VNLA Annual Membership Breakfast Meeting, Baltimore, each January during MANTS
VNLA Annual Field Day,
August 16, 2007, Hosted by Waynesboro Nurseries, Waynesboro, VA (Exhibit space is also available at the VNLA Annual Field Day, usually $ 150)
VNLA Research Gala Auction each January, the middle evening of MANTS, January
11, 2007
VNLA Summer Tour,
August 12, 2006 - Shenandoah Valley area (the day after Field Day).
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The VNLA Annual Membership Breakfast Meeting is held from 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. the morning of the middle day of the MANTS trade show in Baltimore. Sponsorships are normally $500 and the sponsors are recognized during the meeting and with place cards on each table. Attendance is usually around 100.
The VNLA Annual Field Day sponsorships are accepted in any amounts for general sponsorship, food and beverage, tents, tour buses, and door prizes. The Field Day is moved around the state each year and is usually held at a wholesale grower's operation due to the space needed for exhibits, demonstrations, etc. Attendance is in the range of 500-700. Tours are given of the nursery and surrounding area, industry seminars are given, exhibit and demonstration areas are setup for vendors, lunch is provided and fun events such as liriope toss, volleyball tournament and skid steer operation contests are held with prizes.
The VNLA Research Gala Auction is the only income source to add funds to the VNA Horticulture Research Foundation, which has a portfolio investment of approximately $475,000. Approximately $25-35,000 is added each year. The interest/dividend income from this investment is used to fund nursery related research projects at major universities. Tickets are $50 each. The event is held at major facilities in Baltimore such as "Top of the Towers" at the World Trade Center, the Science Museum, the Aquarium, the Museum of Industry and it will be at the B&O Train Museum in 2002. Entertainment varies from year-to- including a casino night, "The Fabulous Hubcats" - a 50's/60's band and dancers, Jazz Blues Band with a vocalist, etc. During the event, catered gourmet food and beverage stations are setup around the facility. There is an ongoing silent auction of donated items which include art, trade tools and supplies, vacation trips, Broadway play tickets, sports events tickets and gift certificates to wholesale suppliers. Then at the end of the evening, 12-15 high value items are auctioned off in a live auction, which usually generate $1,000-4,000 each. Previous items have included a Persian rug ($4,400) with belly dancer, framed authenticated pre-historic clamshells, framed authenticated arrowhead sets, cases of wine, etc. The 2004 Gala was at the Camden Club overlooking the Orioles Field in Baltimore on January 9, 2004.
2005 was at the ESPNZone. 2006 was be at the B&O Railroad Museum. In
2007, it will be on the harbor cruise boat "Bay Lady"
The VNLA Summer Tour involves one or two chartered buses to tour nurseries, garden centers, greenhouses, landscapes, botanical gardens, etc for 2-3 days, usually in late July. Previous tours have gone to the Raleigh, NC area, Philadelphia area, central Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia. The 2004 tour will be in the Tidewater, Virginia area. Sponsorships of food/beverage and buses are available.
Contact the VNLA office if you are interested in participating in any of these events!
