Hello from the AOS

[nodosakid]

BTW - that is Jim's personal phone number, if you want to speak with an employee or rent the facility call 561-404-2000.

[bswanson]

Originally Posted by orchideric

Dear Sue,

I've done that and been stonewalled. The salted-earth policy of the AOS is legendary. Question them and you will be attacked. Just ask all the people who have won their lawsuits against the AOS afterwards - especially the most notorious with the AOS "outing" the HIV status of one of its judges.

It is Brian who joined the OrchidBoard in his official capacity and offered to answer questions. He is on this site as an official employee/schill for the AOS. He did not join as someone wth any interest in orchids.

As a fellow Floridian aren't you concerned with how your tax dollars are being spent? The OrchidBoard - post-Brian - is a legitimate place to ask AOS financial questions. We are paying for the Swamp Mahal after all.

Eric

Eric,

I am not on this board as a schill. I joined this board as part of out reach to the orchid community (and the OrchidBoard).

Most of what you mentioned in your post I don't have any history on so I can't talk to those points. As for the financial questions Jim Jordan would be your best bet for getting those answered.

- Brian

[Marty]

Originally Posted by orchideric

Dear Sue,

You and I must agree to disagree. I withhold the right to ask a salesman questions. I realize that you are biased toward the AOS as I used to be. It is blind support that has rid the society of around 20,000 members.

Eric

I really don't like the tone that this thread is taking. Like Sue said, it's not about getting answers but about keeping OB out of political society matters.

Please keep it clean. OB is not the National Enquirer forum. Brian is an IT guy, if you have any questions related to technologies that they may be implementing at AOS, I'm sure he'll be glad to answer them. I don't appreciate our members putting him on the spot in order to get answers to rumors and speculations that they may have heard. If you have questions related to the operations take them up with the management of the AOS not with Brian as that creates very unwelcoming atmosphere here which won't be tolerated.

[cb977]

Thank you

[orchideric]

Dear Brian,

Good to hear from you instead of people running interference for you.

I wrote Jordan once - concerning his criminal allegations against a colleague. He never responded. I will never write the man a second time.

All this garbage just to answer a simple question. Let us all end this thread - thinking about the AOS turns my stomach.

Eric

[cb977]

Let us all end this thread

Good idea

[cb977]

No more on this issue...

this is supposed to be the thread where we all give Brian our usual friendly

Next...

[CoolPhrog]

Hi Brian! Welcome to the board. Please accept my apology for the unfortunate confrontation you were given. We appreciate all of our members and their input. Thanx for your interest!

[Royal]

Hi Brian! Glad you found us. I'm new to AOS and love it so far. The site is looking good, keep up the good work. And by all means - get an orchid!!!

[Phantasm]

My opinion is that Eric does have a perspective that needs to be addressed, however the AOS is making a big effort to be more transparent and acommodating. I find that Carlos Fighetti has been a great influence in taking a new road for the AOS. Elitism HAS been a factor in the past and will be there always in some circles.

Brian is a great example of the latest outreach from the AOS along with Ron McHatton who is traveling the entire country and visiting with societies and judges.

This is a very positive trend and such interaction with all facets of the orchid community is the best way to keep the AOS alive as a viable entity.

Thanks for reaching out to groups such as Orchidboard!