Re: AIS Operations Manual

[Robert Pries <robertpries@embarqmail.com>]

The Operations manual was presented at a board meeting I believe two years ago. It was put out onto the wiki so that it would be easy for officers and committee chairs to access and edit. It was hoped that each officer would take the time to do so and it was explained how to do this at that meeting. Sadly I do not believe any changes were ever made. I know I am guilty because the PR committee has moved forward on many things since then that have not been updated. Fortunately PR has many people involved with the committee and If I died suddenly I believe there are many that understand our current functions. 

New board members have what is on the Operations Manuel as a reference, even if it has not been currently updated. If we were a Fortune 500 company each page of our website (including the wiki) would be reviewed and updated quarterly. I have not looked at the last dates of updates but I know for example that the Youth site is over 3 years out of date. I have discovered that one problem with our website is that even though changes are made, if one visits the website regularly those changes may not be noticed unless one does a refresh, since the old web view may be cached in our computers and we may not see the current information unless we have done a refresh. 

Perhaps this is the source of the complaint that the AIS website is constantly out of date. I am afraid we are all in this together and it would help if there was better communication. Presently every suggestion goes through the electronics chair. There is no direct communication with the webmaster. Most of us have never met the webmaster since he does not attend board meetings. Perhaps much of our underlying problems are due to this lack of communication. I do not think blame should be placed anywhere. I think overall we seem to have a dysfunctional structure. Perhaps a volunteer organization can never function as well as a corporation. I do think a bit of brainstorming on this would lead to some benefits.


----- Original Message -----
Just noticed the recent AIS Discuss entries.

A few thoughts;

re: The National Collections, Display and Test Gardens Committee; located
at:
http://wiki.irises.org/bin/view/Main/JobDescriptionsNationalCollectionsDispl
ayAndTestGardens
When you are ready (voted/approved etc) please let John Jones or myself know
(along with the approved copy) and it can be added to the appropriate
location on our AIS website so that its available to the AIS membership.


re: AIS Operations Manual: located at:
http://wiki.irises.org/bin/view/Main/InfoOperationsManual
Now, way more importantly than the above item, I am also astounded that
there is a whole AIS Operations manual detailed on the wiki on every job
function within the AIS. Not sure where this info evolved from but none of
this appears on the AIS website where it should appear in the first place.
If this material is indeed the official AIS details of operational
functions, an approved version of the overall AIS operations manual likely
should initially and correctly appear on the AIS website if anywhere for
reference. Any other internet locations would be additional.
Again should you wish to do this please advise John Jones or myself (also
send along the material) and we would be pleased to add this important
information to the AIS website.

Regards. Chris.

AIS website | Christopher Hollinshead
website: www.irises.org
e-mail: aiswebsite@irises.org


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-aisdiscuss@aisboard.org [mailto:owner-aisdiscuss@aisboard.org]
On Behalf Of MORRISJE1@aol.com
Sent: February 15, 2013 8:28 PM
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Subject: [AISdiscuss] RE Motion to approve Bob Pries as Chairman of the
National Collections Comm.

All,
 
In case one or more of you might have trouble accessing the AIS Operations
Manual description for this committee, I have pasted it in here for easy
viewing.  This is a worthy function deserving of our review and  action.
 
Jim Morris
President
American Iris Society
****************************************************************************
*************
 
The National Collections, Display and Test Gardens Committee
Purpose: To coordinate efforts between the greater  horticultural world and
the various units of the American Iris Society with  respect to National
Collections, Display and test gardens, and to facilitate  their creation,
administration, and communication.  
Definitions and Goals:  
    1.  National Collection: A garden dedicated to the preservation of a
defined, cohesive group of Irises, species and cultivars. It may start as a
prototype with the ultimate goal of being part of the American Public
Gardens system of National Collections.  
    2.  Display Garden: Gardens that simply display the glories of the iris.

    1.  Public: Gardens at botanical gardens, and other venues open to the
public.  
    2.  Private: Usually home gardens open for display during selected bloom
periods, visitors should check to see if a garden will be open on a
specific day and time. 
    3.  Test Gardens; Gardens which may or may not be display gardens or
national collections but have agreed to take measurements and record
observations of plant growth in the garden. 
Goals for Action:  
    1.  To create a national registry of each type of garden with a short
description  
    2.  To suggest standards for the gardens;  
    1.  National Collection: To explain the qualifications needed to become
and official APGA National Collection and to aid in that process.  
    2.  Display gardens; To give clear notice to visitors the constraints of
the garden. Example; Is it wholly or partly wheelchair accessible. To
create a sign designating it as an official AIS Display garden.  
    3.  Test Gardens: to formulate consistent ways of taking measurements,
and recording them in a national data base. 

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