Chironex

Just received an email from Carol Stiff. Our group will be given a first sign-up opportunity prior to the web sign-up going public. You can pay for it online here: Home Tissue Cutlure Workshops

Cost is $115. and includes lunch, refreshments, and lots of free samples according to Carol.

Also, if you join Home Tissue Culture Group (a not-for-profit organization) for $30 you will get a discount on not only this workshop ($103 vs $115.), but also receive 10% off on supplies, kits etc.

I am unsure when the site goes public, but space will be limited. I would encourage anyone coming from a distance to carpool. If anyone has diet restrictions, please let us know well in advance and we will do our very best to accommodate.

Our address for the workshop is: Action Insurance - 4180 West Desert Inn Rd., Suite B1, Las Vegas, NV 89102 We are located about 1 mile west of the strip (Las Vegas Blvd)

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Scot

Reddy Guntuku

Hi All,

I just joined as a member of this forum. I am interested in TC of banana. However I live in Sugar Land/Houston, Texas. The march 14th date Carol posted on her website suits me. My only concern is the cost of travel to Vegas from Houston.

I am wondering how many members from Texas are interested in TC of banana and would like a workshop done in Texas.

Reddy

Chironex

Why not carpool with some of the other members from Tx? There may also be some cheap flights as business is down in Vegas now. Brent from Pearland, TX (Bananaman88) wants to attend I believe. I would really like to meet as many of you as possible, so please try to attend!

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Scot

Bananaman88

Reddy: Hello and welcome to our site! It's nice to have another Houston-area member on board. Unfortunately, I will be in Vegas about two weeks prior to the tissue culture seminar, so another trip out there isn't "in the cards" for me. I do hope you make it out there and have a great time.

Scot: As I mentioned before, I'll be out there the very end of Feb through the first few days of March. As the time for our trip gets closer I'll let you know exact dates. Maybe my wife, you, Pauley and I could get together for some luch somewhere. I'd love to see your TC set up. Are you pretty close to the Strip? Feel free to PM if you'd like to so we don't hijack this thread. Later!

Lagniappe

Scot, I want to thank you for your dedication and hard work in getting this together.
I have a show to attend on 15MAR09 - 18Mar09 in Vegas and, while discussing the workshop with her, my wife suggested that we leave a few days early. Nothing set in stone....what's the deadline on seating?
Thanks again!

Chironex

I will make room for you. Just sign up on the website when you know for sure. Sure hope that you can make it.
Thanks for your kind words, always nice to hear.

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Scot

Chironex

PM sent to you.

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Scot

harveyc

I joined the HTCG and signed up for the workshop.

Will the video DVD that comes with the HTCG membership be enough advance prep to give me enough information to take full advantage of this workshop or should I be doing some extensive reading?

Is there the chance for some group hotel rate or are we best off finding our own deals?

Microfarmer and I are tentatively planning on renting a car and driving down from northern California. If anyone else is from up here or along the way and interested in sharing the ride, send either of us a PM.

Thanks again, Scot, and Happy New Year!

Harvey

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Chironex

Great Harvey!!! Yes, the DVD is quite detailed in TC techniques. I think you will enjoy it, although the music can be monotonous (sorry Carol).
There is a lot of info on the DVD as well. It is not as difficult as one would think. Once you walk through it the first few times, you get better every time following. Sterile technique and habit is the one thing to learn that will help the most. The rest is fairly straightforward. All of this is covered in the DVD.

As to group rates, I wish, but being new here myself, i don't have any good contacts. I will ask around and see if I can't find something for you, but I encourage you to look for the best deal you can find. We are only about a mile west of the strip, so it is easy to find.
Call me or PM with any questions. Glad to have you guys attend! Let's get more!!!

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Scot

damaclese

harveyc,
at least right now there are good deals. so if you get your reservation in soon i would think you could find a vary good rate just depends on how much luxury you want. although not lavish the down town hotels are quite cheep and they are even closer to Scots house. and if you get a rental car its a strait shot down Las Vegas Boulevard to the down town casino/hotels or you could use the highways but thats a bit more daunting but if you have GPS then it would be faster

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john_ny

OK, I'm all signed up. I'll be looking for a hotel, but if anyone hears of a good deal, please speak up. Thanks.

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John

Chironex

Fantastic, John! So glad we are getting our members interested in TC. It is quite rewarding and certainly will become a valuable skill to have for the hobbyist gardener.

Will post any hotel deals on this thread. Pauly has been here several years and knows the lay of the land far better than I.

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Scot

Reddy Guntuku

OK - I joined HTCG and signed up for March 14th workshop. Now I am searching for inexpensive airfares(from Houston to Vegas) and Motel room. Anybody comes across any good deals on either one of them please post.

Reddy

chong

For hotel rooms, check the hotels.com website. When I was working in Vegas last year, I couldn't find an apartment right away, so I was forced to stay in hotels in the 3 months that I was there. I checked their website weekly, because the rates go up the closer you are to the date that you are planning to stay. The first month I stayed at the Marriott and used my Marriott rewards points. After that I was hotel hopping from week to week.

You could get rates that are as low as $25 in some known hotels, although it wouldn't be the Luxor or MGM. The "Station" chain can be as low as $29 + tax. Our favorite was the Boulder Station. (I got great accolades when I sang Karaoke there!LOL)

Hotwire website, also. You can book your hotel (same price as hotel.com) AND car rental. Last week they had mid-size cars for $11.95+tax/day, and full size for $13.95+tax/day. So, I can imagine that a sub-compact will be less than $10/day.

Hope this helps.

Chong

chong

I forgot to mention that you can also get your airlines tickets from Hotwire. Sometimes, you can get lower fares through them, though, not all the time. I usually double-check with my favorite airlines after I look at other sources.

To verify which airlines are offering lower air fares, check out the website: INTERNET AIR FARES They are 99% accurate as to what the cheapest available air fare may be available. The 1% error may be due to the time lag between programs being sold out and their ability to update. You do not have to book through this agency, but you can. Personally, I find it more of a hassle booking through them than going to the airline company directly.

Reddy Guntuku

Thanks Chong for the info. I will start checking the sites you cited.

Regards,

Reddy

microfarmer

I've seen Southwest Airlines advertize specials on tv, but can't remember the details.

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microfarmer

In and paid!

See you in Vegas, baby!

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My new hero...

Reddy Guntuku

Southwest's special (about $75 one way from Houston to Vegas) ends on March 11th!

Reddy

Chironex

Glad to have all of you signed up! This will be exciting, not only for the TC learning, but also to meet all of you and talk bananas! I am Stoked!!!!!!!

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Scot