RE: Electronic Survey

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 The American Iris Society is undergoing considerable change. To direct  this change the strategic planning committee has asked me to survey members  and non members to get a sense of how to shape this change. I truly believe  that if the AIS fails to change to meet the present realities of gardening  society the Society and all the sections will continue to decline. Right now Wikipedia and Dave¹s garden dominate people¹s search for Iris information, yet  they weaken the Iris societies because people are no longer coming to the  societies for their information. Indeed many gardeners do not even know iris  societies exist. Please add your opinions in this short attached poll and send  it back to me. It will help shape AIS for the future. Send the survey on to anyone interested in Iris whether a member or not.  Since I do not believe attachments always work I am including this in the body of the message;
 

Name______Victor W. Lambou__________________________Date___4/27/10_____

E-mail address (optional)___Vwak@msn.com____________

 

Electronic Service Survey

 This survey has 3 sections: Section A applies to everyone; Section B applies to non-members and Section C applies to all AIS members.

 

After you have completed this survey, you may save it on your computer and then email the saved file to Public Relations Chair Robert Pries at robertpries@embarqmail.com. If you prefer to mail your responses, print the saved survey and send to the Public Relations Chair, Robert Pries, 107 Brothers Dr. Roxboro, NC 27574.

 

Please participate in this survey and provide your responses as soon as possible.

 

Section A:

1.   Do you currently use the internet as a resource for gardening information, sources, or garden events?  Yes __X___  No _____

 

2.   Have you heard that AIS is creating an online Illustrated Iris Encyclopedia open to all?

Yes __X___  No _____

 

3.   The Iris Encyclopedia is in a wiki format and allows everyone to contribute information and images. Would you find this useful?  Yes _____  No______

 

4.   Would you like to contribute images or information to the Iris Encyclopedia?

Yes__X__  No______

 

5.  AIS has half the membership that it did 15 years ago and with a continuing decline it is becoming more difficult to pay for services. To combat this problem choose one of these choices:

______ Choice A: AIS balance the budget by reducing costs, perhaps only printing 3 issues of the bulletin a year

______ Choice B: AIS create new services, such as electronic membership, which may attract additional members and or be an added value that existing members may choose to add to their membership.

______ Choice C: list an alternative you recommend below.

 

6.   If an electronic membership were offered it might include some of the following features. If on a scale of 1 to 9 with 1 being least important and 9 being most important, which of the following features would you use the most? Rate each independently.

 

__9___     Each issue of the Bulletin available digitally in a downloadable format

___9__     A searchable archive of past Bulletin articles

__8___     Extra pictures and information that for lack of space could not be included with the articles in the printed Bulletin

___3__     Iris blogs

____8_     The Iris Register

___2__     Online Judges Training courses

      ___7__     Live online lectures

____8_     A library of Iris topics

_____     Online slide shows

_____     A calendar of events, shows, speakers across the country

_____     Question and answer service.

______   Other (list below)

 

 

7.   If a package of electronic services were offered that included features such as the ones you marked as important would you be willing to purchase such a package for $15?  Yes _____  No______

 

Section B:  Non-Members

Would you consider joining if offered a $15 electronic membership, that would include the Iris Register and digital Bulletin with additional services to be added later? Yes _____  No______

 

Section C:  Members

If an electronic membership was created it would not replace existing membership choices but hopefully would be a valued added choice. Would you support a change in the by-laws to create an e-membership category?  Yes _____  No______