When will the next Orchid Show be held?????

[Roberta]

I'm enjoying the Zoom meetings too. The San Francisco Orchid Society (which I have joined) has picked up somewhere around 30 new members (many of whom, like myself, don't live anywhere near San Francisco) since they started doing this. They have had several speakers from great distances that would have been very expensive (to say nothing of the logistics) to bring in person. They are now planning to continue Zooming even when they also start meeting in person again... it is so popular. (From where I live, it would be an 8-hour drive one way... not going to happen in person but virtually, it's great)

A show is tougher to manage virtually. I looked at the video of the Santa Barbara show that was all set up just before everything got cancelled... it was so beautiful, with nobody there to enjoy it, I cried. So sad for the vendors. For me, shows are fun to look at but the shopping is my big motivator. Finding that "treasure" that I didn't know I needed until I saw it (and maybe smelled it) just can't be replaced virtually. So I'll keep on enjoying the virtual meetings - but look forward to eventually being able to browse the sales booths again. And I also enjoy doing those "Orchids 101" talks at our local shows (have done dozens over the years)... you never know when you'll set someone off down the orchid path. Eventually we'll get there.

[Diane56Victor]

Not sure what your weather would be like this time of year. Would an outdoor venue work?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Diane56Victor

Not sure what your weather would be like this time of year. Would an outdoor venue work?

This time of year it's getting marginal in a lot of places. But even where it is acceptable (like where I live...several southern California fall shows were cancelled) the logistics don't work. Venues are being very cautious - for instance, botanic gardens and zoos have opened to the public on a limited basis - one must make reservations for a specific time, number of people allowed at any particular time has strict limits, with distancing and masks required. We thought about it for the end-of-September show that I help run, which is mostly outside, and then thought about people crowding around vendor tables, our little group trying to be "mask police" - impossible. The displays and the very popular Orchids 101 seminars would be very hard to do outside, and again, how do you enforce good sense? Just not worth the liability even if a venue were willing, which none are. (Ours is on a property owned by the large mall South Coast Plaza... before they would even consider granting permission they wanted to know our detailed plans for COVID-19 issues, something that we could not possibly guarantee) And personally, being old enough to be at high risk, I would not want to be anywhere near such an event much less run it.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Good. Smart lady! Stay safe.

I have been using the “fun” metric...that is, if I am thinking of doing anything for fun, it is automatically eliminated. Fatigue is not a valid reason to act stupid.

I have endless sympathy for venues and music groups and clubs of all types that are drowning but good sense has to prevail

[Diane56Victor]

I did think the crowds at stalls would be an issue, but when you see all the issues written down it really brings it home how difficult it would be.

[DirtyCoconuts]

one of the biggest challenges is the issue of decorum, not even COVID related, just being polite and civil....i think about the Tamiami show and there were people who would literally slide in front of you to see a plant that you were looking at if not touching it!!!
even if you had one person at a time and a safe social distanced queue for each booth (huge IF) people would still need to FOLLOW the rules and not do all the normal annoying things like jump the line and pretend they did not realize (or actually being oblivious) and the people who just want one thing and feel that they should not have to wait etc.

i just would be so concerned about exposing people that i would err on the other side for as long as possible

[Diane56Victor]

I hear you DC!
History will probably write this era up as the age of overt entitlement!

[Keysguy]

I don't know if anyone else on here received it, but in a recent Motes newsletter, Martin was asking for input on whether or not the 2021 Tamiami and Redland shows should go forward and, if so, in what format. He set forth a few options the show committees were considering. I provided my personal thoughts and just curious if others did the same.

To that end, the New Hampshire OS has just today made it public to our vendors that we have abandoned any thoughts of trying to pull off our March 2021 show. We sustained a financial hit when we had to pull the plug on the 2020 show just 2 weeks before the opening and if we had to do that for a second consecutive year, we might very well put the Society in financial jeopardy from which we might never get out from under. Better safe than sorry.....and that goes for physical health and not just financial. So, we can tread water for awhile in hopes we can eventually get rolling on 2022 show plans.

Ugh, this whole thing just makes me so sad........

[Leafmite]

I am very sorry to hear that you had to pull the plug two weeks early. So far, we are going ahead with ours but there has been some discussion about how it might look if Covid19 is still in full force. We might have to provide masks, have disinfectant and hand sanitizer everywhere, limit the number of people at a time (which, with vendors and minimal society members means very few guests), and enforce spacing. Ohio has been doing pretty well so far and we are hoping that doesn't change. It is scary to go forward and not know what will happen.

[Keysguy]

limit the number of people at a time

This was our deciding factor and unfortunately, as of right now, that looks like what the best case scenario would be and unfortunately at 50% attendance, we'd lose our shirts and I suspect there would be vendors who wouldn't be able to cover their expenses. Add in the health risks and it became a no brainer. I was surprised how little discussion there was.