Re: membership value

**J* L* <h*@yahoo.com>**

Martha,
If you're not going to be doing any garden writing besides blogging about your own experiences, there may not be much value to GWA membership beyond the friendships and connections you make (or keeping up the ones you've already made). 

But things change rapidly in media work -- do you not foresee any time that you would want to write a book, or do something more than you're doing now?

I know that as an editor, I've always seen GWA membership as the "litmus test" so to speak as to whether a garden writer is a real pro, someone I can count on to deliver a good product and on time. That's not to say that you can't be an excellent garden writer and not belong, but there are so many bloggers out there who aren't very serious about garden writing, and an editor doesn't know ahead of time who is and who isn't.

That's just my take on it. GWA membership is one indication that I'm a professional garden writer, and that's how I want to be considered.

I never really think of the symposiums as "large conferences." They are, of course, but they offer so much information that keeps me up to date on the latest technology and plants -- both of which help advance my career. Indy was outstanding in this regard (Thanks, Debra, JEMS and all!). So was Dallas.

But the new podcasts are excellent, and you access them without ever leaving home.

I know there are plenty of opinions about this topic -- pro and con -- and only you can decide. But I get much more from GWA membership than it costs me in annual dues.

Judy

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Message: 8
Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2011 07:09:27 -0500
From: Molly Day <mollyday1@gmail.com>
Subject: [GWL] membership value
To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum
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Hi -
I've been a GWA member for 5 or 6 years.
At this point I'm considering dropping my membership since I am not seeking
more work and
do not enjoy large conferences.

Each summer when our weather is already 100 degrees, I receive trial plants
from Proven Winners
due to my membership but other than that, I see little value
for my annual $85.
( And, no I do not need the services of a GWA attorney.)

Any thoughts?

Martha Stoodley
Muskogee OK
aka Molly Day
http://www.allthedirtongardening.blogspot.com/
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