AIS President’s Message GARY WHITE, NEBRASKA
Happy New Year! I think
I speak for most of us when
I say “I cannot believe it’s
already 2018.” In the past
year, there were great
gardens and beautiful irises,
and I hope you enjoyed both,
whether in your own garden
or in other wonderful places.
Spring is just a few short
weeks away, and that annual
renewal with irises in new
growth and bloom stalks is
just around the corner.
In 2017, the American Dykes Medal winner was
‘Montmartre’, hybridized by Keith Keppel, so ‘Montmartre’ is
now designated the AIS Iris of the Year for 2018.
The AIS fall board meeting was held in November in Dallas,
Texas. Many thanks to the Iris Society of Dallas for hosting the
board meeting, and especially to Bonnie Nichols for chairing,
planning, and going above and beyond to make it exceedingly
well organized. In addition to the usual work of approving RVPs,
committee chairs, roster of judges, minutes, and an annual
budget, the following are a few of the other actions taken by
the AIS Board of Directors.
• Accepted the invitation from the Mesilla Valley Iris
Society to host the 2021 AIS Spring Convention in Las
Cruces, New Mexico.
• The AIS will require digital images with iris registrations.
The AIS Image Consultation Group has established
criteria and procedures for those iris images. An article
about images with iris registrations and procedures is
also in this issue of IRISES.
• For exhibitions, the board approved a motion “that
introduction be removed as a requirement for show
ribbons and awards for irises with verifiable names.” An
explanatory piece about this rule change also appears in
this issue.
• Starting in 2018, the AIS Fall Board meetings will be held
in-person only every three years. In alternate years, the
board will meet by electronic means. This change was
made due to costs in attending. The 2018 Fall Board
meeting will be held in Portland, Oregon as planned. It’s
expected that the 2019 and 2020 Fall Board meetings
will be conducted by video-conference.
I would like to announce several changes to the makeup
of the AIS Board of Directors and committee chairs. Most of
these people assumed office and duties at the AIS fall board
meeting in Dallas in November, or shortly thereafter.
• Dawn Boyer is now the Advertising Editor for the AIS
Bulletin, succeeding Ron Killingsworth.
• Phyllis Wilburn is the new Section and Cooperating
Society Liaison, following Jody Nolin in that position.
• Nick Stewart is now in charge of Exhibition Supplies,
taking over that portion of the Exhibitions Committee
from Susan Boyce.
• Neil Houghton is now the Image Coordinator, succeeding
Janet Smith.
I offer many thanks to those who have filled these positions
in the past, for several years in some cases. I welcome those
with new or expanded responsibilities. We still have a few
open positions—Convention Liaison, Silent Auction chairs, and
Photo Contest director. If you know of someone who may be
interested in any of these positions, please contact me.
Two new Directors were elected to the AIS Board of
Directors:
• Jill Bonino from Region 15. Jill is the Secretary/Treasurer
of the AIS Foundation and the Liaison between the
Foundation and the AIS Board of Directors. Of course,
most of you also know Jill as a past AIS Treasurer and
Vice President. Welcome back, Jill!
• Anita Moran from Region 4. Many of you know Anita,
who has been active in various iris groups and has held
responsibilities on the Aril Society International board,
as Region 4 NEWSCAST editor, as an RVP, and most
recently as the RVP Representative to the AIS Board of
Directors. Welcome Anita for continued service to AIS,
now as a Director.
All other officers, directors, and committee chairs remain
the same. Thank you and welcome to all.
The board voted to extend Emeritus Judge status to
Robert Hollingworth, who is most deserving of that accolade.
Congratulations Bob!
The AIS Board of Directors named Debra Strauss of
Region 17 and Nick Stewart of Region 22 recipients of the AIS
Distinguished Service Medal. Debbie and Nick have done an
amazing job with the AIS Silent Auction over the past six years.
Their years of experience made the Silent Auction better
every year, and I applaud their untiring selfless dedication and
commitment to that event. It is noticed and appreciated!
The AIS Gold Medal is the highest honor the Society can
bestow on one of its members, and it is not awarded every
year. In fact, since it was first authorized, the AIS Gold Medal
has only been awarded to 20 individuals. I am delighted that
this year we will award the Gold Medal to the 21st recipient,
Jeanne Clay Plank. Please join me in congratulating Jeanne, in
appreciation for dedicating much of her lifetime in service to
the American iris Society. For noting some of those activities
and services, I refer you to the article about Jeanne in this
issue of IRISES.
The New Orleans convention is rapidly approaching and
I invite you to join us there in April. It will be a memorable
experience. I wish you a happy, healthy, and blooming good
2018.
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8 AIS Bulletin Winter 2018