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It’s time for change, everyone. Griffin’s Tewksbury, MA and Latham, NY Customer Appreciation Days, hugely successful events for its northern market customers from Maine to New Jersey, are consolidating. In the past, the two locations alternated each year as the site for the event. Beginning this August, a single event will be held each year at the Eastern States Exposition Center in West Springfield, MA. It’s been renamed the Griffin Nothern Grower Expo. The decision to move the show allows for additional exhibitor participation, provides an indoor convention facility out of the weather, and centrally locates the show for the entire northern territory. It would please me to put this giant step into perspective for fellow growers, based on similar primetime changes made by other groups with whom I have worked over the years. OFA, an organization very dear to me, held its Short Course during the second week of January for almost fifty years. As a graduate student at Ohio State University I was taught to worry about snow, ice, and wintery weather along with every OFA organizer. During the 1980s the decision was made to move the Short Course to July. We never looked back and have since achieved unimaginable success. Our success was so significant that we outgrew the Columbus Convention Center and had to move, during the 1990s, to Cincinnati for a number of years while Columbus expanded its facility. Our current tagline for the Short Course, “U.S. Floriculture’s Premier Educaton and Trade Show Event”, is a result of these changes. Onward and upward, as they say. I have also had the privilege of serving on the board of directors of the New England Greenhouse Conference. This event was held in Sturbridge, MA for many years and, due to the success of the educational program and trade show, outgrew the quaint but small hotel and its convention facility. We struggled for several years before deciding to go primetime and move half an hour east to the Worcestor Centrum Center. Finally, the conference had a home where it could spread its wings and join the ranks of nationally recognized floriculture events. Once again, onward and upward. Griffin’s Grower Expo has evolved into a significant business writing show. Whereas the Short Course and New England Trade Shows are focused more on education, Griffin’s Trade Show, with its distributor driven atmosphere, is able to offer discounts and day of show specials that add up to substantial savings. I and other nationally recognized speakers will continue to offer you a top notch educational seminar program for the day and hope you take advantage of the opportunity. At this years Northern Grower Expo come you can also visit with nationally known consultants. In attendance will be John W. Bartok Jr., Extension Professor Emeritus & Agricultural Engineer from the University of Connecticut, and garden center consultant Judy Sharpton. Bring your greenhouse and garden center questions, their advice is free! And don’t miss out on your chance to fight back against high energy costs. In attendance will be alternative energy companies representing coal, corn, pellet, and wood chip burners, as well as specialty insulation companies to provide ideas for lowering your heating costs. Grower Expo is an event where, if you don’t attend and cash in on the offerings, you’ll miss out on much needed savings on supplies as well as valuable education. To his credit, Ken Hyslip Sr. long ago created Griffin Customer Appreciation Days to thank you, his long time customers, for your business. Ken’s lavish catered lunches have been enough to attract many to this event for years. While you can still count on this attention to food and refreshment, Griffin’s Grower Expo will also save you money on supplies and equipment. Do a little homework, then come prepared to help your business by ordering supplies wisely. Griffin’s Lancaster Open House will be held at its usual location at the Lancaster Host Resort in Lancaster, PA. Beginning this year, it’s name will also change to Griffin’s Southern Grower Expo. The date for this show is September 27, 2006. See you at your region’s Grower Expo!   Upcoming Events July 8th - 11th Ohio Short Course Columbus Convention Center Columbus, OH 614-487-1117   19th MNLA Summer Meeting & Tradeshow Student Union Building UMASS Amherst Amherst, MA 413-369-4731   25th - 27th PANTS Atlantic City Conv. Center Atlantic City, NJ 717-238-1673   August 16th Griffin Northern Grower Expo Eastern States Expo Center 1305 Memorial Ave. West Springfield, MA 978-851-4346   September 27th Griffin Southern Grower Expo Lancaster Host Resort 2300 Lincoln Highway East (Rt.30) Lancaster, PA 610-286-0046   For future events Visit us at www.griffins.com All articles and material featured in this Gazette cannot be duplicated without written permission. Copyright © 2006 by Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies