Thank you all for your support and patience during these unprecedented times. As we’ve communicated through Facebook and directly with planned attendees, at this point, we’re still planning to continue with the Madison Fling. We’d like to share our thoughts through a set of questions and answers, regarding what we expect in the weeks to come. First, we’d direct all questions about the disease, itself, to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Coronavirus Disease web page. This Fling FAQ page is dedicated to questions Madison Fling attendees may have about our specific event. For Fling-specific questions beyond those listed here, please contact us at madisongbfling@gmail.com. Q. When will you make the decision on whether or not to cancel the Madison Fling? A. We are working with our hotel and other venues to make the best decision, considering all the variables. We will know more by late March. Even beyond that, circumstances may change through April and May. While it is our hope that the virus will begin to fade across the country by late spring, we just don’t know at this point. We feel it’s too early to call it off today. Q. What if the virus expands dramatically in the U.S. in the weeks ahead? A. Most indications are that this will happen. As we present this, the virus is expanding, and there likely will be many more cases in Madison and other communities across the country. We’re hoping the virus will begin to subside long before mid-June, but we just don’t know at this point. Q. Why does it make sense to continue the Fling while so many other events are cancelling? A. Again, we may still be forced to discontinue the Fling, for various reasons. But if the outlook is much better by the end of April, we feel there’s no reason we can’t go ahead with our event. Our group is relatively small (50-60), we’re meeting during the summer (when, hopefully, the virus won’t be active), and most of our events will be outdoors. Q. Has your cancellation/registration refund policy changed in light of our current pandemic situation? A. No, with the exception that we are prepared to offer 95% ticket refunds ($295 minus transaction processing fees, or $280.25) if we are forced to cancel the Madison Fling. If you choose to stick with us during the weeks ahead, we will follow through with 95% refunds for you, should we end up having to cancel eventually. Q. What about your early bird discount expiring on April 2? A. We are extending the $295 rate right up to the Fling. We didn’t foresee the coronavirus, and our early bird rate was an attempt to get things moving earlier. However, we now see that this isn’t effective this time, and we want to make registration as easy as possible for people, when they feel ready. Q. What are the hotel’s cancellation policies? A. All reservations cancelled after 4 p.m. CST 24 hours prior to arrival and all “no shows” will be charged one night room/tax.
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Finally, thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support. We are doing everything we can to continue with the Madison Fling, June 18-21. And we look forward to seeing you all and visiting gardens together!
Our thanks goes out to CobraHead, another bloom-level sponsor! Since 2002, the CobraHead Weeder & Cultivator has been the ultimate garden tool for weeding and gardening.
The CobraHead is a multipurpose hand tool for use in gardening, horticulture, and agriculture that's superior to all similar tools on the market.
The CobraHead team has designed a line of gardening products to help all landscapers and gardeners weed more efficiently. CobraHead’s goal is to “offer you the best tools in earth.” The complete line of CobraHead Weeder & Cultivators make weeding easier and put the joy back in gardening! Find them online: Website: CobraHead.com Facebook: facebook.com/CobraHead Twitter: twitter.com/cobrahead Instagram: instagram.com/cobrahead YouTube: youtube.com/user/cobraheadtools *** The Garden Bloggers Fling is a non-profit organization; we’d be nowhere without our generous sponsors! Please let them know how much they mean to us—big "thank-yous" to each and every one! ***
We realize the Fling couldn’t happen without the amazing support of our generous sponsors. Thanks to those who’ve agreed, so far, to sponsor the 2020 Madison Garden Bloggers Fling! We’ll update the list and the sidebar as additional sponsors pledge their support. Bloom Level: - Proven Winners® ColorChoice® - CobraHead - J. Berry Wholesale Nursery - John & Bob’s Smart Soil Solutions - Bailey Nurseries Bud Level: - DRAMM Stem Level: - Botanical Interests - Bluestone Perennials - Midwest Groundcovers/ Natural Garden Natives Root Level: - Potted - St. Lynn’s Press - Teak Closeouts Seed Level: - Paw Paw Everlast Label Company
In June, two busloads of garden bloggers will descend on Madison, Wisconsin, for three days of inspirational garden touring and networking. As influential garden communicators, Fling participants will blog, Tweet, Instagram, Pin, Facebook, and otherwise spread the word about the gardens on tour and related Fling sponsors to their readerships around the world. Many are leading the discussion of gardening not only online, but also in their communities. Sponsorships help defray the costs associated with Fling activities, including (but not limited to) garden admissions, catered meals, facility rentals, liability insurance, and transportation. Our sponsors allow more garden bloggers to attend who might not otherwise afford to go. In appreciation, all sponsor names, logos, and websites are linked to the official Garden Bloggers Fling blog (see sidebar) and acknowledged throughout the Fling event, as appropriate. Join us as a sponsor of the 2020 Fling! The benefits include:
BLOOM LEVEL $1000+ •Sponsor directory listing - Facebook and website sponsor roll. •Sponsor directory ad - full-page. Contributions of goods or promotional material for attendees’ swag bags and/or door prizes are accepted. •Company on signage at one event. •We profile your business on our website – including information about your business, services and products that you’d like to highlight for Fling attendees. BUD LEVEL $750 - $999 •Sponsor directory listing - Facebook and website sponsor roll. •Sponsor directory ad - half-page. Contributions of goods or promotional material for attendees’ swag bags and/or door prizes are accepted. •Company name listed on shared signage at one event. •We profile your business on our website – including information about your business, services and products that you’d like to highlight for Fling attendees. STEM LEVEL $500 - $749 •Sponsor directory listing - Facebook and website sponsor roll. •Sponsor directory ad - 1/4-page. Contributions of goods or promotional material for attendees’ swag bags and/or door prizes are accepted. ROOT LEVEL $250 - $499 •Sponsor directory business listing and sponsor rolls on Facebook and website sponsor roll. SEED LEVEL - Up to $249 •Sponsor directory business listing. SWAG BAG CONTRIBUTOR $50 Swag gift bags are given to, and happily received by, each registered blogger in attendance. Individual items will be required (they don’t all have to be the same, or could be one large item for the dinner raffle). Due to storage and sorting costs, a $50 donation is required to include any promotional material or product in the swag bag. https://gardenbloggersfling.blogspot.com/p/sponsors.html
