As Walt Disney said, "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing". At the Board meeting in March the talk was about how to improve upon the buyer's guide and suggestions to make the annual trade show an ever "Better Best Little Trade Show in Texas". To begin the "doing" the Board laid out the following plans and would appreciate all member/affiliate input as this is a working plan subject to change.

       The buyer's guide will remain the go to reference for the grower and affiliate listings, but the plant directory cross reference will be removed. With the Association's website being fully integrated with PlantAnt (our web site host) plant listings and availabilities in the guide were redundant, and comprised more than half of the cost of producing the guide. The amount of advertising space and the look and feel of the guide will remain the same. The guide will still be distributed at and after the February show through selective mailings and copies are available for members to hand out, etc., as is being done now. The goal here is to make the guide a positive cash flow item (production and mailing costs exceeded ad revenue last year). Charlotte, our executive director, will oversee the advertising commitments with the goal to have the revenue side of the guide established by end of June. She is also obtaining quotes for the production of the revised guide from several firms and will present the written bids to the Board for review. We should know both sides of the equation by mid-year.

       The trade show for February 2015 was a success in that grower exhibitors made sales. Most nursery trade shows, just like us, are facing challenges as to keeping attendance at or up from prior years, and providing exhibitors with an "I'm coming back next year" experience. This year's trade show was not a success in the number of paid exhibitors versus the cost of operation. We lost money. The Board has proposed a workable budget for the 2016 show that includes a small increase in booth sales revenue and a fairly substantial reduction in operation costs, highlights as follows. 

         1)  Booth commitments will require a 50% deposit due on or before April 15, 2015, balance due July 15, 2015. The number of booths committed to by April 15 should be in the range of 75-80, if less the Board will review and take appropriate action. In past years, grower exhibitors have been limited to member growers only; if the required number of booths have not been committed to by April 15, the need may be to open the exhibitors to non-member growers, this would require a Board decision. So, it is important for all members to commit as early as possible to a booth for the 2016 show.

         2)  Operational expenses will be cut. Sponsors for several items, including the tote bags, etc. will be found. The dinner preceding the auction is expensive compared to the donations raised. Several less expensive formats are being explored, details to follow. The process of handling registration will be brought "in-house"; this alone should reduce expenses by about $5,000. Also, it has been suggested that scholarship recipients be asked to assist at the registration counter, this will be followed up with the scholarship committee.

       If you are interested, a detailed budget is available for your review. The budget is designed to make up the deficit from last year over a two or three year period, while still providing the top quality show expected. Several attendance enhancing items are also planned, which include offering private applicator, irrigator and other CEU's. The pre-show mailing list preparation will also be brought in house and completely updated. Any input from members as to who gets notified of the upcoming show is needed, i.e. if you attend any meeting whose members should be on the list, give it to Charlotte.

        Please plan to attend our meetings, a listing is included in this newsletter. As with any organization, we have come to a fork in the road, and we are taking it!

Leon Kramer, President