8/30/2011 comments by RosieC. New members ask what member projects are all about.
I have combined a quick summary of what they are with an up to date list of all the projects. I'll keep the list up to date as we have more projects in the future. 2025 Admin Comment... List of projects has moved to its own sticky thread which you can find Here.
So for those who don't know... what is a project? Well back in 2006 (long before I joined OB) the idea was hatched for a group to choose a plant, to all buy that plant at around the same time and compare notes on how it grows and the conditions it's growing in.The idea went from strength to strength and the last few years we've had a couple of projects a year, with lots of people taking part.
Some of the early projects were competitions but more recent ones are just done for fun. They can span the USA, Europe and Canada and even other parts of the world, with very different growing conditions. Rules for determining the plant to grow can vary from project to project, but usually there is a signup, a discussion of possible plants, a poll (or two) and then we buy and have fun comparing and growing our orchid
9/01/2011 comment by RosieC In recent years we've only done the two dates in each year. For many people ordering in the autumn has problems with cold and shipping. The temp classes were an interesting variation and it's really up to the person running it if they want to do that. Personally I didn't do it when I ran the one in the spring because I found there was less activity overall with people split more thinly across three projects. With one project and all participants getting the same plant there seemed to be much more activity with everyone's comments prompting other peoples comments. I found the split ones LESS fun because of the lower activity levels on each.
9/1/2011 comment by flhiker I have run 3 projects, a couple with 3 temp. range. When I ran it I kept a list of participants and all plant suggestions where listed with all the info. Then researched the plants to be sure they fit the criteria. Once they made the cut, Then sent the list off to vendors to see if they had enough to supply everyone. And when possible had the vendor offer a discount for project participants. Once I had that list I made a poll for finale vote. Keeping this info for 3 temp. ranges and 30+ people in multiple groups can be very time consuming. I like everyone to know whats going on so they are more involved with the project. No matter what temp. range you live in most everyone can grow intermediate temp.plants so that's why they are done in single plant projects. Also when you have 30+ people you get 20 different idea's, their needs to be a final say and that's the person who is running the project.
9/2/2011 comments of RosieC
Quote:
Originally Posted by keithrs
I do agree with blazingaugust. There needs to be a standard that a mod puts in place. Maybe start a new thread for ideas to set a standard? I want it to be far for all. If a sept. project is to late of those in colder climates then x-na it.
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I think setting rules for ALL projects would be too restrictive.
For example blazingaugust ran a Canadian based one recently. If we had had rules in place for all Projects they would have stated the plant must be available for a given price in the USA and Europe, stopping him from running one that was based around availability in Canada instead.
Sometimes it's nice to vary and do something different to other times. We usually have a certain size and temperature zone, but maybe for a change it would be nice to have a project in a different range.
I think it's generally better for the person running the project to set the critirea. All the ones I've seen over the last few years have stated the criteria at the beginning. If someone has picked some 'way-out' criteria then people won't join the project, it won't go ahead and something else will be thought of instead. Criteria can be discussed and if there is general agreement tweaked and changed (in my last one I set the plant size too high for most people so I reduced it) but as Dave has said ultimately it's up to the person running it to decide and to find criteria that attracts enough people to take part.
Allowing those running the projects to have flexibility in the criteria allows a more varied range of projects to keep the interest and fun going.
We always try and keep things relaxed here on Orchid Board and I feel (this is my personal feeling) that making the criteria of projects too restrictive would make them too rigid for the relaxed atmosphere of our board.
9/2/2011 comment by Camille1585
Quote:
Originally Posted by glengary54
So, I will repeat the burning question, when is the next one to start?
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Not until next spring probably. If we keep to roughly the same timelines as before, the selection process starts somewhere in late march to april, and the final plant is voted on and purchased usually somewhere in april-early May. We can't start any earlier because there are the same problems as in the fall : people in cold regions still don't have warm enough weather for shipping.
8/30/2011 comments by RosieC. So, if you've not taken part in one keep an eye out for the next sign up (usually in the Spring or Early Summer).
Member Projects - What Are They?
Hybrid Mode
