North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Amanda Emily <amanda@wa-geek.net>]

As a 24-year old who actually works in technology, let me be frank and 
offer some opinions.

1. The websites. They are your first line of marketing in the internet 
age, and they are showing their age. A site that looks like it was 
designed in the mid-90s with no new content is not going to make a 
favorable impression to those of the internet generation.

2. Meetups and groups. I've attended, or rather have tried to attend 
many meetups and groups with an age group much older than I am. It may 
not be intentional, but the impression I've received is of "what is that 
young punk doing here in our group" (in those cases, it was with 
"friends of such-and-such park" groups). If someone younger shows up, 
don't give them grief and refer them to as the "babies of the group". It 
doesn't exactly feel very welcoming.

3. Reach out to the FFA & 4H groups and the rural schools in your 
community. The rural schools still have those student organizations and 
they may be a potential source of future members. Heck the high school I 
attended in rural Northeastern Washington State had horticultural and 
forestry courses. I never recalled any outside groups coming in to offer 
presentations and to say, hey, we're here if you are interested.

Amanda


Spidra Webster wrote:
> On Jul 1, 2007, at 8:18 AM, Michael Nave wrote:
>
>   
> > I've been an NNGA member for about 16 years. My
> > impression is that the older folks are dying off, and
> > more importantly, not being replaced by younger folks.
> >     
>
> We are having that problem in our local chapter of CRFG and I know  
> that a number of other garden specialty groups are having similar  
> problems. At 41, I am one of the youngest members of our chapter.  I  
> think some of it is that the generation gap has been accentuated by a  
> technology gap.  Our older members insist on a paper newsletter  
> although an online one would cost the chapter less.  Those who have  
> the most knowledge to share are less likely to participate in email  
> lists.  I think some compromises will need to be made and groups are  
> going to have to look at it as a "marketing challenge" although non- 
> profit garden groups of this size are loath to think of outreach as  
> marketing (and god knows I have no love of marketing...)
>
> ON THAT SUBJECT, I approached the University of California,  
> Berkeley's Botanical Garden with an idea for an event and they liked  
> it enough to go with it.  I didn't ask anyone from NAFEX because all  
> indications I had were that NAFEX had no chapters near the SF Bay  
> Area.  However, if anyone would like to represent NAFEX or NNGA or  
> another horticultural group, we would welcome you.
>
> Here's what we sent out a month or so ago:
>
> My name is Deepa and I am the program coordinator for the UC  
> Botanical Garden in Berkeley. I have been collaborating with Megan  
> Lynch who is a member of the California Rare Fruit Growers and we  
> would like to host an event for all of our local garden clubs to get  
> together and share information. We are looking at a date of Sunday,  
> September 23rd from 10am - 3pm
>
> Please let me know if you would be interested in attending this event  
> as a representative of your respective organization. We will be  
> setting up tables in the conference center so that each group will  
> have table space.
>
> Here is a working description of the event-open to suggestion!
>
>      Cross-Pollination: A Garden Club Fair
>
>   There are various Flower & Garden shows in the Bay Area, but how  
> often do gardeners get the chance to network with other gardeners?   
> The Bay Area is a hotbed of gardening and as such plays host to a-  
> well- host of garden clubs, community gardens, plant societies, urban  
> farms, and organizations that use gardening as a means to improve the  
> lives of others. Instead of being a large showcase of demonstration  
> landscapes, Cross-Pollination brings gardeners and garden clubs  
> together.  Even folks who already belong to one society may find they  
> have an interest in another society.  Clubs, community gardens and  
> plant societies can talk about their missions in the lush  
> surroundings of the UC Botanical Garden.  The plant-loving public can  
> find out about various special interest and general gardening  
> organizations, community gardens and volunteer opportunities as well  
> as become better acquainted with all that UCBG has to offer.  What  
> user group fairs are to computer users, Cross-Pollination will be to  
> gardeners and plant-lovers.
>
> If you're interested in participating, please email me at spidra at  
> gmail dot com  Let me know if you'd be willing to do a demo of a  
> skill or something else likely to rivet the audience.
>
> Megan Lynch
> Berkeley, CA
> _______________________________________________
> nafex mailing list 
> nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
>
> Reproduction of list messages or archives is not allowed.
> This includes distribution on other email lists or reproduction on web sites.
> Permission to reproduce is NEVER granted, so don't claim you have permission!
>
> **YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO POST!**
> Posts from email addresses that are not subscribed are discarded.
> No exceptions.  
> ----
> To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to the bottom of this page (also can be used 
> to change other email options):
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex
>
> File attachments are NOT stripped by this list.
> TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES!
> Please do not send binary files.
> Use plain text ONLY in emails!
>
> NAFEX web site:   http://www.nafex.org/
>
>
>
>