Re: AIS:Symposium/Soap box #9/Gerry Snyder

Bill and Gerry,

My letters to this forum should be taken as my current  ideas relating to a
subject which may lead to further discussion.  Please do not think of them
as demands. I enjoy the discussion that ensues and often change my mind on
things after further input from others.

Personally, I am more interested in how a cultivar performs regionally than
nationally.  There are vast differences between growing conditions
nationally and so I put more emphasis on regional than national.  You may
feel different and that is o.k. by me.

> So a few regions with few members should be able to determine the
> winner?
>
> Why are the current regions so important?
>
> Why are regions more important than AIS members?

I do not feel that the current regions are appropriate.  Some regions are so
small that I think they should become part of another existing region.  This
is probably a can of worms nobody want to explore.  Region 19 (0.09%),
Region 10 (0.04%), Region 12 (0.11%) which are the individual states of NJ,
LA, UT would probably benefit from incorporation into an existing region.
Since equal representation on the Board of Directors for each region does
not exist, this is not a situation that many will care to explore at this
time. Yes, each region does have an RVP but their role is quite different
than a Director.  I also favor the RVP having the responsibility of the
Region as their priority and the Directors priority at the organizational
national level. I also believe that when a region gets so big that it
commands a certain percentage level of the general membership that it should
be divided.

Gerry, one thing I have done over the past year on this forum is bring up
different topics for discussion that relate to AIS.  The purpose is not to
bash AIS as often as possible.  It is to look that the organization as a
whole.  If there are multiple situations that could be enhanced then the
organization can be bettered.  The big picture of AIS is of concern to me
not the indidividual topics as I have written about every several weeks.

In fact, I am finished writing about AIS issues in this forum.  I only
wanted to explore this aspect for AIS for awhile.  For me gardening is more
about what is happening in the garden than in the organizational structure,
although I do care for a strong society and believe in helping.  I have seen
many great people on this forum with vast knowledge and experience which
could be utilized to make AIS great instead of just good.  I feel that AIS
leadership should reach out more to the membership.  The membership is there
to volunteer and ready to help, we see it often in this forum alone.  I am
glad that I have been asked to help and am now looking forward to working
with our small club as we prepare for the greatest regional convention in
Region 4 in the year 2005.

Someone might drive a Lexus with GPS in it but where I live you get where
you are going by stopping at the local gas station and asking Bubba for
directions.

I also think that Director John Jones is a superman.  He directs this forum,
is building a registration database, is building a new membership database,
designs logos, spearheads the AIS giftshop, and as I read the Board minutes
in the Bulletin he seems to be involved in countless other AIS activities.
I think I even saw where he volunteered at one point to be webmaster.  I
have great respect for him and would never even try to do a quarter of what
he does.  I could not do all those things and be a husband and father,
participate in Church, hold down a job, and stay sane with all those
responsibilities to AIS.  Sometimes I give John a hard time on this forum
since he is a Director ( and responds to my letters) but he does have my
respect for all he does and attempts.

I think AIS needs a Long Range Planning Committee to look at the big picture
and how everything works together and to be more efficient and prepared for
changes.

At one time I had hoped to learn more about the financial stability of AIS
and programs that are underway to ensure the financial future of the
Society.  Financial stability speaks loudly of an organizations stability.
It would be nice if AIS were in a position to pay its staff members (editor,
registrar, membership secretary, etc)  real wages for their work (I think
they are underpaid). Again this speaks well of the Society.

I could probably ramble on some more but my rambler is tired.  I have thrown
out some thoughts in this letter.  Perhaps they will generate further
discussion, perhaps not.  My focus of participation in this forum from here
on will not be AIS related, but will be about irises in general and the
gardening that I love.

Thanks for a good first year on this forum.  I am glad to be active  locally
in my club.

Cheers,
Iris Moose






----- Original Message -----
From: "Gerry Snyder" <gerrysnyder@attbi.com>
To: <iris-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2002 12:43 AM
Subject: Re: [iris-talk] AIS:Symposium/Soap box #9/Gerry Snyder


> Iris Moose wrote:
> >
> > Gerry you snipped out the entire paragraph which the "why is the obvious
so
> > easily ignored?" comment referred to.
>
> I'm sorry, I thought your previous paragraph sufficiently stated your
> point. Shortening a previous post when most readers are following the
> thread can be considered courtesy. In other cases it can be
> misleading--that was not my intention
>
> >
> > However in reference to you question about giving Region 10 cultivars 20
> > times the vote power...I did not state clearly what I meant.  If
cultivar
> > AAA won in Region 10 then it would simply be the Region 10 winner.  If
> > cultivar AAA also won in 7 other Regions then it would get a total of 8
> > regional wins.  If no other cultivar is on top of the list in as many
other
> > regions, then Cultivar AAA is delcared the national winner.  However,
> > cultivar AAA may only perform well in Region 10 and no one else votes
for it
> > anywhere else.  In that case it is a great iris for people in Region 10
and
> > recognized as such.
>
> So a few regions with few members should be able to determine the
> winner?
>
> Why are the current regions so important?
>
> Why are regions more important than AIS members?
>
> Although I snipped your paragraph, I thought I addressed your point. You
> ignored my points.
>
> >
> > I really do not support combining regional totals in a national survey.
I
> > only want to emphasize (nationally) the cultivars that come out on top
in
> > multiple regions.  The power of the popularity poll is in the regions.
>
> You think it should be. Why???? Unless you mean in the regional
> subtotals.
>
> >
> > I apologize for not being clear.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
>
> --
> g*@attbi.com
> Gerry Snyder, AIS Symposium Chair and Director, Region 15 RVP
> in warm, winterless Los Angeles--zone 9b-ish, Sunset 18-19
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>



 

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