[Aroid-l] Fwd: Re: IAS

From: Greg Ruckert <greg at alpacamanagement.com> on 2016.01.27 at 23:50:36 As requested , here is my response to Pete. Thanks Pete for making me think. I suppose the big thing I am looking for is leadership. As you saw at the conference, I am passionate about the ongoing existence of the IAS, I just wish, as an amateur horticulturist that we had someone moving the Society and making things happen. The absence of a response from anyone other than another ordinary member is indicative of why we feel isolated. When you see the figures the next question would be, How many of those are non-institutional? I was disappointed that my presentation being published in Aroideana did not even generate a discussion. Just over two years ago I was asked to take on the role of President of the Lilium and Bulb Society. It was collapsing with twelve financial members but $35,000 in the bank. Now our bank balance has gone down to $30,000 but we have over fifty members. Importantly we have members doing things. We have grabbed the internet to build relationships in Australia and around the world. We are growing because we are doing things. We are instigating junior scholarships to get children growing seed. We are expending what our show does. We are developing a relationship with one of our biggest tourist attractions. I am also on the National committee of the Australasian Llama Association and we have regular meetings by skype. We have less than 80 members and are always struggling BUT the members are kept informed. Recently there has been a problem getting an editor and the question was asked if we could take our National magazine electronic only. 95% demanded hard copy, so realising that, the editor issue has been overcome by thinking outside the box. So, back to  your question, my frustration would be greatly reduced if, as an ordinary member, I could see what the Society was doing, behaving as an international organisation. If I am not to receive a printed Aroideana then I should not pay a levy to cover postage. We need to see some enthusiasm, leadership and communication from the top. It would be good to see some drive to increase membership and protect the future of the organisation. Finally, I can't help think that you understand my frustrations very well. I haven't checked my presentation from 2013 but I reckon I posed the question you have "in short what can the IAS do to persuade the almost 2500 members of the FB IAS public group to part with a few dollars per annum - and for that matter is it that these non-member participants to the FB forum don't see the point of joining - for example how many are lapsed members - how many have never been members?" I have seen no indication that even these questions have been asked. Cheers, Greg This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. www.avast.com --------------020902010800080007060601-- --===============0204302682801759619==

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