Officers of Region 17

	Regional Vice President Debra Strauss 2213 Hereford Midland, TX 79707 432-697-6340 dkstraus@swbell.net	Debbie's first memory of irises was 35 years ago. One morning on my way out the door to school there were six sky blue flags waving in the flower bed around a peach tree. From then on they have been incorporated into her heart. "Life is so full of wondrous and breathtaking things, but my favorite two are my family and my irises." She hase been an Iris Judge for 20 years and loved every one of them. "Every year I get to add new friends, (iris and people) into my life. I introduce everyone I know to the excitement and beauty of the iris. I have encouraged many children to love nature, especially plants and the iris."
	Assistant RVP Jim Landers 710 N. 11th Temple, TX 76501 254-773-5017	Jim has been interested in irises for about twenty years. He is a member of iris clubs in Austin, Belton, and Waco, and the AIS, and several sections of the AIS. He does the Yearbook for the Austin and Belton clubs, and has been editor of the Austin Newsletter for twelve years, and editor for the Region 17 Newsletter for eight years. He enjoys playing in the yard and has about one hundred Tall Bearded varieties and about fifty Louisiana varieties, and a few Spurias. Jim enjoys entering and attending shows, and attending the national conventions.
	Secretary Dell Perry 800 Purcell Dr. Plano, TX 75025 972-816-3418 seandelirises@yahoo.com	Born in Connecticut , she discovered Iris when she was 7-8 years old. I was riding by bike when I saw flashes of color in a creek bed that turned out to be Iris, discarded by the lady in the nearby house. They were so beautiful. I dug them up, took them home, planted them in a small bed I dug, and was amazed that they didn’t die! I forgot all about them after we moved to Dallas , until my sister gave me RED RULER as a Birthday present.about 15 years ago. That cultivar rekindled the love affair that grew from one to 50, then to 150, and now to over 700 different cultivars. She is a member of the American Iris Society, the Fort Worth Iris Society, the Spuria Iris Society, the Iris Society of Dallas, where she is currently Presdent, and Secretary of AIS Region 17.
	Treasurer Ramona Howard 3604 43rd Street Lubbock, TX 79413 806-792-1878 rhoward3604@sbcglobal.net	Ramona has been a member of the South Plains Iris Society since 1964 and of AIS since 1966. She is a Master judge and has gone to nearly every convention since 1981. She has served Region 17 as Judges Training Chairman, Secretary, Editor of the newsletter, RVP and is currently Treasurer. Ramona has served SPIS as every officer and chairperson! She enjoy's judging and giving Judges Training schools throughout the country as well as tutoring new people on their way to becoming judges.
	Immediate Past RVP Dana Brown 1506 S. Aspen Ave. Lubbock, TX 79403 806-746-6002 ddbro@sbcglobal.net	Dana fell in love with irises while pulling weeds in a neighbors' iris patch to earn spending money as a teenager. After planting her first named iris in 1987 she and her husband Vernon quickly grew from 7 iris to over 2100 and have a small commercial iris garden. She has served as President, VP, Secretary, and various Committee Chairs in her local society, South Plains Iris Society and as Judges' Training Chairman for Region 17, prior to becoming RVP for Region 17. She is currently Secretary for the Reblooming Iris Society, on the Board of Directors for Aril Society International, and a member of the Median Iris Society, . She enjoys Judging and giving Judges Training Schools and Programs to societies around the country and in her spare time shows her doberman pinschers in conformation, obedience, and rally.
	Judges' Training Chairman Dell Perry 800 Purcell Dr. Plano, TX 75025 972-816-3418 seandelirises@yahoo.com	Born in Connecticut , she discovered Iris when she was 7-8 years old. I was riding by bike when I saw flashes of color in a creek bed that turned out to be Iris, discarded by the lady in the nearby house. They were so beautiful. I dug them up, took them home, planted them in a small bed I dug, and was amazed that they didn’t die! I forgot all about them after we moved to Dallas , until my sister gave me RED RULER as a Birthday present.about 15 years ago. That cultivar rekindled the love affair that grew from one to 50, then to 150, and now to over 700 different cultivars. She is a member of the American Iris Society, the Fort Worth Iris Society, the Spuria Iris Society, the Iris Society of Dallas, where she is currently Presdent, and Secretary of AIS Region 17.
	Youth Chairperson Stephanie Strauss Yale University PO Box 205127 New Haven, CT 06520-5127 dkstrauss@swbell.net	Hello, I am Stephanie Strauss,. I cannot remember when I did not have iris. My mother tells me when I was a baby, she let me sleep in a swing in the garden while she worked in the iris. I know my brothers had iris plants of their own, and I wanted mine too. I am a member of the West Texas and Permian Basin Iris Societies. I have helped with the iris shows and sales for as long as I can remember, even chairing both for our two locals clubs, more than once. My favorite iris are the broken colors, and the medians. I was able to attend my first National Iris Convention in 2005 in St. Louis, when I received the first R17 Youth Achievement Award in 2004. R17 paid my travel and registration fee. The National AIS Youth Chair Jean Morris invited me to stay with her. It was wonderful. Please check out the Youth Webpage for more information about how to help Texas youth members and about the various youth awards.
	Membership Chairperson Janice Thompson 2970 Luella Rd. Sherman, TX 75090-5151 903-771-6785 ciris03@yahoo.com
	Historian Jim Landers 710 N. 11th Temple, TX 76501 254-773-5017	Jim has been interested in irises for about twenty years. He is a member of iris clubs in Austin, Belton, and Waco, and the AIS, and several sections of the AIS. He does the Yearbook for the Austin and Belton clubs, and has been editor of the Austin Newsletter for twelve years, and editor for the Region 17 Newsletter for eight years. He enjoys playing in the yard and has about one hundred Tall Bearded varieties and about fifty Louisiana varieties, and a few Spurias. Jim enjoys entering and attending shows, and attending the national conventions.
	Newsletter Editor Jim Landers 710 N. 11th Temple, TX 76501 254-773-5017	Jim has been interested in irises for about twenty years. He is a member of iris clubs in Austin, Belton, and Waco, and the AIS, and several sections of the AIS. He does the Yearbook for the Austin and Belton clubs, and has been editor of the Austin Newsletter for twelve years, and editor for the Region 17 Newsletter for eight years. He enjoys playing in the yard and has about one hundred Tall Bearded varieties and about fifty Louisiana varieties, and a few Spurias. Jim enjoys entering and attending shows, and attending the national conventions.