AIS Convention & (MDB) vs. (SDB)

Greetings from sunny Michigan where we are on Day One of the 1997 AIS
Convention, although the Board meeting, section meetings and membership
meetings have been going on since Tuesday.  

Michigan has done a first class job with this convention and we are having
the time of our lives.  Bloom is far from peak.... in fact, it's a rather
'green' convention... but as we said a few weeks ago, conventions are not
entirely about seeing bloom - they're about education, business and most of
all - flower FOLK!

There are 400(+/-) folks here - including Barry Blyth and his wife from
Australia, someone I have not met from South Africa and someone else from
China!  And then, of course, there's the usual suspects... John Coble and Bob
Bauer from Ensata, Carol Warner from Draycott, Terry Aitken from Aitken's
Salmon Creek, Sterling Innerst, Clarence Mahan, Anna Mae Miller, etc., etc.
  Furthermore - there are TONS 'o geeks!  Mikesmom is here and David and
Nancy Silverberg, Jim Wilson, etc., etc.  The Michigan folks have planned a
Geek Rendezvous tomorrow... although Bill Maryott tells me that he thinks we
are actually NERDS.

The Board meeting was interesting and MOST productive.  AIS has some
innovative ideas for the future and for the health of the organization.   The
sales items problem has been addressed - the person in the position has
realized he can't keep up and resigned - and AIS has put an action plan in
place while they look for a permanent solution.  This is less than high
adventure...  so anyone who is truly interested in AIS busines, let me know
and I'll respond privately.

It just so happens that we had judges training tonight on SDB's so I'm
answering Amy's question about the height standard.  The standard calls for 8
to 15 inches - but will probably be revised to be 8 to 16.  And as for the
second part of your question... by ALL means, take advantage of Terry
Aitken's offer and join AIS and get your irises.  It's win/win all the way.
 In fact, you'll probably be getting stuff I had to buy from Terry... and he
is a caring person ... and a wonderful hybridizer as well.

We are having a ball.  Today we went to the gardens of Howard Hughes, someone
named Morgan and Hal and Dorothy Stahley.  The gardens were immaculate  -
bloom was sparse, but that can't be helped.  I had a chance to see the work
that Howard has done on the AIS registrations.... for those who are unaware,
he has input all 43,000+ irises into a database... with full registration
information through "A".  He will be looking for volunteers as the project
progresses, so raise your hand if you can type or proofread.

Hal Stahley's garden has evolved since the last time we were there.... he has
put in all kinds of shade perennials and hostas.  An absolute treasurechest
of plants... and you will not find two more gracious people on earth than Hal
and Dorothy.

We just went for dinner with John and Bob from Ensata... and I thought I'd
check the mail before caving in.  More tomorrow from Irisland.

Kathy Guest
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