RE: Motion for library exhibits Reply part one

[cheryl deaton <region15kids@hotmail.com>]

Gary,

I agree that the traveling library exhibits is an attractive idea.  My concern
is to the implementation when we are dealing with a financial deficit.  Bob
Pries admitted in a previous email that he knew of people who did not TRUST
the AIS Board to handle their donations/bequests in a competent manner, so
they went elsewhere.

We may not be in a position to request grants, but WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO
GET IN THAT POSITION????  Are there grants out there that we could apply for
(such as Pell grants that basically require that you attend a school and are
breathing) and who would know this?  How could we find out? Is there anyone in
our organization that deals with grant applications?  Bob Pries has mentioned
over and over that we need to raise funds and he is correct.  The question is
how?

Cheryl

> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:25:04 -0800
> From: in2iris@yahoo.com
> Subject: RE: [AISdiscuss] Motion for library exhibits Reply part one
> To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
>
> 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>
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> >
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