From: lbmkjm at yahoo.com (brian lee) on 2007.10.09 at 17:13:51(16433)
Dear Steve,
Aloha.
I would agree that the IAS would benefit from
increased membership. I believe that the first step
would be an affiliated chapter in other areas. Are
there any affiliate chapters? I heard of two chapters
in the past...but do not know if one exists today.
These groups, the Southwest Florida and California
chapters, were mentioned in the History of the IAS.
If there is an affiliated society on the West Coast,
it would be up to them to host a show...with the
blessing of the parent organization.
It sounds like alot of work for some dedicated
group...but it would be wonderful. I think we need to
hear from West Coast aroiders. From what I
know...which is limited, it requires a passionate core
group to organize and maintain a chapter. Who knows,
it may be the Indonesians with that drive and passion
to organize a chapter....after all, it is an
International Aroid Society.
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Aloha,
Leland
--- ExoticRainforest
wrote:
> I'm probably going to get in trouble here, but I
> thought the suggestion about an IAS show on the west
> coast was a good one to consider. But before we
> jump all the way to the other coast, perhaps there
> is an alternative that will meet a lot of needs,
> especially for the expansion of the International
> Aroid Society.
>
> I had a discussion with Tricia Frank while she
> visited my atrium in June of this year, and it is
> obvious from some of her feelings as well as the
> total attendance at the September show we all need
> to do more to expand the IAS membership. There are
> tons of people in this country that love some of the
> base species in our plant group, Philodendron and
> Anthurium. But most know very little about them.
> We need to do a better job of educating the world.
> How do we get into the schools? Can we include a
> "junior" membership? Can we encourage new blood
> into this organization? How?
>
> I see an incredible number of people each year who
> want to see, tough and feel my aroids and travel
> pretty fair distances to see our very small atrium
> as a result of my website. Some people think the
> "ExoticRainforest" is a tourist attraction in NW
> Arkansas. Sorry, its only 600 square feet! But
> I've had people drive 900 miles supposedly just to
> see it! Since April we've had people from 13 states
> call to arrange a visit! That amazes me. But what
> if we got them excited about going somewhere (within
> driving distance) where they could really see a lot
> of aroids. And my two top choices would be MOBOT or
> the Crystal Bridge in Oklahoma City. MOBOT would be
> the top choice due to the enormous facilities they
> have as well as the fact Dr. Croat is there. What a
> place to have an aroid show! Many of you probably
> don't know, but Tom has the largest collection of
> section Pachynerium Anthurium in the world at MOBOT!
> Those are the birds nest forms that the people in
> Indonesia are so nuts about right now!
>
> I was at MOBOT last October when they were having a
> glass show inside their enormous artificial rain
> forest. The crowds were amazing. Thousands and
> thousands of people. And they were there to see
> both the glass and the plants. What if they were
> there to see the International Aroid Show? Don't
> you think the local television stations would
> promote such an event? I have no idea how many
> people came that weekend, but I've been told MOBOT
> receives 870,000 visitors each year. Can we figure
> out a way to take advantage of that? Can we work to
> have two, or three, International Aroid Shows each
> year? Since we can't get huge numbers to travel to
> Miami, maybe we can arrange to deliver the plants to
> the masses. And for those of you who sell aroids,
> just think of the new customer possibilities! If
> they are willing to spend $600 on an Anthurium in
> Indonesia, will they spend a few hundred over here
> if we present the plants to them right?
>
> I am one that is quite distressed with the constant
> email from Indonesia wanting to buy Anthurium. But
> maybe we should use that to our advantage. I see
> more and more people visiting my website to learn
> about Anthurium species (or at least the 50 or so I
> grow). The single most often read article on my
> website right now is the one about how to grow an
> Anthurium. I'm now receiving 35,000 hits each month
> and at least 1/3 of those read that page. There has
> to be a reason! Can we use this interest in
> Anthurium species to expand the IAS? How do we do
> it? This is your organization, and I believe it
> needs your help. So kick in some ideas!
>
> It saddens me, but I honestly expected triple the
> attendance at the IAS show in September. I had not
> attended the sale for about 8 years due to where we
> now live (we used to live in Miami). I am not in
> any way suggesting moving the show from Miami! We
> lived there for over 20 years. But is it time to
> figure out a way to expand into other areas? If you
> can't get the people to the plants, can we get the
> plants to the people? Maybe LA is a great idea.
> Maybe both LA and St. Louis!
>
> Can we get some discussion going on how to expand
> and grow the International Aroid Society?
>
> Steve Lucas
> www.ExoticRainforest.com
>
> **************************************
> We collect and grow many rare and
> exotic tropical plants and orchids. Take
> the "Rainforest Tour" at:
>
http://www.exoticrainforest.com/atriumentrancelarge.htm>
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>
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