By Patrick O'Connor
The
Society for Louisiana Irises is the only AIS section that publishes a color
journal on a quarterly basis. IRISES, of course, is produced for AIS
members four times a year, but twice is the rule for the other sections. It is a challenge to maintain a quarterly
schedule, and the financial challenge has become especially acute. SLI is now working to produce three issues a
year but with added content.
The
financial capacity to maintain quality publications will continue to be an
issue, and the outcome is uncertain.
Every effort is being made to craft content that will appeal to members
and, hopefully, sustain memberships. The
key question, and one without a clear and obvious answer, is, “What do members
want?” Another might be, “Do they even
know?”
As you
might suspect, you are about to be asked for your input. Readers of this blog, however, probably are
wizened old iris enthusiasts (or maybe not old but very likely wizened
nonetheless) with well developed and definite interests. Newbies may be more the issue, since many are
often short timers with a much higher probability of failing to renew
membership. What can we put before them
that will excite their interest in Louisiana irises and cement their
participation for years to come?
Blog
readers are bound to have insights into this question or at least opinions that
we would be grateful to hear. You can use
the comment section below.
First,
however, let me share an overview of the history of our quarterly journal, the Fleur de Lis and its predecessor the SLI Newsletter.
A
newsletter has been published since 1941, but it morphed into a magazine format
with the development of computers and desktop publishing. A review of the past 25 years shows that we
have produced a substantial quarterly publication of reasonably consistent size. There has
been a slight decline in the number of pages in recent years, and a financial
analysis indicates that at present SLI can afford to print about 24 pages three
times a year. In the past, 32 and 36
page issues were published from time to time, but at color printing prices that size issue would depend
on improvement in finances or a significant reduction in costs. (The latter is being worked on in the form of
electronic distribution of the Fleur, but that cannot occur in the immediate future). Efficient use of printed pages is essential,
and increased coordination with the SLI website must occur. Some features must be moved to the website to
free up space in the Fleur for high priority material.
What
kind of material has the Fleur de Lis contained lately? Here are the highlights. In the most recent four years, there were 138 items (articles or other material using significant space but excluding advertising).
Convention Preview:
8 percent dealt with SLI convention attendance, including registration
forms, schedules, summaries of tour gardens, and the like.
Garden and Planting Reviews:
24 percent consisted of reviews of iris gardens or other types of
gardens. Many were reviews of convention
tour gardens but some dealt with non-iris gardens and companion plants.
Awards:
7 percent involved awards for show winners or individuals who were
honored.
Culture:
5 percent were devoted to
Louisiana iris culture.
Iris People:
5 percent dealt with individual iris activists; unfortunately almost all
were obituaries.
Species:
4 percent were articles about the Louisiana iris species.
Organization:
14 percent involved SLI (or other iris organization) business or reports
on activities, including meeting minutes
and financial statements.
Cultivars and Hybridizing:
5 percent involved varietal reviews of hybrid cultivars or the work of
hybridizers.
Scientific:
2 percent were reports on academic studies of the Louisiana iris
species.
Articles from Archives:
1 percent were “old”, reprinted articles from past issues.
The
remaining editorial space was devoted to regular columns and miscellaneous
other matters.
We would
appreciate comments on how space as been allocated among these categories with
a view toward providing members the kind of material that will excite their
continued interest. Equally, we would
love ideas for good articles. Perhaps
something that appeared in the journal of another section that would be
applicable to Louisiana irises also and that we could shamelessly steal and
adapt.
The
comments section below is easy to use.
Please just share the perspectives of wizened iris enthusiasts about how
an important iris publication could better serve our membership.
By the way, new members are always welcome, and they receive the beautiful Fleur de Lis. The details are on the SLI website at: http://www.louisianas.org/index.php/membership
