<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small">Thank you Eric, for letting us know about your concerns re the Group. I confess to being a member of the Facebook Group mentioned previously and find it very useful. I'm not seeing the kind of concerns some have mentioned, in that group, although Facebook can be pretty toxic outside of the various groups I belong to. I get so many emails that they quickly drop out of sight if not dealt with right away and I find that the Facebook Group works better for me. The managing of the Seedex is a big load for anyone to handle and has been a wonderful resource for the seedaholics amongst us. I am sorry to hear that donations have dropped off. it may be that there has been concern about the ability to get seed across borders which may prevent some from taking part. I wonder if it makes sense for members to indicate what seed they expect to have and deal directly with those that want it. At least that would make a same country seed exchange easier? No easy answers. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small">I do want to thank you for the efforts you have put in over the years. I wish I had more success getting viable seed from my various species. The only one that reliably makes seed is one of the early flowering Consanguineum species.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small">Must get the tubers out of the fridge. This is the season.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small">Roslyn</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Apr 6, 2022 at 5:10 AM Gouda, E.J. (Eric) via Arisaema-L <<a href="mailto:arisaema-l@lists.science.uu.nl">arisaema-l@lists.science.uu.nl</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<p>Dear AEG members,</p>
<p>It seems that the only activity left in our group is the Seed
Exchange, which is maybe because of the use of our old fashioned
email discussion list. From the Archives we can learn that there
are little or no discussions beside the SeedEx messages. We have
our own FloraPix Gallery that can be used to post pictures, but
also discuss plants. It is really a pity that it has not been used
much over the last years.</p>
<p>My question is, should we switch to for example Facebook with our
group to activate and modernize our group? Or are we becoming a
fossil group? Unfortunately Ray Stilwell became too old and left
the group in 2007, he was the motor of the group and was not
replaced. I was involved in 1997 or maybe even before and created
the email list and started organizing the website and SeedEx,
which I run for over 20 years now.</p>
<p>If we want to continue the group, I think we need somebody like
Ray who keeps the group enthusiastic and going (live discussions
etc.). I could be involved for the website, seed list and gallery
if needed, but will be not much longer in current position at the
Botanic Garden (1.5 year max, have reached the age of 65 some time
ago).</p>
<p>It is up to you, lets start discuss our future now, before it is
too late.</p>
<p>All the best,</p>
<p>Eric<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p><img src="cid:18004b22ce77be0c23b1" alt=""></p>
<div>-- <br>
<br>
All the best, / Met vriendelijke groet,<br>
Eric<br>
<br>
--<br>
<strong>Drs. E.J. (Eric) Gouda</strong> | Curator Utrecht Botanic
Gardens | Utrecht University | Address Gardens: Budapestlaan 17,
3584 CD Utrecht | Postal Address: P.O. Box 80162, 3508 TD Utrecht,
The Netherlands | +31(0)30 253 9281 | <a href="mailto:e.jgouda@uu.nl" target="_blank">e.jgouda@uu.nl</a>
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</blockquote></div>