Add Your Judges Handbook Suggestions
The Iris Encyclopedia continues to surprise me by what it can be used for. The latest addition is collecting comments for the Judges Handbook Revision Committee.
The AIS Judges Handbook is periodically revised and updated. Officially titled
Handbook for Judges and Show Officials, it covers judges and their training, the AIS awards, Iris Show requirements, and both garden and exhibition judging of each class of irises. Betty Roberts is the Chairman of the Judges Handbook Revision Committee currently studying the revision of the 2007 Handbook. The committee has solicited comments and suggestions from all the Sections and Cooperating Societies. They would also like to hear from everyone.
To do that, the Judges Handbook has been added to the Iris Wiki. Start here to find the parts of the Handbook. Then add your comments to the wiki using the comment box for that section. If there are other topics that should be included and are not currently, you can add them to the suggested rewrites and additions at the end.
If you have comments or suggestions you would rather send directly to the committee, Betty Roberts can be reached at florabetty39@aol.com
And if you would like to order your copy of the Handbook for Judges and Show Officials, see the AIS Storefront here.
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Welcome to the 36th regular issue of the AIS News & Notes. Completing our third year of bringing you timely news from irisdom. Please let us know what you would like to see here. And if you have notes you would like to add, or you would like to become a reporter, please let us know! You can contact either Bob Pries or Wayne Messer with your comments or interest. |
Thank You
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| | 'Many Thanks' |
On behalf of the the American Iris Society, Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, Essex County New Jersey, and the 2016 AIS Convention Committee, I would like to thank all of the people who participated in the 2016 AIS Convention. This includes hybridizers who donated guest plants and/or bus prizes, the garden owners, people who donated items to the AIS Boutique, AIS Silent Auction, and the 2016 Geek Dinner. Also a BIG Thank You to everyone who attended the convention and a VERY BIG THANK YOU to the 2016 AIS Convention Committee members.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
I hope to see all of you in 2017 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Paul W. Gossett 2016 AIS Convention Co-Chair |
Convention Drone Video
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| | Presby From The Air |
During the Convention, arrangements were made to have a drone take videos over Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. While the videos are for future AIS promotions, we have a short preview video viewable here. However, note this link is to the full-screen version and may only work for a limited time. If it has expired (I blame Facebook), go to Black Paw Photo on Facebook and look on May 23rd - this link should take you there. And here is one more link to the same video to try. Look for more of the Convention drone videos soon, when we have better links for them. |
Help Research the Centennial Book
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| | 'Book Of Secrets' |
Do you love to read old AIS Bulletins? Many of us do. They're full of history, ideas, wonderful varietal comments, interesting iris people, science - everything about irises. They're an incomparable source of information about the history of the AIS. Work is underway on a commemorative book to celebrate the AIS's 100th Anniversary, and we could use some help with research. There are, after all, nearly 400 back issues, a bit much for any one person to read and take notes on. If you're an e-member with access to the bulletins or have a run of the bulletins and you would enjoy helping with this fascinating project, please email editor Nancy McDonald to offer your services: editor@historiciris.org.
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In The News
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| | 'Hot News' |
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TBIS America's Choice Irises Voting Deadline - June 30
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| | 'Critic's Choice' |
The Tall Bearded Iris Society has an annual competition to choose the America's Choice Irises. TBIS members may vote for up to 10 TBs. However, they must be irises that are being grown in their garden!TBIS members should have received their ballots and instructions with the Spring issue of Tall Talk. They can be submitted either by regular or email. June 30th is the deadline to vote. Note: You must be a TBIS member to vote. AIS members will have their opportunity later in the year to vote in the Tall Bearded Iris Symposium. |
| "Bliss Irises" Available for Pre-order
The book Bliss Irises Family and Flowers; The Journey to a National Collection will be published this summer. Anne Milner presents her family history intertwined with the history of Bliss irises, which are now part of the British Plant Heritage family of National Collections of plants worth preserving. With stunning photographs, line drawings, and watercolors throughout, the second part of Bliss Irises focuses on the flowers themselves and details the range of irises registered by Anne Milner's ancestor, Arthur Bliss. By special arrangement of HIPS with the author, pre-orders will be accepted through August 25, 2016 (US shipping only). Anne will autograph each pre-ordered book. The $32 price includes shipping to your home. Details and ordering can be done here on the HIPS site or you can print and mail this form. Learn more about the book and Bliss Irises on Anne's website. This is also where you can contact Anne for non-US orders. |
Huge HIPS Rhizome Sale Begins July 20th!
The 2016 HIPS Rhizome Sale is shaping up to be one of the biggest ever. Over 450 cultivars are expected to be on offer, with a number of modern irises as well as many, many historics. The sale list, with thumbnail photos, will be posted online by July 13th to give everyone a week for browsing. HIPS members have priority purchasing beginning on July 20th, and the general public may order starting July 23rd. Not a HIPS member? There's still time to sign up on the HIPS website, www.historiciris.org. This year the sale has a new format. The sale list spreadsheet, with available quantities, will be posted online and as orders are filled, the available quantity of each cultivar will decrease. Buyers will be able to see which irises they are buying before they pay for them. Once a buyer has finished purchasing, a PayPal invoice will be emailed to them (we also have arrangements to pay via check).
Rhizomes are $6.50 each, which includes shipping, with a minimum order of four rhizomes. For information and links to all the necessary lists, visit the HIPS Rhizome Sale Information Page. Pass the word!
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Become an Emember
 If you are already a member, you might consider adding an American Iris Society Emembership. This is a way for you to show additional support for AIS. For just $15 a year, in addition to your regular membership charge, you have online access to Irises, including all the back issues of it and the AIS Bulletin, the Registration & Introductions database, and you help to support our online initiatives! Find out more here. And you will qualify for the AIS Voucher Program described in earlier issues.
The Emembers Login link can now be found in the Quick Links in the left column. You will need your username and password which comes from the AIS Membership Secretary (aismemsec@irises.org).
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The American Iris Society 
