International Newsletter, January 2026: International Office Note, AI’s use for IPPS Proceedings, Events in 2026, Membership Renewal
Executive Director’s Note
As we welcome the new year, the IPPS Office extends our sincere thanks to our members, regions, sponsors, and volunteers around the world. Your commitment to sharing knowledge, advancing plant propagation and production, and supporting one another is what makes IPPS a truly global community.
We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to our sponsors. Your generous support plays a vital role in strengthening IPPS programs, enhancing educational opportunities, and enabling us to serve our members and regions worldwide. We are grateful for your continued partnership and investment in the future of plant production.
The year ahead brings new opportunities to strengthen connections across regions, travel for regional and International IPPS conferences and tours, and continue fostering collaboration among professionals at every stage of their careers. From regional meetings and international tours, exchanges to research, scholarships, and professional development, IPPS remains dedicated to supporting the work you do every day.
We look forward to another year of learning together, building relationships, and growing our collective impact. Thank you for being an essential part of IPPS, and we wish you a successful, productive, and inspiring year ahead.
Happy New Year!
IPPS International Office
Unlocking IPPS Proceedings with AI: Faster Insights, Better Results
The IPPS Proceedings represent decades of shared knowledge from propagators around the world. With over 70 volumes covering research, case studies, and practical techniques, they are one of the Society’s most valuable member resources. Searching these volumes has always been a challenge – enter AI. Thanks to an idea from Dr. David Sanford, ER Member, our Executive Director ran some tests and found that new AI-powered tools are making it easier than ever to search the Proceedings and quickly uncover relevant information.
By using AI to search the IPPS Proceedings, members can move beyond simple keyword searches. AI can analyze large collections of text to summarize key findings, and present connections across multiple years of content. Instead of paging through numerous volumes, users can receive concise summaries that highlight the most applicable information for their specific question or challenge.
One of the most powerful advantages is traceability. AI-generated summaries can point users directly to the original IPPS Proceedings volume where the information appears, making it easy to verify sources, explore the full paper, and cite the original work. This ensures that while the search process is faster, the integrity and value of the original research are preserved.
Whether you are researching a propagation technique, reviewing historical information, or preparing for a presentation, AI can help you efficiently locate high-quality, relevant content within the IPPS
Proceedings—often revealing insights you may not have discovered otherwise.
As technology continues to evolve, IPPS remains committed to helping members access and apply our collective knowledge more effectively. The combination of AI tools and the depth of IPPS Proceedings offers an exciting new way to learn from the past while advancing the future of plant propagation and production.
To use AI to assist in searching the Proceedings, follow these recommendations:
Be specific in the information looking for (e.g. Cornus propagation)
Be sure to add a line specifying to look ONLY in IPPS Proceedings
For example: “Search only IPPS Proceedings for information on Cornus propagation” (if your selected AI search states the Proceedings are exclusive member-only content, remind it that all but the most recent volume are available to the public)
Your results should include selected volumes with page numbers and titles of the articles and a summary of the respective article
Renewal Instructions
As we approach the end of 2025, please note that most regions have membership expiration dates of December 31. You should begin receiving reminder emails to renew your membership in the coming weeks. Below are step-by-step instructions on how to complete your renewal (a downloadable version with images is also attached).
Membership Renewal Instructions
- Visit ipps.org and then select your region from the drop-down menu (Tip: You can also go directly to your regional homepage, such as ena.ipps.org; aus.ipps.org, etc.)
- Click “Login”
- Enter your username and password
- After logging in, you should automatically be directed to your membership account page. If not, click “My IPPS” to access it.
- Under “My Memberships”, you will see a “RENEW” button if your membership is eligible for renewal. If instead your see “Change” and “Cancel Membership”, your membership may not yet be within the 30-day renewal window, or you may be encountering a technical issue during this first renewal cycle on the new website. If problems persist, please contact your regional secretary or the International Director (directoripps@gmail.com).
- Note: Some regions offer an automatic renewal option that will charge your credit card once per year. If you would like to enroll in this feature and your region supports it, please select “Change” first and switch to the
“Individual Membership, Auto Renewal” option before proceeding. (If you were an existing “Auto-renew” member for ERNA on the old website, this information did NOT transfer over and you will need to re-register for the auto-renew option). - Click “Renew”, update your personal information, and submit your payment. Payment options are up to your region (check, credit card, bank transfer, etc.)
Thank you for renewing your membership – we look forward to another successful year together!
2026 Upcoming Events
Regional Conferences:
Southern Africa: March 3 – 5, 2026
New Zealand: April 30 – May 3, 2026
Australia: May 26 – 29, 2026
Western Region of North America: September 1 – 4, 2026
Eastern Region of North America: September 22 – 25, 2026 (during International Tour)
Europe: September 30 – October 2, 2026
Southern Region of North America: October 18 – 22, 2026
International Tour 2026: Hosted by the Eastern Region of North America, the long tour will start on September 11, 2026, with the short tour starting on September 18, 2026, and both tours concluding on September 25, 2026. More information is available at:
https://ena.ipps.org/event/2026-international-tour/
*Please note these dates could change as regions finalize their conference details. Visit your regional website through ipps.org for the most up-to-date information!