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

[RandomGemini]

I don't know anyone else interested in growing orchids or I would, my friends are gamer geeks who spend their Saturdays playing dungeons and dragons. LOL!

I kind of wish that I had something in bloom that I could take credit for, maybe that would have helped. I'm actually praying and hoping that I've done something right and that my dendrobium cuthbertsonii is putting up a cane for me. If it does.. it would be cool to take the little thing to show and tell and see if that convinces people to open up a bit. I know the OS's club president hasn't had any luck with them. I'd hate to tell her that my secret is bottled water. LOL!

[Lorraine]

I belong to my local OS and AOS. I joined the local society to learn more about orchids when I moved to South Florida.

I joined the week before the annual Society Orchid Show. I jumped right in and helped get it set up and met a lot of the members that way. Then volunteered to serve on the Board of Directors. I have been on the board for almost 6 years now. I find that belonging to any organization is much more rewarding when you are involved. BTW I didn't know a single person there. I have made many friends over the years, learned more than I would have imagined and my collection of both species and hybrids has grown along the way.

I happen to have one species that I share with everyone. They love getting a piece. Den crumanatum. I cannot tell you how many 100's of keikis have been re-homed.

That said I still continue to support the AOS with my membership. I was saddened when they sold the Headquarters in Delray Beach and hope that one day again the newer generation will find our beloved orchid hobby interesting to them. The computer and I phones are not quite the same as personal contact.

[Leafmite]

That's the spirit, Random Gemini!
I invested heavily into seedlings. They were cheap and I find them more fun to grow. I lost most of my seedling cattleyas and a few others when Black Rot hit my collection so I had to start over. I also have a smaller collection than most of the other members of the orchid society (under sixty). So, for the past few years, I haven't had much to take. This time, finally, I had four orchids.
I don't have many friends outside the OS who grow things. I give people orchids as gifts in hopes of encouraging an interest but, no dice.
PS. speaking of dice, I once played D&D but it was long ago before the age of computers. Is it a computer game now or still with someone carrying around a briefcase full of maps and dice?

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

PS. speaking of dice, I once played D&D but it was long ago before the age of computers. Is it a computer game now or still with someone carrying around a briefcase full of maps and dice?

Leafmite, you CANNOT be that old! LOL!

[Leafmite]

Commadore 64!
Fortran!
Basic!
Unix
Floppy disks!
I am that old!

[RandomGemini]

My first computer was a Commodore 64.

We still play with dice, but since I have an elderly dog that has trouble getting outside by herself, rather than going to my friend's house to play, I stay home and game over a google hangout.

[Leafmite]

I was actually very young when I first started. Some older kids wanted someone to send in first in case there was something...lurking. When we moved, I gave my character to one of the older kids.
The commadore was our first family computer. I remember playing quite a few games on it.

[MattWoelfsen]

Speaking of old...most of my society members are elderly but there are younger folks also participating in our meetings. There is no age discrimination in my society, except between people who are "new to orchids" versus people who have "been raising orchids for over 20 years". I cherish and enjoy the stories and experiences of veteran growers and their willingness to share with a rank beginner like me.

Commodore 64? Yikes! Ever hear of a Sinclair?

[IncurablePlantHead]

I use to be involved with a number of Plant Societies. I actually was the president of one many years ago. Got tired of the silly politics and self serving interests. I don't have time for that in my life right now and have yet to see one that didn't have a lot of these things going on. I guess if you can close your eyes to all that and think happy thoughts in the midst of it then all is well. I like the on line forums for the diversity of thought and experiences. I do miss some of the true comradery of the past but there's just not that many true "plant heads" to hook up with anymore. I'm not looking for a retirement home.....not that there's anything wrong with that.

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by IncurablePlantHead

I use to be involved with a number of Plant Societies. I actually was the president of one many years ago. Got tired of the silly politics and self serving interests. I don't have time for that in my life right now and have yet to see one that didn't have a lot of these things going on. I guess if you can close your eyes to all that and think happy thoughts in the midst of it then all is well. I like the on line forums for the diversity of thought and experiences. I do miss some of the true comradery of the past but there's just not that many true "plant heads" to hook up with anymore. I'm not looking for a retirement home.....not that there's anything wrong with that.

I don't understand the politics you mention and others alluding to this behavior in previous posts. Please explain...is it something like all the lady slipper fanatics want to dominate the program? Or does it involve the politics between Phalaenopsis hybrids versus true Phalaenopsis plants that are species?

How can politics play a role in raising orchids?