Joseph (Joe) Musacchia has served the Society for Louisiana Irises (SLI) in many ways over the past decades. He has served on the Board of Directors, as Vice President and as President of the Society. Joe attended many hours of instruction to become a judge with the American Iris Society (AIS). He obtained Master Judge status many years ago and has devoted long hours in judging irises, judging exhibitions and training new judges. Joe has hybridized many irises and has always been willing to contribute hours of labor for the Society and for the Greater New Orleans Iris Society. He always donates many of his latest hybrid Louisiana irises to the live auction. He has organized iris exhibitions and worked in each of these events at every annual convention of the Society. He collected the necessary registration information from AIS and each year produced the valuable SLI checklist DVD. Joe was often one of the bus captains during the convention tours and his jocularity and knowledge of the area always kept the members on his bus laughing and informed. Whenever any job needs doing, Joe jumps right in and sees that the job is done and done well.

It is with the heartfelt appreciation of the Officers, Board Members, and members of the Society, that we present Joseph Musacchia with the highest award given by the Society, the Distinguished Merit Award.