Hey Kim, You're absolutely right, the AOS works hard to produce such a great quality magazine. I haven't been fair about the many aspects of the way they touch all of us orchid lovers. You make a strong point and I have to say that all these comments have opened my eyes a great deal. Thanks all! :)

With all the talk about the updated web site, I went to take a look around. Some definite changes have been made and I enjoyed perusing the site. Found a section where the names of orchids are pronounced! Way cool!
I've always gone in to read all the newsletters and when I was working on our local club's newsletter, I did find very helpful information there.

I see an improvement...it will be wonderful if our OB conversation and Blondie's letter makes a difference in the future. :clap:

I can speak to GMMolly's inquiry about the HQ. It is actually working very hard to be self sustaining.

One of the myths out there is the HQ cost a great deal of money to build--that is nonsense. The land was donated to AOS and the money we made when the Vaughn estate was sold covered that expense of building. The day-to-day expenses are electic, taxes, insurance, etc.

The think about the HQ is that it houses our many historical treasures. That is an amazing amount of material. In addition, we've been given a priceless library of orchid books that is awaiting a location to be housed. The Library committee is raising money to build such a dedicated building. There is priceless, orginial scientific art that is held in a controled environment. There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of priceless out-of-print books.

There are volumes of reference material. With the new website, the plan as I understand it, is to create digital files so it is available to everyone in the country. The old website could not handle the magnitude of information. It all has to be stored someplace.

What most people don't know is that we have a THRIVING event rental out of the HQ that covers a great burden of the expenses to have the building. That includes weddings, meetings, etc. The gardens have significantly bounced back from the hurricane damage and the greenhouse is becoming more phenomenal with time. People are lining up to get hitched in the greenhouse. It does provide a beautiful wedding backdrop--I will say that when I see the weddings getting set up on the 4th Saturday of the month (every single month) I've seen some damn ugly taffeta bridesmaids dresses...but I digress.

The retail area is always available and people go in there to buy books, etc. I believe that is self-sustaining, it's not making tons of $$, but it is holding it's own.

Bottom line, even if we sold the HQ (it is broght up from time to time,) we'd still have to pay rent to house all of our 'stuff.' Financially, we all know it is better to own than rent. If I was doing it again, I'd have picked a more central place. On the other hand, free land is free land. The location is beautiful.

Well written Blondie. You brought up many good idea's.

There are so many good points brought up on this thread also, and it is impossible to cover them all in one response.
I joined AOS last fall and also receive my $60 magazine. A lot of it is over my head, but I still read it and try to understand it. (I loved the special edition this month!) The new web site is much better than the last, but could use a forum like this on it.

I joined the Michigan Orchid Society last summer and have been quite pleased with them. I have been able to make it to only one meeting so far because of my busy life, but I enjoyed the meeting very much. At 50, I was probably the median age, with a few folks in their 30's and even a couple in their 20's at the meeting. (There were appx. 50 people in attendance) Everyone was friendly and helpful, and I wish I could attend more. I think if they advertised at garden centers, etc., they would have even more attending.

I love the passion of this board, and this thread!

Rhonda, your points are well made as usual. I don't want to appear to be a one trick pony and blame all AOS issues on the HQ building. It is elaborate and everyone can be proud of it. I also realize it serves some useful purposes...very useful. I approve of renting it out to help pay for it, but this is a symptom of what I call the "country club problem". We have a nice clubhouse, but really can't afford it so let's invite everyone to help pay for it. Enough on that...that really isn't the main problem.

AOS is really struggling to convert itself from a society of the super rich to a society of the regular people. It must do so because the industry barons of the early 20th century with riches to burn just don't exist in significant numbers. Let's hope those of us in the middle don't cease to exist also.!!

This is not negative...but the snootiness attitude just won't go away easily. Whether it's true or not, the perception of the AOS as a closed society versus the Hemerocallis or Hosta counterparts exists. Part of it is the lack of member contact. The president deserves tremendous credit for his ideas and progress. I can not praise him enough. The south FL people also deserve a lot of credit.

I hope the regional concept advances and quickly.

Everyone is allowed their opinion on this board, and it is as valid as anyone else's.
Criticizing anothers opinion or name calling isn't acceptable.
:nono:

Thank you, Chris :)

I missed that one!

We will NOT do the name-calling thing, under any circumstances, here on OB...EVER!

I thought that was a friendly jab, not name calling.

Whatever it was, it doesn't belong in a public forum.
I don't want this to become a big deal so we can all just let it drop now, please :)

I developed an interest in growing plants at a very young age , so I tend to think that plant people are just born that way Oh and by the way you 30 year old folk, you know how quickly it seems to be that you got to be 30 it takes the same time to get to be 60 :shock:

:yikes:

Actually it takes less time :bowing :biggrin: :blushing: :evil:

Hello, 'tis I. I left a comment on your blog. It looks really cool: I'll explore some more in the coming weeks. Erm, I'm 27 now, but I caught orchid fever when I was 20. So that's seven years suffering this gorgeous disease! :biggrin:

My first orchids were purchased when I was 20. I progressed from windowsills to florescent lights to a small greenhouse, then to a larger greenhouse over several years. I subscribed to AOS early on but didn't join an orchid society until I had grown plants for 20 years.

I decided to enter plants in an orchid show out of curiousity, I think it was 5 plants and 2 of them received HCC/AOS awards. That prompted the locals to ask me to join their society, so I did. A year later, I became President of the society and did so for 3 years.

Soon thereafter I got curious about the regional Judging and would attend just to see the procedures and interactions. Of course that led to being asked to become a judge and after 7 years I became accredited.

It's not over yet....Now I'm the Chair of the Judging Region and my ability to say no hasn't achieved any progress.

Just a short lesson in being interested in orchids at a young age! Over time, I have met and learned from several legends in the orchid world, and I cherish the friendships that have developed. It isn't an elite club, but a progression of a lifetime of curiousity and learning.

There is always more to learn, and the deeper you get, the more you realize how much you don't know!

Thanks for sharing that Phantasm! I have met some of the most interesting people due to my love of orchids.
Your last sentence is profoundly true! Amen to that. :)

I'm 18 going on 19 right now and have been fascinated with orchids since I was about 9 or 10. Been growing orchids when money permits since I was about 12. (God I love my mom for putting up with my addiction.) But A LOT of my friends wouldn't even give them a passing by. It's just like RoyalOrchids said a lot of younger people just don't have the patience to enjoy this great hobby. And a lot of younger people are the hurry it along kind. But I am proud to be a young orchid grower! :)

hi everyone,
im 15 turning 16, and i started growing orchids when i was 13. i think it would be really good to get more young people interested in orchids, but there is that ideology and look on you, especially for young men, when you grow them. also, like someone eles mentioned, with the amount of homework, chores, and other things to do, young people want to hang out with there friends, not go looking for orchids, or caring for them. and i agree with Des, it seems you have to be born with a passion for gardening and flowers to really appreciate orchids.

stefan

I'm a 30 year old male and I started trying to grow orchids in high school. My mother and grandfather were avid gardeners so I suppose I inherited my green thumb from them. My first botanical interest as a kid was in carnivorous plants which were "neat" because they ate bugs, followed by cacti and succulents which were "neat" because of the wide variety of weird shapes, followed by bonsais which were "neat" because they were small trees, followed by orchids which were "neat" because they grow on trees.

So in my case, and as others have already mentioned, it was an "easy sell" to make the transition to orchids from other plants. But most youngsters, green thumbs or not, have some level of curiosity about the unusual...the "neat" factor so to speak. On those occasions when young family members visit, they are infinitely more curious about the plants growing on branches than they are about the ones growing in pots.

Practically speaking, the AOS could create large educational posters, brochures, etc. specifically designed with students in mind and send the material to the various orchid societies. The orchid societies could set up the educational materials along with orchid trees at local botanical gardens and schools.

On a slightly different tangent...to put it delicately, I've found the AOS to be a less than useful resource for orchid information. Which is surprising given that information dissemination is supposedly one of their top missions. On the off chance they should happen to read this... here are a couple suggestions..

First, they should digitize and make available their orchid magazine articles...starting with their most recent (which should already be digitized) and working their way back. The digitized collection should be searchable and I would have no problem paying a dollar or two to download a pdf document of an interesting article.

Second, they should embrace and endorse Orchids Wiki or start their own wikipedia type website dedicated to orchids. The other day I read an interesting statistic that the Encyclopedia Britannica website receives 21 million hits per month while Wikipedia receives nearly 4 billion hits per month.

The information dissemination model of the AOS is obsolete and they should take cues from websites such as orchidculture.com and orchidspecies.com to become more relevant in our "information on demand" society.

I concur with the lack of young people... At least in my country. I live in Mexico and I've been going to some AMO (Mexican Orchideology Association) shows and i'm pretty sure i'm the youngest guy over there. Sometimes I feel awkward as i see that he youngest one must have at least 30...
I've introduced some of my friends to this very fascinating orchid world, but it kinda feels weird to be the youngest ones over there with a somewhat serious interest for 'chids.
About what Orchidphile said, i dont find it so hard due to social perception, but due to the lack of promotion that events recieve. Sometimes i think they can be very imited to the public they are aimed, since at least over here in my experience they are mostly announced to AMO members and one or two yahoo orchid groups. I think if they were more public focused it may help in bringing more young people to the world of orchids.

There is no line. Of course I can say that because I am at what some would consider a line. But is all about spirit and heart.
This is a good thread and great job blondie. The best way to get anyone involve is through action which I see happing with blondie's letter to AOS and this thread.
We live in such a fast pace world these days, everyone could learn something from slowing down a little and what better way then to grow...anything really.
TC

The AOS Education Committee is Listening to YOU!
 

Hello all!

I wanted to take a moment and revitalize this very important thread.

With resounding enthusiasm, the AOS has been listening to younger members across this board and through the network of societies. The president has restructured the organization's committees and education is a top priority. Believe it or not, the link to this thread has been hopping around the AOS loop and it was sent to me the other day. Of course, I thought it was sort of funny since I have a post on the thread shortly after it was up in the spring.

Ironically orchid friends, Carlos has asked me to be the new chairperson of the Education Committee. Who knew? It is a huge responsibility that, as I continue to think about the possibilities, becomes more exciting with the weeks.

Where are we right now? Gathering information from everywhere and anywhere. There are so many things on this thread that I've written down, but to give you an idea of what is going on I wanted to give you an update from the committee's point of view:

First, we've divided the scope of education into age levels. The AOS does not have an educational curriculum for children. Each member of the committee has volunteered to 'point' a different age level (K-2, 3-5, 6-9, high school, and adult ed.)

Second, network and collaborate with societies across the country to find out how they are promoting education. We're very interested in what is working with kids, with local botanical gardens, with societies.

Third, highlight young orchid growers and their passion for growing. Look at the AOS website and you'll see our first installment of that highlight--and more will follow on the website and in the magazine. As I reread this thread, it occured to me that 'young' is a relative term. We should also highlight young adults as well--what was I thinking?:scratchhead: I know I'm on the young end of my society's age range at 42. The demographic for orchid growers has certainly changed over the past 50 years--we need to keep that in mind when organizing magazine articles, etc.

Like I said, there are a million things that could be done. The committee is listening--what would you do if you were in my position?? That is a genuine invitation. Feel free to either post your ideas here or PM me on the forum.

Thanks again for getting the conversation moving. I want to know what you (and/or your society) are doing to support education. What can we do?

Rhonda Heide, Chairperson
AOS Education Committee

Thanks for reopening this thread, Rhonda, and congrats on your new appointment. As I mentioned earlier, I've been an AOS member for a very long time, and feel I owe them much for keeping my orchid enthusiasm growing. There has been some good outreach from them here lately, and I only hope this continues, and grows, as we all are in this together, and dialog can spread the good word better than anything else I can think of.

Kim

Great stuff, Rhonda! :bowing

It's very nice to have a broader AOS presence here on Orchidboard :)

With the knowledgeable members here and the newer welcoming feel we're getting form the AOS, I think this is a wonderful opportunity for the orchid-growing community :clap:

I'm sure you'll be getting lots of ideas, Rhonda...get ready ;)

This is great Rhonda! Thank you for your work and your committee's work in education.

I think the orchid community is going to benefit greatly from our new focus at the AOS.

Rhonda, Congratulations on your appointment of education chairperson for the AOS. If I were in your position I'd e-mail all the societies and make contact with the education chairperson of each society. My guess is that there are only a small handful. None of my three orchid societies has an education chairperson. So in your e-mail you'll probably need to make a case for the creation of an education chairperson position.

Hmmm...does the AOS have a publicity chairperson? If so, it would be helpful if they could send out a similar e-mail.

Relying on one presentation a month to educate members isn't sufficient. Orchid articles should be a societies' primary source of educational material. Just encouraging members to check out various orchid magazines from the societies' library isn't enough either. Each local orchid societies' education chairperson should select and disseminate orchid articles during meetings. They can also devise ways to check if members actually read the articles and reward those that do.

Ideally, pdf documents of articles from back issues would be available to download from the AOS website. It's completely absurd for the AOS website to only have one measly paragraph on growing orchids outdoors when in their March 1987 issue of Orchids is an excellent article on growing orchids outdoors. It probably took more time to write that paragraph than it would to scan the article and upload it to the AOS website.

Each LOS's education chairperson should be able to visit the AOS website and select from a long list of articles to download. Once they have selected and downloaded an article they should be able to print it out and make copies to disseminate at upcoming meetings. If an article that they want to download isn't available, then they should be able to e-mail you to request that it be digitized and included in the list.

Your appointment is quite timely because in the publicity report I recently compiled for my orchid society I included a section on education. In that section I referred to our non-existent "Chair of Education" in the hopes that my society would take the hint and create such a position. Hopefully your e-mail to all societies will drive the point home.

Best of success in your new position. Hopefully the AOS will invest more time and effort in education rather than on other activities that only benefit a very small percentage of local orchid society members.

I'm a bit late jumping in here... and admittedly did not read the whole 11 pages!

However, I did want to put in my :twocents: First off, great article/blog blondie! I could have written it myself it hit that close to home.

I 'm 28 and have been a gardener since I was a child. It is a skill that was passed on from my Mother who alway grew a lot of what we ate and had a load of houseplants. She did not however, ever have an orchid. I didn't really know they could be grown by regular folk until I was out of High School, but was under the impression they were extremely hard to take care of. I still had no clue about the vast numbers of orchids out there. It wasn't until a co-worker mentioned that she grew them that I ever considered it. About two years ago I happend upon a phalaenopsis at the grocery store. The rest is history and I now have just shy of 60 orchids.

I joined the AOS mainly to support orchid conservation and hopefully to learn more through the magazine. However, like Blondie, it's way over my head! I love the pictures though, and do read some of the articles even though it is a bit overwhealming. Pretty much everything I know I've learned from books and now this site.

Aside from Lowe's and Home Depot (and occasionally the grocery store) there is only one other place to buy orchids in my immediate area. They are a local nursery, but do not grow them. They order them in and no one there really know's much about them. Quite often the orchids, although beautiful, do not have ID tags. There is a nursery about 40 miles from me that has connections with a grower, but both times I've been there, they only had a couple orchids. Mostly I rely on the internet to buy orchids.

I had hoped to find others in my area interested in orchids to find out where they buy their orchids, network and learn. There is (as far as I can tell) no society which meets regurlarly that wouldn't be a bit of a drive for me. I found a society webpage the supposedly meets twice a month about 25 minutes from me, but the site hasn't been updated in a year! The closest shows to me happen only 2 times a year and are a good 1.5-2 hour drive. For this reason, I've never been to a show. I haven't been able to track down the old co-worker as neither of us work there anymore and she has an incredibly common name!

So that's the long background on this young orchid grower. :) Now on to the suggestions!:biggrin:

Rhonda, I applaud the steps that you're taking! It's a big task, and it's good to know that you, and the AOS, care! One thing that would be helpful in my searching, would be an easy way to get in contact with societies in my area. Perhaps the AOS could host/partner with the websites of affiliated local and regional societies. This way each website could be kept up to date, formated in a user friendly manner, and be easier to find. The internet is the tool of the young!

Also, the orchid directory is great! It's just that not a single one is near me! Yet, I know there are other smaller growers and retailers out there that are not listed in the directory. Perhaps outreach and networking to find and extend the hand to these "little guys." Patience is not the forte of the young. I run into a lot of people my age and younger who will simply give up if they don't find what they're looking for somewhat effortlessly.

I think Blondie had a great idea when she hit on the ideas for show categories. Even though I haven't been to a show, my impression of the coverage and those I've seen adversed is that they are not only overwhealming, but seemingly only for the career growers. How about encouraging the local societies to host smaller local events for the real amateurs?

Well now! This post now sound long winded, but I'm sure I'll think of more later!

MuscleGirl,

Thanks for your input.

Here is a link to the AOS list of local societies LINK. This should help you find a society by you.

Hosting societies sites is a little bit beyond were we are at this time.

Thanks for linking that! I had checked it some time ago, but it's been updated. I am now armed with an email address and phone number for the society I knew exsisted, but couldn't get ahold of! :biggrin: And the email has been sent. We'll see if we can get me to a meeting this month :dance13:

And... another idea that expands on Blondie's post... How about AOS getting in contact with some of the "big box" type stores that sell orchids and see if you can send them plant tags like the identification tags, only have the AOS information on them? This would be a good way to reach out to first time orchid buyers, provide them with a place to find information on growing the orchid they chose and therefore help to dispell that old rumor that orchids are hard to grow!

Keep it coming--we're listening!

I've sent the link to this thread to each member of the Education committee. We'll be watching this discussion with great interest.

:waving :waving :waving

Great letter Blondie:clap: :clap: :clap: :bowing ! Speaking as a college freshmen who started growing orchids at age 16, I agree that there needs to be more outreach to young people. Personally, I owe my plant passion (cough*obsession*cough) to my parents, who had me gardening as soon as I could walk.

One of the best ways to reach out is to encourage Society members to hire young people for summer jobs. Who wouldn't want an extra pair of young hands in the greenhouse?!:biggrin: I met a more experienced orchid grower at the Lowe's in my hometown. I was looking at the orchids and she asked if I grew any. She offered me a job helping her in her greenhouse when I come home for the summer! I am THRILLED:drool: :biggrin: :biggrin: !

I would also love to see the AOS at my college. I'm an environmental horticulture major at Washington State Universiy in Pullman, WA. I already have a few orchids from home in my dorm, but would love more!

One more point that I can remember (I just had so much to say that it won't all stay in my head!:blushing: ). I would love to join an orchid society, but there aren't any within a reasonable distance of my home. The closest meetings are about 2 hours away, and as of yet, I just don't want to put in that amount of time. Somehow, orchid societies, especially the AOS, need to become more accessible.

Rhonda, this is a great thread! I grew up and Miami and got interested in orchids when I was about 18. My dad was a science teacher and I inherited a love for all living things from him. I love the AOS Gardens and I think more young people would be attracted orchids if they just had the opportunity to walk through your greenhouse! A picture is worth a thousand words, so try You Tube and Facebook. We all know they spend a lot of time there! Also let them in the gardens for free (with a school ID). Don't forget about Scouts. Offer Boy Scout and Girl Scout Patch Programs. The leaders would love it. Plus, offer opportunities for community service. Young people need to get those service hours, too. Hope this helps!

I guess I fall into the older category. ;) I enjoy reading magazines and can glean a lot of information from them, but frankly I've learned more here on OB than anywhere else including my local society. I think the thing here that works so wonderfully is access to anyone who wants it. There is a wonderful cadre of folks here who specialize in certain species or just orchid care in general. They are most generous with their time and knowledge. My point is that it's the one on one interaction with a live person that really helps me. I can't ask a magazine a question.

I would love to see regional workshops. I feel kind of isolated way out west when all the cool stuff is going on in Florida. Not much happening in my neck of the woods. I love hands on stuff, visual presentations, show and tell. I haven't joined AOS yet because frankly $60 seems like a lot for a magazine subscription. I wouldn't be able to use or access the other things because I live on the other side of the continent.

Congrats, and good luck to you Rhonda! You're a good woman for taking this on. :waving

One of the most successful projects I have ever seen involving children with orchids has been Writhlington School: The Writhlington Orchid Project About

Just look at this photo of the students with their orchids:Kew: Kew Magazine: Photography: Orchids: Young orchid growers at Writhlington School near Bath; the school, a centre of excellence for orchid science, receives help from Kew’s orchid experts by Craig Easton

Isn't that a picture all of us would like to see? Can you imagine what great activities and wonderful knowledge these kids will have when they begin to take their places in local and national societies?

I have worked with my local primary/elementary school and got grant money which we used to buy native hardy orchids to plant in the 'wildlife area' that the school has set aside. Pictures and talks are all fine, but nothing can beat hands on experience and watching the plants grow from day to day in real life.

SusieP,

You are absolutely correct...getting kids through the garden is key at the local level to increasing youth interest. As a matter of fact, this summer marked the first field trips through the garden since it opened.

Jim Jordan, the executive director of AOS worked with a local scout troop that earned a badge for their OVERNIGHT trip to the gardens--they camped on the field adjacent to the gardens.

In addition, we had about 250 kids on different trips come through to see the garden. It was marvelous. You can read more about it on the website at AOS | Home in the Kids in Orchids article. There was a great response.

In addition to the education committee, I'm a member of the Public Garden committee. They are working to make the garden a premier destination to see both orchids and tropical plants. Now that Mother Nature has left the garden to grow for a couple years (sshhhh, no hurricaines) it is remarkable how well it has recovered. There are Dendrobiums blooming all over the place up in the trees. The greenhouse is really going to town with a refreshed look, and the Huntington Walk opened last month. The education committee would love to see the garden turn into a learning lab for kids from preschool to college.

Of course, all these things are important--but they are for the locals. The committee is focused on something completely portable so it is useful for quiltergal and people all over the country. The YouTube idea may have a great deal of merit! Thanks! :iagree:

R

(pardon me, I don't know how to do the quote thing)
From Epiphyte78:

'I'd e-mail all the societies and make contact with the education chairperson of each society. My guess is that there are only a small handful. None of my three orchid societies has an education chairperson. So in your e-mail you'll probably need to make a case for the creation of an education chairperson position.'


I just zipped off an email that is going to society reps in the next few days. We also have an article in the works for the magazine. I think the Education Chairperson is a terrific idea. Our society has programming under the VP position, but that sort of cubby-holes that responsiblity. A Dir of Ed could help with the lending library, new member orientation, etc. What a great idea!:thanx:

Shakkai, I will forward those links to the committee TODAY!

This post will most likely come through as the ramblings of a disassociated mind, but here goes anyway. I have no real answers, just observations and questions.
I am afraid I have to disagree with the idea that cost is a major problem in attracting young people. Spending ones income for young people is usually a matter of priorities. How do you convince a teenager that spending that $20 in their pocket on an orchid is going to be much more fulfilling than purchasing a new electronic game?
Another area maybe even more difficult is how do you convince younger people and even more important, their parents, that spending their time learning about and growing orchids will, in the long run, provide a lifelong hobby that most sports will never equal? Making this more difficult is the fact that in a number of cases it’s the parent(s) desire that their child participate in sports, not the child’s.
I was a long time member of the AOS and judge for some years. I no longer belong to the AOS for a number of reasons and have retired from judging for personal reasons. However, I think it may be much easier to bad mouth the AOS rather than each of us accepting some of the responsibility. It is much easier to point our finger at a national, and with the AOS a world wide organization that can’t have hands on presence in every berg and city in the USA, than to accept some responsibility ourselves in the promotion of our hobby.
My mother was a lady with great deal of common sense (I admit it; I’m prejudiced). She always told me that “I can’t” never did anything. I have discovered through years in management that for most of us (and I include myself in this group), it is always easier to come up with a dozen reasons why we can’t accomplish something than to come up with one reason why and how we can.
This spring, our orchid society participated in a plant fair sponsored by the local junior college. We had available a number of blooming orchids for sale. The price included a year’s membership in our society. We sold all but a handful of orchids and obtained the address of all who purchased a plant. Each of these has received our newsletter every month since the fair. To date, not one has attended a single meeting!!! It seems that most are too busy trying to make a living to become involved. I doubt most of these are either at work or asleep 100% of their day. How do we change the priorities of this group who find it easier to go to Trader Joes, Lowe’s, Home Depot or Wal-Mart and purchase a $10 to $15 orchid in bloom then throw it in the dumpster a few weeks later??
I have a nephew who is an avid stamp collector. He talks about stamps, their cost, value, storage, etc. like I should really give a _ _ _ _! Should I find it ironic that he feels the same way about my orchids?
Well, I can quit now after venting without really saying anything! Boy, do I feel better!!!

Hi Jerry, You are right in so many ways, and it isn't just an issue for orchids, all gardening and many other types of 'clubs' and societies are all feeling the same way.

My :twocents: is that the best approach may be to increase services and benefits for members first - make them all really, really positive about the society. So much so that they go out and tell other people how wonderful it is and how much they get out of their memberships. I think that targetting the general public rarely works. We tried something similar in the Clematis Society that I belonged to - including a year's membership with plants that were sold at the big RHS shows, however, only 1, maybe 2, of those people renewed their memberships the next year. It just doesn't work with people who have only a casual interest.

The key, I think - and why I'm so keen on getting young children involved at an early age - is that that gives them time to develop more than just a casual interest.

My team mate at work has a 10 year old daughter who enjoys growing plants, but didn't have any orchids. I asked her if would like some. Simple. I picked 4 different plants (not very expensive) printed out culture information - and included the guide to growing orchids produced by Writhlington (great book for kids!! as well as adults) and gave them to her to give to her daughter. Who knows, if she has success with at least one of them, it just might be the thing that gets her 'hooked'.

If everyone looked around for a child that might enjoy growing his/her own orchid we just might be able to cultivate more orchid lovers. And I really believe that the benefits of that far outweigh the costs.

I have to add my two cents on why young people didn't attend the meanings. And i don't think it has anything to do with "attracting young people to orchids" Young people are attracted to orchids, they're just not attracted to orchid societies.

I'm a student myself, im 25, ive been into orchids for a few years. I am not a member of any orchid societies, despite knowing most of the local growers on a first-name basis from various shows and things.. i've been approached a million times, and taken a million application forms, but never become a member.

The reason is because frankly i see no real reason to. I can get all my orchid information on the internet, i don't need to go to a meeting. I don't really need the social interaction, and although i genuinely enjoy talking to the people in societies, there is a big age difference, so it's not a social thing. The idea of monthly meetings in a hall over tea and cake while someone gives speeches (interesting nonetheless), is IMO a dying format - at least my experience of them, other societies might be more inventive.

IMO i can imagine a future for orchid societies perhaps something like this:

1. An internet community, forum etc. where ALL main business is done, photos are shared, advice sought and given.

2. Larger, quarterly meetings encompassing a wider geogrpahical area instead of monthly, small local meetings. This would mean more plants are on display, more plants for sale, more people to talk to, better ability to attract vendors, less expensive for the society etc.

Think OS meeting meets orchid show. Have less of them, just make them bigger and more attractive. It would be cheaper, because there aren't as many of them, but the big difference, more people means vendors are more likely to want to come along. And vendors is a major attraction.

You could tie the site into the meetings, run web-based competitions that have meeting component. ie: Distribute plants at one meeting, update on their progress with eachother over the internet, and one year later, bring them all back and see who's is best and why. Or have a web-based competition with a winner announced only at the meeting. Or have a silent auction available online that is finalised at the meeting. You really want to integrate the web and the quarterly meetings so that they compliment eachother.

The future of OS is the internet, no doubt about it. It might not work for your average small-town, say, but in the big cities i think it would really work.

The web is an important tool but people are missing the boat if they think it is the only solution. I personally have learned much more from mentors, other orchid nuts and interaction with knowledgeable people. You can learn much via the web but NOTHING works as well as hands on experience.

The lack of social skills and finding time for local garden clubs, etc seems to be a major problem for younger folks.
As time goes on it will probably lead to a death knell for local societies and a diminished AOS. This will lead to a lack of creative orchid businesses and the continued homogenization of orchid business into the Trader Joe's and Home Depot mold. Many of the traditional orchid nurseries have gone the way of the dodo bird over the past 20 years and this has diminished the quality of orchids to a great extent.

If young folks don't socialize, hybridize and educate themselves via the web, books and mentors then the future of orchids is bleak indeed.