Are you a member of your local &/or national Orchid Society? Why or why not?

[Paul]

Nope. Neither one. Used to belong to an OS when I lived across the state. Was a 45min drive or so but enjoyed socializing with the folks (very friendly bunch) at that os as well as the speakers, auctions, etc. Then I moved and the 2 OS's within driving distance I found to be quite cold and insular. Neither left me with any desire to join. Tis a pity too as I do miss entering plants in shows as well as the social aspect.

[nikkik]

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

I went to a meeting at my local OS. I am not sure I will join. I was the youngest person in that room, and I'm in my late 30s. When I tried to engage people in conversation, they sort of nodded their heads at me and said, "Oh, that's nice." and moved on. The club president was very nice and I liked her, but the other club members... not so much. I felt very much like an outsider looking in. Maybe it was my hello kitty shirt, I dunno.

I would like to learn more about my plants from my local OS members, but my experience at the meeting I went to just wasn't very good.

I have found my orchid society is a mix of friendly and standoffish. My husband and I are in our early 30s and certain people at the meetings treat us like we're new to this hobby and we don't have anything to contribute. We are not new and we do have things to contribute. And even if we were new to the hobby we have a different prespective and fresh ideas to contribute. Every member should be treated like the asset they are. Others are very nice, but if it wasn't for the raffle table and speakers (& sometimes they leave something to be desired) I probably wouldn't go to the meetings.

With that being said, the board is switching up a bit and I'm thinking about running for a position because what better way to change things then to get involved? Conversation helps us work out our issues, but actions can actually change them.

[Skycat]

I'm not, mostly because I haven't really felt that compelled to look for one. I guess I'm too used to not being able to find clubs/societies/whatever for the types of plants I'm more into than orchids.

Also, I currently only have one orchid, a "Just Add Ice" Phal, and I haven't even had it for two months. I'd probably feel pretty out of place in a meeting full of old people who have been growing tons of orchids for years.

And the reason I only have one orchid? Well, because they're expensive (I find it very silly to spend so much on a plant with which I have hardly any experience; I only have mine because I found it on a discount), and the most common ones, the full-sized Phals, are huge. I hardly have room for the one I have. No doubt I'll find a way to squeeze in a mini whenever I find one on clearance, but that'll have to be it for a while.

[cbuchman]

I am a member of one of local Orchid Societies and the AOS. I’ve been a member of the AOS for years and when I was working, it was really all I could do. When I retired, I promised myself a local society membership; As I happens, I lucked out. Our orchid society is very social and welcoming. Our meetings include a buffet dinner ($14), door prize orchids, vendors, and plant & supplies raffles. We are quite active. People swap plants readily. We do have the aging problem. I find that 10% of the people do 99% of the work.

I have learned a lot from our OS speakers, and our show table at each meeting which is reviewed by one or more AOS judges who are members. These people review the plant and provide specific culture recommendations. I was thrilled last week when a very experienced grower and vendor asked how I had gotten my Liparis, which was on the show table, to bloom when he has failed for years! I also hosted a speaker which was a wonderful experience as he reviewed each plant in my collection and made recommendations on their care and what other orchids I should add.

So for me, AOS is a nice-to-have membership, but I wouldn’t give up my local OS membership. It’s just too much fun!

[Orchid Whisperer]

I belong to Northeast Georgia Orchid Society.

I would love to belong to AOS, but it is just one more expense. Maybe next year, or the year after, it will be one I can justify??

AOS is a worthwhile organization & one I'd love to support some day. I will admit, it would be easier to support if they would offer an electronic publications only option, with a small discount equal to the savings on mailed publications.

[tucker85]

I belong to two large and active orchid societies in South Florida. My main reason for joining was the show and tell table. None of my family or friends are even the least bit interested in my orchids so it was nice to be able to take my blooming plants to a place where people were enthusiastic about them. I always enjoy seeing other members orchids also. We get a lot of good speakers down here. I realize that it's more difficult to get good speakers in some parts of the country.

I used to be an AOS member but my membership lapsed and I didn't miss it much. By the way, the AOS headquarters is now at Fairchild Gardens in South Miami.

[LadySoren]

Originally Posted by Kevin_PR

I recently joined my local OS but am not a part of the AOS. I am actually considering not being a member of the Local OS. I feel like they really don't have anything to offer me. I am the only member that I know of who has interest in species and I feel like there is no new and pertinent info for me. Not to sound cocky, but I feel like I am in a different league. I would not say because I grow species and not hybrids, but rather because I am much more exposed to the orchid world than they are IMO. When I go to a meeting and there are 20 big Catt hybrids, 10 itergeneric Onc, 15 Phal hybrids, and the only 3 species at the meeting are my own, I find it hard to "ooh and aahh" at the variety. I am not knocking people who grow hybrids at all. Perhaps if there were 1 or 2 more species growers, and if we visited peoples growing areas, or had guest speakers I may find it more interesting.

Maybe you are exactly what that society needs to spice it up a bit!
The local society that I just joined talked about the necessity to add "new energy" with new members and different board members and president

---------- Post added at 02:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:32 PM ----------

Thank you all for replying. I thought maybe the inter web had something to do with the decline. I do understand that you want something you find valuable in return for your membership.
As I said I recently (like last week) joined my local OS. I did feel a little bit alone, but I had been to their annual auction and a couple people recognized me and were very welcoming. Some of the people, well you can tell they socialize better with their plants and pets than they do with other people, but all were nice enough. (It's like a cat lady syndrome)

They low priced raffle tickets and you can get a free ticket per plant you show and tell as well and if you being food. I like it!
I got 2 free (I mean free free) orchids at that auction.

I do think I might be the youngest one around, but that's ok! They seem happy to see me. Though, in any environment, I hate that people see a young looking person and decide to start assuming things like they're in college and couldn't possibly be old enough to marry, and if so must have an illegitimate child. -.-
(Only the assumption that I'm still in school came up because I look like 17. But people decide they can assume all sorts of things and that I won't be offended. Would you like me to ask you which assisted living complex you live in??? -.- pet peeve right there.)

Anyway, I must say, my doubts about joining the AOS have been echoed in your responses. I would love to contribute, but feel like there's little benefit to me in my situation.
I feel like I too will just end up putting it off every year and feeling sort of guilty but glad to use the money on my plants.

[Leafmite]

I do belong to an orchid society. It is over forty minutes away but very worth the trip. This month we had our holiday dinner where everyone brings their families and some of our members have very young children. I couldn't help but think what a big, crazy family our society is. I like our society as it is very friendly. You can have a conversation with everyone. They welcome new members warmly. We have a mix of professional/expert growers (even two vendors and a retired professor of botany) and people who grow just a few for fun. We have all ages, all professions. It is a comfortable place to be.
I don't belong to the AOS because it seems more for the serious growers/collectors and I am just not that serious about orchids. I buy orchids for fragrance and what is beautiful to me, not because they are rare or unusual (or what someone else thinks is the perfect orchid!). I do think it is quite sad that, in many cases, fragrance in many species orchids has been cast aside in favor of appearance.
Species plants are great and make up two thirds of my collection but some of my favorites are hybrids...very common hybrids (they are popular for a reason!).

[RandomGemini]

Don't get me wrong. I don't mind that most of the OS members here were older than I am, in fact I loved it when one of the older members of the club stood up to talk about his laelia anceps that he's had for 35 years. THAT was cool.

There's nothing about anyone's age that bothers me. It's that I felt out of place because of MY age. I felt like I was being passed over, because I was too young to be a part of their club. It wasn't the worst experience I've had, but it wasn't one of the best either.

[Leafmite]

Bring someone with you. Or, volunteer to work at the orchid show and invite people your age to join! That is what I do. I mean, they are carrying orchids that they bought so they must be interested, right?