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Wow, maybe I am like others. As an amateur
I have been too shy to contribute to the Aroideana or the IAS Newsletter.
I even hesitated sending this.
I take on the Aroideana as an
educational tool, and something that I am always reading, and re-reading.
At first when I subscribed, most of the scientific and
technical articles in the Aroideana were 'mumbo jumbo' and hard to
understand but, amazingly, as my interest grew I appreciated these articles and
absorbed more of their information.
I also enjoy the Newsletter as a 'fun
read'. Dr. Tom's field experiences are the best! I would be bummed
(sad) if either publication were ever eliminated.
Please understand, I am more of a 'practical
grower' than a technical or scientific person.
I do enjoy sharing what I have learned to
produce a thriving plant. I have had many 'educators'
over the past 30 years and have always appreciated their advise and knowledge,
as well as practical methods I've learned through 'hand's-on'
growing.
I am more than willing to contribute to the IAS
what I have learned along the way, and look forward to other's
experiences.
No matter how long you have been involved with
Aroids, we can all continue to learn from each other.
I will commit to contributing some of my growing
experiences to the IAS Newsletter, and hope others will take on this
challenge too. I will send Carla an article.
Betsy, you have so many travel experiences, and
knowledge to share. I would love to read an article by
you.
Windy
----- Original Message -----
From:
e*@comcast.net
To: aroid-l@gizmoworks.com
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2007 6:45
AM
Subject: [Aroid-l] Aroideana vs.
Newsletter - food for thought
Perhaps it is for the general
membership to realize that the Newsletter has become so much better
and fun to read that it is OK for Aroideana to be taxonomic rather
than cover both sides of the fence. I feel certain Carla, the
Newsletter editor, would be delighted with offers of articles from
the membership and just maybe, this is the place for little articles on more
interests by amateurs to be established. I complained for a long time about
the only technical aspect of Aroideana but just maybe we can be OK
with it all since the Newsletter has become so much better. One could
suggest that we have only one project by combining the two, but I personally
like getting the Newsletter more often. Now, it may become a
financial situation to contend with and that would leave an option open for
less cost with one publication and one mailing per year. This is a good reason
for individuals to pay their dues because we do get in a timely manner, the
publications these days. I can remember when all was years behind and some
gave up on the cause, but now, that is not an excuse. I know the holidays are
here and paying dues is not what one wants to hear, but maybe come the first
of the year, some of those who do reep the benefit of Aroid-l and shows and
such will find a way to pay the dues for 2008. Think about it. We have some
very dedicated individuals who do a really good job working on our behalf
these days. Let's us do our part by making sure our dues are paid. Of course,
if we want more subjects and our amateur members have knowledge, it is going
to take those individuals to step up to the plate and offer their expertise in
comments and articles so the rest of us can become more informed. It would
seem to me that the Newsletter would be great place to get one's feet
wet by writing on some subject that interests you. Or even to propose a
question for others to answer.... even a shorter forum and less frightening.
Start by letting it be known what you want and then by participating when it
all gets going.
Betsy
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 9:00
PM
Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] FW: Aroideana - and help
to get it
>
>> 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.
>>
>> 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.
>> 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?
>
> Well!
>
> I don't know who's been complaining about what, but I
>
maintain my membership for professional reasons -- to stay
> abreast of
Aroid research in ANY line of enquiry, taxonomic
> and otherwise.
I always assumed the main purpose of
> Aroideana was precisely to be an
outlet for this kind of
> specialized work; otherwise we would publish
in BioTropica,
> Actum Botanicum, or any number of more generalized
journals.
> To me, the newsletter is just icing on the cake -- it
is
> fun to read about collecting expeditions; but the point of
>
those expeditions is to find the new species described in
>
Aroideana.
>
> And I must say, when I contributed my first
article 5 years
> ago, I was pleasantly surprised I did not have to pay
a
> per-page printing fee. I learned at university that
most
> journals charge the authors.
>
> Nor am I sure I
know what you mean when you say "taxonomic
> material and very little
else." In the most recent issue,
> there were 17 articles, of
which only 3 were taxonomy; 4
> were about floristics, 3 were about
horticulture, and the
> remaining 7 about a variety of other
topics.
>
> It seems to me those with a serious interest in
some
> particular subject, are already doing work on it and
writing
> about it. So if there is something some reader wishes
to
> see covered, the best advice I could give would be to start
>
by writing about what you yourself have learned; someone
> else reading
that article may then be inspired to jump off
> from there.
>
> Jason Hernandez
> Naturalist-at-Large
>
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list
> Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com
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>
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