Dec issue of Orchids, anyone?

It's printed in AWFULLY small font size, but I think it says 20863

Ray, where did you *find* that number? I'm looking on pg. 878 where you'd think it would be, but can't find it.

Diana

Never mind, I found it. Pg. 942, for anyone else who wants to look.

Taking this a step further, the figure of 20,863 is the *average* net press run for the past 12 months. The net press run for the *month closest* to the reporting date is 19,072. That would indicate a dramatic reduction over the past year.

Next, look at the copies listed as paid subscriptions or *requested*. Those numbers are 17,531 average vs. 15,899 latest month. The balance of the printing run would then go to individual sales in one form or another, or complimentary copies. I guess I could go look at last year's December issue to compare the numbers, but quite honestly it hurt my eyes to do this much!

Seems to me that raising the dues has had a substantial impact.

Diana

If you go to the Pacific Central web page

Maybe the AOS doesn't care.

K Barrett

Since it has become clear over the past ten years that those in charge of the AOS have no clue, I only want to say I do appreciate how hard it is to take an older organization which has grownstewadily over decades and reverse the trend into one of rapid ddecline - and still insist nothing is amiss!

Ok, I'll also admit to a little optimism - that, just shy of winking out of existence, the organization's 'masters', or those who think themselves such will either get a clue or be replaced and new life may come into the org. But truthfully, I doubt it.

Do you know for sure that it's a direct cause-and-effect relationship, or are there other factors that could have affected the numbers?

Oh, yeah! Call me on the carpet and make me use my memory! Ha! What a thankless job that is! I recall that the AOS raised their fees and awards dropped off. Even the number of plants being shown dropped off. San Francisco used to have 25-30 plants in for award judging each month. And now there's maybe 10, 15? And the San Francisco club is filled with fanatics. (just look at the pictures Eric posts to his Flickr page). People bring in stuff to the show and tell tables, but not for AOS. Oakland, sure, the club has declined a bit lately, but they never had any great number of plants to be shown anyway. Usually 10 or so, and now they are down to 5-7. The Pacific Orchid Exposition ( the big show in SF in Feb) used to have 60 + plants for award consideration, not so many any more.

But even if there was another factor for the reduction, like club ennui, the effect would be gradual, not so abrupt.

K Barrett

If the numbers being shown in northern California are so low, why the heck do ya'll need all those JC's?

Why is the number being considered at POE lower? Are people marking plants "Not for Judging", are the displays smaller, or are the judges not picking out as many as they used to?

-danny

In a nutshell, because one can't get there from here. Traffic is murder, and if you grow in the central valley there's no way you are going to bring your orchids into the Bay Area. Hence the center in Sacramento, which has already out awarded the SF and Oakland centers.... I think...

I think the judges aren't picking out as many as in previous years and people aren't entering as many either.

California ain't the only place with traffic...

It's not that unusual for someone to drive a few hours to our judging center from Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina. We even used to get a few from Mississippi and Louisiana occasionally before they opened a supplemental JC out there. The next closest JC from here is Greensboro, which is about 330 miles from Atlanta according to Mapquest.

-danny

Ray: I think the dues increase is the biggest factor, but I agree there are probably others as well. You can chalk up at least 50, probably closer to

The number will go down by one more when my current membership expires. Not only can I no longer afford to advertise in the mag, I haven't read past the Table of Contents of the last several issues I've received. Nor do I keep them on file any longer; I donate them to anyone who will take them off my hands at every opportunity. I know that the majority of the content (besides ads) needs to be directed to newbies, but back when it was the AOSB, I used to find at least one or two interesting articles in most issues.

Kenni

Yeah Kenni, I agree.

Despite some advertising investment, the only business benefit I have realized was due to Charles Rhodes' recent article.

I have AOS Bulletins dating back to the late '70's, but find the newer ones far less interesting and worthy of saving.

Down here, the AOS has formed the South Florida Leadership Council for Society Reps. The Reps who go seem to think that their input is of value. Not to denigrate their service, because I value the time these volunteers put in, but I don't think AOS is listening. IMO, it's a feel good effort. AOS brass who attend these meetings do not even want to entertain the idea that dues might be a problem, even though it's so obvious. Lee Cooke seemed to be trying, but he's *out*. Maybe because he seemed to be trying? Or maybe it was only part of the overall effort to woo the Societies.

A number of years ago, there was a thread in this group about the AOS. I opined that, having interacted with non-profits in the past, I found them to be largely self perpetuating for the sake of just being there. IOW, after a while the entrenched principals and employees find ways to justify their own existence at the expense of whatever the mission was in the beginning. At that time, a couple of people wrote to tell me how np's work (I already knew) and why big salaries are required, etc.

Vindication is sweet.

Diana

Diana,

Lee Moore is no longer running the AOS? Is that what I understand "*out*" to mean? Interesting....

-Eric in SF

I have been wondering if there are more articles directed at newbies or if, after reading the bulletin/magazine for over 30 years, I'm just bored with most of the content now. I have noticed more and more articles that aren't informative to anyone. Just lots of pictures and very little text. If, in fact, they are writing more for newbies and at the same time raising the price so high that newbies may not take the plunge and join, that could be a deadly combination.

Steve

Yes, Lee Cooke is out, but staying on until a replacement can be found. I'm out of the loop on that front, so I don't know the reason why.

K Barrett

Politics.

Diana

Yeah, Diana, they also have (had?) a person (or maybe it's a committee) who supposedly works on AOS relationships with growers by coming up with ways to "support" us. The "programs" they came up with all looked to me like more opportunities to donate to AOS.

The major thrust of grower reaction in this area has been to develop alternatives to AOS-judged shows (my schedule for this season has 3 OS shows and 7 "other" non-AOS-judged events). But I am interested in learning how to prevent AOS from judging my displays at the 3 OS shows, the option has never been offered. Diana, how would that work at the PSL show? Or would there be a negative reaction from the OS, jeopardizing my tenure? Kenni

I wondered if there was some sort of a link between the AOS stopping selling books and instead referring people to Amazon and the Canadian bookseller( sorry I forget its name although I'm on their email list) I didn't know if they were pulling back on all sorts of fronts, the bookstore being another front to pull back on. It may have been a money losing proposition to buy/store all the inventory for the books/gifts department.