Re: 2013 AIS Convention

["Janet Smith" <ypauls@sti.net>]

I like Jill's idea.

Janet

---- Original Message ----
From: MORRISJE1@aol.com
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] 2013 AIS Convention
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:22:26 EDT

> 
>In a message dated 3/26/2010 6:52:13 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
>hager@aredee.com writes:
>
>Paul,
>As the "organizational gadfly", I believe the difficulty in  finding
>a 
>location for the AIS convention is structural. Except for your 
>expertise 
>in 
>lining up conventions and assisting the host organization,  the input
>from 
>the AIS is minimal. Putting a convention, regional or  "mini"
>convention 
>together is a monumental task with a very steep learning  curve. Each
>step 
>is 
>critical and requires the participation of able and  willing
>volunteers. 
>Add 
>to that all the fiefdoms that exist with the AIS  and the sponsoring 
>organization. It doesn't take long to figure out that  when we ask a
>Region 
>or Club to host a convention, we are asking someone  to walk through
>a 
>minefield blindfolded.
>
>
>
>
>
>Dennis, (and all)
> 
>You make some good points as a gadfly.  It is a huge task to chair
>and  run 
>a Convention for AIS.  Been there, done that.  It does take  willing 
>volunteers -- several of them in the hosting affiliate/region.  And 
>the length of 
>the conventions has become expensive, both in time and cost to the  
>attendees.
> 
>Of the "successful" organizations you mention, how many are 
>non-profit?  
>Or non-career, non-professional organizations?  I know  lots of
>successful 
>for profit, professional career related organizations.   I once ran a
>one-week 
>long professional career convention in Chicago with  attendance of
>8,000 
>people.  The hook was professional career and the  potential to
>improve your 
>self in your profession.  People will pay for  that.  Will iris
>people pay 
>for flower conventions?  I understand that  Wisconsin's goal is 400
>attendees 
>(about 10%).  The largest AIS Convention  attendance I have
>discovered was 
>827 in 1959 in Oklahoma City when our  membership was 8,000, so that
>was 
>again about 10%.
> 
>I have always been optimistic about AIS and guess I don't see the  
>"fiefdoms" you are referencing.  Unless you are referring to the
>Sections  and 
>Co-operating Societies who do have their special focuses and agendas.
> 
>AIS does need to do more Strategic Planning and make the changes to
>adapt  
>to the modern world.  Talking about it is important but we need some
>sort  
>of action plan for the future.  And the consideration of an Executive
> 
>Director as suggested by Jerry Coates is something that DID work for
>a while  when 
>AIS had 8,000 members.  The AIS Executive Offices were administered 
>out of 
>Memphis, TN by two or three people in the early 1950s, then from 
>1957-1977 
>with one full-time paid person in St. Louis.  It ended with AIS 
>almost 
>going bankrupt as the membership started a long term decline in 
>numbers.  We 
>are now at 4,000 members and I don't believe we have anyway  near the
>funding 
>to consider a full-time paid director.
> 
>However, in the short-term I would like others' opinions about an  
>Educational Convention, no guest planting, possible optional tours to
>existing  
>gardens, or not, and a shortened length of time for the convention. 
>We  have 
>this short-term problem that needs a solution first.  I await 
>comments.  
>Please don't get hung up on a paid director for now.  
> 
>Jim M.



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