Join the members of the Aquatic Gardeners Association for the
opportunity to meet some of the most exciting speakers in the aquatic
plant hobby! Whether you are a casual hobbyist or an experienced
professional, you’ll enjoy the wide range of topics.

Mark your calendar now. The weekend’s activities include a field trip,
workshops, a banquet and an overflowing auction on Sunday with many
rare plants. The convention features information packed presentations
from international experts Aquascaping master Takashi Amano will share
his world-renowned techniques as he designs an aquascape live, right
before your very eyes! You have read his many books, now come
and meet him in person! Jan D. Bastmeijer, who hosts the Crypt Pages
website, will discuss our focus plant, the Cryptocoryne. Several other
speakers and workshops are planned. There is a lot going on so don't
miss out.

Registration is now available online at AGA
http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/convention.html

Speakers:
Takashi Amano - world reknowned Photographer and Aquascaper
Jan Bastmeijer - the King of Cryptocorynes
Diana Walstead - Author of 'Ecology of the Planted Aquaria'
Mike Senske - Paludarium designer extraordinaire

Focus Groups:
Freshwater shrimp by Wilma Duncan
Emersed culture by Jan Bastmeijer
Back to basics by Dorothy Riemer
Collecting plants, driftwood and rocks

Convention Registration & Fees:
Information available on AGA website
http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/convention.html


Schedule:

Thursday,Nov 11th
Welcoming at the Hospitality room, Meet the speakers, other hobbyists
from around the country

Friday,Nov 12th
Field trip: Baltimore Aquarium, Lunch (on your own) at the Inner
Harbour, Visit Aquarium Center

Convention kick off: Welcoming by AGA and GWAPA
Aquarium Ecology by Diana Walstad
Paludariums by Mike Senske
Hospitality room gathering

Saturday, Nov 13th
The show!
Cryptocorynes - Variety & Collecting by Jan D. Bastmeijer
Nature Aquariums - Takashi Amano
Lunch
Answer Session - Amano & Jan answer your questions
Focus Group (two sessions)
You're the judge! Cast your vote for best aquascape.

Banquet: Seated dinner, Awesome Aquascapes - a judges perspective, AGA
Aquascaping Contest Award ceremony, Aquacaping talk by Takashi Amano
Hospitality room gathering

Sunday,Nov 14th
All Day Silent and Live Auction. Ray Kingfish Lucas will also be with
us this year, which means lots of great donated dry goods in the
auction.


AIRPORT INFORMATION:

Planning to fly in?
The airport nearest to the hotel is Regan National (DCA) in DC.
There's Metro Rail service from the airport straight into the basement
of the hotel - only 1 stop away, the fare is $1.35. In addition to
that - the hotel also runs a free shuttle service to and from Regan
National.

Besides Regan National, there are two other airports in the area,
Dulles International (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington Intl (BWI).
Check all three airports to see availablity and ticket rates - you may
be able to save a decent amount on airfare depending on where
you're coming from and what airport you arrive at.
The hotel's shuttle service is ONLY from/to Regan National. If you're
coming into any other airport, you'll have to arrange for your
transportation to the hotel.

We'll have more detailed information on the hotel and Metro Rail as we
get closer to the date of the convention.


HOTEL INFORMATION:

The convention is being hosted at:
The Crystal City Marriott Hotel
1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Arlington, VA 22202

The elegant Marriott Crystal Gateway is just minutes away from
Washington’s Reagan National Airport shuttle bus to the hotel. All of
Washington, D.C.’s great restaurants and national and historic sites
are also minutes away via Metro. Don’t forget to save a day for
visiting the (free admission) National Air & Space Museum, the
National Gallery, Museum of Natural History, and other sites.

Some additional information, including discount code, available at:
http://www.stayatmarriott.com/AquaticGardeners/

AGA Conference attendees will enjoy a special discounted roomrate
at the hotel. When reserving a room at the hotel - ensure that you use
the group discount code - you'll get a MUCH better rate. If you don't
mind sharing the room with someone else, find a roomate and split the
cost of the room! Post your 'Roomate Wanted' ads on the GWAPA Forum at
http://www.gwapa.org/forum



DC Attractions!:

If you have not been to DC - come in a few days earlier and tour DC!
The Metro Rail takes your into all of DCs attractions right from the
hotel. The room rate discount applies to the few days leading upto
the convention, through the weekend. This will allows those who're
coming in a little early to tour DC to enjoy the discounted room rate.
I know some folks have managed to convince their significant other to
come along - they can tour DC while you attend the convention day-time
events and then they can join you at the banquet that evening.

A few of the attractions include:

* National Aquarium
http://www.nationalaquarium.com/vindex.html

* National Gallery of Art
http://www.nga.gov

* Pentagon
http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pentagon

* Smithsonian
http://www.si.edu

* Tourmobile Service
http://www.tourmobile.com

* U.S. Botanic Garden
http://www.usbg.gov

* U.S. Capitol
http://www.aoc.gov

* Washington Monument
http://reservations.nps.gov

* Washington National Cathedral
http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral

* Washington National Mall
http://www.nps.gov

* The White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/tours

* The National Zoological Park
http://natzoo.si.edu/zooview/plants/pollinarium.htm

All of these attractions are very accessible, being walking
distance from Metro Rail stations. Best of all, almost all
of these attractions are open to the public free of charge!


Got questions for us? Post them up on the GWAPA Forum and we'll
do our best to help you out.

http://www.gwapa.org/forum


See you in November!