RE: AIS:TBIS: An Open Letter to Ramona Howard

Hi Neil,
Well said!
Char Holte, New Berlin WI

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-iris@hort.net
[o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of Neil A
Mogensen
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 2:19 PM
To: Iris-talk; Ramona Howard
Cc: Rick Ernst
Subject: [iris] AIS:TBIS: An Open Letter to Ramona
Howard


Dear Ramona,

Once again I write in deepest concern regarding
the conflicted schedule of meetings at the St.
Louis Convention.

After considerable thought and as a concerned
member of both the AIS and TBIS, I am asking you
to please reconsider your actions in moving the
meeting featuring well-know speaker Rick Ernst to
Thursday evening..

To have this meeting head-to-head with that of the
AIS featuring the equally well known and respected
Barry Blyth, Larry Lauer and more does not serve
the interests of either society.  My previous
comment that those not involved and to the general
membership aware of the changed meeting time for
Mr. Ernst's valuable and insightful presentation
to a time which conflicts with the AIS
presentation has the appearance of an action that
is deliberate, confrontive and contentious.

This appearance has great destructive potential
for both societies.  There is not a single good
that can be served by such a confrontive and
destructive action.  I beg of you to move the TBIS
meeting back to the originally scheduled time.
The reasoning you have given that too many people
will not have arrived by Tuesday evening is simple
enough to solve. Ask them to arrive earlier.

My passion with irises, particularly Tall
Beardeds, began over sixty years ago.  I have no
interest in acquiring office in either society,
nor the physical ability to carry such out, and am
totally removed from political motivation in
regards to either society.  All I am interested in
is concord, and creative solutions.  So I am quite
free to suggest an alternative.

Cancel this meeting altogether and find another
time and place not in conflict with the carefully
and cooperatively worked out schedule the AIS
developed for the AIS Convention in order to
accomodate the TBIS.  The conflict is clearly in
your power to resolve.  This a solution that is
both elegant and simple, and is a gesture rich in
symbolic value toward peace and cooperation
between the societies.

I fervently call upon you to do this.  Many others
would agree with me that removing this conflict of
times and speakers serves the welfare of both
societies.  To continue the conflict in schedules
serves no one, and does substantial harm.

If you cannot in good conscience resolve this
conflict then I suggest you prudently remove
yourself from the position of leadership of the
TBIS and resign.  Your duties as President are to
promote the good of the TBIS and the dissemination
of information and the stirring up of interest in
Tall Bearded irises.  It is not in accord with
your responsibilities to create or further harm
and dissention.

Further, I would ask Mr. Ernst, who has stated he
has not desired this conflict of times and would
not have accepted the invitation to speak had he
known at the time of the conflict, to remove
himself from this conflict by declining to speak
at this time.  There are excellent and other times
this matter can be addressed, his speaking to be
arranged at a time and place that will serve the
good of both the good of TBIS and the good of the
AIS, and of irises in general, particularly our
much loved passion which we share, the Tall
Beardeds.

Respectfully and thoughtfully submitted,
Neil A. Mogensen

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