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Bulbofett 08-01-2014 09:57 AM
Maybe this is a stupid question
 
My orchid society is holding their annual plant auction on Aug 10th. I'm super stoked. I've been saving my money for this event, and hope they have some plants that are on my wish list.

What I'd like to know is where do they get these orchids from? I was going to e-mail the secretary, but they don't have any contact info for anyone except the vice pres and pres. I feel sheepish in asking the higher ranking members.

So, where does your orchid society get their plants for auction? I have a few uglies I'd like to donate. They're extremely healthy plants, but didn't bloom the way I thought they would.

DeaC 08-01-2014 11:20 AM
In my society,we have an Auction Chairwoman who coordinates the event and approaches vendors from areas near and far. I'm sure the person handling that job in your society would give you info. Our auction is in Oct. and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!! Have fun!

Bulbofett 08-01-2014 12:06 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeaC (Post 697676)
In my society,we have an Auction Chairwoman who coordinates the event and approaches vendors from areas near and far. I'm sure the person handling that job in your society would give you info. Our auction is in Oct. and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!! Have fun!
Awesome! Anything in particular you're looking for at the auction? This will be my first society auction. No idea what they will have. I guess I'll be contacting the vice president for more info.

isurus79 08-01-2014 12:53 PM
We get our plants from the members and I would estimate we have over 100 plants that get donated each year. Some are great, some not so much. Its always fun though!

We often have other auctions throughout the year as people get rid of their collections for myriad reasons.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulbofett (Post 697659)
I feel sheepish in asking the higher ranking members.
You should never feel sheepish asking the higher ups about anything! I've been a member in many different societies across several states and two different countries; not to mention I'm the 2014 President and 2012 & 2013 1st VP of the Heart O' Texas Orchid Society. I've always found the ranking members of the societies to be very approachable and very willing to answer any and all questions that the membership pose. Asking questions is also a good way to get to know your OS board, which is often where many of the best growers end up.

Orchid Whisperer 08-01-2014 01:05 PM
The Northeast Georgia Orchid Society hasn't done auctions or sales in the past. We mostly rely on various member's experience for monthly programs, so we don't really need dues to pay for programs, and therfore have not done much in terms of fund raising.

However, various people do have plants or divisions that they want to trade or give away from time to time. We bring the divisions to the meetings, or make arrangements to trade outside of the meetings. One of the members is a commercial grower, he occasionally brings a few plants to sell, but mostly it is only when someone asks him to bring something in.

Bulbofett 08-01-2014 01:13 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by isurus79 (Post 697692)
We get our plants from the members and I would estimate we have over 100 plants that get donated each year. Some are great, some not so much. Its always fun though!

We often have other auctions throughout the year as people get rid of their collections for myriad reasons.



You should never feel sheepish asking the higher ups about anything! I've been a member in many different societies across several states and two different countries; not to mention I'm the 2014 President and 2012 & 2013 1st VP of the Heart O' Texas Orchid Society. I've always found the ranking members of the societies to be very approachable and very willing to answer any and all questions that the membership pose. Asking questions is also a good way to get to know your OS board, which is often where many of the best growers end up.

Thank you for giving me the kick in the butt to contact my local members :biggrin: I just sent them an e-mail. Whatever the outcome, I'll just be excited to attend another meeting. The club meets every other month, sometimes every 2 months. Last 2 meetings I had to work. So, I'll be excited to finally get to gab with fellow enthusiasts.

Orchid Whisperer 08-01-2014 03:36 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by isurus79 (Post 697692)
You should never feel sheepish asking the higher ups about anything! I've been a member in many different societies across several states and two different countries; not to mention I'm the 2014 President and 2012 & 2013 1st VP of the Heart O' Texas Orchid Society. I've always found the ranking members of the societies to be very approachable and very willing to answer any and all questions that the membership pose. Asking questions is also a good way to get to know your OS board, which is often where many of the best growers end up.
I quite agree! If the higher ups in your OS make you feel sheepish, time to elect new higher-ups, volunteer to be a higher-up, or lacking that, find a better OS! Steve, my experience with my local OS has bee quite positive, like yours. No question too big or too small, the leadership is always helpful to members who are newer to the hobby, or just new to our OS.

Paul 08-01-2014 03:47 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulbofett (Post 697659)
So, where does your orchid society get their plants for auction? I have a few uglies I'd like to donate. They're extremely healthy plants, but didn't bloom the way I thought they would.
That is one common reason plants get donated to auction. As others have mentioned, divisions of plants is another. Then too. sometimes plants get donated because the owner has simply gotten tired of that particular plant/tastes have changed or the plant has gotten too big/tall for a person's space.

Ray 08-01-2014 03:56 PM
We rely on members and vendors in the vicinity.

The last couple of years, we've had between 200 and 250 plants to sell off.

DeaC 08-01-2014 09:36 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulbofett (Post 697682)
Awesome! Anything in particular you're looking for at the auction? This will be my first society auction. No idea what they will have. I guess I'll be contacting the vice president for more info.
I've only been a member for 3 yrs. and am now a Trustee along with 3 others and its been on the job training but fun and informative. Many members do bring in their own plants for auction but we also have a raffle table at our monthly mtgs. for such donations-brings in a bit of revenue gives buyers a chance to try something new. My desire for plants is varied but I now know what I can't grow so it limits what I'll buy...champagne taste,beer barrel pocket,ya know. Oh to win the lottery!:biggrin:

Bulbofett 08-02-2014 09:50 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeaC (Post 697791)
I've only been a member for 3 yrs. and am now a Trustee along with 3 others and its been on the job training but fun and informative. Many members do bring in their own plants for auction but we also have a raffle table at our monthly mtgs. for such donations-brings in a bit of revenue gives buyers a chance to try something new. My desire for plants is varied but I now know what I can't grow so it limits what I'll buy...champagne taste,beer barrel pocket,ya know. Oh to win the lottery!:biggrin:
I know exactly what you mean! There was someone in my town who won a $200,000 lottery yesterday. They asked her what she was going to do with it, and I kept thinking how many orchids that would buy me in addition to a glass greenhouse lol.

I found out that SVO plants will be up for auction. I almost died and went to heaven when the president e-mailed me that. Catasetums have become my favorite orchids. I can't wait to buy some for reasonable prices!

DeaC 08-02-2014 10:48 AM
The word "reasonable" means different things to different people! During our auction some 2 yrs ago,I outbidded a fellow for a Catt. mounted. I was pretty sure it had to be special since he was so persistent. I'm still trying to get a bloom in my unsophisticated ways! But let us know what you get & good luck!

Bulbofett 08-02-2014 12:22 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeaC (Post 697886)
The word "reasonable" means different things to different people! During our auction some 2 yrs ago,I outbidded a fellow for a Catt. mounted. I was pretty sure it had to be special since he was so persistent. I'm still trying to get a bloom in my unsophisticated ways! But let us know what you get & good luck!
Oh, what Catt? The orchid club had a raffle last year in which something similar happened. There was a native SC orchid, and of course, everyone put a ticket in the box to win it. It is the only epiphytic orchid that grows here. One gentleman looked like he had just gone to Chuck E Cheese, he had so many tickets :rofl:. He put all of his tickets in that box, and didn't even win it!

isurus79 08-02-2014 12:30 PM
The plants at our auctions always seem to go for amazingly low prices! I bought a mature but rough looking Phrag. Memoria Dick Clements for $3. Not too shabby.

Ray 08-02-2014 12:51 PM
At my first society auction, I outbid a guy for a huge phrag. When I repotted it not much later, I gave a division to that guy - we're both happy.

DeaC 08-02-2014 06:01 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulbofett (Post 697900)
Oh, what Catt? The orchid club had a raffle last year in which something similar happened. There was a native SC orchid, and of course, everyone put a ticket in the box to win it. It is the only epiphytic orchid that grows here. One gentleman looked like he had just gone to Chuck E Cheese, he had so many tickets :rofl:. He put all of his tickets in that box, and didn't even win it!
It's C.aclandiae 'Blue Sky' HCC/AOS x C.aclandiae 'Gulfglade' AM/AOS . Haven't had blooms yet but lots of new stuff growing. I don't find catts easy but the few I have really love outside in the summer. Blue Sky was a bit of an investment for me and I always want a return on my money!:evil:

NYCorchidman 08-14-2014 11:29 AM
We get plants from vendors who are willing to give away for our auctions.
I hear it's getting more and more difficult to get plants, which is sad because the auction is a main fund-raiser for the society to be able to go on.

I also donate quality plants, but not many to prevent others from getting upset. Some people with all the good intention to help out for the good cause bring plants that are not in great conditions, and telling them no sometimes hurt their feelings.
So it's sort of unspoken rules not to accept plants from members, but there are very few exceptions.

The society is not that active, which is sad as well.

It's nice to hear how active other groups are doing.

silken 08-14-2014 11:33 AM
So how did the auction go? Did you get some good deals?

Bulbofett 08-14-2014 12:15 PM
2 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by silken (Post 699868)
So how did the auction go? Did you get some good deals?
I actually made a separate post about it. I need to stop doing that, and just make updates lol. So much easier! I didn't get as great deals as I thought I was going to get.

I got the plant I went there for which was Ctsm. Vroni, and I also picked up a NOID Cattleya. It was a division from a really well known grower who recently passed. In fact, most of the plants at the auction were from his greenhouse. I couldn't pass it up for $3 even if it was a NOID. I'm sure it will be beautiful when it blooms, and I hope to take it back to the society for an ID once it blooms.

Bulbofett 08-14-2014 12:21 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYCorchidman (Post 699865)
We get plants from vendors who are willing to give away for our auctions.
I hear it's getting more and more difficult to get plants, which is sad because the auction is a main fund-raiser for the society to be able to go on.

I also donate quality plants, but not many to prevent others from getting upset. Some people with all the good intention to help out for the good cause bring plants that are not in great conditions, and telling them no sometimes hurt their feelings.
So it's sort of unspoken rules not to accept plants from members, but there are very few exceptions.

The society is not that active, which is sad as well.

It's nice to hear how active other groups are doing.

We're actually not as active as you might think. I will definitely be running to be a board member. I think there are many events the club could attend to raise funds, get out in the community, educate about the native orchids, etc... that they just don't take advantage of.

The club meets every other month, and not at all in the winter months. I see the way that other clubs run things, and think there are many improvements to be made. Running to be a board member I'd hope to bridge the age gap a little bit, and make the club more active.

silken 08-18-2014 06:54 PM
It sounds like you did OK. I was away so likely missed your separate post. It will be fun to see what that Cattleya looks like! Can't go wrong on that one for $3.00 :)


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