AOS Membership.

[goodgollymissmolly]

Thanks for your response,Kevin. I do not have any major issues with your thoughts, but I would like to point out that when offered a survey only 15% of the AOS membership responded with ideas and complaints. The other two plant societies I belong to get the same responses.....reduced membership, complaints about magazines, and complaints about dues (the other two are $29 and $30 per year).

AOS provides a wonderful judging system and a lot of cultural information. If people want more they need to respond to surveys or even send messages to the officers. Unfortunately, the bitching continues but when asked most people have no ideas to offer. They just want someone else to do something that entertains them.

I do not think that withholding your dues is an effective method to get whatever it is that you want. The this-quitting-will-continue-until-you-listen-to-me syndrome is not an effective tool to communicate. It is NOT the job of someone else to take care of us. It is our job to work to achieve what we want from an organization. You can not do that from outside, You can not do that by just whining. You have to be a part and make your desires known to someone who can help you achieve them.

Start by offering an article for Orchids. Offer to work at one of the regional centers if they actually materialize. I have already told you that I think putting an HQ in Delray Beach is not too smart and that academic-like use of the "PhD" is beyond silly. So I'm not above bitching. However, I put both those items on my survey....did ya'll put anything? The answer is not many of you.

Come on folks...let's get beyond internet complaining and make things happen. If that does not work then bitching might be in order.

Good growing ya' hear!

[Phantasm]

I agree, it's much easier to complain than take part in the process of making changes. In my opinion, the problem extends much further than just the AOS. Almost all garden groups are seeing a diminishing membership these days, and it seems to me to be a social thing as much as anything.

My experience is that local orchid societies are also losing members at the same rate. In the past they were social clubs as well as a way of bonding with other people with common interests. That sort of community family seems to be dissolving these days as people find it easier to "talk" to their computers rather than develop relationships. Many people seem to have an extremely short attention span and ignore the depth of many issues, this is no different with orchids.

The AOS has it's issues, but I have noticed both an outreach by the new leadership and improvement with the Orchid magazine since the beginning of the year. Now if they could move the headquarters from hurricane alley to tornado valley. Well, maybe not....but having the HQ in Florida definitely isolates the membership.

[dennis]

i filled out the survey and offered my opinions on what i would like to see. i would like to see more actual info and sound advice from the phd's to actually help the newcomers. something other than water weekly and fertilize weakly weekly.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Phantasm

My experience is that local orchid societies are also losing members at the same rate.

And yet, the Orchid Board continues to grow? Methinks it's not a general problem, but a problem with a bloated Society that continues to think they represent the mainstream when, in fact, they have no clue. It may be important to some folks to associate with the "mainline" group or society, but, for me, I find much more help and camaraderie and info here on Orchid-board and would give the same amount as I would in membership to AOS where it does most good. That ain't AOS (IMHO). I don't need a magazine (have several years worth) of ads and esoteric articles.

[goodgollymissmolly]

Ross it is neither my job nor my calling to defend or help build AOS membership. While I can understand and respect your feelings, I think the internet negativity about society membership which is common here and elsewhere is very unhelpful. When you, a regular poster to this forum, has such negative attitudes regarding AOS you influence the thinking of potential new AOS members. Effectively you persuade them not to try out the organization and develop their own opinion. At the same time you do nothing to make changes inside AOS. Consequently your feelings have a negative effect with no corresponding positive consequences.

I am not knocking this or any other forum, but you must admit that much (most) of what you read on the internet is suspect or just wrong. There is no way for the new or novice reader to sort the good from the bad information. At least with internet or printed advice from AOS you have some assurance that the information has been filtered through their "PhD"'s. The judging system including training of judges and access to judging centers is spectacular. Support of that is important.

Apparently you like internet forums better than "official" publications and certainly that is your right. However, do you ever tire of the "me too", "very pretty", "I want one", "good growing"...posts that are meaningless and represent more of a "MySpace social interaction" than a serious orchid information source?

To each his own, but I'm interested in orchids not chit-chat. There is nothing wrong with preferring the chit-chat, but attempting to influence others to join the chit-chat and reject the positive attributes of AOS is nothing but self serving group building.

Personally, I think the internet has a lot to do with membership losses in all societies. Unlike some, I do not think this internet influence is good. It allows people to avoid personal contact, spreads a good deal of misinformation, and gives a forum to negative thinking. For some strange reason, positive thinkers will not enter the fray and spread their side of the story. I think they may have been shouted down by the naysayers in the past. I won't be intimidated by negativity. I won't go away unless the forum throws me off. I won't quit advising new people to join AOS and improve their orchid knowledge and help support the organization into the future.

It's time to abandon your keyborad and rejoin the world.

[KEGinMichigan]

Goodgollymissmolly,

I think everyone here has had an opportunity to offer what they feel are good and bad points to the AOS. I would like to hear what good the organization has done. I also would like the opportunity to hear the bad too. I think that anyone who wishes to join the AOS should go in with eyes open.

I would assume that those wishing to send the organization $60 would take the time to research the organization. This research would include speaking with current and former members, reading forums such as this, and going to the organization's website. It also includes listening to the good and the bad about the organization. I don't think that this forum has deterred anyone from making their own decision about joining the AOS.

I am currently the President of an orchid society. We are experiencing a decline in our membership. The Internet may be one reason for this. I do not think it is the only reason. I believe it was Ross who said the some societies have lost touch with the public. I have to agree. It is the job of the societies to reconnect with the public to gain more members. It is also the societies' job to find out why members have decided not to renew. It is the societies' job to also make the necessary changes and spread the word about them.

I will continue to have my opinion about the AOS. If you want to share any other good information about the group, please, I would like to hear it. Right now, I just don't value the magazine or the judging program as you do. The information that they offer can be found in other sources such as books. I really don't need the AOS for anymore information.

Let me say this too. I will point people new to orchids to the AOS site. Specifically, I point them to the culture sheets. So, I do not deter people from seeking information about the AOS. Additionally, at our last show, some members and I gave away our old issues of Orchids and the AOS Bulletins. I know that I pointed to articles in which the people buying plants would be interested. These people now have a means of getting more information about the AOS and possibly joining. If someone new to this orchid board had a question about growing orchids and needed basic information, I would point them to a variety or sites including the AOS website. Doing all of this does not make me want to rejoin the AOS, though. I still have my feelings about the organization.

Rather than criticize those who have negative feelings towards the AOS, I would suggest telling us the good things that the organization has done. I, for one, would like to see links to articles or to their site telling about how it reached out to society or member 'a' in state 'b'. I would like to see the work outside of Florida and the membership meetings held at some remote show. Or, may be someone has a testimonial. Please inundate us with the good the AOS is doing. I think you'll get more people to join or at the very least take another look at the AOS. Isn't that what you want? Isn't that what the AOS wants?

I know that I want a more open AOS. I want one open to criticism and ideas. I want an AOS that does more outreach to Societies. I have expressed this to the AOS in one way or another. That's about all I'm going to offer. It is all that I can offer at this time.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Sharry]

I thought that I would tell my experience with AOS as some one who just joined. Maybe it will help AOS members or other orchid society members understand how thing look to a new comber. I have been growing orchids on the window sill for about 8 years. I had the impression of very wealthy people wanting a social club and the gardens were nice but I left wanting something more. I wanted to see a collection of top hybrids and FCC winners or something.

This past year I decided to join based on their web site: magazine subscription, members only section and Free plant, I figured it would be worth the $60.00.

I do look forward to the journal, I like the photos and they have been having articles on Oncidium family plants which is one of my interests. But again as some others stated, I don't know if it's worth $60.00.

I have been disappointed over the other perks. The members only section is undeveloped. Most of the plants I typed in for the species encyclopedia section weren't there . I couldn't really figure out what I was getting a member that I couldn't have gotten for free. I don't go there anymore since they don't have the info that I am looking for. The free plant advertised is actually coupon that doesn't include shipping. So that free plant will cost me from $6 to 12 dollars and maybe it is a variety that doesn't appeal to me. I can get a nice out of bloom orchid for $5.00 -$15.00 at my local nursery. I never bothered to cashed it in.

FYI: I did fill out the survey. I hope it does pull itself together for the sake of the good works it does in conservation and improving orchid quality.

[Charles]

I wish they kept a data base of previously judged orchids that can be searched. Let's face it, they should be the world's preeminent source of orchid everything.
??

[goodgollymissmolly]

Kevin,

I will make my pitch to answer you and others. However, I hope you will keep in mind several facts.

1. No one designated me the spokesperson for AOS. Whatever I say is only my own opinion.

2. I do not propose to know everything, but I do know that a strong, central organization is vital to all of us and that this, mostly factless, bashing is not helpful.

3. I do not expect to change any minds here, but I hope to let new potential members know that there is a point of view different from the hardened, negative appraisals that are being put forth by some here.

4. I, too, have some differences with AOS which I have expressed. However, the only way to get some input into changes is to be inside. Sniping from outside is just that..sniping for no gain unless you just enjoy bashing something.

AOS provides a monthly magazine, ORCHIDS. You could not possibly look at the May 2007 issue and call this a poor magazine. One of the articles is a pictorial review of the 2006 FCC winners...it is a wonderful review of the top plants for the year.

The top plants have to be identified and the judging structure provided by AOS is the vehicle for this identification. Rember this includes recruitment of prospects, training, rules, sites and schedules, ongoing training and record keeping. A massive undertaking which is well done.

Record keeping. The Awards Quarterly and my favorite the e-AOS Awards (now AQ Plus). This is an amzing product with up to 40,000 pictures of awarded plants. The price is $50 per year including updates. Compare that to OrchidWiz (which I have and find useful) at $175 initially and $20 per quarter updates. The awards record keeping is vital to our hobby if only to let hobbyists know what new things are hot.

Curtural info, educational classes, twice yearly meetings of hobbyists, a visitors center with plants, sponsored research, and conservation activities and support. AOS also has an on-line forum similar to this one though somewhat less sophisticated in design. Why don't more members use that? I do not know.

All of those things cost money. Yes, I hate it that Delray Beach is in a far corner of the universe, but someone made that mistake some years ago and it is not easily remedied. The regional centers currently proposed might mollify that situation.

I just heard someone reading this say that you can utilize all those things except the magazine without paying $60 per year. You are right and that's where AOS might be making a big mistake. All plant societies seem to feel that offering their services to all is vital to their educational mission (and possibly their 501c3 status). I would like to see a restriction of some of this free activity. It allows freeloaders to get the benefits that many of us pay our dues to get.

What would happen if you could not get an award unless you were a member? I have no idea, but I know what allowing free access is doing.

What would happen if you could access technical information directly from experts in AOS through the forum? I don't know but I do know that asking Suzy Q about technical issues on this or any other internet forum is tempting fate because results are questionabvle at best and downright dangerous to both you and your plants at times.

I repeat what I said earlier at some risk to myself. These on-line forums are nice social sites but they are not substitutes for reliable information. There are all kinds of visitors to these sites that pretend to be something they are not and no way we can sort them out. In another plant interest I know of one admittedly crazy person who regularly hands out advice on issues that even the most experienced hybridizers do not pretend to know.

The minds I hope to influence are those who have yet to take a hard line opinion on AOS membership. The rest of you are beyond changing...you know it and by god that's it! That's OK, no problem, but your recruitment of others to your negativism infuriates me. If you don't have any competitive spirit that makes you want to show the world that you can grow orchids better than anyone else on earth that is OK. You have a right to your mediocre feelings and I mean that sincerely. The girls I run with are high-spirited winners and I encourage all you newer folks to resist the temptation to fall into the trap of whining without any effort to change things for the better.,

[nancy]

goodgollymissmolly said <What would happen if you could not get an award unless you were a member?>
Though you don't have to be a member to get an award, you *do* have to pay a fee to have that award registered. And if the ID of the plant is debatable, you also will need to pay the fees of a registered taxonomist to have the species nailed down.
Though, when I win an award, I will pay that fee. It could happen.