AIS: Board Meeting II

From: Irisborer@aol.com

Fair warning:  Part II and I've poured another cup of coffee

I wonder how many people on this list are AIS members and how many are not.
And I wonder how many people who are pay any attention to the folks who give
of themselves to run the Society in the best way they know how.  There are so
many elements to a big organization like this... and so many folks who work to
make it run smoothly.  Besides for the obvious, there are lots of unsung heros
- some on this list - who put in a mind-boggling amount of effort into their
jobs.

One of them is David Niswonger, the outgoing president and a man of great
intellect, kindness and patience.  And of all the virtues that suit that
office, I think that patience is probably the most important.  

The meeting started at 8 pm Friday night.  Everyone introduced themselves -
Board members, chairs, RVPs and interested spectators (Ellen Gallagher was
there for most of Saturday... ).  After the minutes are accepted, the next
order of business was the election of Directors - and since no other
nominations had been made, these four new directors were elected:

Herself
Farron Campbell
Barbara Figge
Bobbie Shepard

Anne Lowe (soulmate of our Mike Lowe) had agreed to take over as Recording
Secretary and Ruth Simmons had agreed to take over as Board Secretary.  Carryl
Meyers was there as RVP of her region, Jay Hudson has taken over as Treasurer,
Dorothy Willott was there as RVP of her region, Rosalie Figge was there as
President of the Reblooming Iris Society and Parliamentarian.  Those are just
some of the folks, and those that you may know of from e-mail.

There are lots and lots of reports that come before the Board.  I'll try to
report on the ones that may be of interest and leave you to read the Board
minutes for the rest.

Terry Aitken (who is leaving for New Zealand today!) passed out the new
Bulletin, hot off the press.  The cover shot is of the newest Dykes Medal
winner; CONJURATION, a TDF (to die for) iris that you should not live without.
The Bulletin is one of those enormous jobs that leave me speechless.  This, of
course, is our 'face'.... our personality and the only contact many members
ever have with AIS.  In it you'll find not only AIS business, but also
articles on iris culture, varieties, garden reports, design suggestions,
cultivar reports, hybridizing information and so on and so forth.  Terry does
a fabulous job and he welcomes input from anyone and everyone.  One change
that we may soon see in the Bulletin is in the way it's bound.  Up till now we
have used a 'saddle stitch' type of binding whereby the Bulletin is stapled
and folded.  This limits the size, and the appearance is not as professional
as it could be.  The alternative is the 'perfect' or glued binding.... but
this is significantly more expensive and has not been affordable.  By the end
of the meeting, after considering the budget and after Terry reported on his
efforts to improve the Bulletin in various ways, the Board voted to try the
perfect bind up to twice a year.  Now, this may not seem like a monumental
decision, but if you could see all the thought and consideration that goes
into make such a change, you'd appreciate what a step it is.  

We also talked about how strange the mailing of the Bulletin is......  I'd be
interested to hear (privately please.... or John I Jones will have my head on
a platter) when you receive your October Bulletin.  Please note my address:
Irisborer@aol.com   and send me the date yours is received.

One report that is very important is the membership report.  Most of you know
that Marilyn Harlow is Membership Secretary ... another enormous job with a
mind-boggling amount of work.  Marilyn is the person who receives all the
dues.... sends out dues notices... acts as the interface between the regions
and the membership... and who tracks all this information for us.  As RVP, I
received a monthly report from Marilyn listing all the new members, changes in
addresses or membership, those members who have not paid their dues and whose
membership may be lost... and this is accompanied by a newsletter.  

Right now, the AIS has enjoyed a huge influx of Youth Members.  These are iris
folks under the age of 19 who are our future.  A Youth Membership is very
reasonable... $4 if no Bulletin is included and $7 with a Bulletin.  Youth
Members receive their own publication, The Iris Fan, and over the past year,
they also received free irises donated by some of the hybridizers.  The Youth
Members are led by Jean Morris who offers something called a Classroom Iris
Project which is being adopted by some schools.  Anyway, many of the Regions
have made an effort to recruit young people and we have had an influx at that
level.  But generally speaking, overall, the AIS currently has over 7800
members at all levels.  The fastest growing category is in triennial
memberships... a bargain.  The new membership policy, whereby folks joining
during iris season receive an additional two Bulletins has been very popular
and a good step to take.

(off to work..... more later)

Kathyguest.... undergoing 'splashdown' from the Fall AIS Board Meeting
in E. Aurora, NY

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