Meetings in DC

takadi · Post by **takadi** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 7:26 pm

Has this group ever done meetings in DC before? I was wondering because since I've joined the group, I've had to drive at least an hour to each meeting. With gas at $4.00 a gallon, I'm a little reluctant to drive out too far. The exception was the meeting in Merrifield Gardening center, which I'm guessing alot of people from Maryland couldn't make because it was too far for them. Perhaps a meeting in DC could meet halfway and reduce transit times for both VA and MD dwellers? Plus it would be more suited to the "Washington" in our namesake

Cristy Keister · Post by **Cristy Keister** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 7:39 pm

Are you volunteering to host?

If we had someone in DC offer, i'm sure we would meet in DC sometimes. I'm a MD'er, but make meetings in both states.

scientist0724 · Post by **scientist0724** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:03 pm

Since I've been a member for a couple of years, I don't think that we've ever had a host in DC. Most of those who are willing to host live in either VA or MD, so that's where we have had our meetings. We used Merrifield for the March meeting because we were in a slight pinch and didn't have anyone to host the meeting, and we're having April's meeting in a church in Bowie, because we need the space to do a workshop in. We don't have anyone in our club who has a big enough space to host a "large" workshop like we we need for this month's meeting.

Also, in order for us to be able to host workshops and to be able to supply the club with materials at cost, we hold meetings at people's houses because it's free. If we ever hold meetings at garden centers or church halls, or anywhere else, it costs the club money. And some of these places are not cheap!

So, if you would like to host a meeting at your place next year, please let us know. We would be more than willing to meet at a place halfway. Similar to Cristy, I live in VA but make it to all of the meetings, even in MD, except when I have the flu!

Arlene

takadi · Post by **takadi** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 9:58 pm

Unfortunately I don't live in DC...and I don't have my own place either

. I would be hosting in a heartbeat if I had my own house, but unfortunately my mom would kill me if I did. She doesn't get the hobby and thinks I've lost it, lol

scientist0724 · Post by **scientist0724** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 10:07 pm

takadi wrote:She doesn't get the hobby and thinks I've lost it, lol

Don't worry! I think that many of us have spouses or significant others who think we've all lost it!

Arlene

Jim Miller · Post by **Jim Miller** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 10:30 pm

I haven't lost it, that would imply that I had it in the first place!

I don't like driving but once a month 2hrs one way is worth it for the experience for me.

GWAPA rox!

jim

Post by **krisw** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 10:37 pm

Arlene's right. The reason we've never met in D.C. is that no D.C. resident has ever volunteered to host. That's probably because we don't have that many members in the city. We've met in Silver Spring before which seems to be a pretty good middle ground for most members, but again it's usually up to whoever volunteers their home for our meetings.

DelawareJim · Post by **DelawareJim** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 7:35 am

takadi wrote:I was wondering because since I've joined the group, I've had to drive at least an hour to each meeting. With gas at $4.00 a gallon, I'm a little reluctant to drive out too far. The exception was the meeting in Merrifield Gardening center, which I'm guessing alot of people from Maryland couldn't make because it was too far for them.

Unfortunately, this is the nature of the beast. As several have already posted, it depends on where the hosts are.

Only you can decide if it's worth your while. I've been driving about 3 hours one-way to come to meetings for about 10 years now. To me it's worth it. GWAPA is the probably biggest and is the best plant club in the country, has the most knowledgeable members, and you'll find plants here you'd never see until a GWAPA member sells it on APC.

Cheers.
Jim

John G · Post by **John G** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:52 am

scientist0724 wrote:... we hold meetings at people's houses because it's free.

And because it gives us an opportunity to see other folk's aquariums. When GWAPA was first set up, all those many years ago, this was the main reason we decided to try to meet at member's houses, rather than at some specific location as PVAS does.

ingg · Post by **ingg** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:57 pm

I'm sorry, did you just suggest meeting in DC would reduce travel times?

Heh. Heh heh. Heh heh heh heh heh heh.

I may live in east bajeesus, but you do get to push the long skinny pedal on the right getting here! Travel TIMES are no shorter, though it may be a 1/2 gallon less in gas... even when you live down outside the DC beltway.

On a serious note, part of the issue would be simple logistics and cost. While attendance does vary pretty wildly from month to month, you gotta be ready for one of the heavier meetings as a possibility.

Consider having 40 people with 30+ vehicles at your place in DC. Can you provide enough parking, and actually host that many in your place kinda thing? I know some folks in DC, but none who can actually cram that many into their place....and none of which can provide parking that doesn't cost people $20 each and is half a mile away.

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