iris@hort.net
- Subject: Re: Re: wikiup for our photo data base (was Bulletin)
- From: R* P* <r*@embarqmail.com>
- Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2010 12:36:41 -0500 (EST)
Paul: The wiki is a way to save the Iris Society. Most specialty plant societies are losing members. Looking at demographic data and cultural trends for the last three years, it is apparent that people primarily come to a plant society for information. Unfortunately, plant societies have been more likely to use the old technology of print. They have been slow to provide internet information that would attract technology-savvy people to seek out the society, and hopefully, join to gain the additional benefits of membership. Numerous plant sites like the one you mentioned, have emerged trying to fill the void and in the process, seek a profit. The sites undermine plant societies by re-directing those looking for information away from plant societies. Plant societies are the foundation of this information. These sites can provide information but do not offer the structure and benefits that the specialty plant societies provide. Plant societies provide benefits to support those creating this information. The Iris Society promotes research on Iris and links the science community to the gardener. It supports the international registry which successfully diminishes the misrepresentation that previously existed in commerce as well as the confusion of multiple names for the same plant. The Society also provides the structure for Iris shows, awards, local clubs, and many other services. Members tend to take these benefits for granted but realize their value when they are no longer provided. The site you mentioned and many others provide information but do not support the structure that creates that information. These plant sites do not support the other benefits plant societies provide, yet draw from the information that the societies create. It is not surprising that plant societies have shown very little enthusiasm to provide information to these sites. The sites have everything to gain, yet they provide no benefit to the specialty plant societies, the sources of their information. Until these sites find a way to support the plant societies who have created much of the information they offer, the sites diminish the societiesb ability to sustain their work. In the future, the Iris society will provide all the services your plant site offers and more. In the interim, we must support the work of the Iris Society. We must ensure that we do not facilitate the activities of the sites which currently diminish the Iris Societybs ability to support all the functions those involved in Iris gardening, hybridization, exhibition and research expect. If the Iris Society declines, specialists will disappear. We will be left with information provided by gardening generalists who lack in-depth knowledge, expertise and experience. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Archer" <pharcher@mindspring.com> To: iris@hort.net Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 11:53:10 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [iris] Re: wikiup for our photo data base (was Bulletin) The Plantstep program (which anyone can view online to see for themselves and view the creator's demo and tutorial) would only need to be able to access the data as it appears in its database for downloading purposes, not for editing the AIS program itself. I have asked the Plantstep author if he would like to make it a joint effort, but in his dealings with Societies in the past he is under the impression that they don't cooperate much. He does have access for daylilies from AHS and not sure how he incorporates it for use into the Plantstep program. It might be more worthwhile to talk with him about it since you are both working on development of one's own program. You can contact him through the Plantstep website... or through me if you like. The program is still in its development stages for Irises and I think it would be great for the AIS to get in on it from the beginning at the ground level. Once again I will state it is a WONDERFUL program and encourage all to take a look at the website if you are looking to keep track of all of your plants, hybridizing, wish lists, pictures and culture notes. (EVERYTHING! and not just Irises and Dayllies). No, I'm not getting a kickback or profit by promoting the sale and/or use of it... and it's CHEAP TOO! It's $30, not $150 like that other one you may have seen. -----Original Message----- >From: Robert Pries <robertpries@embarqmail.com> >Sent: Dec 31, 2009 8:36 PM >To: iris@hort.net >Subject: Re: [iris] Re: wikiup for our photo data base (was Bulletin) > >Paul; I am not familiar with Plant step. The Iris encyclopedia datadbase is >being developed with the intention that the information will be open to the >world. After it appears on the AIS website we may have to have passwords for >those that are allowed to edit it because there are malicious people or >pranksters out there that could screw it up just because they can. In my mind >there is no question that the information will be available for free but the >priveledge to change that information may be restricted. those who register >for free can still upload pictures and add comments but unless they are given >the priveledge they will not be able to edit or delete what has already been >created. We will have to see what security winds up being necessary. AIS is >also planning to have something called a virtual membershup. It will cost only >a fraction of the traditional print membership and it will have such things as >the bulletins available to down load. At present we expect to have much much >more but the wiki itself is going to be outside the members only area and free >to the world. We may place the editing priviledges behind the members only >site just to protect the data. But If I have much to say, anyone who helps in >the construction beforehand will have access to make changes in the future. >Yes we need the revenue from the members only site to support the wiki in the >future. But this may be done in various ways. Perhaps we will ask frequent >users if they might make a donation of a couple of bucks each year. Sort of >the Public television pledge drive effort. There are lots of possiblilities >but the main goal is to provide a valuable resource for free and hope that >people recognize the effort by helping any or all the societies involved.If >anyone would like to help build this database please send me an e-mail. > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Paul Archer" <pharcher@mindspring.com> >To: iris@hort.net >Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 4:59:29 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern >Subject: Re: [iris] Re: wikiup for our photo data base (was Bulletin) > >I am excited about the Online Iris Database being set up. Finally! I was >wondering if there are plans for it to be compatible with other database >programs (i.e. www.plantstep.com) so that the stats can be downloaded into >them. It would be awesome if it could be as it is a great program (I have >mentioned it before). Or will I be relegated to buying the CD's or buying >membership to the Online Registration data from the AIS and typing all of >that >in myself? > >Paul Archer >Indianapolis, IN Zone 5 > > >-----Original Message----- >>From: Robert Pries <robertpries@embarqmail.com> >>Sent: Dec 4, 2009 10:00 PM >>To: iris@hort.net >>Subject: Re: [iris] Re: wikiup for our photo data base (was Bulletin) >> >>I had several requests for more information concerning the Iris wiki, an >>online Iris encyclopedia that will be available hopefully by spring on the >AIS >>website. And I will try to answer multiple e-mails with this post. >> >>First the people who I am training and working with to create this site are >>called docents. At present docents are helping to put together the bones of >>the site. By that I mean they must be able to enter data in a set way so >that >>the basis of this incredibly searchable database will work at its optimum >>capacity. The same or other docents must be able to upload pictures in >>specified way so that people viewing the data base will find what they are >>looking for quickly even if they are on dial-up. These are two very simple >>tasks but require some discipline to a set format. For those familiar with >>Davebs Garden. and/or the Wikipedia, be assured this combines the best of >>each site and as it becomes fully functional will surpass either for quality >>and quantity of Iris information and for ease of use.. Once we have passed >the >>barn raising phase that we are in at present docents will help to maintain >the >>integrity of the site, help edit material, and help users with their >>additions. Docents may also be a resource of information depending on their >>interests. >> >>To explain more concretely, ultimately all 80,000 cultivars the entire AIS >>checklist database will be represented. Each cultivar will have its own page >>and on that page up to 20 pictures can be added. Also each page will have a >>comment box for adding additional information about the cultivar. For >example >>bloom times and rebloom times could be added for scores of localities around >>the world for any particular cultivar. >> >>We have a chicken and egg problem. If we have a cultivar page without a >>picture people will be disappointed. But a picture can not be uploaded >without >>a pre-existing page. The challenge is to create mostly pages for which we >can >>add a picture immediately. Once a respectable page with picture is created >all >>sorts of information and additional pictures may be added. The data that is >>there can be searched in almost every conceivable way. But at present the >>challenge is to get into place enough of the basic structure, (individual >>pages) so that it can begin to be useful. Davesb Garden claims to have >8,000 >>Iris entries right now. I hope that we will have that many by Spring. But >>obviously that can only be accomplished with a large number of docents. If >>you are willing to follow some simple instructions and help with the heavy >>lifting of cutting, pasting and editing I would be happy to have you as a >>docent. I can provide materials that will make the task easy. >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Linda Mann" <lmann@lock-net.com> >>To: iris@hort.net >>Sent: Friday, December 4, 2009 11:39:03 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern >>Subject: [iris] Re: wikiup for our photo data base (was Bulletin) >> >>I had to look up docent. Sounds like these are volunteer teachers? So >>are the docents going to teach the photo contributers, or something else? >> >><I am training docents one at a time and hopefully by end of January I >>will have about 100> >> >>Linda Mann >>east TN >> >>--------------------------------------------------------------------- >>To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the >>message text UNSUBSCRIBE IRIS >> >>--------------------------------------------------------------------- >>To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the >>message text UNSUBSCRIBE IRIS > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- >To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the >message text UNSUBSCRIBE IRIS > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- >To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the >message text UNSUBSCRIBE IRIS --------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the message text UNSUBSCRIBE IRIS --------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the message text UNSUBSCRIBE IRIS
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