Leaderboard

As someone who ran (unsuccessfully) 2 years ago after only 2 years (the minimum) as an IPS member, I certainly don't claim to have the long term perspective of many posters on this forum. However like many, my passion for Palmtalk and palms are intertwined and are certainly what led me to the IPS. I too would clearly not have joined the IPS without the positive experiences on this forum. I would never have paid my fees for the wonderful Thailand Biennial and traveled without my family to a continent across the world to spend time with almost no one I'd met face to face. So I greatly appreciate the IPS and understand that they are responsible for this forum plus many other worthy ventures. I had the privilege of spending most of our free day in Thailand (in an air conditioned room where there were no palms!) observing a board meeting. I heard about the research grant decisions, none of which went to Board members and the many other issues. I truly felt that the directors in attendance (even when they disagreed with each other) were all trying to do their best. When I was asked if I would be willing to serve on a committee I thought Palmtalk was the logical choice. Behind the scenes is always fine with me except for the not getting to vote part when it counts. As a member of the Palmtalk committee with Bo, Kim, Tim and Dean I have continued my education and appreciation for Palmtalk and most of the time the IPS. I was certainly enthusiastic about helping with the first ever Palmtalk fundraiser in early 2013. One of my goals was to help the IPS notice that members of this forum are willing to give money for something they value. Another reason was to inform more of us about the relationship between the IPS and PT that should not be adversarial. Even though calculating all the direct and indirect $ generated by the fundraiser became a challenge, I assumed that our forum would receive perhaps a compliment and encouragement since we yielded unexpected and unbudgeted $ for the IPS. I am surprised that the end result was different. I trust that it happened out of concern for liability as a crisis reaction and NOT any reflection on or dislike or disdain for Palmtalk itself. A positive outcome of all the recent furor is that those who are IPS members on this forum are now much more likely to vote and learn about the candidates to make an educated choice. I have been approached to run again and in my usual slow and deliberative fashion have not entirely decided. I am clearly strongly pro Palmtalk, but am at the same time not anti IPS. Rushing to separate from the IPS in anyway as an emotional response is no better than the recent vote by the board to cancel PM options. Let's use this chance to be positive rather than just rant. It's great to hear so many people plan to vote and even run for the board and make a difference! Thanks everyone!

One tehnical Q for Dean if possible? Are our conversations saved somewhere on server? Once when all this became a bad memory and message service returned will we get old stuff back? Just a question

Huh? Think you can ID most Pritchardia's? If so stop by and I will test it. Why cross plants that already look so similar? That was my point.

That final sentence says a lot about the situation with the BoD. How many current Directors have no e-mail & itnernet access whatsoever? How many have no clue about the PT and the importance of Private Messaging because they refuse to accept any form of communication outside of telephones and snail mail? How many hate technology and want nothing to do with people who use it?

Palmpedia is a great sight. If IPS goes under, that will be the perfect place to pic up the pieces.

While I have not had the chance yet to read this entire thread, I would offer something on my behalf that has happened. I joined the IPS BEFORE I knew there was a PalmTalk. Yet, it has been PalmTalk that has kept me as an IPS Member as the magazine alone would most likely NOT have the ability to do. But, just as shocking is that at least 5 or more directors have asked me to be a director, and with PalmTalk in play and the friendships it has created, I have given it consideration of more than several minutes and may likely run or apply in the future. If PalmTalk were to disappear in the future, the likelihood of me following thru on that will approach nil.

The Board of Directors must CHANGE! Please vote! Leave Palmtalk as is, or LOSE MY MEMBERSHIP! Ed

Like soooo many of my friends here on PalmTalk. If it goes away, so does my membership to the IPS.

This could end up being the the best thing too happen for palmtalk as many of us really don't have any idea what goes on in the board of directors minds and meetings. The same old people just seem to stay rootbound in the round table by way of self perpetuation as no new people seem to have interest to get involved(me). Seems a great way to take advantage of a stagnant rotting ship and casting off with a new crew on a shiny new vessel into a more progressive forum of palmtalk instead of wasting money on boring IPS print! I too will drop my membership as well.

It seems like we've entered some alternate universe. From what I've read if the BOD gets it's way here it will make Palmtalk and in turn the IPS less inclusive. From comments so far, the IPS will lose a big chunk of the membership, all to alter a very popular website that I think most members feel was working splendidly.

So did I, If Palmtalk change, it'll be a strong sadness and no use anymore, Palm magazine is far not enough for staying in IPS, so I'll leave. Sad regards Philippe

Please don't close Palm Talk. I still have a lot to learn & certainly would not renew my IPS Membership.

As A lot of people I only joined ips because of palm talk. No palm talk, No membership for me Thanks ,Andyf

I was an IPS member last year but haven't renewed yet because of financial hardship. I planned to as soon as the funds were available, but not if Palmtalk is shut down. Even removing the PM function seems ridiculous. I won't be allowed to contact someone asking how their garden is doing, or ask for pictures of a palm that I know they have but don't want to spam the entire board because of one request? I've grown my fair share of palms from seeds mailed to me by incredibly generous palmtalk members that I talked to via PM. If it weren't for this, my garden would be only stuff that I can get at local botanical gardens (Kopsick) because I'm on a very tight budget as far as palms go. The other option is just emailing people, which seems like a work around that nets the same result as allowing PM's to continue. If IPS discontinues Palmtalk I won't renew my membership even when I do get the funds. If they discontinue PM's, I'll post an email my signature if people want to contact me. I hope others do the same.

Apologies in advance for being so outspoken about this however, any decision taken to radically change or remove PT would be disastrous! PalmTalk is without a doubt, THE definitive source of information and knowledge for palm lovers and collectors worldwide. Not only that, but it is a place where fellow enthusiast can come and share their pictures, their thoughts and even a joke or two. For me, living here in Vietnam, PT is about the only place where I can come and share my enthusiasm with others, as people with the same potty obsession as myself are a rare as hen's teeth in this neck of the woods. However, the fact remains that if the BoDs wish to alienate a large percentage of IPS members, then they are going the right way about it. For me PalmTalk is the IPS and without this board, I too will walk away.....

I just the other day received an email notification that my IPS membership dues were due in January 2014. If Palmtalk goes away, I go away with it. No more IPS dues from me. So Board of Directors -- take heed!

I will not renew my membership if PT goes away. This year I did $15k worth of business with IPS members through Palmtalk. Now I would normally not post my financial dealings publicly, but as many of you know this year was pretty special for me. Palmtalk was critical in all of my palm buying decisions. It provided a primary source of information and subsequent communication. It allowed me to interact with knowledgeable experts in the field quickly and efficiently. This economic activity would probably have never occurred without my associations gained by frequent Palmtalk use. I spoke with a local nurseryman today about the acquisition of mule palm seedlings for his retail business. I directed him towards Palmtalk members who have these plants available. More possible legitimate business activity made possible by PT. It would be a shame to lose this resource. Again.....I will not renew my membership if PT goes away

There's not an inkling in hell that I would remain a member of the IPS without PalmTalk. It is the only reason I'm a member. PERIOD. What value is the IPS without the community. Get the messenger working pronto. This is like the U.S. government discontinuing collecting taxes for fear of related liabilities. Palmtalk is the only, I repeat, only reason, you are relevant in any way, shape or form. You absolutely seal the demise of your organization.

I sincerely hope the IPS board does not follow through and close the Palmtalk forum . If it wasn't for PT i would not have joined the IPS and still would only have 5 species of palm own my property instead of 65 species @ 43 Deg south ! Not to mention that in this online instant media society where members can and expect to be exposed to online advice and information related to all aspects of palm cultivation /habitat photos etc would be in my opinion a backward step for sure . Also i have made a lot of great friends through this forum in Australia and in the USA ! Goes without saying that if there is no more PT i won't be rejoining the IPS ! Troy

Time to clean house. BOD out or I am.

I have been a member of the IPS for more than thirty years. Palmtalk is a very resourceful tool.It is probably the only source of recruiting new members. Wake up people! No Palmtalk, No more IPS for me and others!

My IPS membership expires at the end of this year. I'll hang on to my money until there is a resolution confirming that Palmtalk will continue in it's current form.

My membership in IPS is up for renewal right now.......think I might hang on to my money until the fossils on the BOD get a reality check or die, either option is suitable. I have sent and received plants and seeds from all over the world which would have been impossible without palm talk. One day they will realise that PT is an asset not a liability that they seem to see it as. PO'd Peachy

Dean - how about getting together a petition of IPS members on palmtalk to present to the board with our point of view and an ultimatum regarding future membership. If we could get an idea of numbers, we could present them with an actual $ figure that would be lost to the IPS in dues recieved - extrapolated out for say five years for maximum impact. Unfortunately money talks... Cheers, Jonathan

I wouldn't have half my palm collection without seed organised through PM's and the generosity of members of this forum, legal or not - it's no-ones business except mine. Can someone put up here a list of board nominees we can vote for who are less senile than the people responsible for this direction? My IPS membership is over if this goes through. Cheers, Jonathan

No palmtalk on member ship from Bill .

Bad bad bad. No Palmtalk no membership from me. This is the only part of the ips that I use. HUGE mistake

With only 2 min to respond I can tell you that if palm talk went away, so would my yearly IPS renewal. I don't care to get a paper in the mail every few months talking about directors. That's what the IPS gives me. I would rather put my yearly money into Palmtalk because it gives me a daily feeding of all the knowledge I can handle, plus the friendships are invaluable, especially since 99% of them are from other places. Really bad move for the IPS, Palmtalk is the glue that holds the palm community together and is a need for our younger generation of palm people.

I too only joined the IPS due to myself being active on Palmtalk and I thought if the IPS support Palmtalk then I should support the IPS. If Palmtalk is no longer around I doubt I will renew my IPS membership? I also thought that loss leaders were a strategic marketing tool and pay per view would no doubt exclude a decent percentage of pt users, this surely diminishes interest in palms and hinders the sharing of knowledge and advancement of palm promotion??

If we lose Palm Talk, the IPS loses me.