2009 AIS REGION 2 FALL MEETING Vaughn
Sayles
This past fall the members of the Hudson Valley Iris and Daylily Society (HVIDS) under the leadership of their president, Jim
Robinowitz, did an outstanding job hosting the Region 2 Fall Meeting. This was their first time serving as hosts and we greatly
appreciate all their efforts in making the event a success.
Friday afternoon on October 2nd AIS members from Region 2 traveled
to the Holiday Inn in
Banqueters
recognizing a nice evening!
As a change of pace we had an opening banquet instead of a closing one. Following the
tasty buffet, Jim Robinowitz presented Region 2 with a certificate from the Town of
Jim presenting Vaughn
with the certificate.
In the absence of the Region 2 Exhibitions Chairperson, Judy Tucholski-Zon , Region 2 RVP Vaughn Sayles
assisted by Dorothy Stiefel presented the Region 2 Show Awards and the Conroe Award.
The Region 2 Show Awards and winners for
2009 were:
1. Peckham Award (Historic Iris) – David Baehre for ‘Pink Haze’
2. Blenis Award (Tall Bearded Iris) – Ella Murphy for ‘Diversion’
3. McGarvey Award (Beardless Iris) – Donna
James for ‘Oriental Elegance’
Donna
with McGarvey Award
4. Magdalen Award (Median Iris) – E.J. Mattson for ‘Dividing Line’ an MTB.
EJ
with the Magdalen Award
The 2009 Region 2 Conroe Award went to Anna Rettig (see page 21). Anna’s daughter, Maria
Gerbracht accepted the award for her. Anna is a long time Japanese iris advocate who has mentored several generations of irisarians.
Maria
accepting her Mom’s Conroe Award
The banquet and awards program were followed by a presentation by our featured speaker for the
weekend, iris hybridizer Stephanie Markham of
Stephanie
checking her notes.
The final bids for the Region 2 Silent Auction concluded Friday evening. The auction was a resounding
success thanks to the efforts of the HVIDS. In addition to the usual plants and iris “stuff” members of the HVIDS obtained gift
certificates for a number of items that were quite valuable. Members of HVIDS also did an outstanding job tabulating the
winning bids which was greatly appreciated by Creative Money Chairperson, Millie Horak. The auction raised $714.00.
The
Region 2 General Membership Meeting on Saturday morning was well attended. Special thanks go to Sylvia Borglum for filling in
as Secretary. We were then treated to a nice lunch by the HVIDS. After lunch members headed home or attended Stephanie
Markham’s Judges Training session on Miniature Tall Bearded Iris.
The Region 2 Fall Meeting was enjoyable and productive. Thanks to those who attended and/or donated auction items. Special thanks go to the members of HVIDS for all they did to make the
weekend a success.