Re: OT:geek dinner

On Feb 9, 2004, at 6:46 AM, LEN SUCHY wrote:

I will be a first-timer, don`t know what to expect. I hope to find a back
corner. This will be my first national ais.

I understand the anxiety, I missed (what would have been my first AIS) the Sacramento Convention in '96 because I was told there was only a small "flower show" in the hotel (probably because I asked if there was a show), and did not realize what else was going on.

The first day (19th) is just the AIS Board of Directors meeting. Most people skip this, but if you want to understand what the AIS is doing, or ask them why something is the way it is, this is the meeting to go to. All those issues I have seen discussed here could be brought up at the meeting if someone is really interested in changing something.

Day 2 (20th) Is the first day for the Yosemite tour (really worth it if you have never been there - spring is the time to see all the waterfalls as the spring snow melt courses through the park). The AIS board meeting continues this day as well as the Board meeting of the various sections etc (i.e., Reblooming Iris Society, Japanese Iris Society etc)

Day 3 (21) Second day for the Yosemite tour, and general meetings of the societies that had their board meetings yesterday. The general meetings, in addition to going over the business that needs to be conducted to run the society, generally have slide shows and presentations about the particular flower. The silent auctions are also open again tonight. Actually the silent auctions are a lot of fun. All sorts of stuff is offered for sale from iris knick-knacks to this years introductions from various hybridizers, to old iris articles and books to, to, to... This night is also the night of the Welcome Banquet.

A word about the banquets. This is a great time to meet people from other places (as are the bus rides to the gardens on tour). There is a no host bar for an hour before the dinner. There will be plenty of good food an tables that seat 10 or so. Park yourself at a table and see who else shows up. Iris people re always friendly. This is the dinner to *NOT* sit with your local club. Venture out, meet some new firends! This is also a good time to meet some of those famous hybridizers that you have heard so much about.

Day 3,4, and 5 (22-24) Are garden tours during the day and, at night, more presentations, judges training and other entertainment. Ok so here is my pitch for the Geek Dinner...

The Geek Dinner (Friday form 5:00 to 7:30PM) is a special dinner (price not included in the registration fee but only $20.00). Frankly it is just an excuse to get people together. Computer user or not a computer user, everyone is welcome. Admittedly, most there are on this list or iris-photos or any of the several other ones, and one of the main attractions is getting to put faces to email names. There is a live auction conducted again this year by George Sutton. He is soooo much fun. And we have some really great things to auction off this year. We don't have unlimited room, so get your reservations in early. All the information is on the convention website at :

http://www.irises.org/2004convention.htm

Then later that night is the presentation on Irises and computers. I will be able to be on line to all the various services we have and talk about how to use them. This is for novices and experienced users alike.

The last night is the Awards Banquet. Many clubs try to sit together at this dinner, but frankly, it is another opportunity to meet new friends. Sit next to that hybridizer you have always wanted to talk to, or the the owner of the garden you toured and thought was incredible.




John                | "There be dragons here"
                         |  Annotation used by ancient cartographers
                         |  to indicate the edge of the known world.

List owner iris@hort.net and iris-photos@yahoogroups.com
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