Does anyone have suggestions, ideas or advise for a new(er) iris club? Looking for advise for programs, committees, outreach or anything else. We have about 30 members and are basically learning by trial and error. Anything advise or experiences you'd like to share are appreciated. I'm afraid we might be leading into a situation that will lose members due to lack of organization and a couple outspoken members.

Ages of members vary from 25-80. We are doing well with yearly rhizome sales. The rest of the year varies.

Welcome to the ATP iris forum, Unstuck. The board should be able to set your programs a year in advance. Get input from member of what they like and go from there. Our club has a sign in sheet and after the meeting numbers are called off randomly giving away any door prizes anyone might have brought, garden books, bulbs, rhizomes, etc. This is big on getting members in. Garden tours during bloom season are a must. Even if you go to several small gardens via caravans during one afternoon. Have committees for everything so that no one is overworked. Outside of that anything that an outspoken member says should be taken to the board and considered by them before being put to a vote. That gives everyone a voice and not just the loud one. Good luck and have fun. Anyone taking things too seriously is taking things too seriously. smiles

unstuck

In our club we have had programs about iris culture and diseases, iris photography, floral design and speakers. We had Ensata Gardens owners do a program on Siberians that was wonderful plus they brought plants! Classification programs help members branch out to other types of irises besides TBs. If youlive near hybridizers invite them to come. Always have some sort of giveaway. Loud mouth curmudeons can ruin a club. There are lots of good power points out there to show or challenge one of your members to produce one. Garden tours even if they are small or just your own members are great. Start a project like a community garden. Good luck!

Unstuck! These guys are my group so far. I hope you stick with us as well as yours. The visuals, tips, advice are all here!!

Unstuck, like everyone else here would say:
welcome and stick around,
the more the merrier,
and we want to see pictures (Bloomtime is right around the corner)

Glad that you are here Unstuck. for garden tours (members?) we find that a few & certainly no more that 3 a day will wear everyone out ☺ Where do you live?
What types of irises grow in your area.

unstuck

Unstuck, Well I spent about 20 minutes typing all kinds of things to help your club get started, and then it all went into cyber space. I was so mad I went and took a nap. I will have to see if I want to do that again some time soon. I just hit the back space bar and bang, the whole thing went away.

If I ever have a long response again I think I'm going to write it in a computer program then copy and paste to the thread. Lost too many and it's so frustrating.

I have done that also. I get up and get some more coffee and do not respond at all. that'll show the computer. ha!

I should know better, but I wasn't thinking it would be quite that long. Why does it do that? Do we get timed out or something?

Thanks to everyone for welcoming as well as your comments and suggestions. We're learning and just trying to make a club that all members enjoy!

Unstuck!

Tom -- sometimes there's just no rhyme or reason to the internet. Especially *reason*...............

Hi Unstuck,
I have a number for a really nice lady who has a slide show on historic iris, if you think your group would be interested in something like that. If you want her info, tree-mail me.