This page will eventually have a map of Virginia, marking spots were members reside. This will help to see how many members are in your area, and the chances of starting a GourdPatch. Gourdpatches are groups of gourding folk who live near each other in a town or county and meet on a regular basis. Gourdpatches can have catchy names and act as the networking arms of the state chapter.
There are many gourd enthusiasts in this state, some are VLGS members and many are not. Most folks would enjoy getting together with other like-minded individuals from time to time. But, how to pull that together?!
Our Mother-Ship, the American Gourd Society, has suggestions for starting a local group under the section called ‘Starting a Gourdpatch’. There are some good ideas for getting the word out to others. So far, the groups in Virginia gathering together usually do so at an informal luncheon called a Meet & Greet, whereby folks bring a potluck item and their latest gourd news and have a good old fashion gourd show-and-share. That’s just the way it’s been done so far.
Gourdpatches in other states have dues that defray the expenses of their group getting together and learning the skill of the month. Based on how the Virginia chapter works, it would be unlikely that would happen here. Probably, Virginia groups would meet at centrally agreed-upon places and have a show-and-tell or try-it-out of some new skill on a volunteer basis. We are a sharing people, but we haven't shown a fondness for dealing with money or formal organization.
- First: Investigate the AGS suggestions for starting a group. See if any of the ideas work for you and your friends. Find others interested in gourds by hanging a flyer in the local garden nursery or library.
- Second: Be open to inspiration! Perhaps meeting at one place or another is too far for some folks, so meet halfway at a burger joint or a park. Local FFA groups might like to have a bunch of gourders joining them for a morning of gourding fun.
- Third: Get names and phone numbers. Join our online Yahoo Group, GourdsInVirginia. Network and be open to trying new ways to get together with others. Let the Coordinators know when you’re having something, and let us help spread the word by putting it in the newsletter and maybe attending ourselves!
These
are suggestions for how to start a ‘patch’, but nothing is cast in stone.
Join with others and agree to guidelines as you go along, and you’ll have
a group of folks that will become comrades over time! Let the VLGS chapter
Coordinators know about it for networking purposes and you are ready for
gourd fun!