Re: AIS: Membership

I thought John Bruce's point is particularly well
said. I have to note that envolvement in the Iris
society often does not mean people join the national.
I have been active in as many as six local clubs at
the same time. What i have seen is that usually 50% of
the local members who are part of the iris community
are not members of the national society. It would
probably not even be that high if there were not
requirements that to be affiliates clubs have to pay a
fee if their membership is less than 50%. Envolvement
in the iris community seems to not correlate with
supporting AIS. It has often amazed me that very
active local members would not join the national.
Often they comment that they don't care to get the
bulletin. Many are often very important in carrying
out local projects and their local membership is
greatly appreciated whether they join the national or
not. If envolvement were the criteria for maintaining
the society I doubt that we would exist. I am not a
younger member but I still believe products and
services are necessary although I have to admit that I
do not remain a member because I want the bulletin,
there have been issues that don't get read for
monthes, sometimes I gon't even get a chance to look
at the pictures. generally I find the section
bulletins and TBIS more interesting. 

--- John Bruce <jbruce1@cinci.rr.com> wrote:

> Perhaps it was a poor way to phrase it. Typically,
> new members to such an
> organization
> do not enter into the organization with altruistic
> motives. They pay their yearly
> membership fee and wait to see what the value is.
> Most are not yet aware of the
> services provided outside the obvious bulletin. If
> they do not find in it enough
> interest or excitement they are not likely to renew.
> The appreciation of an
> organization is likely to grow over time, and with
> many people only after they see
> the value it provides for them. Yes, perhaps I am a
> bit cynical. I also think this
> type of attitude is more (notice I said more and not
> typically) prevalent in the
> under-35 age group. Instant gratification and
> cost/benefit ratio seems to occupy a
> greater importance nowadays.
> 
> I don't think the business portion of the Bulletin
> is a detriment. I feel it is
> well rounded, albeit typically more advanced than
> the run of the mill novice is
> expecting. I did try to remember my impressions of
> my first exposure to the
> Bulletin, and how I looked at it as a person new to
> a plant society, one who was
> starved for information on a subject I was (and
> still am) highly interested in.
> Some of my reactions changed over the years, some
> remained the same. I took Board
> meeting minutes as the "well, they probably have to
> print these" the first time I
> saw them to reading them with interest as I followed
> what was going on with the
> society, and as I came to know some of the names
> involved. I still glaze over when
> reading the flower arranging section, although I
> recognize that some find it
> highly interesting. All these things have their
> place. I probably already had 300
> irises when I joined. I was looking for cultural
> information and good sources to
> buy irises. Perhaps there should be a small portion
> of each bulletin (maybe just
> 2-3 pages) in each issue focused on cultural and
> other "newbie" issues. Would it
> be repetitive? Yes. Most things in the Bulletin are,
> albeit on a longer cycle. The
> shelf behind my chair here at the computer has
> bulletins going back to 1962...most
> subjects get revisited.
> Anyway, I guess my long winded post is saying maybe
> we have to work harder to set
> the hook in new members, and since the Bulletin is
> the main conduit, we need to
> make it a bit more symbiotic.
> 
> John Bruce
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <ChatOWhitehall@aol.com>
> To: <iris@hort.net>
> Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 9:35 PM
> Subject: Re: [iris] AIS: Membership
> 
> 
> > In a message dated 2/13/2006 5:31:49 PM Eastern
> Standard Time,
> > jbruce1@cinci.rr.com writes:
> >
> > <<they dont have the warm fuzzy feeling yet.>>
> >
> > An odd sort of phrase for that enlightened
> awareness of the  relationship
> > between self-interest and service to the community
> which one  has been trying to
> > encourage.
> >
> > Ah well.
> >
> > Anner Whitehead
> > Richmond VA USA
> >
> >
>
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