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PUBLISHER GWA 355 Lexington Ave ., 15th Floor New York , NY 10017 Phone : 212-297-2198 info @ gardenwriters . org
EDITORIAL Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp editor jemsharp @ sbcglobal . net
Cathy Wilkinson Barash copy editor
Paul Wilson graphic designer paul @ paulwilsondesign . com
ADVERTISING Ashley Hodak Sullivan 212-297-2198 info @ gardenwriters . org
CIRCULATION Ashley Hodak Sullivan 212-297-2198 info @ gardenwriters . org
The information contained in articles and advertisements herein represents the opinions of the authors and advertisers , and although believed to be accurate and complete , is not represented or warranted by GWA to be accurate or complete . GWA disclaims any and all responsibility for damages suffered as a result of reliance on information contained herein .
2016-17 GWA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Kirk R . Brown John Bartram Lives
Vice President Becky Heath Brent & Becky ’ s Bulbs
Treasurer Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp Write for You ! LLC
Secretary Maria Zampini UpShoot LLC
Past President Larry Hodgson Horticom Inc .
QT is the membership newsletter of the GWA : The Association for Garden Communicators . It is published bimonthly and distributed electronically .
© 2016 GWA All rights reserved
DIRECTORS Region I C . L . Fornari ( 2019 N ) The Garden Lady Carmen DeVito ( 2017 R ) Groundworks Inc . Jan Johnsen ( 2018 R ) Johnsen Landscapes & Pools
Region II Denise Schreiber ( 2017 N ) Allegheny County Parks Dept . Louise Clarke ( 2017 R ) Morris Arboretum Kate J . Copsey ( 2018 R ) Freelance
Region III Diane Blazek ( 2019 N ) All-America Selections / National Garden Bureau Beth Botts ( 2018 R ) Morton Arboretum Susan Martin ( 2017 R ) Gardener Sue ’ s News
Region IV Brienne Gluvna Arthur ( 2018 N ) Brie Arthur Consulting Cheval Opp ( 2017 R ) Cheval ’ s Garden Tours Ira Wallace ( 2016 R ) Southern Exposure Seed Exchange Barbara Wise ( 2018 R ) Crescent Garden , LLC
Region V Bill Johnson ( 2019 N ) Bill Johnson Nature Stock Photography Inc . Rita Perea ( 2018 R ) International Contemplative Garden Association Kelly Norris ( 2017 R ) Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Region VI Nan Sterman ( 2017 N ) Plant Soup Inc . Jacqueline Soule ( 2018 R ) Gardening with Soule Lydia Plunk ( 2017 R ) Freelance
Region VII Ken Brown ( 2018 N ) gardening-enjoyed . com Wendy Downing ( 2018 R ) Freelance Tony Spencer ( 2017 R ) Freelance
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ’ S MESSAGE
MARIA UNGARO
Branding Initiatives at Work in Atlanta
It was great to meet so many of you in Atlanta . We ’ ve been working virtually with some of you for months , and it was wonderful to actually put faces to the voices . Those who attended got to see many of the initiatives that we ’ ve been working on over the last 10 months come to life :
• Creating member value : Our priority has been and continues to be about creating value for our members and to grow our membership . We ’ ve been making a concerted effort to recruit members from the Next Generation within the green industry . This year we held our first NextGen event at Longwood Gardens and Chanticleer Garden . We awarded our first Emergent Communicator Award to Katie Dubow of the Garden Media Group .
• Rebrand GWA : It was exciting to see our new brand in action . The event was filled with evidence of a new look and feel for GWA . The energy was palpable .
• Be the recognized education source , thought leader and resource for the industry : The GWA Conference was jam-packed with terrific educational opportunities , including keynotes from industry icon and plant guru Michael Dirr . The programming committee should feel great about all the presentations made to members .
• Achieve financial sustainability within two fiscal cycles : Treasurer Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp reported that although we still have a ways to go , we are starting to move the needle in the right direction .
Now that we ’ ve set a strong foundation , we want to get you even more involved . Leadership met and reaffirmed our ongoing goals for 2017 . Want to help us achieve all the goals we ’ ve laid out ? Join a committee . Don ’ t miss your chance to build your network , demonstrate your creativity and give back to the green communications industry . Not sure which committee to join ? Call me and we can discuss where would be a good fit .
Heartfelt thanks to Becky Heath , Kate Copsey and their committees for the tremendous educational programs and wonderful tours in Atlanta . A big thank you to the Board , especially those who are stepping off this year : National Directors : Linda Nitchman , Ellen Zachos and Bill Adams ; and Regional Directors : Tom Mickey , Sue Markgraf , Kerry Mendez , Ira Wallace , Kevin Gragg , Pat Munts and Steven Biggs . Without the Board ’ s support and leadership , we would not have been able to accomplish all we did these past 10 months .
For those who attended , you got to witness the incredible team in action — the incomparable # TeamGWA — Ashley Hodak Sullivan , Alexa Haller , Caitlin Norton , Sandy Stevens and June Price . I think you will agree that they are a force to be reckoned with and I am lucky to work with them every day . Please be sure to reach out with any questions or suggestions . See you in Buffalo , if not before !
N = National director • R = Regional director • Date = term expires
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