The Schreiner Parade!

From: Irisborer@aol.com

The following is a report I wrote on our Annual Meeting for the newsletter.
Rather than rework it for general consumption, I offer it 'as is', with the
warning that it's long....  but it was a fabulous meeting!

*********

The 1998 Region 2 Annual Meeting is fading off into history, but it was a
great one and so I thought I'd share it with you.

The Annual Meeting is rotated through the state, and this year it was the
honor of the Western New York Iris Society to host it.  The weekend consists
of a Board (some would say "bored") meeting Friday night, committee meetings
Saturday morning, a judges training, membership meeting and banquet.   A
rather new addition to this lineup is a second judges training on Sunday
morning.  An intense few days and one that won't disappoint.

This was my last regional meeting as RVP and so I had hoped it would be well
attended.  But I'm sure that the 80 people who did show were not there because
I'm such a fascinating RVP.... but more because of our featured speaker - none
other than DAVID SCHREINER of SCHREINER'S IRIS GARDENS!!!

Now my job was to secure the speaker.  When David was suggested to me, I
thought it would just be an exercise since I never dreamed he would accept.
Imagine my astonishment when I got his letter ...  followed quickly by
anxiety.  How could we ever measure up to the likes of a Schreiner!?  As it
turns out, he fit right in and we had a ball.

Western NY is blessed in that we have many people who take a role when we need
help.  The Annual Meeting was coordinated by Joanne Pyszczek, who took it upon
herself to scout hotels and get pricing before we even began to think about
it!  She handled all the room bookings, the dinner reservations (which -
despite a clear deadline - were still coming in the afternoon of the banquet!)
and generally oversaw all arrangements.  Audrey Eisenhardt and Linda Rosser
took on nametags and place cards, Peter Weixlmann the local chairman, took on
the programs (fantastic Andy Warhol Does Irises cover!), the evening's flow,
door prizes and a new addition to the festivities - a silent auction.

As some of you may know, there is some controversy over the funding of the
region.  So last year, Jan Haney suggested that we try a silent auction at the
regional meeting to help with regional expenses.  Peter threw himself into
this project and people across the state were VERY generous with interesting
donations.

After many meetings - both physical and e-mail, the day arrived.  People began
trickling into the McKinley Park Inn and we were off!

There were no real surprises at the Board meeting.  The areas reported on
their progress, the committee chairs gave their reports, the shows were
scheduled as were the sales and we reported a 10% increase in membership - and
a healthy judges training program.  After awhile, though, it became apparent
that the pounding we were experiencing was NOT in our heads... but in the
mostly empty disco bar next door.  They finally won and we completed the Board
meeting in the hospitality room upstairs.

The hospitality room was an idea begun in earnest by Capital Hudson two years
ago, and is one we will keep.  We ask club members to bake their specialties
and the room was organized by Judy Tucholski.  There were plenty of goodies
all weekend long as well as wine, beer and camaraderie.

The following day the various chairs held their committee meetings;  the audit
committee met, the Regional Council (all the area chairs and the Vice
President), the Nominating Committee and the HIPS Convention Committee.  The
latter was probably the most interesting of the meetings - as you may know, we
have decided to put on the FIRST EVER HIPS Convention, and now that it's
approaching (2000!), the planning is getting intense.  Convention Chairs are
Kathryn Mohr and Helen Schueler and the convention will be based in the
Syracuse area.  There are still some committees that need chairs, but all in
all, the gardens are selected, the guest plants planted and the outline of the
convention is in place.  See Diane Crandall if you can bake cookies, see Helen
or Kathryn if you would like to help in some other way.  We then began the
Membership Meeting - which is more or less a rehash of the Board meeting.  The
Membership, however, is responsible for voting in the new Board officers and
directors, and this is how it went:

President, RVP - Peter Weixlmann
Vice-President - Donna James
Secretary - Carolyn Schaffner
Treasurer - Gene Koschara
Editor - Judy Tucholski

WNY Director - Joanne Pyszczek
Cap Hudson Director - Charlotte Haney
STIS Director - Dorothy Fingerhood
CNY Director - Diane Crandall.

About this time, the featured speaker arrived.  David Schreiner is not the
demi-god I thought he might be.  At least I did not notice any halos or
cherubim - but rather a very personable man who happens to be the largest iris
grower and seller in the world!

Taking judges training from David Schreiner is rather like taking guitar
lessons from Eric Clapton.  One can only hope to absorb a little - which will
still put you light years ahead.  David's topic was (surprise) Tall Bearded
Irises and it was a pleasure from stem to stern (or from bloomstalk to feeder
roots).  He not only touched on what makes a good iris, but also what makes a
good iris judge.  He talked about our responsibilities and our privileges.
His talk was illustrated with a very professional slide presentation of irises
- good and bad.  We were cautioned about hardiness, about substance and
durability.  We were directed to flower form and overall plant appearance.  He
even encouraged us to take rebloom and fragrance into consideration when
evaluating a plant.  The two-hour session flew by and we all 'aced' the test!

Immediately following the judges training, we vacated the room to put on our
Sunday best for the banquet.  Again, although we knew this meeting would be
popular - we had no idea we would still be getting reservations the day of the
banquet!  We had representation from every area of NY State.... and a healthy
contingent from Canada.  The entire Canadian equivalent to the Schreiners -
the McMillan Family - was there, as well as Cathy Boyko, Chuck Chapman and
Sandy Ives and Maureen Mark all the way from Ottawa!   We also had a TV
personality and author of Great Garden Companions, Sally Cunningham, the
Director of the Buffalo Botanical Gardens, David Headley and iris lovers of
all ages... from 10 to 80+.  

The tables were lovingly put together by the banquet committee - in addition
to the place cards and colorful programs, each attendee got a lighted pen for
taking those important notes in the dark.  The silent auction went very well -
people circled the table all night to make sure they had the highest bids for
'98 irises... china... books... and so on.  When the bids closed we learned we
had raised over $600 for the ESIS coffers.

The dinner program was swift and fun.  The Conroe Service Award went to
Dorothy Fingerhood, and was presented to her by Donna James.  Kathy Guest
welcomed Peter Weixlmann into his role as RVP with some special tools:
Roberts Rules of Order, lye soap to toughen his skin, special glasses to make
it look like he was paying attention, and duct tape to place over his mouth
when he's in danger of saying something he shouldn't.

The dinner program was also David Schreiner - only this time he talked to us
about his business and how they manage thousands and thousands of irises.
David was not feeling great and the slide projector was acting up, but was
still able to give a fascinating program on irises from pollen to catalog
star.  I was amazed at how much manual labor is involved.  I guess I just
thought that a place as big as Schreiners would have to be totally mechanized.
But besides for a Willy Wonka style planting machine and one that mulches -
most of the work is done by hand.

And David even gave us a glimpse into 1999.... a ruffled blue that is not to
be believed, is the standout in my mind.

The bar was throbbing again (along with our heads... and the chandeliers were
rocking too), so off we went to the hospitality room for a nightcap.

The next morning, Dorothy Fingerhood gave a VERY well attended training on the
Ethics of Judging.  I was not there so I cannot comment, but knowing Dorothy,
she left nothing unsaid.

Then as we said our goodbyes, Peter and I, along with Linda Montanaro and her
daughter took David Schreiner on a whirlwind tour of Niagara Falls, Canada -
complete with Maid of the Mist boat ride to the very base of the falls
themselves.  David is probably the most satisfying person I've ever gone to
the falls with..... he was literally bouncing from one side of the boat to the
other so as not to miss a drop.

Then after a too short time, it was time to put David Schreiner on a plane and
say goodbye to a very successful Regional Meeting.

Kathy Guest - 'has been' in East Aurora, NY

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