . Pace yourself . It ’ s a jam-packed agenda : Seminars , garden tours , expo and awards dinner . Get plenty of rest before you go to the conference , plan to enjoy yourself throughout the conference and follow up with a day or two of rest after the conference .
9 . Follow instructions on the garden tours . Get off the bus quickly as time is limited in some gardens . Set an alarm on your smartphone for a few minutes before you need to be back on the bus . To remind yourself later what pictures go with which gardens , take a picture of the garden description in the conference program before you enter each garden .
10 . Pack for the climate . We see gardens rain or shine and sometimes there is a lot of rain . Bring your umbrella , big floppy hat and sunscreen . And don ’ t forget comfortable , waterproof , walking shoes .
11 . Go on post-conference tour . This add-on extra day is usually pretty relaxed . The “ official ” conference is over and everyone is now ready to relax , see some gardens , and just enjoy the company of other like-minded gardening types .
12 . Follow up after the conference . Go through your notes and the business cards you collected and reach out with thank you notes ( especially to exhibitors , sponsors and local organizing committee ) and any other follow up you ’ ve planned .
13 . Finally , mark your calendar for the next year ’ s conference , which will be announced at the awards dinner . Once you ’ ve been to one GWA conference , you ’ ll want to attend every year .
Carol Michel is an award winning freelance writer with a degree in horticulture from Purdue University . She is the author of Potted and Pruned : Living a Gardening Life and has a regular garden blog , May Garden Dreams . She has attended eight GWA conferences and looks forward to meeting first-timers in Buffalo . Email her at Indygardener @ gmail . com
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