Letter to AOS

[cb977]

Originally Posted by Blondie

Hi everyone. Just wanted to let you know that I have a stat counter on my blog and between today and yesterday, 500+ people read my letter to AOS. Most of my regular blog readers are probably baffled because I usually write about less serious things and cats and dumb things I'm up to. But wow, what a turnout for the orchids.

GO ORCHIDS!!!!!!!

Blondie, your blog may become a major inspiration for folks to take a closer look at this wonderful passion we all share!

[(..._...)]

Originally Posted by Singingirl96

I'm 30 and I'm also an orchid lover.... I gotta tell ya, I did feel a little out of place at the last show I went to.

Oh, and btw, I wouldn't talk about the AOS society website anymore, the recently updated it, and as a webdesigner by trade, it looks pretty nice.

I agree, I used to go to shows, but I felt really out of place. I much prefer going to an orchid greenhouse (mine is never busy), where I am usually by myself enjoying the plants. Luckily the people working there are "younger" and easier to talk too than some orchid growers.

ps. Seems like this topic is very popular!! Great idea blondie

[kiki-do]

You go girl!

[kiki-do]

My young 19 year old niece visited me last year from Canada and had never seen an orchid before....up close and personal. She left here mesmerized and in love with orchids. She bought one at a local dept. store near her home. I think she is up to about 8 now.
People just need to be exposed to them and understand that they aren't difficult to grow. That kind of thinking is what keeps people away from growing them.
Thanks Blondie, you are opening up some much needed dialogue!!!!!

[foxtailskies]

Just to add my 2 cents...

I'm 22 and am starting to get into the hobby, I've been growing carnivorous plants for about 5 years but I'm slowly getting suckered into the orchid world! I just attended my first show last weekend and I have to say, except for a few peoples' young kids, I was by far the youngest person there- now I see that it's pretty widespread. The folks at this show were extremely friendly and welcoming so it certainly has nothing to do with them! From where I am, I can field a guess as to why younger people may be absent.... part of it is finances, I'm sure, but honestly, given the patience that these plants require, I don't know of many people younger than myself who would be willing to put up with it (including the "me" of a few years ago!). I'm a biology/future veterinary student and most of my friends are biologists as well, and even *they* shoot me weird looks when I tell them how long I have to wait for blooms! That's not to say teens/young adults are incapable of growing orchids (of course not!) but it's a tricky age group to work with, when a lot of people are just forming their ideas about what they want to do in life, and opinions change rapidly... *starting* something at this phase can be difficult, with a lot of other things going on. For example, my own orchid family (currently 4) has been relocated 2-3 times a year throughout college (between home & school), and will now be moved another 2-3-4 times a year as I move on to my next block of schooling. Truth be told, plants can be a logistical pain when you relocate that often!

[goodgollymissmolly]

I bumped this thread because it's important in my opinion. In spite of the fairly long list of responses, not many different people participated.

If you once quit AOS, why did you do it. Ross, I know you are just a harda**, but somebody else may have actually had a good reason.

If you have never belonged...why?

I'm not looking to argue. No one appointed me to that position. Besides it's your business and none of mine. I'd just like to see some general comments from a larger slice of the population here.

[Ray]

I have read excerpts of the posts in this thread, not all of them, but not being fully informed doesn't do much to slow me down sometimes, so....

I've been a member of the AOS for over 30 years, and seen the society and the magazine change for the better and for the worse. In that time I have been exposed to a number of different societies, both from a member perspective courtesy of moving a lot, and more recently as a guest when asked to come and speak.

Some of them were nice, some were really bad, and others were fantastic.

They have met in libraries, abandoned firehouses, community centers, grocery stores, even the Japanese Cultural Center (SOOS) where it was "Semi-Hydroponics in IMAX in a giant amphitheater"!

Some had members ranging from 10 to 100 years of age, while at least in one case, I thought I had taken a wrong turn and had mistakenly become the afternoon entertainment for a nursing home. Likewise, some had ten members, while others had over a hundred.

In my observations, I conclude that the size, age distribution, and meeting place only play minor, or should I say secondary roles, and the successful societies had a few, key things in common:

• Individuals taking personal responsibility. That is, they participate to see what they can help make of the society, not sitting quietly and waiting to see what it can do for them.
• There are several individuals with that attitude - the more the better.
• Those folks are inclusive of all members, with no cliques to separate the society into factions. (I ran into one society in which there was a small group of experts and professional growers who wouldn't share with beginners, beyond criticism and the occasional lecture. That's a society I would not join!)
• The members are open-minded, and not overly impressed with themselves. That is, while some may have whole encyclopedias of experience, they don't think they know it all, and always try to learn. In the course of my speaking engagements, I have met lots of folks that I have read about and held in awe for years. Many of them are surprised and somewhat embarrassed when I say so!

Find - or create - a society with those basic tenets, and it will thrive and grow, expanding to all segments of your community, and you'll struggle to find a place that can hold you!

[goodgollymissmolly]

Great response, Ray. I have seen exactly the same type of things in local daylily clubs.

I do think that the daylily society benefits greatly from from its long standing, solidly accepted regionalization. You are automatically a member of your region when you join the national. Each region has a national board member. Each region has a publication. In many cases the regional pubs are better than the national one. The regions sponsor elaborate symposiums to support the regional activities and they are well attended. There are two regional meeting annually with one during bloom season and includes garden tours and frequently the other during a winter seminar.

In spite of all that, and in spite of the fact that membership is only $30 per year (recently was only $18), the same exact things that I see here are repeated about the AHS. ......too expensive just for a magazine (actually two magazines). But I tell you, the regionalization guarantees that you get to know the people in your region. There are 15 regions....to give you an example of geography, mine is KY and TN, so they are fairly small except in the plains and inner mountain states where population densities are low and daylilies aren't as popular.

Orchids are definitely (in my opinion) hindered by the national headquarters being the only organizational center. That's why I was excited when the regional concept was suggested although I've never heard any details of proposed structure or progress in planning or implementing any structure whatever it turns out to be.

The daylily society membership is about 10,000. The AOS membership is 20,000 at least, maybe even 30K, so I see no reason that a regional structure would not work...well one. Delray Beach is a financial anchor that will never go away, probably should not, but I can't imagine what it costs to keep it going. I think it hinders improvement of the entire organization because there has to be tremendous financial and political pressure to support it. Surely it saps the till and the will to work on a broader society. Incidentially, the daylily society maintains no permanent, owned facility. It does have some paid staff who work from their homes where ever that may be. Remember they also are the ICRA for daylilies. At least AOS is spared that responsibility.

There is no intention for this to be negative regarding AOS, just inquistive and possibly informative in a comparative sense. Hopefully everyone here will join AOS.

[Blondie]

Wow! I just googled daylily society and found a garden to go to in my area!! So easy. AOS should follow that model!!

[tuvoc]

When I joined the AOS in 1961, I was 15, and lived in a little cow town, literally, our pasture was half a block from main street. There were no other orchidists around, so the society was my only lifeline to orchids. Everything I knew, I got through the then Bulletin. I moved to Reno in '66, then no center of
culture. Some think it isn't yet. My membership lapsed from time to time for lack of money, but I kept all my issues of the Bulletin, just to review, and enjoy. There is a small society here now, but it is inconvenient for me to attend meetings, and simply not much fun. So until I joined here, the AOS was my only contact with orchids. $60.00 may seem like a lot for a monthly magazine, but keep in mind what else they do. Research, consevration efforts, and awards take up a lot of cash. And I do think that under the new leadership, things are changing for the better. I will support them as long as I can, out of loyalty, and appreciation for that AM or FCC we see after an orchid name that somehow makes that beautiful plant seem a little more special.

Kim