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I, too, agree with Jim and Dennis. We must make the adjustments that will
keep us viable. Having a committee responsible for the convention
detail arrangements would be a giant step towards scheduling conventions in the
future. Yes, it is desirable to have the local affiliates, as well as the
Region, as hosts, but it takes huge manpower, years of work, and
sizable financial risk to host AIS Convention in the present manner. It is
exhausting to host an AIS Convention. We have now run out of affiliates
that are willing to do it, or have the manpower
available. How many affiliates/Regions that hosted in the past
ten years will stand up and say, "Oh yes, we'll do it again, since now we have
experience and know how to do it!"
Our membership is mostly gray. In the past there was always a younger,
energetic crowd coming along that was willing to pick up the ball and carry
forth. Those days are gone. Having the local affiliate or Region have the
responsibility for guest iris gardens is all we should ask of them. I
can see a benefit to having conventions in areas where we have few or no
members, but fantastic botanical gardens available. That would make
much more of out fabulous country available for a convention location and
could expose our membership to areas that they would otherwise not have an
opportunity to visit.
Paul, as our convention liason, what say ye?
Ruth
In a message dated 3/30/2010 1:08:23 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
plankmail@aol.com writes:
Thank you, Jim. I am in absolute agreement with your remarks about AIS conventions in the past, in the present and what is possible for the future. |