How to get new members for a orchid society?

[Orchidnut]

Thanks for your Idea, We have done that already to mixed reviews!

[Baz in Oz]

How many of us didn't start off with ONE orchid? Its a little like eating peanuts; once you start.... We have to get that first plant in their houses.

Clubs have to keep new members coming in at the bottom otherwise they fade away with only the old stalwarts remaining. And its not just orchid clubs who are suffering.

Maybe its the economy and maybe its our modern lifestyle. People are too busy watching brain destroying sitcoms and commercials on TV to need clubs.

Baz

[Cym Ladye]

I have found over many years that what draws new people in is EDUCATION! Not only demos at garden shows but Hands On workshops where people can bring in a plant and learn from more experienced growers.

Our club may be fortunate in growing primarily Cymbidiums in Northern California (Gold Coast Cymbidium Growers), but we keep our dues at $10; auctioned off a few donated plants at every meeting our first year to gain revenue and now have an annual auction of incredible plants from our members.

We just finished our 13th annual show and found we are already outgrowing the new venue we found last year to replace our first venue because so many members wanted to exhibit! We continue to gain new members (27 at this show) and continue to offer free seedlngs for each new or renewing membership. At the show, we offered a drawing for a specimen plant for those who became members at the show.

Free hands-on workshop for members, $8.00 for non members each year. Members may sell their divisions through the club at each meeting and at the sale. No commercial vendors. Commercial growers who speak are given the opportunity to sell plants, however.

Each year we buy select quality seedlings from top orchid growers and resell to the members at only a slight mark-up.

And along with the benefits to the members. we seem to have friendly, outgoing, knowledgeable, orchid growers. We have a "plant doctor" at each meeting to help solve problems from leaves brought in in sealed bags. We test for virus and sell the Agdia home test kits. Again, service.

Good luck in getting started and in keeping going. You have had a lot of great ideas from a lot of members here on the OB.

Cym Ladye

[goodgollymissmolly]

I don't want to be a nag in presenting my own point of view, but here is an example of some of the above suggestions in action. A club near me puts on a great show at a very opportune date in a great municipal venue. Attendance from the relatively large city is high and many of the public buy a lot from the vendors.

All these are good things so the club started to try and capture some of these folks. They succeeded. At one show they got 49 new members who paid $20 dues on the spot in return for a seedling and a schedule of meetings that included three great, nationally known speakers in the following 12 months.

So I followed up with the club. They estimate that 90% of the people who paid $20 never attended a meeting and of the other 10% none continue to come to meetings after one year...most only attended a single meeting.

The problem here is not limited to orchids. All horticultural activities are down...daylilies, roses, hostas, and orchids. I don't know about the other popular potted plant..African violets. I also understand that church attendance is down too. I can't verify that.

IMHO, computers and the internet have absolutely nothing to do with this and Twitter and Facebook (useless as they are) are not likely the answers. Before someone labels me technophobic I suggest that you consider I am an engineer with 36 years of IBM R&D experience...I'm far from technophobic or technology star struck. I just don't think people change much just because something new comes along. CB radio was a new thing in the 70's. We could drive around sounding like truck drivers..."How 'bout ya southbound Corn Flakes, how's the bears in the Queen City?" Go back and listen to that song.

Consider that golf, bass fishing, and tennis are down too. These are not things that are "old" people's sports and not influenced by the internet. God knows most bass fishermen (I'm one so I can bash them at my own risk) don't even own a computer and in many cases any teeth either. They do own $50,000 bass boats with the latest in electronics financed for 10 years.

I'm reduced to the "it's the economy stupid" theory. Is this a cyclical down economy period? Don't know, hope so, 'fraid it isn't, hope I'm wrong.

[ginnibug]

Let me first of all say that I do agree with MIssMolly BUT in my experience societies in general have been declining for longer than just the last crappy years. I have been an orchid society member for approximately 12 years and we too get new people to sign up and they will come for awhile but then discover that they are just too busy with other things to take the time. Rocket J. Squirrel is also right! I think orchid people just happen, they aren't made. But you can never stop trying!!!

Here every county has an extension service through Purdue University for a Master Gardeners program. These people are already interested in gardening (as said previously) so they should also be receptive. I would have liked to have known about the different societies while I was going through my Master Gardenership.ginnibug

[goodgollymissmolly]

Basically I agree with you and I agree that orchid people just happen on their own not because we caused it.

I also agree that declining membership has been happening since the late 90's. The stagnant and now declining middle class wages and jobs began in the 70's and gradually gained traction. It's only in the 21st century that it's become very noticeable. The middle class used all it's ideas to keep up their standard of living....savings, wives working, credit, home loans and so on. That's the reason I don't think this will turn around any time soon, if ever. I suggest we get used to what we have and work with it.

As an aside..we have a very active Master Gardeners group here. We presented a program on native orchids by a nationally known personality. We had nearly 150 people attend because this person presents many talks that require admission. We were free. Many of the attendees were Master Gardeners and we hoped they might be interested in the club....they were not...not one ever joined or came back. Maybe your experience will be different.

[orchids3]

I belong to two orchid societies at this time. Frankly the new one - 3 years old in a small nearby city is thriving. You cant tell me that new societies cant grow and thrive - Have seen it with my own eyes. The attitude of the people is good and the society gives a lot of chance to interact with other growers. Kiki club (hands on sessions) between meetings are very popular. When you do have a place to represent your society like garden shows,
repotting clinics, and shows - do it wisely. Have a raffle plant of quality that people put their names in a box for with addresses or "Email " addresses. Keep inviting them - remind new members the same way.
Have good programs and some time for people to talk to each other. Have beginner classes. Have a participating society where people have the chance to participate and make it plain that it is more fun if they participate.
Societies cycle a little bit - up and down - old to young. Just make it something for as many people as possible.

[james mickelso]

I belonged to a bonsai club here in san diego for decades. Out of a population of over a million souls, we had varying numbers but never more than 50 at any one time. Look around you. Clubs of any kind have few members. It is the current state of hobbies. But persevere. Do demonstrations on earth day. Go to malls and have demonstrations. Old folks homes. Other floral clubs. Home Depot. Lowes. Wallmart. Anywhere you can demonstarte the joy of orchids. If nothing else make up a couple hundred flyers and put them in mail boxes. Just a thought.

[pipsxlch]

A big part of my start in orchids (okay, many many years ago) was mall shows- not just a booth with pamphlets, but displays and stuff for sale. Might be a good way to reach people who never thought of orchids, but once they get to know them they're hooked. Might be cost prohibitive though?

For myself, I'm not a member of any local groups because a. I work retail and try having money for these luxuries on barely over minimum part time, a new plant alone is a rare treat b. gas is expensive and the local groups I'm aware of are all 20+ miles away c. I was a member of 2 years ago, one was nothing but bickering and that was a big turnoff d. my job forces me to be available 24/7, work a random schedule, and only get next week's schedule a couple days before it begins; it's hard and just plain disheartening to never be able to plan ahead to attend scheduled things like society meetings and a waste of money when I can't ever attend. I don't know what you could do about this.

My reasons may not fit for all, but most people I know are in a similar boat work-wise and have had to give up on even watching series TV unless they can record it. Unless the employment market improves, I see no breaking of the ice.

[trinityoaks]

Most agriculturally based endeavors are on the decline. Orchid-growing is not alone.

A lot of these ideas are great, but they're geared toward those who already have orchids, are going to shows, garden clubs, etc. You want to attract NEW people, YOUNG people.

Why not have a no-competition show/display at a shopping mall once every quarter? Make it beautiful and attractive, lots of informative, well-written handouts, with club members on hand to answer questions and "talk up" the orchids. Maybe get the cooperation of a local grower or bigbox store to have some orchids available for sale (if the mall will permit it) and have a few for a free drawing, as well.

Also, take a look at your meetings. Are they all lectures? Planning for orchid shows? What percentage are hands-on? How long is the business portion of the meeting? Are the younger members encouraged to contribute, lead, and perhaps even run for club office? Is it fun for those who have no interest in competing?

I was once a member of a rose club, but I wasn't really into showing, although I loved going to the shows to look at the displays. I was the youngest by at least a generation. The meetings where we had hands-on activities were awesome--they were fun, I learned so much, and I kept coming back for more. Unfortunately, those were few and far between, with the bulk of the meetings being geared toward lectures and show-planning. It was hard to stay interested in club activities and justify the time away from my young family, even though I still love roses.

Incidentally, James, I grew up in northern San Diego County, got my love of orchids from annual visits to the Del Mar Fair, but no one ever told me about orchid clubs that I could join, especially as a teenager.