Avery Island LA Bamboo Get Together (USA) 2005/Feb 11-13

[CaroleMeckes]

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Avery Island LA USA Feb 11 - 12 - 13 2005

LGCC Get Together / Grove Grooming / Bamboo Workshop

Louisiana Gulf Coast Chapter (LGCC) of the American Bamboo Society

This year the Avery Island event will begin on Friday, Feb.11 with gathering at about 6:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn-New Iberia, 2915 Hwy 14, New Iberia, LA. We have a private dining room reserved for a buffet dinner to begin at about 7:00 p.m. The cost for dinner is $15. We are attempting to arrange for an interesting speaker for the evening, but details are not yet final.

On Saturday morning, February 12th, we will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Jungle Gardens’ parking lot on Avery Island for the centerpiece of the weekend; the clearing and cleaning of a historic 2-acre, 95-year-old moso grove. Each person working will receive a free moso pole to take home as well as the opportunity to buy additional poles at reasonable prices.

At 4:30 p.m. Saturday we will reassemble at Jefferson Island for a tour of Rip Van Winkle Gardens featuring their bamboo collection, followed by a special dinner at Café Jefferson overlooking Lake Peigneur. This dinner is expected to cost $25 and will be catered so reservations will be absolutely essential. This will be a very special evening.

Sunday, Feb. 13th at the enchanting Marsh House on Avery Island, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mark and Carole Meckes of the Bamboo Arts and Crafts Network will conduct a FREE hands-on workshop on means and methods of working with bamboo. This will also be a special time to get better acquainted with others member in LGCC from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and especially our colleagues from the Texas and Southeast Chapters. Bamboo crafts of a various nature, books and other information will be available at this time.

Important: As in previous years, this event will be limited to LGCC members ONLY. Participants must be members of both ABS and LGCC, and this does include secondary LGCC members if they are primary members of another chapter. In order to facilitate the arrangement of meals for the week we will be asking, beginning this year, that you pre-register for the event.

Ground rules for this year’s event will be reviewed at the Jungle Gardens’ parking lot on Saturday morning.

Don’t forget to make reservations at the Holiday Inn by January 31st to take advantage of our special $54/night for a standard room.
The Holiday Inn is located at 2915 Highway 14 in New Iberia.
Call 337-367-1201 for reservations and mention you are with the Bamboo Group.

Registration forms - see pdf attachments:
1) ABS/SEC dues;
2) Registration: Meals/Workshop/Accommodations;
3) Grove Grooming /Workshop Liability Waiver

[Bamboo Events Desk]

From Gerald Morris - Louisiana Gulf Coast Chapter Treasurer

This is a late update on the Avery Island weekend.
We are still accepting reservations for the meals and as I understand the Holiday Inn has rooms available.
We must have reservations for the meals if you plan on having the evening meals.
Naturally we understand that everyone may not be able to attend all events. Some are arriving too late for the Friday evening meal, but will be joining us for the Saturday and Sunday events. Others will not be able to remain for the Sunday craft efforts at Marsh House. Others will be bringing their own food for the Saturday and Sunday lunches. We understand all this and are trying to keep the event flexible and at modest cost without any registration fee. All of our members are welcome to enjoy what portion of the weekend that fits their personal schedule and commitments.

BUT IF YOU PLAN TO PARTTAKE OF ANY OF THE MEALS WE NEED YOUR RESERVATIONS AND COMMITMENTS NO LATER THAN 5 PM, FEBRUARY 4. WE MAY BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE A LIMITED NUMBER AFTER THIS TIME, BUT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE. THE FRIDAY NIGHT FOOD PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR THE FIRM RESERVATION COUNT NOW. THE LUNCH COMMITMENTS ARE STILL FLEXIBLE. BUT HURRY! IF YOU WISH TO MAKE RESERVATIONS BUT CANNOT GET YOUR CHECKS TO ME BY THIS DEADLINE, PLEASE SEND ME AN EMAIL WITH YOUR DESIRED MEALS AND NUMBER. POST YOUR CHECK THAT DAY AND WE WILL ADD YOU TO THE COUNT AND AWAIT YOUR PAYMENT.


PLANS: These are still being developed, but more events are being scheduled. We have a dinner speaker for Saturday evening. David Cater from Texas will be describing his efforts at starting a bamboo shoot farm. We have a new member from Hawaii who has artistic and musical talents who will have a variety of objects for display, some for trade/sell. There may even be a few plants for trade and/or sell. I do not have details on this, but I have heard "rustling in the culms" to this effect.
Arrangements are being made to have the experimental research chef for McIlhenny Corporation prepare some fresh winter bamboo shoots taken from the moso grove for some taste testing on Sunday. Other events remain on schedule. Friday night dinner at the Holiday Inn, Saturday moso grove clean-up and gathering of poles, later Saturday the visit to Jefferson Island and Rip Van Winkle Gardens, Saturday evening dinner and talk. Sunday is to be our art and craft day with Mark and Carole Meckes and others at the Marsh House on Avery Island.

This has become an outstanding event that brings together growers, landscapers, designers, users, artisans, and interested members while helping to maintain a special, historic bamboo grove.
If you have anything to bring for display, trade, or just present for discussion of your hidden talents, please bring. Our number one priority for the weekend is to ENJOY. We hope you can join us.

Gerald Morris, LGCC Treasurer.

[Mark Meckes]

We're looking forward to a fun weekend with bamboo, of meeting new friends and old, many of whom we have not seen since last year's annual Avery Island get together.
This year we will again have the bamboo workshop on Sunday.
As we will be continuing on our travels after this event to the...
Feb 19 USA Ga:SEC Annual Meeting and Bamboo Workshops

... we will be bringing a whole kit and kaboodle of bamboo goodies to show!
Please bring photos and or stories about what you have been doing with bamboo, and samples of your work. There may be an opportunity for trade.

Now, those who attended last years' workshop will remember how freezing cold the morning started off... well this time we are prepared for any inclement weather, and will set up the displays and some craft projects indoors, in the cozy comfort of the Marsh House, if necessary.
This workshop is a great opportunity to meet others and share experiences working with bamboo. (These events just do not occur very often in this part of the world)
It will be an informal day, to get together and explore the possibilities of working with bamboo. It will follow along the interests of the participants.

Sunday's bamboo workshop participants will also have an opportunity to evaluate bamboo materials harvested from numerous groves in this region, many that were originally introduced up to a century ago, but to this day have remained relatively obscure in their domestic utilization.

See you there!
Mark and Carole

Bamboo Forums members Click Here for further discussion about the 2005 Avery Island Bamboo Get Together

[Mark Meckes]

From Gerald Morris -ABS/ LGCC - Feb 10 2005

See two pdf attachments for last minute news and location maps.

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