IVA Members:
WELCOME to the newly formed AMERICAN VIOLET SOCIETY (AVS) And please
accept our apologies for the silence of these last months while various
changes were taking place in connection with our former and much loved,
International Violet Association (IVA).
On Sunday, February 28, 1999 and right
after the closing of activities of the successful Violet conference held
in Toulouse (France), sponsored by the International Violet Association
and organized by "'Les Amis de la Violette," a special meeting was held
by IVA members and officers present at the event. The purpose of this
gathering was to discuss the immediate future of the International Violet
Association (IVA). The one issue that was evident to all participants was
that both the European and North American memberships' needs, including
legal standing and fiscal requirements were decidedly different. Therefore,
and in order to help this unique organization survive, major changes were
warranted. As a result, a few IVA members in the United States and Canada
decided to regroup, and as a first step, create The American Violet Society
as a non-profit organization, and define new goals, guidelines and strategies.
One major consideration was to emphasize the deserved role of the violet in
the horticultural and ecological landscapes of North America. Let us assure
you that our new focus on North American violets does not imply cutting ties
with violet enthusiasts in Europe and other countries in the world. On the
contrary, our connections and interests, as in the past, extend to all areas
around the world. In fact, several of our 'foreign' violet friends,
internationally known correspondents and experts have agreed to continue with
their advisory roles within the new American Violet Society. Similarly, the
AVS has been successful in attracting to its Board of Directors key violet
experts from national academic center and horticultural circles. Such group
of distinguished advisors and contributors can only enhance the work we all
do on behalf of violets.
As we enter this new chapter, there is much in store with regard to our work
in the promotion of violets in the United States and abroad. The AVS intends
to have a presence around the country by forming regional chapters, and just
as before, workshops and special events and much more will continue to be developed.
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