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Mon, Aug 6, 12 at 10:26
| I am a member of my local orchid society. Less than 25% of the members are a part of AOS. Several people listed cost as their primary deterrent to joining. But I also talked to a couple of people who felt that they did not benefit enough from their previous membership so they didn't renew it.
What do you think are the pros and cons of joining AOS in addition to your local society? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I love the magazine. Beautiful photos and some interesting articles. You sometimes get a discount when attending an orchid show. I stay a member because I want the organization to survive. Jane |
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| Ditto what Jane said, plus... I'm a little anti-social/independent :( (I've attended a couple of local OS meetings, but have yet to join) so it is a way for me to stay 'in touch' a bit. A couple of forums like this one also help, but there's a lot of BS that comes along with some of the other forums. Bob |
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- Posted by orchidnick z9Ca (orchidnick@yahoo.com) on Thu, Aug 9, 12 at 15:47
| I used to belong, then I forgot to renew and did not belong, then belonged again but finally stopped. Don't find their magazine that helpful, Orchid Digest is much better. The main reason to belong is to support them. Our society does that all year long with multiple donations for any and all reasons. I therefore don't feel that obligated to send them my two bits worth. All depends on what you are looking for, eventually we all have too many orchids and will end up specializing at that point I found them less useful. Nick |
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| "Multiple Donations" doesn't sound good. The local orchid society pays a set affiliation fee each year so that we can get Judging panels for our three shows. No parent body = No judges. Some people might think that is a good idea! |
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- Posted by Greencurls Z5 (My Page) on Thu, Aug 9, 12 at 22:25
| Thank you all for sharing your perspectives! My collection is very diverse. I have not been at it long enough to narrow in on a specialty. Still I am at the point that I want /need more than I can get from general how to style books. I am glad that I joined my local society but I like to study independently too. So I was hoping that joining AOS would help me do that. I will also check out Orchid Digest. |
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- Posted by orchidnick z9Ca (orchidnick@yahoo.com) on Thu, Aug 9, 12 at 23:04
| In some areas there are specialty groups who meet to discuss specific issues. The Pleurothallis Alliance has members nationwide but only meets in certain areas. In California that is San Francisco. Then there is a species group that meets in Placentia and a species study group, which is an offshoot of the San Diego Orchid Society which meets in San Diego. There are at least 2 Cymbidium Societies in greater LA and there is the Paph Guild who puts on quite a show in Santa Barbara every January. Our plate is full, it depends on your area but there may be more specialized groups than the regular orchid society. Nick |
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| I've been a member of the American Orchid Society since I was a kid in middle school. I continue to be a loyal member. I'm now well into my fifties. Membership not only allows me to receive their magazine "Orchids" but allows access to the online website. Information on pests and diseases, as well as cultural advise for varied genus of orchids. Discounts from vendors associated with the AOS, and free or discounted admission to 200 botanical gardens and aboreta. Membership allows me to attend bi-annual members meetings across the country where I not only have the chance to meet great people, but listen to informative lectures by top orchidists in the world. Membership supports conservation and research. AOS judging is an important part of orchid shows. Having a show with a sanctioned AOS judging brings in more people. Receiving an AOS award, be it cultural or awards of merit, HCC, AM, or FCC, is a wonderful feeling. If your local orchid society is associated with judging center, that's great. You have the opportunity to see what plants were brought in for judging. What "won" and why. What I love about the AOS is that I have friends all across this nation and abroad. Great friends that I've maintained for many many years. Being able to attend some of the World Orchid Conferences were a blast. Orchids are a passion. An obsession if you will. When you're with the AOS, you can share the same passion. Find someone who has great knowledge in a particular area of orchids. For me, that would be cattleyas. We can be "crazy" about orchids, but it's gratifying that there are others just as "crazy" as you or me. dave |
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| I like to get the AOS magazine. It's full of well researched material on all aspects of orchids. While there's a lot of good info on the web, a lot is from inexperienced folks, hearsay, misinformation, etc. and you can't really tell what's fact and what's opinion. I fear that the AOS as an organization may go the way of the American hybridizers; once they're gone folks will say "I wish they were still around, I'd patronize them if they were." |
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- Posted by gardenbear1 6 Ma. (My Page) on Mon, Nov 12, 12 at 14:01
| I would love to join AOS but there no way I could go to the meeting or even the shows because the do their show on the other side of the state and I would have to find/pay some one willing to drive me that far and to join just for the magazine is not worth the cost. I do enjoy reading about how others grow orchids here on GW and I have learned alot from the people here. Bear |
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