Jim Welch, RVP Region 1, has been growing irises since 1956, although his love for them goes back to childhood. He hybridizes and has a couple of promising seedlings. He is a native of New Hampshire, a graduate of St. Anselm's College, is married to the former Therese Dubreuil, and they have one son, Matthew, age one. Jim is employed by the State of New Hampshire as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and also is an Amway distributor.¹