Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

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.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

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.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

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

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

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

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

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.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

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

Regards,

Reddy

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

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

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

In and paid!

See you in Vegas, baby! :woohoonaner:

:0519:

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

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

Reddy

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

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!!!!!!!

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Carol has asked that we re-double our efforts to get signed up for this workshop. They already have 16 people signed up for another workshop and we have 4 signed up. We need to get at least 16-20, so if you can advertise on any of your other garden sites, clubs, etc. it will be most helpful. I would like to be able to make this a strong workshop. We will be getting a lot of free medium, culture vessels, and other things to be determined.
Please don't hesitate if you're still not signed-up. Thank you so much!!!

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

OK How do you signed up?

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Benny, here's the link for you: Home Tissue Cutlure Workshops

Glad to have you join us!!!

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

I have listed this on "Garden Buddies", and "The Garden Forums", and "Landspro". Don't really think we'll get much response, but you never know.

Also put it on Gardenweb"s "Gatherings". I think, however, since they have 150 forums, it should, also, be put in some of the other forums, like, "Tropicals", and, "Bananas", etc., etc. I was afraid to post in too many forums, because they would consider it Spam. Therefore, anyone else who can, should make the announcement, in the other Gardenweb forums.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Benny, besides the link Scot posted above, he also posted a page or so back the information about joining HTCG for $30 to receive an instructional DVD, discounts on supplies, and a discount on the workshop. The link for joining is Home Tissue Culture* Group. I joined before I paid for the workshop on 12/31 but haven't received the DVD yet. I'm looking forward to receiving it and to attending the workshop.

Harvey

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Before I commit myself, so what will it be:
By plane or by enterprise?

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

I can get a 1 way plane ticket for $65 at San Jose airport.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Great job everyone! Let's keep the momentum rolling. I just made arrangements to get more free stuff from one of the suppliers of TC supplies! Also working on more free TC supplies. Stay tuned!!!

:2700::2727:

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

grr wish i could go!!!! oh well TAKE PICTURES!!!!

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There's still time Fernie.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Hey Scott,
Is this thing, for sure, going down? I signed up, weeks ago, and also paid the extra money for the CD, etc., but haven't recd. anything yet. I haven't made any travel arrangements yet, and don't want to if there's a chance that it's going to be canceled, for lack of enough people.

Up until now, I had concentrated my efforts on the Tropical Plant Industry Exposition, (Fort Lauderdale) from which I just returned last night but, now that it's over with I' d like to finalize arrangements for our conference.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Thanks John, I will ask Carol for sure. She likes to have around 16 people. We have 5-8 right now. We need to push. I will also ask Carol about your DVD and such. (Please PM your full name, address, etc to me so I can follow-up) I know that she had family visiting the first part of the month, but they have left now.
If we set a deadline for registration of February 10th, this would give everyone at least 30+ days in which to make final arrangements, as we should know for certain if we have a Go or a No Go. Fair enough?
If there is anyone else who could make this workshop, or who plans to attend but has not signed-up yet, PLEASE do so soon. Getting a head count is important. Thank you!

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Anyone else who has paid the $30 for membership in Home Tissue Culture Group and has not received their DVD, please let me know by PM. Give your information in that message and I will follow up with Carol.

Thanks!

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

I am a little worried that we're not going to get 16 people. I mentioned this to a friend, and he said that, surely, in a country with almost 300 million people, you must be able to find a hundred that are interested in this. The only problem is how many of that hundred look at Bananas.org? Maybe we could all put a notice on our local Craig's lists.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Good idea, John. Carol replied that she was holding off sending the DVD's in case we didn't have enough people and she needed to refund everyone's money. I have found Carol to be more than fair in all dealings with her, so I think she is taking the correct approach. She really wants to have a workshop out here, so anything we can do to build it up will be deeply appreciated.

Thanks again for all of your ideas and hard work.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

I just posted in 3 of the gardenweb forums under Botany, Propagation, and bananas. I don't have anywhere else to post, that I am a member of, where someone would be interested, and I doubt anyone on the Studebaker Conestoga forums forums, BMW Internet Riders forums, Adventure riders forums, or Hotrodders forums would care. I will post to the Begonia, African violet, and Antique Rose forums at the Gardenweb tomorrow, and then I'll go on to some others... I don't want my posts flagged as a spammer, so I alter them from forum to forum slightly and post only 3 a day...:ha:

Fighting the good fight :banananinja: :jedinaner: :martialartsnaner: :2761: :2735: :2731: :2723: :2710: :10: :nanerwizard: :2719: :nanertank: :ropingnaner:

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Thanks, Micro. I think Craig's List also has something where they don't want you to list on more that one at a time. That's why I suggested several people listing it on their own local Craig's version.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Forgot about Craigslist...

If you word it slightly differently each time, it doesn't kick you off. They have spam busting software that targets mass mailings of the same content.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Ok, I hope most of you received an email from Carol Stiff today. We are at 6 registered and need to get to 16. I know there are a few that haven't signed up yet. Please do so this week. The push is on for ten more people. Please help make this event a "Go".

I appreciate everyones help to date and ask that we really reach down deep and pull this together. Carol already has supplies and freebies being shipped to my office. Let's make this a great experience.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Okay, I've been a bit slow, but here is a bit of an enticement I mentioned to Scot last week. I just went out and checked to confirm my inventory.

For the next 10 people that sign up for the workshop, I will give one free pup or corm (size and variety subject to what I can dig up and fit in a car along with passengers Benny and Microfarmer). Most of these will be what I posted previously as blooming in early September and being harvested in late December. I finished off the fruit last week and, after being allowed to fully ripen up, everyone agreed these were great little bananas. I don't know how much bigger the fruit would have become if given a longer growing season. For now, I suspect Mitchel's guess of Namwah is correct. Read my old posts for more comments (busy bee photo is linked to the post). A few pups or corms may be from what I believe to be Dwarf Orinoco (Joe Real bought it as Dwarf Brazilian but I've had three independent comments made to me that the plant and fruit looks like Dwarf Orinoco). Joe disagrees, however, and believes it to be Dwarf Brazilian. You can grow it and decide for yourself. A few others might be what I believe to be Rajapuri (that's what it was sold to me as, but it looks a little bit off). I have a thread discussing these other two back in my old posts also.

If I have enough energy and time, I may bring some more for the others who already signed up but, for now, you'll just have to settle on sharing my presence. LOL

I believe Scot has the names of those registered now and this offer will remain until Scot says we've reached 16 participants. If the workshop gets canceled, so does this offer. Sorry, but I just don't care to go through the hassles of shipping, etc.

Most of these are large to very large pups (3' to 7' tall) so I would be doing a lot of whacking back so that Benny and Microfarmer don't stick me on the roof of the car. ;)

I reserve the right to set additional rules as there may be some complications I haven't foreseen. For instance, I'll probably let people chose what they get in the order they signed up from this point forward, but I don't know if that can be tracked very well since that creates more of a headache for Carol.

Cheers,

Harvey

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

WOW!! I really appreciate rhat. I figuered I would like to go to the confag in Vegas, even though it isn't the closest to me, it's Banana guys, and flights, and accomadations in LV can be much cheaper than to other places that are closer.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Yes, John, you're right, several airlines offer some very good airfares to Las Vegas and hotel vacancies everywhere are fairly high so rates are down.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

That's a great incentive, Harvey! I sure hope we can pick up those last 10! I thought for sure we'd be able to get 16 people off the west coast to sign up.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

I'm beginning to wonder if we're going to get enough people. I was in Fort Lauderdale, a couple of weeks ago, and I had to pay more for just the hotel than the air fare AND hotel in LV. I was hoping that, by mentioning the cheap air fares and hotel prices, it would stir up a little interest.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

I was wondering...

If we don't make the quota, will we pick a new date and keep trying for 16 people, or get refunds. I'm partial to a new date, personally...

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Hoping to generate a little more interest, I posted the notice on some other forums. I posted on a few of the GardenWeb forums and, not wanting it to look like spam, I varied the wording. The title of my posting in the Tropical Plants forum was, "Learn to clone". When I looked at my e-mail, earlier today, I saw there was a reply. When I looked at it, rather than someone who was interested, it was a rant from some guy who claims to have a degree in agriculture, but who confused tissue culture with genetic modification, or manipulation. He said this was Frankenstein science, and blamed it for all the ills in the world.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Cool, please forward the address for the post to me as I would love to respond to it.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Scot -
Here's the link to that posting.
Learn how to clone - Tropicals Forum - GardenWeb

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

If this workshop doesn't come about, I probably won't be able to make one until November or so. I get some breaks on the farm between April and August, but I can't predict them more than a week or two in advance. They I have very long hours mostly seven days a week with chestnuts for a 2-3 months (I sold out in record time last year and might sell out earlier this year).

Scot, is there any improvement in our registrations??

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Thanks John, I don't even wish to see his reaction, but I am sure that it will cause a stir. It just angers me to see such rash statements by people who claim to be educated.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Harvey, the last report I had from Carol a few days ago still showed six. She assured me that refunds would be given if the workshop is canceled due to light enrollment.
It does not seem likely that we will hit 16 unless something unusual happens. This is disappointing, but we will keep trying. By the way, feel free to contact Carol directly. I am extremely busy lately, working until 2-3 a.m. sometimes, so I don't always have time to check the forum for messages and contact Carol and then post her replies. I will say that she has shipped some supplies out to me already, but I suppose that this would be standard procedure.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

I just received an e-mail from Carol 2 were added to the list. And 1 more week, if less than 16, our check will be refunded.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Personaly, if we can't make this, I would be hopeful for a reschedule, rather than a cancellation. Las Vegas seemed a good place (for me) to go, because everyone wants you to gamble, and the ads in the New York newspapers, offer 4 days, 3 nights, including air fare for anywhere from $325. In any other major city, I doubt if I could find anything close to this.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

OK, workshop time is getting kinda close... What're the results? Did we get the required attendees or am I gonna hafta to work on a honeydo list that weekend? :drum::drum::drum::drum::drum:

:lurk:

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

The workshop has been cancelled. Carol wants to re-scedule, but hoping for a better participation when it is rescheduled. She was thinking sometime in late fall.
Would you please reply to this thread with indications of whether or not you would be interested in October, November or December. We need a minimum of 16 attendees to make the numbers work for Carol's travel expense. If I can get a reliable head count, at least then I won't have to go through all this only to have it cancelled.

BTW, those of you that prepaid should contact Carol directly for your refunds. I believe that she sent out an email to all who registered, but just in case you didn't get one.... Carol also offered to carry over your deposit to the next workshop if you like as an option.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

I'm uncertain between late October and Mid-November but could make it from mid-November up until Christmas.

Thanks, Scot.

Harvey

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

I got my refund from Carol.

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

Scot, I could go, probably most any one ot those months, unless she comes up with one that I can get to, for a reasonable price, sooner.
Some weeks ago, I had posted a notice about the workshop, on a couple of other forums, to try to get some more people. From one of the Garden Web forums, I got a real dopey reply. The guy was confusing TC with gene modification, and was denouncing it. Well, now we have another doozey; this one fro Garden Web's Professional Gardener forum.

I'd leave tissue culture alone. It's easier to take a cutting and get the same plant. There is no market for it!
It's already being done and you are lucky to have someone buy one plant. What good are a hundred plants when only a couple will be sufficient.
This is a dumb ass idea for a workshop

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Ohhhhhhhh, just give me a link to this one, please! I really would love to respond. It's backwards thinking, outpoken, ignorant morons like this that get my blood boiling.

On second thought, Naaaaaah! Ignorance is bliss. Let them be blissful!

Re: Tissue Culture Workshop Interest
 

I believe that he posted the link to this already, and in fact, you responded.