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[APD] AGA Convention is around the corner!
Join the members of the Aquatic Gardeners Association for the opportunity to
meet
some of the most exciting speakers in the aquatic plant hobby! Whether you
are a
casual hobbyist or an experienced professional, you'll enjoy the wide range
of topics.
Mark your calendar now. The weekend's activities include a field trip,
workshops,
a banquet and an overflowing auction on Sunday with many rare plants. The
convention
features information packed presentations from international experts
Aquascaping master Takashi Amano will share his world-renowned techniques as
he designs
an aquascape live, right before your very eyes! You have read his many
books, now come
and meet him in person! Jan D. Bastmeijer, who hosts the Crypt Pages
website, will
discuss our focus plant, the Cryptocoryne. Several other speakers and
workshops are
planned. There is a lot going on so don't miss out.
Registration is now available online at AGA
http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/convention.html
Speakers:
Takashi Amano - world reknowned Photographer and Aquascaper
Jan Bastmeijer - the King of Cryptocorynes
Diana Walstead - Author of 'Ecology of the Planted Aquaria'
Mike Senske - Paludarium designer extraordinaire
Focus Groups:
Freshwater shrimp by Wilma Duncan
Emersed culture by Jan Bastmeijer
Back to basics by Dorothy Riemer
Collecting plants, driftwood and rocks
Convention Registration & Fees:
Information available on AGA website
http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/convention.html
Schedule:
Thursday,Nov 11th
Welcoming at the Hospitality room, Meet the speakers, other hobbyists from
around the country
Friday,Nov 12th
Field trip: Baltimore Aquarium, Lunch (on your own) at the Inner Harbour,
Visit Aquarium Center
Convention kick off: Welcoming by AGA and GWAPA
Aquarium Ecology by Diana Walstad
Paludariums by Mike Senske
Hospitality room gathering
Saturday, Nov 13th
The show!
Cryptocorynes - Variety & Collecting by Jan D. Bastmeijer
Nature Aquariums - Takashi Amano
Lunch
Answer Session - Amano & Jan answer your questions
Focus Group (two sessions)
You're the judge! Cast your vote for best aquascape.
Banquet: Seated dinner, Awesome Aquascapes - a judges perspective, AGA
Aquascaping Contest Award
ceremony, Aquacaping talk by Takashi Amano Hospitality room gathering
Sunday,Nov 14th
All Day Silent and Live Auction. Ray Kingfish Lucas will also be with us
this year,
which means lots of great donated dry goods in the auction.
AIRPORT INFORMATION:
Planning to fly in?
The airport nearest to the hotel is Regan National (DCA) in DC. There's
Metro Rail service from the airport straight into the basement of the
hotel - only 1 stop away, the fare is $1.35. In addition to that - the
hotel also runs a free shuttle service to and from Regan National.
Besides Regan National, there are two other airports in the area,
Dulles International (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington Intl (BWI).
Check all three airports to see availablity and ticket rates - you may
be able to save a decent amount on airfare depending on where
you're coming from and what airport you arrive at.
The hotel's shuttle service is ONLY from/to Regan National. If you're coming
into any other airport, you'll have to arrange for your transportation to
the hotel.
We'll have more detailed information on the hotel and Metro Rail as we get
closer to the date of the convention.
HOTEL INFORMATION:
The convention is being hosted at:
The Crystal City Marriott Hotel
1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Arlington, VA 22202
The elegant Marriott Crystal Gateway is just minutes away from
Washington's Reagan National Airport shuttle bus to the hotel. All of
Washington, D.C.'s great restaurants and national and historic sites are
also minutes away via Metro. Don't forget to save a day for visiting the
(free admission) National Air & Space Museum, the National Gallery,
Museum of Natural History, and other sites.
Some additional information, including discount code, available at:
http://www.stayatmarriott.com/AquaticGardeners/
AGA Conference attendees will enjoy a special discounted roomrate
at the hotel. When reserving a room at the hotel - ensure that you use the
group discount code - you'll get a MUCH better rate. If you don't mind
sharing the room with someone else, find a roomate and split the cost
of the room! Post your 'Roomate Wanted' ads on the GWAPA Forum at
http://www.gwapa.org/forum
DC Attractions:
If you have not been to DC - come in a few days earlier and tour DC!
The Metro Rail takes your into all of DCs attractions right from
the hotel. The room rate discount applies to the few days leading upto
the convention, through the weekend. This will allows those who're coming
in a little early to tour DC to enjoy the discounted room rate.
I know some folks have managed to convince their significant other to
come along - they can tour DC while you attend the convention day-time
events
and then they can join you at the banquet that evening.
A few of the attractions include:
* National Aquarium
http://www.nationalaquarium.com/vindex.html
* National Gallery of Art
http://www.nga.gov
* Pentagon
http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pentagon
* Smithsonian
http://www.si.edu
* Tourmobile Service
http://www.tourmobile.com
* U.S. Botanic Garden
http://www.usbg.gov
* U.S. Capitol
http://www.aoc.gov
* Washington Monument
http://reservations.nps.gov
* Washington National Cathedral
http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral
* Washington National Mall
http://www.nps.gov
* The White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/tours
* The National Zoological Park
http://natzoo.si.edu/zooview/plants/pollinarium.htm
All of these attractions are very accessible, being walking
distance from Metro Rail stations. Best of all, almost all
of these attractions are open to the public free of charge!
Got questions for us? Post them up on the GWAPA Forum and we'll
do our best to help you out.
http://www.gwapa.org/forum
See you in November!
-
Ghazanfar Ghori
So called President, GWAPA
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