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We know that since changing management firms, GardenComm has and continues to improve the organization’s policies and procedures. Whether you are a long-time member, past member who's interested in rejoining or new to GardenComm, our goal is to keep everyone abreast of these improvements being made in the last several months. The following is an important reference guide to some Frequently Asked Questions regarding the NEW GardenComm.
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Who or how do I reach out to GardenComm if I have questions?
You can reach GardenComm staff by submitting your questions here. Both Chris and Virginia Sabbarese monitor these inquiries and will get back to you as quickly as possible. If you prefer reaching out via the phone, feel free to call the office at 951-899-5015. They’ll actually answer the phone and/or return a call in a timely manner. Just know the office is on Pacific time so keep that in mind if you give them a ring. NOTE: Please know that staff does not monitor social media pages at this time (they are run by volunteers) so if you post a question on the closed Facebook group for example, if a member knows the answer, they may chime in, but for the best and most accurate answer to a specific GardenComm question, please contact or call our staff.
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The gardencomm.org website is hard to use and out of date. When will it be updated?
Staff is in the midst of updating our website. In April we moved from the previous platform that was hard to use, to a much easier system. To date, we have reorganized content, set up event pages for members and guests to sign up and check out, join or renew their memberships, and soon will be the membership directory where you can search for a garden communicator. More improvements are in the works however feel free to submit your suggestions and feedback here. We may not be able to make all the suggested updates, but your comments will be reviewed and will be a helpful resource in developing a website that is both useful and functionable.
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Where is the member portal on the website?
The simple answer is there isn’t one. With the move to a new platform, we no longer have any items behind a gated member wall. Therefore you do not need any password to access any content on the website including updating the member directory, so there is no longer a need to login through a member portal. If for some reason we determine we need to place something on the website behind a portal or password protection in the future, then we will communicate this to members before it occurs.
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Is there a member directory? Can I get a printed version?
You may have noticed that there is a “Pardon Our Dust” sign on the website next to the GardenComm members directory, the online member directory is being updated and launching soon. Our first goal is to get the online version correct and encourage members to update their listing. Several years ago the board opted to go to an online version only, in part to honor our sustainability goals. We know there are some members who would like a hard copy. Please know that if and when we create a hard copy, the moment it is generated it is out-of-date, especially now that our membership year is changing (see next question and answer). If a hard copy list is generated it would either be as a PDF or as an Excel spreadsheet that members can print.
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Some people had a hard time renewing their membership online. Has this been fixed?
All of the people who we were aware of that had issues renewing or joining were contacted by the new staff. The new platform makes joining GardeComm or renewing your membership easier than ever before. If you had difficulty renewing your membership online, but for some reason weren’t on our list of people we notified, we encourage you to try the link and renew your membership now. We have received a lot of positive feedback about the new process.
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If I join or renew my GardenComm membership today, how long is good for?
Starting with 2022, memberships will renew one year from the date purchased (and not on a calendar year as in the past). With this one-year from date of purchase, there is no longer a pro-rated membership if you join mid-year or beyond; ie, you join on July 1 this year, your membership lasts until June 30th of 2023.You will receive a reminder email that it is time to renew and we're looking into an auto-renewal option for those who prefer that. NOTE: As part of membership renewal, all members will need to complete the online registration form, that includes your Authors Coalition of America [ACA] declaration, both for printed and digital content. This is an important part of membership and we need all members to participate, in order to maximize our annual qualifications in this program. We will have more details about ACA in an upcoming newsletter.
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How do I get a Press Pass?
You can access a press pass template by going to gardencomm.org, click on the Membership tab and then on Download Press Pass. Since this is a member-only benefit, members should watch their email later this month for the latest password. If you can't find the password or do not receive the email, please contact the GardenComm office and request it. They will get back to you as quickly as possible but please understand, there may be a delay in their response, so please plan ahead. NOTE: We are looking in to a pre-printed press pass option for 2023! We also recommend contacting the marketing department of any event or gardening destination in advance of your visit to determine if they will honor your press pass (don’t assume).
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When will we have an in-person annual conference?
2023 will be the 75th anniversary of GardenComm. As of right now, we are working on logistics with the hope of hosting an in-person conference in Minneapolis, MN the beginning of August 2023. Once our hotel is confirmed we’ll make a more detailed announcement. NOTE: In the meantime, we have two special ‘super-regional’ events being held around other major green industry events. Please consider joining us in Columbus prior to Cultivate’22 and/or in Philadelphia after PPA. These are both 2 day events and you can purchase either a 1 or 2 day ticket. There is 1 price no matter if you are a member or non-member. Click here for details and registration.
Also, registration for our popular Virtual Conference is open as of June 1 and it’s bigger and better than ever.
We hope this has been helpful. If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to staff or to your regional representatives which can be found via this link.
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7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063
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