IWGS COMMITTEE PURPOSES
IWGS COMMITTEES
This is a brief over-view of the IWGS projects and committees. We are always looking for Volunteers, so if you are interested in volunteering on any of these committees, please contact Jeannie Suffern at [email protected]
Certified Collections Committee
The purpose of the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society (IWGS) Certified Collections is to provide international recognition to collections of Nymphaea and Nelumbo around the world. In return the collections offer an opportunity to IWGS members and the general public to experience and reference the diversity of the genera of Nymphaea and Nelumbo. The collections are critical to the conservation of these genera as they help promote interest within the gardening audience. Some of the Certified Collection sites may work with the IWGS to conduct plant trials and grow out the New Waterlily Competition plants for judging. The IWGS Certified Collection sites will have the full endorsement of the IWGS in projects that are related to its mission, as interpreted by the IWGS board of directors, e.g. letter of recommendation for grants/ funding; networking with hybridizers and growers; help in sourcing plants; displaying New Waterlily Competition Lilies at certified sites etc. The IWGS Certified Collections will be advertised on the IWGS website and in other appropriate publications as one of the IWGS Certified Collections of Nymphaea and/or Nelumbo.
Fundraising Committee
The purpose of the Fundraising Committee is to create and oversee methods of generating income for the IWGS outside of the membership dues. Raising this income enables the IWGS to maintain current projects and to pursue new ones. Fundraising efforts include but are not limited to:
– Pursuing symposium sponsorship
– Facilitating the symposium auction
– Creating new ideas for income generation
Invasive Species Committee
The goal of the invasive species committee is to disseminate as much information as possible to educate industry members and the general public about the threat of Aquatic species and awareness of the international regulations that effect their sale and distribution. In countries with the absence of restrictions it can offer guidelines for plants and their growth habits in certain environments to deter their unwanted spread.
Journal Committee
The Water Garden Journal is the official publication of The IWGS and is devoted to the dissemination of knowledge in the science and art of growing waterlilies, lotus and other aquatic plants. The purpose of the Journal Committee is to facilitate the creation of the journal through the establishment of a process, which may be adopted or adapted as members see worthwhile, to help increase the total value of the journal’s content. It is anticipated that the journal will always have articles written by members on the committee, however the intent of this committee is to help facilitate the engagement of new members contributing through an open and collaborative process.
Membership Committee
The purpose of the Membership Committee is to expand and support our membership base, by continuing with and developing new ways for members to stay connected and find value in their membership. It is also a priority for this committee to share the opportunity to serve in the greater water garden community, by encouraging members to participate in any/all IWGS committee work, and to participate in our society outreach in the community. Responding to member requests/demands, answering any un-met needs of the membership as they might arise, and following through by making recommendations for changes in membership privileges to the Board for he Society’s annual review of our membership matrix.
New Waterlily Competition Committee
The New Waterlily Competition is dedicated to promoting interest in new cultivars that are superior or uniquely different than those already available in the marketplace. The Competition has resulted in the introduction of noteworthy new hybrids: plants with unusual flower shapes and colors, new leaf patterns and colors, size variations, longer bloom periods, and intersubgeneric crosses.
The Competition seeks to
~ Provide hybridizers a venue to compete on an international level.
~ Elevate standards of new hybrids.
~ Provide a panel of professional judges an opportunity to provide constructive criticism to hybridizers so they can focus their efforts in new directions or refine attributes.
~ Raise awareness of what is pleasing to growers and consumers.
~ Promote interest in the industry and among consumers.
~ Inspire and encourage new hobbyists.
~Provide a public venue where possible.
Additional notes:
The New Waterlily Competition Committee handles all administration regarding the NWC. We can use your help during every stage of the process, but especially from September through February:
Jan- Feb: review the NWC rules and categories, make adjustments to the online entry form.
March: Review entries to make sure they are complete and comply with the rules.
April – August: Communicate with the hybridizers and grower(s) as the plants are being grown and observed.
August – September: Invite judges.
September – October: Assemble the judging materials – select photos and create albums for each hybrid, update the online judging form and worksheet.
November: Compile results, select photos of the winners, write press release and journal article.
December: Announce the winners, design and send out the award plaques
Please note that committee members are excluded from participating in that year’s competition as entrants or judges.
Plant Database Committee
2019 Statement of Purpose – Plant Database The purpose of the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society (IWGS) Plant Database is to provide a definitive source of information on all aquatic plants. As the appointed International Cultivar Registration Authority (ICRA) registrar of Nymphaeaceae and Nelumbo, our registrars’ purpose is:
• to register new cultivar names.
• ensure names comply with the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP) • to publish full lists of all cultivar names.
• to maintain records, in as much detail as is practical, of the origin, characteristics and history of each cultivar.
The committee was formed to design, develop and maintain a plant database on the IWGS website. The ongoing work of the committee is to ensure data is correct and act on any new sources of information received. Where there is a conflict in data the committee should make a joint decision on which source is correct.
Social Media Committee
Social media has changed the way we interact and engage in conversation and dialogue and has become an important communication tool for the IWGS. It assists in building communities that actively engage and participate in discussions.
We will use social media for the purpose of:
• Building a loyal IWGS community: we can gather a community of online supporters interested in waterlily and water gardens, and work on engaging with this community in a variety of methods, and build support for our organization
• Educating our IWGS community through online postings from the IWGS and from its members and supporting community, through interactions with them on our social media channels
• Learning from our online Community, through their reactions and feedback
• Improving the visibility of the IWGS and driving traffic to the IWGS website.
Speakers’ Bureau Committee:
To enable IWGS members (internationally) to find suitable speakers for their events, with a longer-term aim of promoting water gardening in general by getting competent speakers on water gardening related topics in front of appropriate audiences.
Symposium Committee:
The purpose of the Symposium Committee is to plan and execute symposia which inspire, inform and motivate, and to give attendees a look into the history & future of water gardening as practiced around the world. It is the responsibility of the committee to provide a multi-functional event offering attendees the opportunity to expand their water gardening knowledge and skills, to investigate new processes and products, and to hear about and observe innovations.
To this end, symposia are planned annually, designed to provide a forum for fellow water gardeners, and meeting the needs of our international community.
As each symposium venue will have its own character, the balance of the following components and the duration of each symposium will also vary:
Educational Programming
Touring
Exhibition
Networking
The committee shall develop and provide oversight for our annual “on the ground” task force, including monitoring budgeting concerns.
Victoria Conservancy Committee:
The genus Victoria is of special interest to the IWGS because of its biological uniqueness, use by botanic gardens and public institutions in capturing public interest in aquatic plants, and the growing need to protect and conserve the ecosystems in which it grows.
The purpose of the IWGS Victoria Conservancy includes:
• Growing, pollinating, and producing seeds of Victoria
• Receiving and processing seed request from members and community partners
• Exchanging pollen rings for a diverse gene pool
• Distributing seeds to IWGS members
• Providing a resource of information for the growth and production of Victoria to IWGS members
• Facilitating trips to observe the plants in their natural habitat and collect fresh seed from the wild to promote a healthy gene pool within the industry.
The Victoria Conservancy is led by the IWGS Board of Directors and is run by the IWGS board, members, and community partners.
Website Committee:
The IWGS Website Committee is tasked with developing and maintaining website content to further the IWGS aim of educating the public about all aspects of water gardening, by providing relevant and up-to-date information to visitors and members. The IWGS website committee offers support to its Board and Committee members through online reference materials and services.
We have a number of upcoming changes to our website this fall and are looking for volunteers that have some or a lot of experience in programming or maintaining website pages.