That's the point, James. Some of our international members have already told us that they feel offended. I, for one, understand. Some of those folks have been with us since the inception of ATP and have made great contributions to the site. They feel like they've got a stake here. Their work has been voluntary and freely given and in return they only wanted to feel valued. I still value them and hope they will stay with us.

I'm trying to be hopeful and optimistic too. I hope the site won't change too much since I liked it just fine the way it was until now. I am also a garden forum veteran who wandered from GardenWeb to Dave's Old Garden to Cubits and then ATP. And I find that the older I get, the less I like change.

Karen

Look at the name in the banner. The words national and association are rather small, but the word gardening is huge. The emphasis is still on Gardening not nationality. The only thing that has changed here is the name, new (valuable) information from the old NGA site and increased traffic. Were still see the same site that works just the same and welcomes the same people.

Karen _ I am with you as to the getting older and not liking change as much.

I too am a forum "veteran" who "wandered" from:

GardenWeb

to

Dave's Garden (DG)

to

Cubits (Charter Member!)

to

All Things Plant (ATP - Charter Member)

to

National Garden Association (NGA) (hey, are we all charter members of this new NGA/ATP????)


That is alot of change; but I think it is mitigated by the fact that I stay mostly in my garden discipline (which is IRIS) and the change within that has not been large or great. In fact, hardly noticable.

Well, today is Earth Day so I'm going to wish everyone a very happy Earth Day! Including all our members all over the Earth. Whatever we call ourselves, I think we're the caretakers of this planet and if merging with the other website brings us more members, I say that's more fun to look forward to!

(On a side note, lots of places are running Earth Day sales, so check out your favorite nurseries, garden supply companies, and such.)

Happy Earth Day, Melanie and everyone! (Can you dig it?? )

Sandy B ... I can dig it!

I can dig it too!

I think many are having a hard time adjusting to the site changes. Some disagree with the changes all together. Keep this in mind. Though there are small changes to former ATP site just think of the changes and adjustments those from the original Gardening.org site are enduring. The changes at former ATP are small and noticeable simply because they *are* small. Small changes, big steps.

The Internet is a world-wide entity. It never has halted one country or another to participate. On the contrary, the intenet has made our world smaller and more intimate, allowing us to learn about each other. We're on our way to bigger and better things for all gardeners worldwide!

The only difference or change that I've noticed is the banner name at the top of the site, everything else so far remains the same to my eyes ... well, with the exception of a lot of new members but that's a great thing! Our garden family is growing ... which is also a great thing!

Weedwhacker said:Happy Earth Day, Melanie and everyone! (Can you dig it?? )

I'm digging it!

Check this out...
kidsgardening.org is a resource of the National Gardening Association.

The Whitingers sure do have a lot on their plate...overseeing this organization too! I applaud and admire their endeavors for bringing all gardeners together, young, older, national, and international on a mission in the exploration and understanding of our world's great plant kingdom. Let's hear it for them!

Rainbow said:Check this out...
kidsgardening.org is a resource of the National Gardening Association.

The Whitingers sure do have a lot on their plate...overseeing this organization too! I applaud and admire their endeavors for bringing all gardeners together, young, older, national, and international on a mission in the exploration and understanding of our world's great plant kingdom. Let's hear it for them!

ShadyGreenThumb said: We're on our way to bigger and better things for all gardeners worldwide!

Trish said:The charter of the NGA, and the mission that we are dedicated to continuing, is to educate and encourage gardening in the US.
There is a vast difference in the gardening challenges right here in the US- it is difficult enough to run a website, operate a podcast, and run a database for *US* specific information- vastly different from coast to coast. We are not prepared to be able to educate and encourage world-wide. That's simply not feasible.

Trish said:The charter of the NGA, and the mission that we are dedicated to continuing, is to educate and encourage gardening in the US.
There is a vast difference in the gardening challenges right here in the US- it is difficult enough to run a website, operate a podcast, and run a database for *US* specific information- vastly different from coast to coast. We are not prepared to be able to educate and encourage world-wide. That's simply not feasible.

It's not about inclusion/exclusion. It is about practicality. One organization simply cannot be familiar with world-wide growing conditions/pests/diseases. Very different from dealing with other world-wide organizations who aren't working to help people grow things

That said, our community is certainly worldwide- it always has been, and there's no reason why it won't continue to be so.

I know to some this quote seems contradictory, but I don't think that is necessary so.I think Trish was saying the things Dave and Trish do are more geared to the U.S., but not that in any way they are being rude and asking people outside of the country not to come on in and enjoy the fun. After all people that is what this is all supposed to be about. I could feel a little hurt myself in seeing what appears to be a negative tone when the word "National" is used. In any case rather someone considers the quote to be contradictory or not, at least give the full message as a fair representation of what was actually said.

That is why we have the forums, plant database, plant ID etc. They connect all of us worldwide and we the members (world wide) make it what it is.

The way I see it...Garden.org is a resource of the National Gardening Association. The Garden.org is where gardeners from all walks of life exchange information and furthers the data and knowledge base of the plant kingdom.

Perhaps someone else could help me out here...I am not as articulate as many of you in putting my thoughts into words. I am bi-lingual and think in two languages.

Rainbow said:Check this out...
kidsgardening.org is a resource of the National Gardening Association.

"The three missions have been split up into new organizations. The Youth/School mission has been taken over by a new 501c3 non-profit organization called KidsGardening.org. The Market Research mission has been taken over by a new organization called GardenResearch.com. The final mission has been retained by us, "The New NGA." As we move into the future, we at the NGA will continue to work closely with these new organizations to support their efforts."

From Dave's explanation here:
http://garden.org/ideas/view/d...

Seedfork said:
I know to some this quote seems contradictory, but I don't think that is necessary so.I think Trish was saying the things Dave and Trish do are more geared to the U.S., but not that in any way they are being rude and asking people outside of the country not to come on in and enjoy the fun. After all people that is what this is all supposed to be about. I could feel a little hurt myself in seeing what appears to be a negative tone when the word "National" is used. In any case rather someone considers the quote to be contradictory or not, at least give the full message as a fair representation of what was actually said.

That said, our community is certainly worldwide- it always has been, and there's no reason why it won't continue to be so.

The last sentence in the quote means not a lot, the internet is worldwide and as such accessible by the world (remember too that extra traffic is good for figures). The body of the statement is clear.

Janet, just so you know, I value your contributions no matter where you live. That goes for all members that live outside the U.S.