AOS Membership.

[Ross]

While I am tempted to agree with Ray, I would have to say all is not lost with these Orchid Societies and their magazines. I, for one, belong to other "societies", the subject matter which I can get free info via the net, but I want to support their endevors. National Wildlife Federation, Wild Ones (a native wildflower group), etc. But I can't find the same efforts going on with AOS. If they can show me a strong fight to save rare species, a strong effort to educate young people in schools, a strong promotion to save disappearing forests and jungles, etc. then I would join simply to support those efforts. But the magazine is not worth the dues. And by the way I also can deduct these subscriptions as business expense (reference material).

[Phantasm]

The AOS membership has dropped with the increase of dues. I currently subscribe to AOS, ODC, AQ, and the Slipper Orchid Alliance. As a judge I have no choice about an AOS membership or AQ subscription, but I do enjoy both publications.
Orchids magazine has to juggle between varied interests and expertise levels. Sometimes, I am frankly bored with it but they do have excellent issues concerning hybridizing, and species. Much of their focus is more towards beginning growers, but the pricing is driving them away.
Some changes are definitely brewing, starting with E-awards which will probably eventually lead to the printed AQ being phased out. I personally like the AQ even though it is cost prohibitive to publish.
The AOS is now allowing digital photography for awards photos beginning in January 2007, and the ability to email awards photos will cut some costs.
Perhaps eventually the Orchids magazine will be an online subcription.......

I agree with Ray about the effect of the internet, and the AOS needs to adapt. There is always something to be gained, however, from personal relationships and orchid societies.

[Paul]

I've never had a great urge to join -- for all of the reasons others have already mentioned. In addition, I have had friends who did subscribe so if there was an issue I really wanted to read, I could just borrow it. Recently, a buddy of mine elected not to renew his subscription because of how much the price had jumped.

[nancy]

I agree with many of the comments made about AOS membership; in essence, we are paying over $80 per year for a magazine subscription...a magazine that is lovely to look at, but seems to have a preponderance of articles dealing with novice-growing issues. I've already grown a Phal., and know where to cut/not cut the spike after blooming; already had a keiki on my Dendrobium, etc. Now I want to know more about less-common orchids.
While no magazine can be all things to all people, I do think that there is so much basic orchid-growing information available (on the 'net and at the local box stores, for that matter), that a magazine from the AOS just ought to be better than "ordinary." And while the photos are often superb, the content is very much "least common denominator."
Once you develop a taste for Brie, well, Velveeta just doesn't make the cut.
I remain a member because I am program director for our society, and we have to have a certain membership level to use educational materials from the AOS library...can you believe, slide programs? Time to drag AOS kicking and screaming into this century! Spend some of my dues to digitize, and put those suckers into a PowerPoint!

[Ross]

Amen! That's why I chose not to renew years ago. Doubt you'll drag anybody in AOS into anything they don't want to go into.

[dennis]

i joined signed up for two years. am i happy now no have i learned anything from it no do i care for the magazine no. will i rejoin nope not a chance. there is no information from them that i have not learned from reading from the net. i am sure i could learn more by joining a local society but i have no intention of ever having one of my plants judged for a award. i grow my plants for my wife and my enjoyment. i dont really consider the magazine as eye candy as they usally show ones that i am not interested in or would not be able to grow under my conditions. they say that they are trying to reach out to the newbies to help spark a bigger interest in orchids but have still not seen any info out there that would attract me as someone that would want to start up growing . i joined because of the name and figured i would gain more knowledge from them than anywhere else. this has not been the case. i am not really trying to bash them i think what they do is wonderful. i just do not think that they are truly a benifit to someone that is just started into growing or even a intermediate grower. true they had a great piece on growing phals but no one i know has conditions like texas a&m or taiwan. in my own opinion if you take a plant into be judged and do not recieve a award then it is like being told that you are not capable of growing something better than mother nature can grow well dah. and has anyone ever judged a actual plant growing in the wilds, in my eyes when i recieve blooms on my plants this is telling me that the plant is giving me a reward for doing a fine job handling the needs it desires, and i have never complained that the petals might not be perfect or it only gave me a dozen blooms instead of twenty. sorry for rambling on but as far as ever looking into a society or club again i will pass, i just dont think the knowledge gained is worth the price. i do not think the dues are to high if you are able to gain information on growing more complexed species and are really into recieving a award for your efforts other than what your plant is willing to give you

[Djarum Black]

*giggles* Hey Dennis,

You just posted another thread that said you learned something bout Den's from "Orchids". (I'm just teasing you)

Personally, I like the AOS publication. It gives me something to wait for every month in the mail

I like the photos and I enjoy reading about the different growers around the country. I know it's not for everyone and that’s ok too.
On a similar note, my orchid society mentioned many people involved in societies and AOS are older. Older people tend to be set in their ways *snicker*. In other words the more younger people join, learn, grow..the more AOS will change to be what the next generation needs for it to be.
If everyone walks away as is...well nothing will change.

Just my two cents

[dennis]

dont get me wrong i am not trying to bash the aos i think it is a great society. the research that they do is fantastic. i just do not see any real effort on getting new people to join. i really can not say i have not learned anything from them as i learn something from everything i read. it just does not do me justice in helping me with what i grow in the conditions i grow in. now to meet Yin-Tung Wang, Ph.D. would be great i could talk with someone like him for hours

[goodgollymissmolly]

In every plant society you can raise a crowd by finding fault with the group and the central publication. In my opinion we would be in quicksand without a centralized organization to sort out all the false information that floats around on the internet and give some (even if minor) cohesion to our hobby.

Compared to other plant societies, AOS is expensive but it also provides a monthly magazine the quality of which exceeds some the descriptions I see in this thread. AOS also provides a permanent headquarters location with orchid displays. I must admit that whomever chose Delray Beach was on dope. (Before I say more let me tell you that I am a native Floridian who has nothing against the state). However, Delray Beach is so completely off on one corner of the planet (OK, US geography to be more precise) that it is useless to most potential members and therefore is not a positive asset to membership enhancement.

I subscribe to Orchid Digest and Orchid Review in addition to Orchids. I find value in all of them, and stuff I don't care about, too. I have OrchidWiz and AQPlus and find usefulness in both. I belong to two other plant societies and find them interesting and useful. HOWEVER, I find AOS to be the most valuable because it has a "permanent" staff that provides continuity through the elected administration changes and provides the permanent HQ rather than the continual address changes that occur in organizations without a permanent piece of real estate.

The current president (whom I don't know from Adam) seems to be a good executive who has some great ideas. The most important one is the establishment of a regional organization concept with regional bases of operation. That combined with the excellent judging backbone and judging center concepts puts AOS in a class by itself.

Things I do not like..... an HQ that almost missed being in the United States and MOST of all the noxious habit of putting "PhD" behind every name in the magazine. I've spent a career with highly educated peers and never do really accomplished people (with the exception of MD's) put titles after their names. If you really are intelligent people will notice, putting that suffix in print will not help.

Support your AOS because it is to your advantage for it to exist. Selfishness is not a sin. We need the organization and we need to support it....even if we wish to bitch on occassion.

Go buy some new orchids and join AOS!!! Quit the negativism.

[KEGinMichigan]

I agree with you on some point regarding the AOS. I do agree that there needs to be at least one orchid organization with a strong foundation in the orchid world. I just do not think that the AOS is that organization any longer. I hope the regional idea becomes reality, but I think that the organization has to do more than just be regional.

As a part of this concept, the organization has to do more outreach to its affiliated societies. I do not think that the judging program suffices as a comprehensive outreach program. The outreach program can assist the affiliated societies with membership retention ideas. They can also have a direct presence at orchid shows. In addition, the organization can help with local orchid conservation efforts. These are just a few ideas that have been brewing in my mind. I have spoken with the new COO, Jim Jordan, about these issues and I hope he can help to bring about some of these and/or other worthwhile changes.

I understand that everyone has their preference with regard to orchid magazines. My preference is not 'Orchids'. I prefer Orchid Digest. I will pay the fee for this magazine, but I won't pay $60 for 'Orchids'. I understand that there other perks which come along with that fee, but I will not be visiting the AOS HQ in the near future. The discount to some botanical gardens around the country is not enough to justify the cost. This is just my opinion.

If the AOS makes some changes for the better within the few years, I will gladly rejoin. However, it's not worth it right now.

Kevin