IPS Directors Elections

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Nominations for Directors of the International Palm Society are now getting under way.  the details have been talked about briefly by myself and Bo.  More details can be found in the new issue of Palms (I haven't received mine yet).

The Directors are in charge of Biennials, the "Palms" publication and for this website and Palm Talk forum (fori?).  If you think you can contribute to the Palm Society, have the time and qualify (member for two years and can travel to IPS functions) you should seriously consider being nominated to the Board.  You don't have to be rich and powerful, you don't have to be handsome (like me), you don't have to be a big nurseryman, you don't have to be a scientist.  You just have to be interested and want to contribute.

Think about it.

Jerry Behan

[Nigel]

Jerry, you have my vote.

[DoomsDave]

I would love to, but time to travel is a problem for me.  The Dark Tower is a jealous mistress. . . .

Hmm.

Jerry, are you running?

How about you, Bo?

You both get my vote.

dave

[bgl]

Dave,

The term is 4 years, and about half of the Directors are elected in time for each Biennial. I.e. every second year (even year). So, half of the seats are up for grabs in time for the Biennial in Costa Rica in May 2008. Those Directors who are elected then will serve the 2008-2012 period. Myself, I was elected to the current term in 2006, so my term is 2006-2010.

And the travel aspect is not all that overwhelming: it's just once a year. To the Biennial every second year, and during the "in between years" there's a Board meeting somewhere for just the IPS Directors and spouses/partners. Usually a small affair with 30-35 participants. In May this year we met in San Francisco, and the day after the BOD meeting we had a great day viewing various outstanding palm gardens, including Dick Douglas' in Walnut Creek, where we also had lunch. An excellent day. In 2009 the IPS Board meeting will be in Belize! Usually it's like a long weekend.

So, all of you who've been IPS members for at least 2 years - give it some thought!

Bo-Göran

[SubTropicRay]

I'm not powerful and definitely not rich.  If I can do it, others can too.

[metalfan]

Hmmm...

I can't travel, because I am afraid of airplanes and don't have the time, LOL

I haven't been a member of IPS long enough (haven't even gotten my FREE SEEDS yet)

I am not very politic

I am not very popular (as if THAT ever bothered me LOL)

So I would definitely support someone else!

[Jeff Searle]

(metalfan @ Sep. 25 2007,07:29)

QUOTE

Hmmm...

I can't travel, because I am afraid of airplanes and don't have the time, LOL

I haven't been a member of IPS long enough (haven't even gotten my FREE SEEDS yet)

I am not very politic

I am not very popular (as if THAT ever bothered me LOL)

So I would definitely support someone else!

Gina,

   Yea, but you sound like a very honest woman and a straight shooter.

007

[PALM MOD]

Two points I would like to make.

1)This topic shouldn't be in a category used for Discussing Palms. However, we no longer have a place for it, and it is an important and relevant topic IMO. Maybe any directors that are reading this could provide me some guidance about what to do with these kind of threads. I am not sure if they would appreciate a dedicated category to discuss the directors, their positions on policy, and the upcoming nominations and elections.

2)There is no reason the board needs to only hold meetings around a table in a location requiring everyone to get on an airplane and take days of their time. Corporations, organizations, and governments now take advantage of real time board meetings with webcams and software specifically designed for this purpose over the web. IMO we need directors willing to embrace and utilize all the advantages technology and the web have to offer these days. I believe all the recent chaos in PalmTalk is another manifestation of this deficiency.

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Here ye Here ye, I hereby nominate our fearless Palapian leader Dean to be an IPS director!  

Edit: If he can get that active member issue cleared up!    j/k bud!

[palmmermaid]

Well, I have the time, the leadership skills, the chutzpah, and the technical skills (I am a software consultant) but not the money required for extra travel.  But I don't have the 2 years required.  I do think some new blood would be good.  Maybe in 2 years I will run.

[Nigel]

(IPSPTModerator @ Sep. 25 2007,15:22)

QUOTE

Two points I would like to make.

1)This topic shouldn't be in a category used for Discussing Palms.

Dean, I find myself wondering how the Tropical plants - non palms forum is allowed to continue as its very headline states its nothing to do with palms.

[metalfan]

Watch out Nigel or we'll lose that too

[bgl]

Well, let's not get too carried away! ???  Fact is, as we all know, that a very valid point can be made that if you want to landscape primarily with palms (which is what we've done), there are certainly MANY other plants that can be used to enhance the overall landscaping effect. We have hundreds of anthuriums, heliconias, gingers, orchids, cycads, ferns, calatheas and numerous other plants that I can't think of right now. They are part of the overall landscape, and fit in nicely with the palms. So, anything directly and INDIRECTLY (hint, hint...) related to the growing of, or landscaping with, palms certainly falls within the "accepted guidelines".....

[bgl]

I think we need an opposing view!!

Fact is, this is something that I've found very satisfying. I've been an IPS Board member since 1994 (Biennial in Caracas) and havn't missed a Board meeting since 1996 (we started building our house the same day...good excuse to stay here in Hawaii!). The Board meetings are business like and to the point (OK, maybe 85% of the time...). I have never experienced any unprofessional or unpleasant behavior during these Board meetings. The Board meeting is always on the day before the Biennial, and during the "off years" (when there is no Biennial) the Board meeting is typically on a Friday, and then we have all weekend to visit local gardens and palm enthusiasts, wherever we happened to be. Going back in time, these are the places we met:

1997 Richmond (near London). Kew is right next door.

1999 Miami (Montgomery and Fairchild)

2001 San Diego

2003 Houston

2005 Miami (again Montgomery and Fairchild - GREAT experience!!)

2007 San Francisco

2009 will be in Belize

These "off year" Board meetings are like mini-Biennials, but very informal and intimate, since all the participants can fit in one bus. You really get a chance to talk with everyone else on a one-on-one basis, and sometimes we even talk about topics other than palms. (Ooopss...wasn't supposed to say that!). In other words, these are great lttle events, and apparently a well kept secret. If more people knew about them, we'd have people lining up to run for the IPS Board!!