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

From: Jason Hernandez <jason.hernandez74 at yahoo.com> on 2013.08.07 at 20:12:27(22883) I will offer my own perspective, as one who has maintained membership since 1998. I have always been more interested in the scientific or research side, and I have found the IAS to be a useful clearinghouse of who is working on what where. Also, I have published a couple of times in _Aroideana_, likely the only venue for such narrowly-focused work. I get excited every issue to see all the new species Dr. Croat is finding! Without being a member, I would have difficulty gaining access to any of this -- _Aroideana_ is not on JSTOR or Google Scholar. As for the conference, I am just really down on my luck, or I would certainly attend; Viet Nam is a fascinating country. I did attend the symposium in Malaysia, met Peter Boyce and his Malaysian colleagues, and visited really great aroid sites. It is doubtful I would have known about Malesiana Tropicals and their selection of unique aroids otherwise. The simple explanation to "What's it all about?" is this: most scientists maintain memberships in societies pertaining to their professional lives; many plant fanciers like to have clubs related to their fancy; and the IAS happens to intersect both. HTML +More ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2013 08:05:05 +0930 From: "Greg Ruckert" Subject: [Aroid-l] What is it all about? To: "'Discussion of aroids'" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: target="_blank">http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/private/aroid-l/attachments/20130807/fedda1ab/attachment-0001.htm --607277540-848136312-1375906347=:43123-- --==============008220574968712849==

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