• Subject: Iris Wiki News
• From: R* P* <r*@embarqmail.com>
• Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:29:47 -0500 (EST)

Since there have been lots of rumors about the AIS Iris wiki I wanted to set
the record straight. With fifteen board members voting a few weeks ago, 15
voted yes and 0 no votes The board of directors of AIS approved the following
motion:

B B B B B B B B B B B  "That the AIS create the Iris Encyclopedia; an
information resource in a wiki format which allows registered users to upload
comments and photos. These pages are verified by knowledgeable docents who
create and or monitor pages for accuracy. The rock on which this data is built
is the registrations created by the international Registrar. And that the Wiki
always be viewable freely and universally"

B B B B B B B B B B B  B  I think that better explains what we have been doing
and gives an even stronger mandate to continue our work. The wikibs
potential seems even greater now then ever. I believe at present we have about
10,000 Iris cultivars up and about 6,000 pictures. Since there are believed to
be 80,000 Irises both historic and present creating a complete encyclopedia
will not happen for a few years. Yet I have already heard from some of our
docents that it is becoming already a useful tool. Potentially it will have
lots of information, not available from other sources. The plan is to make it
visible on the AIS website this Summer. By that time I expect there will be
between 30,000 to 40,000 cultivars listed. While some could have up to 20
photos each many will have none. To achieve this goal, we would need twice the
number of workers on our team. So any of you who would like to be a part of
this grand project would be welcome. You must send me an e-mail so that I know
you desire to be a docent. The first step is to go to the wiki at B B B 
http://wiki.irises.org/bin/view and in the welcome area there is a place to
register. After you are registered send me an e-mail that you would like to
contribute. Photos remain the property of the photographer and can not be used
without permission for other sites or publications. Fair use implies they
might be used at a one time event such as a club sale but not to sell Irises
on e-bay. The photo files are required to be small and would not print well
but if you identify you photo in the comments box when you upload garden
writers could find you to get higher resolution pictures for publication and
purchase. Although there was a red herring thrown out about copying
descriptions from the Iris register the above motion should make it clear that
there is no copyright violation for use in the wiki. I would be delighted to
have many new workers so come and join us. Bob Pries

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