Re: Virtual Iris Show

[don.rude@comcast.net]

Sounds fascinating. 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Robert Pries" <robertpries@embarqmail.com> 
To: "AISdiscuss" <aisdiscuss@aisboard.org> 
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2014 3:17:30 PM 
Subject: [AISdiscuss] Virtual Iris Show 

Dear AIS Discuss; 

I am writing this as both a celebration and a plea. We are attempting 
something that AIS has never done. B OMG! And everyone can help! The First 
International Virtual Iris Show! B I love the thought of AIS being first at 
something. Unfortunately before I could bring this idea forward there have 
already been Virtual flower shows, but to my knowledge ours is the first for 
Iris. Of course it is International because the internet goes everywhere; but 
how does one, have and judge a virtual show? B You can take a look on the 
Iris Encyclopedia. I still do not have a design section for the show schedule, 
so here is my first plea for help. Would anyone like to work with me to create 
the design section? It was critical I get the horticultural/variety section up 
and started because I want ALL irises to participate, including the 
reticulata, juno, and MDB groups that will be starting to bloom now, but I 
figure if the design criteria are finished this next month, it will still 
allow for great participation. My second plea is for sections, or anyone, to 
offer prizes in one or more categories for the best entry in that category. 
Since we may have B boverseas winnersb, B maybe memberships to various 
iris sections or to AIS might make the best prize. 

I also want to celebrate that we now have (possibly) all registered Irises in 
the Encyclopedia. I am sure there are a few that may have been missed in over 
59,000, but hopefully over time all omissions will be found. I also want to 
note new topic areas on the Encyclopedia; such as Reblooming irises, Novelty 
irises etc. There is now a topic area for every section and interest group. 
Consider it a challenge to see what each group does with it. Now that most all 
irises have pages, the challenge is to see how these pages get fleshed out 
with images and information. 

Returning to the Virtual iris Show, each category includes a seedling class. 
This is a huge opportunity for hybridizers to show off their seedlings. At a 
local show only local visitors see the seedlings, but let me throw out some 
shocking data. I believe the Encyclopedia is viewed by more people than any 
other Iris site, and by more than a factor of 10, perhaps even usually a 
factor of 100. I may have mentioned before that it averages more than a half 
million views a month. But I can now tell you the average number of unique 
visitors each month is around 10,000. The world is visiting and looking. If we 
can involve a fraction of those people in things like the virtual iris show, 
we should be able to gain members. Obviously this is a huge opportunity for 
hybridizers to have their flowers seen. My question to the board is should we 
award Exhibition Certificates and should the current rules be changed for 
Exhibition Certificates (at least for the virtual show), since the 60% of 
Judges that vote the ballots could vote for a seedling? 

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