BY CHERYL DEATON, CALIFORNIA Youth Views
ATTENTION ADULTS! Nominations for the Clarke
Cosgrove Memorial Award for Youth Achievement are due
by January 31, 2018. I am sure many of you know a young
irisarian who has contributed to their local club and region,
expressed interest in promoting the American Iris Society,
grows a variety of irises in their garden, is a good student,
and has a variety of interests including hybridizing. This
young person is the perfect candidate for your nomination.
Too many times, adults neglect to nominate a deserving
youth member because they think
someone else is going to nominate
them. Our youth members need
the recognition nationally, so that
they can someday become the
future president of AIS or your
local club. Many of our past winners
have gone on to hold offices in
affiliates and sections and become
judges and hybridizers. Won’t you
please nominate a deserving youth
today? Send your nominations as
an attachment to region15kids@
hotmail.com, or mail your
nomination to Cheryl Deaton, 27218
Walnut Springs Avenue, Canyon
Country, CA 91351-3314. Your
nomination MUST be postmarked
by January 31, 2018.
Congratulations to Katharina
Coloring contest entry by Katharina Brase
from Region 21, overall winner.
Brase of Region 21, winner of the
annual coloring contest for AIS
Youth. This year’s picture was a
mandala of irises and required good
coloring technique due to the size
of the picture. Katharina’s entry was
chosen as best in her age group, 10
to 12 years old, and best overall. She
also won a creativity award. Best in
the 6 years and under age group is
Deitrich Brase, and winner in the 13
to 15 year age group is Alexander
Brase. Andrew Beaumont from
Region 14 won in the 16 years and
up age group, and Autumn Clark
from Region 14 won in the 7 to 9
year age group. All the entrants
received cash prizes before the holidays. Congratulations
to everyone! See the winning picture above and on the AIS
Youth website, aisyouth.com.
Andrew Chien (age 10) winning 3rd place in his
category of the AIS coloring contest, and Nathan
Chien (age 6) winning 2nd in his category.
Youth members number 466 at last report. These young
people receive a packet when they join that contains the
youth handbook full of information about all things iris,
a welcome letter, a copy of the newsletter from a prior
year, an old AIS Calendar, and a youth questionnaire. One
of our newer members, Elizabeth Carty, is from Missouri
and sent me her questionnaire and a letter with lots of
information. She loves daffodils, irises, roses, and any
flowers because they are pretty. She grows vegetables and
her favorite color is turquoise. She is in the fifth grade. She
would like the youth to create an iris-growing activity, so
anyone out there that has an idea? Let me know.
The next activity for AIS youth members is the
Ackerman Essay Contest. This year’s topic is: The first
President of the American Iris
Society, John C. Wister, said “The
iris is the mainstay of the hardy
garden.” Write three reasons why
you agree with his statement. Essays
should be about 550 words and
the work of the youth member.
Parents and teachers can help
with spelling and punctuation.
Send your completed essays as an
attachment to debbie@loveirises.
com or mail them to Debra Strauss,
2213 Hereford Boulevard, Midland,
TX 79707-5012. All entries must be
postmarked or emailed no later than
March 15, 2018.
Youth members will be receiving
Louisiana irises after the 2018 AIS/
SLI Convention in New Orleans,
Louisiana. These irises will be
donated by Paul Gossett and Joe
Musaccia, who are the co-chairs
of the convention. I am so excited
that our youth will be able to grow a
variety that they may not be familiar
with. Contrary to what many people
think. Louisiana iris grow very well
in the dirt—I have a collection of
more than 20 varieties in my garden.
Thank you Paul and Joe for your
kindness and generosity.
Please support our youth
members in any way that you can,
whether you become their mentor,
donate irises to grow in their
gardens, share your knowledge of
growing and showing irises, assist
them at your meetings and regionals, or encourage their
hybridizing efforts. These young people are the future
of AIS. Annual dues are only $8 per year, one of the best
bargains out there! As always, I am available to help with
suggestions and handouts. Until we meet in a garden
somewhere, happy irising!
d
Winter 2018 AIS Bulletin 19