Considerations and Reasons for Renaming INPAWS
As most of you know this year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of our Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society. It has been an amazing 25 years! It’s certainly a time of celebration and joy as we look back at all that has been achieved over the years. But it’s also a time to look forward to our next 25 years and beyond and focus on how best to further our advocacy of native plants and the natural areas in which they grow. I think that one way to do this is to modify our organization’s name.
First, please know that I intend no disrespect to those who crafted the original name. I greatly appreciate the dedication and wonderful work that so many capable and hardworking people have done over the past 25 years. Regardless of name, much good has been accomplished, and I – like others – am most grateful.
Here’s a little background about our current name as I understand it. In the early organizational meetings of the society it was clear that the focus was on native plants, specifically plants native to Indiana. With that being clear the task then became to coin a name. It was recommended to use the term wildflower, arguing it was familiar to many people, especially gardeners. Twenty-five years ago the “native” movement was not as well understood nor embraced by the public as it is today, so it was understandable to use wildflower. But what about the native non-flowering plants, such as conifers, ferns, and bryophytes? Shouldn’t we promote and protect them as well? Of course, and thus “native plant” was chosen to join the term “wildflower.”
Thus we became the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society. And while well intended, I think that the combination of native plant and wildflower has led to some confusion that possibly detracts from our mission.
My first impression upon hearing the name Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society was that there were two different entities being advocated, viz., native plants, and wildflowers. But aren’t wildflowers native plants? Yes, it would seem (but see below), so why the repetition? One explanation given to me was that the combination works because “native” modifies both plants and wildflowers, with “plant” representing native vegetation without flowers, and “wildflower” representing native vegetation that has flowers. But I don’t think most people intuitively read it that way, instead viewing wildflowers as somehow different from native plants. It isn’t clear that the “plants” being referred to are non-flowering plants, or whether “wildflowers” are native plants, or not.
If we read “native plants” as separate from wildflowers, with “native” modifying plants but not wildflowers, there is the risk that “wildflower” could be understood to include naturalized exotic plants with flowers. In a sense they are wild flowers, being uncultivated, non-garden plants growing in the wild. As you well know, some non-native flowering plants that have gone wild are quite invasive, such as garlic mustard and purple loosestrife.
I hope that you’re appreciating the multiple ways of interpreting our society’s name and the confusion it can cause. And the structure of having both “native plant” and “wildflower” in our organization’s name seems awkward. Consider your first impression when reading the following fabricated names of hypothetical organizations using the same structure as ours: The Montana Native Fish and Wild Trout Society, or The Ohio Native Bird and Wild Fowl Society. Doesn’t it sound like there are two entities being represented in each of them, that they are somehow considered different, or the same, depending on how you read them? My point is that using the second part of each of these organizations’ names can be confusing. Both terms of each name aren’t necessary when the first, more inclusive and clearer term will do.
The object of our organization’s focus is, as stated in our mission statement: To promote the appreciation, preservation, scientific study, and use of plants native to Indiana. This statement clearly says that we’re promoting native plants of Indiana. No redundancy, no question about whether the plant has or needs flowers, no possible multiple interpretations, no confusion. “Native Plant” accounts for them all; “wildflower” does not. Thus, perhaps it would be best to no longer use “wildflower” in our organization’s name.
While having “native plant” and “wildflower” together in the organization’s name might seem to be a minor issue to some, consider the confusion caused by the acronym formed by them. In my casual polling of people who’ve never heard of INPAWS (and don’t know me or my interests), the dominant response given when asked about the focus of such a group was one that involves cats and/or dogs. Ask others yourself and see what I mean. This was exemplified at INPAWS’ 2017 native plant sale by TV personality and humorist Dick Wolfsie. At the start of the plant auction, for which he was auctioneer, he expressed his confusion caused by the INPAWS (my bolding) signs when arriving at the venue. He thought he must have made a wrong turn, as this event wasn’t about native plants, but about pets! While perhaps he was looking for an opportunity for humor, the possible confusion caused by the acronym was at least apparent enough to mention it.
I am aware that change is difficult, and altering our name and our acronym after 25 years will likely cause some anxiety. Yet I believe this change is for the best, this coming from one who is not a fan of changes either. But I gave up Aster for Symphyotrichum (common name still aster!) and Athyrium for Deparia (silvery spleenwort, a fern), because there were good reasons to do so. I even learned to say PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) after it succeeded NET (National Educational Television) many years ago.
Coming up with a new and catchy acronym can be challenging and fun, and I think it has value, but I don’t think an acronym should be as important as the name it represents. The goal for our name is foremost to accurately and without confusion reflect our advocacy for native plants. And it should clearly identify our geographic affiliation (Indiana, Hoosier, etc.). Like many similar organizations across the country, many simply combine the geographic area and interest, e.g., Minnesota Native Plant Society, or Midwest Native Plant Society. The majority of state native plant groups are “(state name) Native Plant Society.” I’m not necessarily proposing that Indiana Native Plant Society is the only option, as I think there are other possibilities for name and acronym, but I do think it is simple, clear and accurate. And it’s succinct; Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society is a bit long; maybe if our name was shorter we wouldn’t feel the need for an acronym. (Note: We shouldn’t be deterred from using Indiana Native Plant Society just because there are other organizations with the same initials, such as Illinois Native Plant Society and Idaho Native Plant Society. No other one will be uniquely “Indiana” like we will be.)
Since our members are what make the organization what it is, we the board and council would like to get your thoughts and comments about this proposal. Additionally, if you’re interested in offering a name and acronym, please provide us with your suggestions. We welcome them all, ones that are “catchy” or otherwise. The board, council and I will take them under serious consideration. Please feel free to contact me at: president@inpaws.org
Respectfully yours,
Michael Homoya, INPAWS President