Dear Jude

From: Theodore Held <oppenhauser2001 at gmail.com> on 2010.08.31 at 17:42:48(21361) Goodness, Jude, I certainly hope you can make it. I will be happy to meet you and I'm sure that you will be warmly received by everyone. I certainly was, my first time. I don't know sign language, but will be happy to help as I can. Perhaps someone on the list knows an interpreter we can rope in? Regardless of that, our show is several things at once. Yes, it's a flower show, with a selection of large, showy aroids on the main exhibit floor. Some of these (especially the largest ones, which weigh a ton) are supplied by our vendors, many of whom are local to the show. Our vendor section comprises perhaps a dozen or so commercial people who have numbers of rare aroids (or their tubers or corms) for sale and who are very free with advice. Come earlier rather than later since some offerings get sold out quickly. The show can be attended by anyone, member or not. We are also hosting informational lectures through the afternoon on Saturday. Lectures are held in a separate room and are informal affairs. Usually there are many pictures and the presentations are first-rate. The banquet is held on Saturday evening and is followed in the same venue with our keynote address. This is a sort of annual meeting and is attended by most of the members that have also been to the balance of the show. Some non-members also attend. The food is very good. We also have an auction for benefit of the IAS. I don't know the schedule for that offhand, but it's well worth attending. At the auction you will see some really rare plants. To my mind the auction prices are far too low. But this is probably a plus if you wish to buy rare plants and are not Warren Buffett. The show is held at Fairchild garden. This alone is worth the trip since the grounds and greenhouse are special venues in themselves with many aroids on display. I'll see what I can do to find a guide for you who can help a deaf person. But if I am not successful in that, I'll come prepared with some note pads. My handwriting is legible, more or less. Ted Held +More Board Member. * * * Hello, Thank you for the reminder, and more information. I, as a newcomer, have a couple of questions. First, could somebody give me a brief outline of what this show looks like? What I am envisioning is, something like an annual flower show - but this banquet / speakers have me questioning my assumptions. My second question basically follows the first - being deaf, I wonder if there are any resources for finding an interpreter for something like this? Being from Massachusetts, I have no idea how things like this are addressed in Florida, if at all. I'm just putting this out there that there is a possibility that somebody might know somebody, who might be interested in checking into this? I personally am perfectly comfortable communicating through pad and pen, but understandably, will not be able to get much out of the lectures/speaker presentations, so at this point, I'm thinking that if this is a "flower-show theme" - then I would come during the actual "show/sale" part of this show, where I can meet (vendors/members) one-on-one, as opposed to being in a platform-type setting where multiple conversations are going on within the group. Sorry if this became long-winded, but I wanted to just check on this - It is, of course, my first IAS show, which I'm very excited about - and just wanted to see what it's all about. Do people just come and go, or is this basically a show for only aroiders who are involved here? (Is it publicly advertised, in other words?) Will certain people be bringing certain plants to sell, or is this more of a private member trade type of thing? Again, I do apologize for the obvious new-ness of my questions. Have faith, I'm learning! :) Best, Jude _______________________________________________ Aroid-L mailing list Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

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