Alpine DVDs

[David Shaw]

Last night the Highland Group carelessly lost it's second speaker this season due to dangerous road conditions. We were able to continue with both our meetings because two of our members have prepared talks that they were able present at short notice. Obviously, the number of such 'reserve' talks is limited and the group doesn't want the same speakers being rolled out month after month when the road north become blocked.
Anyone any ideas of DVDs that we could buy and keep in reserve for such occasions? I am thinking in terms of audio lectures or videos on topics relating to alpine gardening or plant hunting. They would be at a similar level of quality to the talks that we get from out SRGC speakers and last for about an hour. Whilst we would always prefer a real, live speaker we are aware that over the last couple of winters travel conditions have been more frequently interupted and our group is determined not to lose meetings just because the booked speaker cannot get through safely.

[Darren]

I think this is a great idea David. I recall once watching an AGS (?) production on VHS tape where David Mowle was giving demos of his bulb growing techniques. Production was a bit old-fashioned but the idea worked well.

[Maggi Young]

The problem of meeting cancellations because of bad weather is one that has been a major factor for several groups  this season.
With the wide distribution of our membership in the Aberdeen Group and the distances so many members travel, we usually find that if the Speaker cannot get here then our audience will likely have similar problems and so the meeting is cancelled altogether 

 Harry Jans has some super DVDs on his travels. Highly reccommended 

[Sarmienta]

I agree with that Maggi,....i have just seen one dvd ,but cant wait to see the rest. Nice to see the wild growing Cypripedium,s

[Paddy Tobin]

David's comments remind me of my teacher training days many, many years ago. At regular periods through the year we students would have to do a televised teaching session. My interest in photography was noted and I was appointed head of studio. This sounds very well but regularly I would hear on my headphones, "Paddy, I think this teacher is struggling; please step in and complete the lesson." I then had to step in and take over a lesson I hadn't prepared, knew no more of than I had observed up to that moment and bring it to completion. When it was finished the Professor of Education would then go on to the critique of the lesson and time after time I was torn to shreds. I soon developed a very tough neck and just took it for what it was, a criticism of a teaching method and not of me. At the end of the year I was told not to worried about my exams as I was going to be awarded an A1 as I had suffered enough to deserve it.

Now, I can enquire if these videos are still available and am willing to sell them at an exorbitant price for local club meetings.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Wow, Paddy, they had videos back when you were a student? Fancy that 

[Paddy Tobin]

Wash your mouth out, Maggi Young. Cheek of you!

We even had photographic slides - a few weeks ago I met a fellow retired teacher who told me he still had a set of slides I had made for him when we were both in college. I couldn't believe it as I had ditched mine years previously, moving on to digital images.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Wash your mouth out, Maggi Young. Cheek of you!

We even had photographic slides - a few weeks ago I met a fellow retired teacher who told me he still had a set of slides I had made for him when we were both in college. I couldn't believe it as I had ditched mine years previously, moving on to digital images.

Paddy

Sorry Paddy, it was just the shock... I wasn't even sure you had electricity 

[tonyg]

I think this is a great idea David. I recall once watching an AGS (?) production on VHS tape where David Mowle was giving demos of his bulb growing techniques. Production was a bit old-fashioned but the idea worked well.

I also have seen this and another which I think was George Smith (a great character but not favoured by video) on Androsace and/or Primula. 

More recently Ian Young sang the praises of Harry Jans DVDs (? using new fangled moving pictures) which I intend to obtain for just such a purpose as David proposes.  I'm sure Ian would supply more info for you David and being the innovator that he is perhaps we should expect a series of 'Bulb Log Live' DVDs in due course

[fermi de Sousa]

I think all of the members of our local "AGS" group can vouch for a talk on Erythroniums by BDE (Bulb Despot Enterprises)
cheers
fermi

[David Shaw]

I already have one of Harry Jans DVDs. The pictures and videos are great but in this DVD there is no commentary; don't know if they are all the same?

[tonyg]

I already have one of Harry Jans DVDs. The pictures and videos are great but in this DVD there is no commentary; don't know if they are all the same?

Thanks for that info David .... have to ask Harry for some notes then!