Re: [AISdiscuss] Opps!! continued answer to Mahan

[CEMahan@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/28/2006 12:29:06 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
PlankMail@aol.com writes:

Thank  you Clarence for your kind words.   With attention to your  questions:
#1 I know the information about how many  affiliates avail themselves of
the insurance each year is available (an I  have it somewhere in my computer 
--
I will find it and let you  know).
#2 Worry not -- the restricted accounts are not  being touched except as
designated through or by their  restrictions.   Reserves are undesignated
monies that have been  collected from things like donations to the general
fund,
etc.
Sorry about my premature send!
Cheers!
Jeanne



Dear Jeanne,
Again, I commend you for your thoughtful, timely president's message. The  
issue of the cost of insurance and its impact on the future of AIS can only be  
avoided by the Board at the expense of the viability of our society. The 
concept  of voluntary contributions is not a solution to this horrendous problem. 
It  is a "Blanche DuBois concept" that puts AIS in the untenable position  of 
relying on the kindness of others. 
 
There seem to be two possible solutions. One is to terminate the insurance.  
The other is to levy a fee for the affiliates who wish to be covered by the  
insurance, and to name the affiliates who pay up in the policy. This latter 
point is important to make sure those who do not pay do not  get coverage. AIS 
would, under this concept, continue to foot the bill for the  national 
convention. 
 
I suggest that a letter be sent to each affiliate, asking if the affiliate  
would avail itself of the policy if it cost it $250 a year, $300 a year or $400 
 a year. If a letter were sent with a suspense date of March 31st, the 
responses  would provide Michelle the information to see if the insurance company 
would  lower the cost based on the reduced coverage. The information would then 
be  available to the Board at this year's spring meeting to make a decision. 
 
I would like to point out that there are some places where iris shows can  be 
held that do not require insurance, e.g. community centers, church halls,  
arboretums, park centers, etc. My personal preference is that AIS get out of the 
 insurance business.  It is not as drastic a solution as it might at first  
appear. 
 
Regardless of where the show is held, the public will come if good  publicity 
is put out in advance of the event. The AIS insurance program could  then be 
changed to provide affiliates that want to obtain their own policies  with the 
names and contact of insurance companies that provide such insurance.  By 
dealing with a number of firms, we might even be able to get very favorable  
rates for the affiliates who want the insurance. 
 
These are my ideas. I am sure others have other views. The important thing  
for the organization we all love is take action now and stop the drain of funds 
 from AIS. It is money down the drain, and to continue the status quo would, 
in  my view, be profligate and irresponsible. 
 
Now, since I have been on my soapbox long enough, I will give  you a picture 
of the first iris ever bred by an American.  It is a photo  taken by Mike Lowe 
of the iris 'Fairy' bred by Amasa Kennicott. 

'Fairy'
 
If you want to know more about this iris and Amasa Kennicott,  you will have 
to buy my book, Classic Irises and the Men and Women Who  Created Them, which 
is now being set in proof by Krieger Publishing Co.  [This is an unpaid 
advertisement].  Clarence

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to the AIS Secretary
aissecjill@earthlink.net.