Re: AIS Dues, Finances, and Membership

In a message dated 97-03-09 06:52:56 EST, Diana Louis, with first quote from
John Jones, wrote:

<< Well, just remember the old axiom - We get what we pay for - no more no
 > less. Frankly if it would get the AIS back on track, IMHO it would be
 > worth it. John    
 
 I agree with John mostly because I would like to have someone
 helping Jerry Gifford send off the books etc.
  >>
The problem re getting the books from Jerry Gifford has nothing to do with
dues level.  There are options available for solution that involve no funds,
and AIS Pres. is considering these at present.  I have urged an early
solution, and furnished him copies of all the messages on this list re not
getting AIS sales item.  

Although I appreciate the views of folks like John and Diana, who would
gladly pay increased dues to belong to AIS---and if it were just myself I had
to be concerned about I would have no personal problem of higher dues.  But
the big increase in dues that had to be effected a year and a half ago saw
AIS lose over 10% of its membership and fall below the 8,000 level for the
first time in quite a few years. 

The biggest expense AIS has is putting out the Bulletin.  Because of the way
printing costs are structured, the more members we get the cheaper is the
price per Bulletin.  So the single best thing that can be done to reduce
costs and have more funds available for member services is to get a higher
level of membership.  How can AIS members on the list help increase
membership? 

I have always felt about AIS much like Donald Mosser, a fairly new member,
who articulated eloquently a few months back about his love of AIS and
irises.  The organization is nothing more than the membership----and there
are thousands of people in AIS who are wonderful people and super gardeners.
 They share their knowledge, their irises, and their funds to support and
promote iris activities.  They give of their time and energy to put on shows,
judge shows, put on programs, conduct sales, take cut irises to hospitals,
host local, regional and national tours of iris gardens, and in brief, spread
the beauty of irises in a giving and sharing way.  

Here are some ways I can suggest to increase AIS membership.1)  Give a one
year or three membership to a family member or friend who likes gardening and
plants for birthday, anniversary, Christmas, or just to do something nice. 

2) Donate a paid membershp as a door prize or contest prize to a local garden
club you belong to. 

3) Get AIS membership applications (and you can Xerox them!)  and pass put
them in local botanic gardens and garden centers.  

4) When people admire the irises in your garden, give them a membership
application. 

5) When I give programs on irises to local garden clubs they always ask me to
take an honorarium---I often donate the honorarium back to the club to buy
one membership for the garden club itself, and the remainder to pay for
memberships to be awarded as door prizes.(When I do not do this I ask that
the honorarium be made payable to the AIS Library Fund). 

6) Form a local iris club in your area if not exists.  (More local clubs is
the single best way to increase AIS membership---my local club, Chesapeake
and Potomac Iris Society charges no local dues to AIS members because we make
our money from two sales a year, one for bearded irises in July and one for
beardless irises in September---and we make thousands of dollars every year
at these sales and auctions.)

7) If you have kids or grandkids, or nephews, nieces, or neighboor kids who
are interested in flowers or gardening, get them a Youth Membership in AIS.
 The cost is little, but the dividends are great.  Kids who have good hobbies
are, as they become teenagers, less likely to get into trouble.  And what an
education they get!  And the kids grow into adult AIS members with a lifelong
hobby---ask Tom Tadfor Little!  

8) Give  AIS memberships, or get your local club to give one, to your local
libraries---this makes the Bulletins available to many readers, who will
learn about AIS and sometimes join.  Also make sure you local library has The
World of Irises, even if your club or you have to buy the book and donate it.

9) Set up an iris booth at local garden shows, and have plenty of AIS
applications for people to take.

We need more ideas!  So please tax your memories and innovative skills and
tell the list some more ways to increase AIS membership.  Clarence Mahan in
northern Virginia.
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