My second AIS ballot issue -- three iris per class on the Dykes Medal ballot

[Gerry Snyder <7e2de1ee1@rewrite.aisboard.org>]

Since my previous item is being voted on, I want to get this one being 
discussed now, so that it can be handled immediately. It is even more 
complicated than the first one, I am afraid.

One rule probably known by few judges is that the ballot for the Dykes 
Medal is supposed to include at least three cultivars from each class of 
irises. The text of the appropriate section of the Handbook is below.

"To ensure that there will always be three cultivars of each 
classification of iris on the eligibility list for the Dykes Memorial 
Medal on the Official Ballot, the iris which wins the Dykes Memorial 
Medal will be replaced on the list by the Special Medal winner and the 
first runner-up (and second runner-up, if necessary) for that 
classification of iris (excepting tall bearded where three Special 
Medals are awarded each year). Any iris deemed eligible for the Dykes 
Medal which has not won the Special Medal for its classification will 
retain its normal eligibility for its classification Special Medal."

  I have two issues with the way this is handled in the Handbook:

1) when fewer than three candidates would be available in a class, the 
current rule is to use runner(s)-up from the Special Medal ballot in 
that class. Two things bother me about this---it means that an iris will 
be on the ballot in two places, the Special Medal and the Dykes Medal; 
and it means that an iris will be on the Dykes Medal ballot, for the 
best iris in the land, without having won the Special Medal as the best 
iris in its class. That just seems wrong. I would much prefer that an 
earlier winner of the Special Medal, that had been on the Dykes Medal 
ballot but had dropped off after its three years, be put back.

Therefore I am suggesting that the rule (but not necessarily the wording 
in the Handbook) be changed to the following, and that the appropriate 
motion to do so be made after the current voting is completed:

"In cases where there would otherwise be fewer than three irises on the 
ballot for the Dykes Medal in any iris class, the most recent earlier 
winner(s) of the Special Medal in that class that have been dropped from 
the Dykes Medal ballot shall be added back to the ballot in order to 
bring the number of candidates up to three."

2) there are two ways I am aware of by which fewer than three candidates 
could be normally available, and the Handbook mentions only one---a 
nonTB winning the Dykes Medal in its first or second year of eligibility 
(if it wins in the third year it would have dropped off the ballot any 
way). The other way is that a Special Medal could be won by an iris 
originated outside the US and Canada, but first introduced here. Such an 
iris is eligible for all awards on the AIS ballot except the Dykes 
Medal. If this happens there will again be only two iris in that class 
on the DM ballot. In my opinion, fixing this part does not require AIS 
Board action, since the rule is "at least three cultivars per iris 
class" and the part about there being fewer than three because of a 
non-TB willing is just an incomplete explanation that can be handled in 
the on-going Handbook revision process.

Gerry Snyder
Awards Chair

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