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

I recently joined my local OS.

Also, I was browsing around about the American Orchid Society and read that they went from around 30,000 members to 11,000 in a span of just a few years.
I wonder why that is?
I was looking to see if their public greenhouse and gardens were still next to the Morikami museum and gardens north of Boca Raton, and alas, it had been sold to an Autism Foundation.
I never got to go. :(
I wasn't "in to" orchids yet when I had noticed it when I visited the Morikami.
Anyway, the articles I read said it was because they couldn't afford it any more.


So, are you a member to anything?
Why or why not?

I'm a member of my local OS, but not AOS. I'm just not that serious a grower. The decline in membership is due entirely to the Internet and the rise in online forums and mail-order plants and supplies.

Until 15 years ago, the only way you could get help with your orchid problems was to go to a society meeting and ask a senior member. Also, the most convenient way to get good supplies was from a vendor at a society meeting. So people went. Now, with online forums, when you ask a question, dozens of experienced growers will respond, so you're getting far more information than you used to be able to get.

I'm a member just to support the OS, and to have access to specialized vendors who come to the meetings to sell their plants and supplies. Also, since I'm in Canada, the OS meeting is the only place I can get some bootleg Physan. But there are very few people under the age of 40 at the meetings.

I have not joined our local AOS but I do go to their semiannual show/sale. The folks I have met are super-nice and very helpful. I have not joined because their meeting time is on Sunday afternoon and that is not a good time for me.

I am a member of my local OS........AL hit on something which is a concern, very few people under 40 at the meetings. I became a member so that I could learn from more experienced members.
I don't know why memberships are going downhill - one reason could be that these days nobody these days wants the hassle of caring for things that are "throwaway" - in other words so cheap that you just buy another one with blooms if you want. I was told a story that up to 20 years ago, an exciting hybrid could be sold to hobbyists for upwards of $1500. The advent of mass-cloning virtually stopped that pricing in its tracks.

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

I am a member of the American Orchid Society, and a member of my local orchid society here in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I also belong to the Fuukiran Society of America. I subscribe to the Orchid Digest. I think it is good to be a member of these organizations because they provide additional resources not available online, on the Internet. **I keep telling myself I need to donate some money to support this Orchid Board--as this is an excellent resource.**

Unfortunately, the American Orchid Society has not kept up with technology and has not proven itself as a topical source and a good place to interact with orchid hobbyist. I use them as I would a library--going to AOS after I exhausted all other resources. Or I start at AOS, and then go to other resources for newer or updated information.

I joined my local OS this past March. My membership has enabled me to meet other hobbyist and learn from their experience in growing orchids in my corner of the world. We could be a much larger organization, but there seems to be enough of us--37 members at last count--to enable our society to do many activities. For example, we had a display in Dayton, OH at the Mid-America Orchid show. A week after that, we had a display at the Michiana Orchid show and two weeks ago, we had our own show. In a three week time span, we were hauling orchids from Dayton, OH to South Bend, Indiana and back home in Fort Wayne--all in beautiful Fall weather.

Raising orchids does not require interaction with other human beings--if seeing pictures, and reading suggestions on forums, enables you to grow orchids successfully. I'm inclined to require additional input from other people. Nothing beats seeing and smelling an orchid in person and seeing another person's grow space.

I'm a member of my local orchid society because I like hearing the speskers, I love the raffle table, I enjot setting up our show and I like that most of the time there's a vendor at our meeting.

I haven't joined the AOS because for me I don't get enough return on my investment. As Al said, I troubleshoot problems and learn about culture online. I would only benefit from their magazine which isn't worth the price to me. I'm sure their exclusive online section has some great information, but since I'm not a member I don't know what I'm missing. Plus, I grow orchids because its fun, I'm not interested in having them judged

I think Alla's assessment of the reasons for the decline of the AOS are pretty well on the mark, but they are likely not the only reasons. Growing orchids is an expensive hobby, and when economics dictate, to me, a magazine subscription goes on the chopping block first. One might also consider that the magazine itself has undergone content change from time to time, and some may feel it doesn't fit their preferences at the moment, especially when the membership cost has gone up.

I am a member of the AOS, the Paph Guild, the IPA, the ODC, and one of three local orchid societies - chosen because of its proximity to home.

As I have moved for my career, and more recently, travelled around the OS speaker circuit, I have seen a broad spectrum of societies, ranging from small to large, "dead" to dynamic, and open and friendly to insular and politically back-stabbing. I suppose that's normal for any club (saw it with Irish Setters, too), so the thing to do is go try it out - I have never seen and OS that prevented non-members from attending meetings - and see if it fits for you.


Ray Barkalow
Sent using Tapatalk

This is a fascinating topic and I was about to post something very similar. From a marketing stand point, I am curious as to why people decide to join their local societies or not, and what the estimated average age is of most societies.

Personally, I have been speculating that the Internet and the vast amount of info available has been eating away at society memberships, but mostly for the younger generations. But as others have already stated, there are many factors involved such as timing, availability, need for social interaction (or not), costs and economy, etc... However, it is a concern to me when I see organizations that have minimal younger membership. It's understandable given the many possible factors though.

For me, I was more than happy growing on my own for years. I didn't see a benefit to joining an OS when there was so much information elsewhere. The costs of joining magazines were ok so I did get some for a while, but the content was so scientific it proved little value to me as a hobbyist and wasn't worth the cost to just look at pretty pictures.

As for the local society, I thought about it until I overheard a disgruntled OS person volunteering at an event commenting very rudely and negatively about the organization. After 2 years, I decided that person may be a singular incident and checked them out. I've been a member since, hehehe... They bribed me with orchids! How could I resist?! LOL...

The society has become invaluable to me. They have vendors at most events so I can get orchids cheaper than online, knowledgable people you can call and hangout with or ask for help from when you don't know what to do or have an issue arise, door prizes, and truly wonderful people, etc...

For me, all of those things drew me in. But what keeps people away and how do we reach those people and meet "their needs" is my big question. We are a diverse group of people with often little in common other than our love of orchids/plants. But their surely has to be other common threads between us all. But overall, meeting peoples needs is what will keep membership and make it grow.


Paul McMahon
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!).

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.

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? :)

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!

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?

Leafmite, you CANNOT be that old! LOL!

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

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.

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. :)

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

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?

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?

Oh, I see you don't live in the 305. There's politics in everything here. I have a friend that lost his job because of politics in the AOS. I can't go into that for obvious reasons, but many of the plant societies down here have factions and alliances not having to do with Phalaenopsis lovers and slipper lovers. I can say their dwindling enrollments may lead to a new and better day when all is said and done. Fresh starts smell like dew on the morning leaves.

I don't care what age people are, just the attitudes (believe me, I can't stand young people attitudes either!)

As far as getting involved goes, I do hope to volunteer for their show in the Spring. They are going to have a table dedicated just to signing people up to join (they hadn't thought of that before). So I plan to let them know I'm available if they need me. I have never been to show so I'll have to let them know I would like some time to look around as well. I don't even know what to expect.

Okay, thanks for the explanation. I think I understand. Here in Indiana, we have very few resources for orchids. So it doesn't matter who you voted for President of the USA, it is more like "several members want to place an order with Orchids-R-Us and we need at least $100 in order value to make shipping costs and acquisition less expensive." I don't really care if you are a Democrat, do you want to order ten 4" slotted clear pots or not?

I'm not a member of any OS I use to have membership with the AOS and dropped that for most of the reasons posted above... The only Orchid show I go to now is the Ann Arbor orchid show in the spring. Sadly every year it get smaller and smaller. One of the local flower shops/greenhouses has a show in the late spring, It more of the, this is whats for sale buy it and don't bother me thing.

You're not that old. I started with computers in high school using punched paper tape to enter programs to a time-sharing service via a Teletype model ASR 33 and an acoustical phone coupler.

:rofl:

Back to topic, I've been an AOS member since I started with orchids in 2010 and am also a member of IPA, FSoA and the local OS, SEPOS. I've never actually been to a SEPOS meeting due to lack of a car and conflicts with my work schedule.

Politics in organizations always destroys them. I belong to another organization where there is quite a bit of it. I stay out of it but it wasn't very fun the year I was in charge. After my term ended, instead of taking another office as everyone anticipated, I took a long break from the organization.
Our Orchid Society, thankfully, isn't like this. The only thing they do argue about are paphs but it is a friendly argument. I think they do have far too many speakers and presentations on paphs which, unfortunately, don't interest many new members. :(
Membership table is very fun. I have been doing it for the past three years. It helps if your OS gives out a free orchid to those who become members at the show so suggest this. Also, be certain to be very friendly and to tell those that enter about all the benefits. It helps to have a few people at the table who are excited and enthusiastic. Remember, too, these people are all potential friends as they share a common interest. :)

---------- Post added at 09:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:49 PM ----------

Okay, you guys have me with the computer thing. My childhood computer had disks. The Commadore was the first computer I knew. My nightmare was Fortran using Watfor as the compiler. :(

Hey Jayfar, when is next year's SEPOS orchid show? I want to put it on my calendar. You and Call-Me-Bob (I think) talked about it earlier this year.

Apr 11 - 13 - SEPOS Show - Acadamy of Natural Sciences. They don't have any other details posted yet.

I think maybe they can handle giving out free orchids for membership, I will mention it.
Hopefully I'll get to know the benefits of the society enough to be informative to people by then. I enjoyed the annual auction immensely so at least I have that to go off of for now. The auctioneer is a member and he is HILARIOUS!!! So very entertaining.

I've been a member of my local OS for just under a year now, I'm not a member of the AOS though because I can't justify the expense.

I lurked here for awhile and would like people's photos of plants, and maybe post one or two things. Until Orchids4ever sent me a private message because she noticed where I lived. She convinced me to go with her as a guest to the first meeting.

I was super nervous, because 1) strange person picking me up and driving me to a distant location 2) I'm in my early 30's and most people don't look at me and think "Orchid grower".

I've had similar feelings as other younger people have mentioned, and I still do when going to meetings. I'm the youngest person in the room at our society most of the time. So I tend to just hide in the back row and not say much. Everyone was super friendly at my society, and they still are, and are really helpful. I've made a couple of acquaintances but I think I've also made some great friends too. I think so far the best part has been when I brought in my Sophronitis cernua to show the bloom, and everyone was shocked it was my plant :rofl:

I haven't been able to volunteer for a show yet though because I have a toddler who is really attached to mom still. He can barely handle me going to the monthly meetings, let alone being gone most of an entire weekend.

I'm definitely going to continue with my local OS though. And I'm trying to get a few of my friends interested in orchids as well, but where we live there are only 2 real societies, both on either end of the area. And they can be a long drive depending on where you live.