Re: AIS: Symposium/soap box #9

>It seems to me that increasingly some mean and rather nasty things are 
>being said under the heading of this topic, which IMHO no topic, however 
>important, ever warrants. 

I agree, Arnold.  Nastiness is unwarranted.  Discussion, however, is 
necessary if any productive change is to be implemented.

>If 
>one simply takes the symposium (inaptly named as it is) at face value, 
>reads it as an interesting list to see how whoever cared enough to vote 
>chose to cast the ballots, and lets it go at that, it's worthwhile.

This is where I disagree.  While it's certainly true that the 
iris-talkers (myself included) have done our best to beat this particular 
horse to death every year when the Symposium ballots are distributed, and 
while it's also true that anyone following this annually resurrected 
thread should have a fair understanding of the Symposium's strengths and 
shortcomings by now, we are not the only population to be considered.  My 
biggest concern regarding the Symposium is how it is promoted on the AIS 
website.  When I first became seriously interested in irises several 
years ago and before I joined the AIS or iris-talk, I found the AIS 
website and read most of it, including the Symposium.  I placed my first 
iris order based on the Symposium, believing it to accurately reflect the 
most popular, successful, and widely grown irises available.  Of course I 
know better now, but this is what scares me about the Symposium.

As published on the official AIS website, the Symposium leaves the 
impression (with me, anyway) that *only* tall beardeds are widely 
popular, and that of *all* registered TBs, those 100 are the ones 
considered most popular by the AIS membership at large.  Unfortunately, 
none of this is *necessarily* true, and there is no explanation provided 
on the website to assist a thorough understanding of the intent, 
function, and scope of the Symposium.  The AIS website and Symposium 
results are freely accessible to anyone on the planet with internet 
access and an interest in irises, and I would dare assume only a tiny 
fraction of the hits to the Symposium page originate from iris-talkers or 
even AIS members.  I'd bet the vast majority of hits come from people 
with absolutely no familiarity whatsoever with AIS, the Symposium, or the 
workings and policies thereof - people just like me a few years ago when 
I was a newbie looking for a bit of guidance to help choose my "starter 
irises".  I don't believe it does either the AIS, its membership, or 
anyone else who accesses the Symposium results online any service to 
provide such easily misinterpreted information.

Much of my objection to the current Symposium would vanish if it were 
more accurately represented on the AIS website.  To that end, please 
allow me to make the following suggestions:

1.  Rename the project "100 Most Popular Award Winning Tall Bearded 
Irises".

2.  Include on the "symposium" page - *before* the actual results - a 
detailed explanation of exactly how irises are preselected for the ballot 
and how voting is accomplished.  This will help put the "symposium" 
results into proper and accurate perspective for those reading them.

3.  Include on the "symposium" page - *before* the actual results - an 
explanation that other AIS affiliates and divisions hold their own 
popularity polls for specific types of irises and provide a list of links 
to other iris society sites (including regional sites) which include 
popularity poll results.  This will help clarify the issue of popularity 
of irises other than TBs and promote ready access to that information.

These would be easy fixes that may not address the more basic problems 
with the "symposium" but would certainly create a more accurate 
presentation of the current results on the AIS website.

Respectfully submitted,

Laurie


-----------------
laurief@paulbunyan.net
http://www.geocities.com/lfandjg/
zone 3b northern MN - clay soil


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