Re: FW: Aroideana - and help to get it right

---

 

Dear Derek:

 

            I loved your open letter.  I have said the same to numerous correspondents in the past.  There is frequent bitching about lack of horticultural content but few actually want to contribute something and I have likewise offered to re-write submissions. We have suggested titles, topics that might be of interest and I have even pursued specific individuals who I know could write on a subject but I can’t recall getting any responses.  It is pretty depressing. I will comment separately about your comments of merging the Newsletter content and that of Aroideana. 

 

Tom

 

 

 

 

 

Dear correspondent,

 

I am very glad that this has reached me [an interesting letter on the contents of Aroideana – ed], and I have to say that, as editor I cold not be more aware of the fact that Aroideana has very little to offer much of the society’s membership. How to correct this is another matter.

 

I have opened the subject of Aroideana contents a number of times in various forums, from the august, almighty board to conversations with real people. I should be very pleased to bring us into a situation where the journal was a good reason for belonging to the society – goodness knows there is little enough else that members get unless they come to the annual meeting. The Newsletter is getting better and better, I think, while in Aroideana we remain a place of good quality taxonomic material and very little else.

 

However, that ‘little else’ does include ethnobotanical things, and historical material, and, as of the last issue, an attempt to bring in the very practical aspect of seed sowing and early seedling growth :intended to be the first of a regular series of similar forums. However, any part of this depends on the material submitted. Did you respond to my request on Aroid-l for your experience to add to that issue on seed growing. And have you let me know what the next compendium for the coming issue should address as a practical topic? I have asked for submissions on storage of corms and/or on aroid recipes for particular communities. Response – one promise of an article (I can always count on Julius for food ideas). So,  is your sharing of experience on either topic actively in your computer even as we correspond ? Bashful about writing? I can do it for you if you give me an article in rough form. Not interested in these topics? Well, what the hell are you interested in, and why I haven’t I been told about it directly, with an offer for a contribution as part of the communication?

 

I’m afraid that without member’s (or nonmember’s, come to that) submissions and the exchange of ideas, Aroideana is going to stay as dead in the water as far as you are concerned as it has been for some time. You will have to remember that your membership goes to subsidize some aroid research which might not otherwise happen, or decide that the money might be better spent in starting your own publication that more meets your needs. I would understand completely, but I wish you luck in getting people to write for you.

 

Let me know how you feel.

 

Best, Derek