RE: Motion for library exhibits Reply part one

[gary white <in2iris@yahoo.com>]

Greetings,
 
I personally think Bob's motion to create travelling library exhibits is both
interesting and workable.  It obviously will take some thought, but it
certainly could showcase The AIS and AIS history to the public in ways not
done before, and reach new audiences.  I know there are collections of all
sorts of iris artifacts, memorabilia, manuscripts, etc out there, and I know
that some of those collections may be in need of a home at some point. 
We should be ready to receive some of those collections at the appropriate
time.
 
I agree with Bob that currently the AIS is not structured to meet granting
agency requirements.  Sure, it would be great to be able to apply for grants,
get money to procure, archive and conserve some of the iris memorabilia or
library collections out there, but we do not have any of the basic structure
in place to handle grants.  We do have the Library collection and storage area
in Salem, and a volunteer librarian who does a very good job with the
resources at her disposal, but we certainly are not equipped to apply for
grants, and then expect to actually receive the grant money and be able to
carry out the work involved, write reports, etc.  Maybe someday, we will be in
the position to be able to pursue educational grants, but we're certainly not
in that position now.   In the meantime, I think the travelling exhibits, if
they are done well and are effective, might actually make us much more
attractive for grant money. 
 
I have to say that I am completely surprised at the strident lecture in the
paragraphs below.  Anyone who has paid even minimal attention over the past
few years knows that Bob Pries has brought forth more ideas and proposals than
the vast majority of AIS Board members.  And I do not think for even a
nanosecond that Bob Pries has ever "copped out" on an issue or failed to bring
it to the attention of the AIS Board of Directors when he thought it needed to
be brought up.   No where in Bob's comments did he mention knowing specifics
about a particular grant that we might apply for.  I believe he was talking
about generalities in discussing funding sources, but not any specific
grant.   I realize that all of us have our opinions on every topic brought
forth, and we may not agree with each other on certain points.   But, it is
completely beyond me how anyone of us can lecture Bob Pries for not doing
his share in promoting The American
 Iris Society, or in bringing his ideas to the Board.  
 
Gary White
 
 
--- On Thu, 11/19/09, cheryl deaton <region15kids@hotmail.com> wrote:


From: cheryl deaton <region15kids@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: [AISdiscuss] Motion for library exhibits Reply part one
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 3:21 PM


Response to Bob Pries' 1, 2, & 3

Many organizations apply for grants every day of the week, and due to the
specifics involved in the grants, adjust the organizations operations and the
grant application to fit the special circumstances in the grant.  Bob, if you
knew of the specifics for a certain grant, then why didn't you bring it
before
the board instead of giving us the "cop out" that you knew about them but our
current system is not properly defined???  Many cities and organizations
employ (which we cannot afford to do) people who do nothing but apply for
grants.  I am sure there are one or two people in AIS who are familiar with
the grant application process and would help us out.  Also, as a Director,
not
just a "PR" chair, you should do everything in your power to promote the
American Iris Society, and that would include speaking to people about
donations/bequests that could be used for what the donor wanted - for
example," I will the AIS $20,000 to be used for a 'traveling library exhibit'
to cover the cost of shipping and insurance," or "I will $20,000 to create a
traveling library exhibit to be loaned to the St. Louis Botanical Garden for
the period of one year."  Don't give me the excuse that our society is not
'trustworthy' in its present state.



  Just because I am the Youth Chair does not mean that I limit my promotion
of
AIS to youth matters only.  I can think of at least a dozen instances where I
encouraged adults to join AIS, spoke to garden enthusiasts about irises,
water
boards about including irises as drought tolerant landscape plants.  I think
this would come under "PR" wouldn't you???  I have also actively encouraged
people to make donations, but I'm not the donations chair either.



Cheryl

> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:22:33 -0500
> From: robertpries@embarqmail.com
> To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
> Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] Motion for library exhibits Reply part one
>
> Cheryls: Question is to why I have not done this and the answer is I have:
> And our present system is so poorly defined that proper grant propsals can
not
> be made. That is why I have been trying so hard to give better definition
and
> vision to our organization. I have heard from potential donors that
although
> they love the Iris Society they don't believe their money would be put to
its
> best use. The board has been improving the society but it still has a long
way
> to go before it can create the confidence needed to warrrant these peoples
> trust. I can not say for sure but I had a long discussion with Richard
> Sparling about this before his death is maybe why he gave $10,000 dollars
to
> the Scientific fund. I will not mention the names of those who passed and
did
> not gave their moneyto us but to other causes because they did not feel
that
> the board was acting quickly enough through the years to bring the society
as
> a viable organization for our present society. But I would point out that
> donations is really not my job. But as a board member I do have and
obligation
> to try to create a society that people want to support.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "cheryl deaton" <region15kids@hotmail.com>
> To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
> Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:52:12 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
> Subject: RE: [AISdiscuss] Motion for library exhibits Reply part one
>
> Bob,
>
> If you have learned about monies such as grants and bequests that have been
> lost to AIS then why, as the PR director, have you not actively searched
out
> and secured some of these monies, or at least put something in place to do
> so?? Many organizations receive government grants, and I do not see why
AIS,
> as a non-profit EDUCATIONAL organization, should not apply for some of
these
> grants.
>
> Cheryl
>
> > Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:52:16 -0500
> > From: robertpries@embarqmail.com
> > To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
> > Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] Motion for library exhibits Reply part one
> >
> > Cheryl has made identified some valid concerns that are the nuts and
bolts
> of
> > how this would work in practice. I believe it is important that the board
> > discuss these issues and since there were so many presented I will try to
> > tackle her response a paragraph at a time so that a full answer can be
> given.
> >
> > First I see this motion itself as revenue neutral. I would see each
> traveling
> > exhibit to have its own contract that would define what is being sent,
with
> an
> > inventory and value assigned, what the costs would be, how the expenses
> would
> > be paid and who would be responsible for the care and return. I would
> expect
> a
> > defined date of loan no longer then a year which would be subject to
> renewal
> > before return is required. Each contract would be with the boards
approval.
> >
> > Cheryl wrote,
> > Quote, While a traveling exhibit is a nice idea, as you mentioned in a
> > previous email we are operating currently at a $14,000+ loss for this
next
> > year alone IF everyone comes in at or below estimates. How will a
traveling
> > exhibit be paid for - mailing/shipping (library mail is still available
but
> at
> > a slower than snail's pace), insurance, security. Other than the 3 places
> you
> > have mentioned, how would we get the word out to other
> libraries/clubs/groups
> > that such a thing is available??? There is no money in the PR budget for
> such
> > a thing. I doubt that the 3 places you've mentioned would be willing to
pay
> > for any of it since many are operating at reduced budgets due to the
state
> of
> > the economy and donations in general. Perhaps we could start a fund for
> such
> > a
> > thing, but this could possibly take away from anyone donating money for
the
> > general fund, etc? It is a thought. Unquote
> >
> > Cherylbs concern over money is well founded but I would suggest is not
> > applicable to this idea. I say that because, recent experience and
> information
> > that I have learned, leads me to believe that AIS has lost a small
fortune
> in
> > potential grants and donations because we have not had policies such as
> this
> > one and others. Many of our older members are dying. I had heard
privately
> > that at least five individuals would have left substantial funds both to
> the
> > library and to the general fund but decided to will their monies to other
> > institutions because their perception of the AIS organization was that it
> was
> > disorganized and not serving its members well enough. Despite the large
> > library endowment by the Hager fund AIS and the foundation have still not
> > outlined a long term plan for how the money might be used for the
library.
> If
> > AIS has no visions to put forth there is no one that will contribute to
us.
> >
> > Getting the word out will not be a problem. We have AISdiscuss and the
new
> > Affiliatesdiscuss (as soon as it is up and running), plus many other
venues
> > that can be at no cost and not strain the PR budget. I have no doubt if
> there
> > was a contract negotiated with each of the three places mentioned that
> funds
> > could be gathered from many sources, me included. I would warn against,
> just
> > advertising this as without restrictions to every club. Depending on the
> > request, what might constitute an exhibit and for what reason needs to be
> > considered and each contract should make sense, a win/win for everyone. I
> > donbt see any reason for creating a new fund. If a local club might wish
> to
> > create a display with a well defined theme, they might not only find
> material
> > within their own region that should be part of the library but it might
> also
> > be added to the librarys collection. It is possible that any material
sent
> > from the library may be returned with new accessions.
> >
> > This the first part of my reply
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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> > <aissecretary@irises.org>
> > The archives for AISDiscuss are at:
> > http://www.aisboard.org/lists/aisdiscuss/
>
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