Contact | FAQs | Member Login Area | Board Member Login | Sitemap | Search  
Home About Join/Membership Chapters International Registry Events Resources Publications  Shop
2001 Convention - Kansas City, MO

45th Annual Convention
Tuesday, July 3rd, to Sunday, July 8th, 2001
Kansas City, MO

50th Anniversary of AGGS

Goin' to Kansas City...
Don't miss the opportunity to come to Kansas City, Missouri, the site of our first two conventions, and be part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of the American Gloxinia and Gesneriad Society and publication of the first 'Gloxinian.'

Convention Schedule Highlights

Changes in the convention schedule from previous years:

  • There will be a continental breakfast prior to the Thursday tour.

  • The Wednesday morning opening breakfast begins a half hour later than previous conventions and will be held in Skies Restaurant at the top of the Hyatt overlooking Kansas City.

  • There is only one lecture on Saturday morning providing more time for visiting the flower show and other convention activities.

  • The flower show and plant sale will be open until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon giving time after the Saturday Luncheon for viewing and purchasing plants.

The Friday evening Flower Show Awards Banquet will be highlighted by a special address by our Society's Founder, Elvin McDonald, followed by the Frances Batcheller Endowment Live Auction.

On Saturday evening we will walk via a covered walkway from our hotel to the closing event at the recently-restored Union Station. Before dinner we will be treated to a skit performed by two Union Station Players recounting an entertaining history of Union Station. Our Barbecue Dinner will be catered by K.C. Masterpiece. Michael Riley will then close our 50th Anniversary Convention Celebration.

Union Station is a beautifully-restored 1914-era train station. It now houses Science City, restaurants, retail shops, live theater, extreme screen theater, and exhibits while still retaining the flavor of an earlier time. A list of dally activities is available at the information counter in the Grand Hall. You may sign up for an $8.00 reduced-rate admission ticket (regularly $12.50) to Science City on the Convention Registration Form. This ticket will be in your registration packet and will be valid for use any time during the week of our convention. Science City is open 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. daily.

A special exhibit of over 200 artifacts recovered from the Titanic wreckage will be on display at Union Station from April 14, 2001- September 4, 2001. Tickets for this can be purchased on your own for $12.00 per person. Visit the Science City/Union Station Web Site at or call 1-877-SCI-CITY (724-2489) for further details on the variety of events at this historic Kansas City landmark.

Convention 2001 Trips

Trip to Powell Botanic Gardens and Longview Perennial Gardens

Board the bus on Thursday morning for a special "Behind the Scenes Tour" of Powell Gardens located about 40 miles east of Kansas City in Kingsville, Missouri. A private, non-profit botanical garden since 1988, the 915 acres include a three-acre perennial garden containing over 1200 varieties of plants hardy to the area featuring staggered blooming times. At the time of our visit the daylilies should be at their peak. A new Island Garden opens in April featuring a 3-pooled water garden filled with an array of water lilies, lotuses and victorias. Our tour includes the Indoor Conservatory, the surrounding outdoor Terrace Gardens, a walk through the Wildflower Meadow, and a stroll in the cool shade of the Rock and Waterfall Garden and the Perennial Garden. 

Other garden attractions include The Nature Trail, and demonstration vegetable gardens. We will also have a tour of the growing greenhouses and interpretation by a member of the horticulture staff followed by a box lunch in the air-conditioned Visitor's Center adjoining the conservatory and gift shop. Air conditioned buses will transport us between different garden locations, but there will be some walking so be sure to dress for hot weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. 

On our return trip to the hotel from Powell we will make a brief stop at Longview Perennial Gardens and Greenhouses. Longview has some small demonstration displays and a large variety of perennials, annuals, herbs, trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, water plants, and some specialty plants. They also sell garden supplies and some garden-related gift items.

2001 Convention Links
Previous Conventions
Home | About | Membership  | Chapters | International Registry | Events | Resources | Forum | Publications | Shop | Sitemap | Contact
© The Gesneriad Society 2006. All rights reserved. Terms of Service & Use Policy
:: site designed by i21webdesign.com ::