銘鑑/Mei Kan and Calendar

[kentaki]

Apparently, this year's 銘鑑/Mei Kan has been released:
Yahoo!

It is interesting to compare this to the one from three years ago:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Cx3c8pxTJs.../s1600/003.JPG

I also found a calendar:
至宝の富貴蘭　2014年カレンダー至å®�ã�®å¯Œè²´è˜*　2014年カレンダー　ã€�é €�料無料】/山野è�‰ã�®çŸ³ç”°ç²¾è�¯åœ’

It is 1,600 Yen, so roughly $16. Shipping is free domestically, but it would be about $15, I am guessing. Anybody interested?

[Red Orchid]

Count me in I would love one even though I can't read it.

[Call_Me_Bob]

If only I could read it!

[kentaki]

The price is for the calendar. I may be able to get the Mei Kan, but if you are a member of Fukiran Society of America, I think you should be able to get one (for free?).

[Red Orchid]

Originally Posted by kentaki

The price is for the calendar. I may be able to get the Mei Kan, but if you are a member of Fukiran Society of America, I think you should be able to get one (for free?).

Terrific I am a member let me know if there is a cost I will get it to you. Thanks so much for doing this. I just want to own one and maybe I can use Google to translate some of it. Several bright young guys on the Board are talking Japanese at their local college. Wish I were bright and young.

Also you wouldn't happen to know if there is a 2014 wall calendar of Neos around do you? That would be a treat.

[kentaki]

Originally Posted by Red Orchid

Terrific I am a member let me know if there is a cost I will get it to you.

I am not a member, so I do not know what they do in the U.S. But I thought that 日本富貴蘭会 (the main society) sends the Mei Kan to its members. I am not sure if there is any cost associated, though. You may want to contact them to find out first if you could get this one. As for the calendar, if there is only one or two people interested, I probably wouldn't order. And the response has not been big so far.

[AnonYMouse]

Just a suggestion, for all the business you do with NWO, OL and SE, you should see if they can get the Mei Kan and calendar for their customers.

Is the FSA organized enough to get them?

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

Is the FSA organized enough to get them?

That in itself is an interesting topic. Is FSoA organized at all beyond a rudimentary free website? There are no officers or board, as far as I know, and no membership dues to fund any activities. There are no meetings virtual or real.

Would it be worthwhile to try to (re-)make FSoA into a vital organization or are orchid societies generally no longer relevant in the Internet age?

These are questions for which I won't pretend to have the answers.

[kentaki]

Originally Posted by Jayfar

That in itself is an interesting topic. Is FSoA organized at all beyond a rudimentary free website? There are no officers or board, as far as I know, and no membership dues to fund any activities. There are no meetings virtual or real.

I do not understand this. I read that there have to be a minimum of 30 members to be recognized as a branch of 日本富貴蘭会. Also FSoA is not listed as a branch. FSoA may be affiliated, but not a branch despite its claim?

This section is specific to membership:
一、入会する時は、入会金三千円と一年分の会費三千円を納入するものとする。ただし、支部団体（常任理事会 で支部として承認された団体）は入会金を不要とする。さらに、承認された支部へは、事務処理代行費として会 員一人あたり一千円の補助金を搬出するものとする。支部の条件としては、会員数三十名以上とし、支部代表者 が本部役員として在籍することと、本部の行う行事に積極的に参加することとする。

To be a member, you need to pay the entrance fee (3,000 Yen) and annual fee (3,000 Yen). However, a branch (organizations that have been recognized as branches by the board) does not require an entrance fee (I am not sure if this refers to people wanting to join the branch). In addition, the society provides 1,000 Yen per member to support administrative activities of the branch. To qualify as a branch, the minimum membership must be over 30, the representative must belong to 日本富貴蘭会, and actively participate events that 日本富貴蘭会 organizes.

I did read somewhere that it is 3,000 Yen to become a member of a certain branch, and 1,000 goes to 日本富貴蘭会.

So if the membership of FSoA is below 30, and has not actively participated 日本富貴蘭会's events, it does not meet criteria to be recognized as a branch.

Originally Posted by Jayfar

Would it be worthwhile to try to (re-)make FSoA into a vital organization or are orchid societies generally no longer relevant in the Internet age?

There is so much myth and misinformation regrading Fûkiran even on FSoA web page. To me, that is disturbing. I would guess if FSoA is really a branch, they should be able to get technical support. Do you guys even get an issue of their publication?

I did see pictures from the meeting and judging, so I guess there are some activities.

Another option would be to have another legit branch for Eastern US. Several people posting this forum are from FL, MA, NY, so it is difficult to know what FSoA does in California. But I am not sure if there would be that many people who are willing to pay an annual fee of $30.

[coffeecup]

FSoA is an unofficial group. There are some judging events, but they're not recognized by the official group in Japan. The group is more for fun in my opinion.