Until our membership has a clear idea of where the society is headed and how it needs to get there and what it wants to accomplish along the way, I think it will be a rough road. I am not casting blame at others, because I am our the strategic planning committee and take some responsibility for where we are. But our goals for the organization really have never been vocalized for many years. It seems often we are headed in many directions and no directions. Case in point there was never any agreement on a mission statement for the organization. No one was able to create something that most could agree on.
in the early days of the society there were goals that were clear. Naming of Iris was a mess and the registration system, and test gardens, and checklists all were part of straightening out those problems. We face similar problems today with the internet offering many plants to consumers but fraudulaently sending whatever they want. I have heard of people ordering Tall-bearded Irises on E-bay and getting a bag of Dutch Iris bulbs. More and more nurseries seem to feel free to just offer plants under any names they think are attractive whether they true or not. I believe a great part of this is due to our relative lack of presence on the internet where more and more commerce is taking place. We have deferred to others on the net the task of being the educational source of Iris information. But even though we are beginning to tackle this, I have yet to see a clear shared vision of what is the purpose of the Iris Society. Is the purpose of an Iris show to inform the public or to win ribbons? Do the garden awards we give have any impact on how gardeners choose what to plant? I do not disagree that our collective talents and knowledge is enormous but it seems to not be applied.
----- Original Message -----
From: JCoates694@aol.com
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 8:01:12 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] was 2013 AIS Convention,Execdirector
I believe structure can make an impact on how an organization functions but sadly I am not so optimistic that it alone can make a difference. People still are the primary solution and the primary problem. An executive director must have the competency to do the job and a board that pays attention. and a president that inspires in the right direction. Any of these three elements can effect the outcome dramatically. They all must know where they are going.
I have yet to believe that most plant societies, those with executive directors and those without, really know anymore why they exist anymore. When most were formed they had specific goals that drove them forward. Today many are simply fixated on survival or carrying out the business they have always done. Some times structural changes can aid in revitalizing an organization. But unless the membership has a vision of why the organization is there, no structural change will be productive. I see many affiliates dying because of individuals. These people are eager to grasp some power, but really lack a vision of why anyone should follow them. It is all about them. It is often easy for these people to gain a position of leadership in a club. Most of us really do not want the responsibility and if someone raises their hand we are willing to give them the job. But often it is not that they have a goal they work to achieve, but more that that they wish to make others do what they want. Some of these people sadly like to blame others rather than take the responsibility for what they have not done. These are reasons why people quit clubs or never want to join. I have seen affiliates all across the country die for these reasons. I believe it is easier to blame the structure. There are times when bylaws must be changed to meet new realities. But how many times have you seen someone wanting to change bylaws, just to make themselves more powerful. In our time society has changed dramatically. We need to have new ways to interact with the world and our fellow irisarians. But I do not think structure is THE answer. Perhaps it is part in that you may create new structures to make possible new goals. But first I think the problem is us. We need to have a clear understanding of what we want the organization to be, and what goals it should pursue that are relevant to our times. An executive director needs to have a clear idea of the needs of the society to be able to carry those needs out. I do not believe our society has a clear idea of what it wants to be in todays world. And therefore any executive director, no matter how good, would be doomed to failure.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Plank" <bobplankmail@aol.com>
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 11:14:04 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] 2013 AIS Convention
Just kidding. Can I be on the committee?
Bob
From: JCoates694@aol.comDate: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:10:14 EDTTo: <aisdiscuss@aisboard.org>Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] 2013 AIS ConventionThen perhaps we should evaluate why it works for other, successful, societies, but didn't work for us. And the important word in that sentence was, "didn't." Times change, Board Members change, etc.Jerry Coates, Associate Broker, GRI
Direct: 301-663-1113
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