Wednesday! I can hardly wait! Will this on-line issue replace the printed one for #3 of 2010?

-Babka

Babka... yes, it will replace the third issue for each year. I'm told by one of the editors that because it's online, and therefore cheaper to put out, it'll have LOTS more good stuff in it!

Right...the third issue of the year will now be online. I think (hope!) everyone will be pleasantly surprised...lots of interesting articles, lots of photos, some newsy tidbits, a couple historical items...

yeah josh.. i am pleasantly surprised..

the value of my life membership was just reduced by 1/3

ken

Not reduced, Ken, just delivered in a different format. In fact, members are getting a whole lot more content in this online issue than has ever been delivered in a single paper Journal.

I don't know anyone who WANTS to trade one issue of the top notch paper Journal for a digital version. The unfortunate reality is that something significant had to change in order to keep the Society financially sound. If the AHS continued down the road it was on, your life membership would be completely worthless, because there would be no AHS!

The web offers many opportunities and technologies that you would never find in a paper publication...one being unlimited space! This may not be your preferred situation, but it certainly is better than cutting out one issue completely.

The new online Journal won't be everyone's cup of tea. All the AHS asks is that you understand why the decision was made. It would also be nice if people could hold of judgment until they have actually seen the finished product ;)

And in the interest of full disclosure, yes, I am on the committee that put this project together.

And also in the interest of full disclosure Ken........I doubt that there were 3 journals published when you bought your LT membership nor was it even a twinkle in anyone's eye :)

If the AHS continued down the road it was on, your life membership would be completely worthless, because there would be no AHS!

====>>>>

true ... true ... but then again.. its all about me ....

ken

Well, I for one, am THRILLED with the new format. I'm a good ways into reading it. I just opened Ken Harris' article.

Thanks to Josh and Ken for their hard work on this new venture. I think it's great!

Is it downloadable as pdf file or only viewable as multiple html pages?
I don't like to read lots of pages on a computer screen, I prefer paper. A pdf is easy to print.
As a European AHS member, the printed journal is one of my principal reasons to stay member.

Ronny

I just peeked at a few articles and am very, very pleased. I want to know more about the hosta "Second Coming" pictured on the back cover, which looks like a broader version of Gosan Line-up. Nothin' like a green leaf with yellow veins to pique the interest here.

-Babka

Ronny, there is not a pdf version. Sorry! However, the html pages should print pretty well, so you can print the articles that you would like to read.

So great to hear the support from everyone! The Online Journal Committee is monitoring all the feedback, so we can try our best to give AHS members a valuable product.

Well, like everyone else, I've been wading through the new online Hosta Journal and I'm still trying to formulate a final opinion of it. I'll be the first one to say that I'd rather have a paper copy- bound and full of wonderful color photos- that I can just pull off my shelf and flip through in the evening on those long winter nights. Or grab on my way out the door to read over and over again on my breaktime at work. But at the same time, I understand the realities of dwindling membership along with the increasing costs of printing and mailing paper copies throughout the year. Like they say, money doesn't grow on trees (or in our hosta gardens, either!).

Probably like you, I was quite skeptical of the value and usability of an online magazine when I first heard about it several months ago. I couldn't see how it would be nearly as good as a printed copy. And I thought that any benefits of an online Journal would be minimal compared with a hard copy in my hand.

My first impression of the online Journal was very positive soon after it was posted earlier this week. First of all, it was easily accessible. Secondly, it was formatted exactly like my printed Journal, which I found quite helpful. Thirdly, it was chuck full of MANY great articles and good photos. Fourthly, it was easy to use and I could enlarge the photos for better viewing, with the click of my mouse. Fifthly, it was very professional looking, just like the printed version. And fifthly, I haven't lost it yet, whereas my paper copies are usually left all over the house- on my desk, the magazine rack, and under the bed after I'm done reading in the evening. I know where to find the online Journal.

Like you, I'm gradually making my way through all of the articles in the online Journal. There's definately way too much good information to just plop down and read all the way through in one sitting. I scoured around and found some of my old Journals, and saw that the printed Journals have about 82-84 pages of material. With the new online Journal, I've tallied up all the articles and discovered that there's a whopping total of 203 pages!!! (See the tally sheet below.) If there's any criticism, it's that the new online Journal is a bit overwhelming! But that's a good criticism, as I appreciate being overwhelmed with hosta material like this! The more great photos of gardens and hostas I can browse, the better!

I found there's stuff in the online Journal for everyone- amateur and professional alike. Some of it is very practical, some of it scientific/technical.

Overall, my current opinion is that the online Journal is wonderful and the multitude of volunteers who've dedicated so much time and work to bring all of us such a great resource have done an outstanding job! A big "thank you" to all who were involved!

A couple of questions I have are: Will each edition of the online Journal remain on the AHS website indefinately, for future reference? If I let my AHS membership lapse or expire, will I lose my ability to access the online Journals which I've paid for when my membership was current? Just curious how it will work in the future.

And now, back to the online Journal. Happy reading!

How long is the new online Journal?

Front Cover- 1 page
Contents- 3 pages
About the New Online Journal- 3 pages
Notes From the Editors- 4 pages
President's Message- 2 pages
Letters from Readers- 1 page
Divisions- 3 pages
This and That: 2010- 6 pages
Standout Hostas- 3 pages
Holistic Hosta Gardening- 3 pages
Hot Hostas- 2 pages
Focused on Hostas- 3 pages
Preparing for a Convention Tour in My Garden- 4 pages
Handling a Poorly Rooted Division- 3 pages
A Southern Blight Strategy- 3 pages
2010 Alex J. Summers Distinguished Merit Award- 6 pages
2010 Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Merit Award- 4 pages
2010 Benedict Garden Performance Program- 1 page
Other 2010 American Hosta Society Awards- 2 pages
The Traver Garden- A Treasure in those Wolcott Hills- 3 pages
What's a Mini Hosta? Update, Critique & Where to Next?- 5 pages
Building a Permanent Raised Bed- 4 pages
A Hosta of a Different Color- 4 pages
Reflections on the AHS Alex J. Summers Award- 5 pages
Reprint of 1982 Summers Award Speech- 4 pages
Report on the HVX Research Program- 4 pages
Harold McDonell: A New Facet Revealed- 4 pages
What's New at Q and Z? - An Interview with Mark Zilis- 5 pages
Fall Slug Control- 3 pages
Centerfold- 2 pages
2010 National Convention, Bloomington MN- 61 pages!
Winter Scientific- 3 pages
Hosta College- 4 pages
First Look 10- 4 pages
Midwest Regional- 2 pages
Dixie Regional- 2 pages
Our Next Convention Hosts- 4 pages
Is Your Membership Current?- 2 pages
Conventions, CONVENTIONS, Conventions- 2 pages
AHS Online Auction 2011 - Rally 'Round!- 2 pages
Call for Nominations for Summers and Fisher Awards- 4 pages
Where are the Guest Plants?- 3 pages
AHS Announcements- 2 pages
Board of Directors- 3 pages
Our Advertisers- 5 pages
Back Cover- 1 page
________________________

Grand Total - 203 pages!!!

Josh,
I really like the on-line journal. I would rather have 2 printed journals and one on-line each year than just 2 printed journals each year. The articles are excellent. The southern blight info superb and very helpful. It is easy to copy and print what I wanted to save. One suggestion on the garden photos, it would be nice to have a next button instead of having to go back and forth to see all the photos. Keep up the good work. By the way, why limit accesability to only members? Why not let the public see and learn more about hostas? Why drive them to other websites to learn? And, why not let the public see how beautiful a hosta garden can be? It probably would creat more interest in hostas and generate more members. Just a thought.

Darn-forgot where I wrote down the password! Off to search. :(

Wow, Don! What an in depth analysis! The page count comparison is quite impressive...something the staff had not calculated directly.

swmogardens...I will make sure your photo browsing suggestion is put on the list of suggestions.

Part of the perks of being an AHS member is having access to the Journals, in whatever form. The public areas of the website contain basic info about hostas, and in time the info will be revamped, updated, and added to. The AHS is volunteer driven, so time and willing helpers are always in short supply.

cyn427...if you can't locate the password, contact Sandie, the Membership Secretary...

Here is a link that might be useful: Membership Secretary