The Mummers! APGA Opening Reception

What a wonderful surprise!!

APGA PROFRESSIONAL SECTION MEETING UPDATE

Conference Attendees!

Tomorrow's Section meetings are from 12 to 1:30 pm! Note this change in your Schedule-at-a-Glance.

Make sure you pick up a boxed lunch to bring to your section meeting!!!

MORE Ways to Get Involved: Professional Section Meetings

We know we have a lot of new members out there who might be asking, “What is a Professional Section and what are they meeting about?” The APGA Professional Sections are groups of individuals with similar garden types, jobs, skills or interests. The Professional Sections provide an opportunity for these individuals to network, share ideas, problem solve and discuss emerging trends. The Professional Section Meetings at the APGA Annual Conference allow time for section members to meet during this busy event and plan for the upcoming year.

What can you expect at one of these meetings? A small amount of business will happen, as this year the leadership may be changing in various sections. A lot of networking, educational opportunities and informative discussions will be taking place. You are welcome to join one or more Professional Sections. If you are not a member of a section yet, feel free to drop into a section meeting to see what they are all about and talk to people who are involved. The Professional Sections offer Public Garden Staff and Volunteers an outstanding opportunity to get MORE involved in APGA and to meet their fellow Public Garden Professionals.

Meetings will be held on Wednesday, June 22nd, Thursday, June 23rd, and Friday, June 24th.  Check out the APGA website to see a list of the APGA Professional Sections and their meeting times during the conference. 

Common Grounds: New Perspectives Session Update

Are you attending Common Grounds: New Perspectives on Thursday, June 23, 2011 from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm in the Regency Ballroom. Here's a list of this year's representatives:

Tom Kaiden, President
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

Neal DeVos, Editor
ASHS (Amer. Soc. Horticultural Science)

Kirk Brown
GWAA (Garden Writers Association of America)

Laura Kunkle
OFA, The Association of Horticulture Professionals
Director, Communications & Membership

Bob Chabot, Vice President
AZH (Association of Zoological Horticulturists)

Steve Castoran, Former President
IPPS (International Plant Propagators Society/Eastern Region)

Michael S. Uchneat, PhD
IPBA (International Plant Breeders Association)

Jules Bruck, PhD
APLD (Association of Professional Landscape Designers)

Judy Marriott Laushman
Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers

Mark Focht, Vice President of Communications
ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects)

Emerging Professionals Section Meeting

If you are a student or recent graduate, or are new to public horticulture, this new professional section is for you! Get involved and support this proposed section by attending our organizational meeting:

Thursday, June 23

3:15 – 4:45 p.m.

Washington A Room

The purpose of the Emerging Professionals Section is to engage future public garden leaders in educational, volunteer, and social activities that help the individual practitioner build his/her professional network, share experiences with peers, and find opportunities for career development.

All are welcome, especially educators and established professionals with an interest in mentorship. Join us for this informal session to exchange ideas, discuss regional activities, and make plans for the coming year.

RSVP by June 20 to Vik Krishnamurthy, Center for Public Horticulture, at vkrishna@udel.edu.

Introducing the 2011 APGA Conference Online Bulletin Board

Introducing the 2011 APGA Conference Online Bulletin Board

This year's Conference includes access to an online bulletin board and personal event planner. Each attendee will receive access to informational discussion threads on topics ranging from daily conference announcements to extra-conference activities in Philadelphia to job opportunities. The site also includes a customizable calendar attendees can manage alongside the conference schedule.

• To log in, your username is your first initial, capitalized, plus your last name (i.e. John Smith: Jsmith).
• If you have two words in your last name, your username is your first initial, capitalized, plus both words of your last name with no spaces (i.e. John Smith White: Jsmithwhite).
• If your last name has a hyphen, your username is your first initial, capitalized, plus your hyphenated last name (i.e. John Smith-White: Jsmith-white).

Your password is Apga2011 (case sensitive). To access the site, click here.

Instructions

There are two major portions of this site. The first is the homepage (or listed under the navigation bar as More: The Revolutionary APGA Conference). This section allows attendees to follow discussion threads about a number of topics related to the Philadelphia Conference experience. Find out where to get tickets to evening shows or who is planning a happy hour at the hotel bar!

Along with these topics, a list of helpful links are located on the right-hand-side of the webpage. You can access SEPTA maps for Philadelphia public transportation information or make quick reservations for dinner on Opentable.com.

The second part of this site is the customizable calendar (or listed under the navigation bar as Event Calendar). This section allows attendees to view, at a glance, the Event Schedule (located on the left-hand sidebar under Lists) as well as create a Personal Schedule (also under Lists).

To begin the customizing process, make sure you are in the Event Calendar portion of the site and start at the Event Schedule link.

• You will see a week-long calendar (NOTE: make sure you are in the week of the conference by choosing the right date on the small month-long calendar on the left-hand sidebar).
• To add an event to your personal schedule, click on the event.
• Go to the icon bar at the top of the page and chose the "Workflows" icon.
• You will see an option to "Start a New Workflow."
• Click "Add Event."
• Click "Start" and this event will automatically be added to your personal schedule.

Keep track of the sessions, tours and workshops, and in-conference events you'll be attending. It provides a fast and easy way to manage your conference schedule. For any additional assistance or questions, email me, Vivienne Dobbs, at vdobbs@publicgardens.org.​

Chanticleer In-Conference Event

In-Conference Event at Chanticleer
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

As soon as you arrive at Chanticleer, A Pleasure Garden, you will notice that something is different here. A late afternoon stroll through the lush and diverse areas of Chanticleer will confirm this. Verdant woodlands and rolling pastures serve as background to the unique horticultural experience that awaits APGA Conference Attendees. Light refreshments will make your experience an even more personal one, like one you might have enjoyed when the Rosengartens lived in the homes on the property. Chanticleer is truly a team effort. Seven horticulturists share a vision with the executive director and he with the board of directors to make this one of the most intimate and wonderful experiences in this region.

No need for a business suit, but you may want to pack a swimsuit if you are planning to attend the In-Conference Chanticleer event. The pool will be open complete with a lifeguard on duty (towels not included...so bring that too)!

Visit the website for more information.