Spuria Iris Society

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This page provides history and information about Spuria Iris, the Spuria Iris Society, and the Eric Nies Award and Medal. All of the attachments are available for you to print or download.

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Use this link to view Spuria Iris Society Newsletters included in the Encyclopedia.

For more information on the Spuria Iris Society please visit the Spuria Iris Society website.

1952

On May 18, 1952 the AIS Board of Directors established the Eric Nies Award for Spuria Irises.

During that same month, on May 27, 1952 the Society for Spuria Iris organized as a subsection of the American Iris Society holding its first meeting at the home of Mrs John E. Green, Jr. in Houston Texas.

In the April 1952 Bulletin there appeared a Memoriam for Eric E. Nies.

In the July 1952 Bulletin there was an announcement "Trial of Iris Spuria and Its Hybrids".

1953

In the April 1953 Bulletin the "Ladder of Success" for Spuria Iris was forcast.

1959

From the Minutes of the the 14-15 November 1959 Board of Directors' Meeting in New Orleans, LA it was voted that any Special Interest Iris Society may become a SECTION of the AIS and that any Iris Society may become an AFFILIATE of the AIS.

1960

In the April 1960 Bulletin there was an article which speaks of the Spuria Iris Society as a Section of the AIS.

In the July 1960 Bulletin appeared the first listing of the Spuria Iris Society as an AIS Section along with the Median Iris Society and The Society for Siberian Irises.

1991

From the BOD meetings November 1-3, 1991 minutes, "All of the existing AM-equivalent awards shall be elevated to metal status".

1993

The BOD initiated eligibility for the Nies Medal during the 30 October - 1 November, 1992 Board of Directors Meeting.

In 1993 the first Eric Nies Medal was awarded. Previously the Eric Nies Award was equivalent to an Award of Merit. Note that most classifications within the AIS Awards System began with Award of Merit (AM) equivalent Awards, later elevated to Medal status. At this transition, previous Award winners from a specified period of time re-competed for the higher Medal honors. 'Cinnamon Stick', 'Son Of Sun', and 'Betty Cooper' all won both the Eric Nies Award and subsequently the Eric Nies Medal.

2017

The Niswonger Trophy was created at the 2017 LA convention and is awarded only at Spuria Conventions by the Spuria Iris Society. The trophy was named in honor of Dave Niswonger from a list of several hybridizers who made significant contributions to the spuria culture and society. The trophy goes to the most voted on spuria seen at any of the convention gardens that has been introduced within the 10 previous years. The intent is to honor and encourage hybridizers to continue their support of the spuria culture.

The AIS Encyclopedia Manager can be contacted at aisencyclopedia@irises.org

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