Re: [Aroid-l] What is it all about?

From: "Ertelt, Jonathan B" <jonathan.ertelt at Vanderbilt.Edu> on 2013.08.07 at 14:15:08 Greg, You can find answers to roughly half of your questions by going to the website, www.Aroid.org, and then clicking on the various headings listed on the left side of the homepage, including =93society,=94 which takes you to a page that works through many of your questions, including board of directors, history of the organization, by-laws, etc. I=92m simply a supporting member and a contributor to both writings and the forum, but I would expect that the plan for the future involves continuing to support education and research in the aroid family. Talking up aroids and getting folks enthused in these plants is a good beginning towards increasing the membership, but it is admittedly a slow process. I have no idea about the Facebook page, didn=92t know we had one, as I am not involved with Facebook. There is I suspect a great deal of interest in the conference to be held in Hanoi =96 I personally would love to attend, and then spend some time looking for both aroids and gesneriads in surrounding natural areas =96 however the price of the airline ticket alone would take care of the family savings right now, so my enthusiasm will not be made manifest. =93Outside the USA=94 simply means a lot more expensive, but frankly I have yet to attend our own conference, show, sale and banquet in Florida at the Fairchild gardens for financial reasons as well. At the same time, I do expect that there will be some representation by IAS at the conference, both organized as well as individuals who are members. I hope that this begins to answer some of the questions you pose. Certainly visiting the IAS website, again at www.Aroid.org will help clarify much of this for you. So, what sorts of plants do you have in your collection there in Australia (another place I=92d love to get to but doubt that I=92ll be able to)? I take it by your address that you have something to do with Alpaca? Thanks for your obvious interest in the society =96 one of the benefits of membership, our journal Aroideana, has just been published and you should be receiving your copy before too long. Good Growing! Jonathan Jonathan Ertelt, Greenhouse Manager Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee On 8/6/13 5:35 PM, "Greg Ruckert" <greg@alpacamanagement.com> wrote: As a person who has beem a member of the IAS, on and off, over a long period of time, I am moved to wonder what is the purpose of the IAS. I note that the term of five Board membership expires in September and would like to know what the Board members do? When and where does the Board meet? When are nominations called for the vacant positions? Does the IAS has a plan for the future and where might I find it? We have a wonderful editorial team and, without wanting to cause any offence, what is the succession plan that the IAS has in place for these wonderful people? As a non-American member, apart from the newsletter and Aroideana, what is the point of me being a member? Does the IAS have a plan to increase its membership? Why is the IAS Facebook page not monitored?  There is an increasing amount of spam being posted there (I am not the only one who is annoyed by this) and nothing is done about it. The IAS has a financial membership of 365, including institutions.  The Facebook page has 850 members and is growing quickly. Why isn't the Facebook page used to promote the society and recruit new members? I notice I don't necessarily get answers to questions I pose. Does the Board think this is a good look? Why is there a high level of Society disinterest in the International Aroid Conference to be held in Hanoi? Is it because it is outside the USA? I have asked on Facebook about the Society's involvement in the conference and have effectively been told that it really is nothing to do with the IAS.  This is despite the IAS being involved in selecting the site for the conference and the front page of the IAS website encouraging people to "Join us" Nobody seems to know who is giving the IAS presentation at the conference! Why? Why will there be no IAS merchandise available? I have asked thirteen questions and will be interested to see how many I get satisfactory answers to. Greg Ruckert Nairne South Australia Australia   _______________________________________________ Aroid-L mailing list Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l --_000_73255943A0E58248872276ECE91F96644AAC3863ITSHCWNEM108dsv_-- --===============4342598030103408233==

Note: this is a very old post, so no reply function is available.