Kathy Fiegel posted this link on the OGD. If you have not yet received your 'Orchids' magazine new president Carlos Fighetti has a letter to the membership in this month's orchids. These letters are available online at
Its a farnk appraisal of teh AOS and what they need to do to get their membership back.
I was impressed.
K Barrett
Oops, thats 'frank appraisal' so much for my typing skills.
KDouble oops, Kath-it's *attitude*, LOL!
Diana
FWIW, I think this has been in the works for some time. The AOS has been holding regular meetings of the S. FL Leadership Council for at least a year; I think it might actually be closer to two years, but I can't remember for sure. The SFLC is made up of AOS Reps, local society presidents and other interested AOS members. For example, our show chairperson goes to those meetings along with our AOS rep and president.
In the beginning, they were not terribly receptive to new ideas. They didn't even want to discuss the dues increase. But as time passed, I think reality sank in. The declining membership numbers finally hit home. At least they appear to recognize that for at least some people, raising the dues was like the final straw. And, as has been discussed here many times before, information is so easy to come by these days that we hardly need to rely on magazines to get what we need.
They really were in their own little world down in Delray Beach, on the way to existing for the sake of their own existence. Mind you, I do not include the judges in that description. Our judges are great.
So we'll see what happens. I support the concept of the AOS. It has to morph into something that offers a real service to orchidists, new and experienced alike. Magazine articles about old time members are nice enough, but what do they contribute to our growing experience? I think what we mostly want is relevance, relevance, relevance. Just my two cents.
Diana
Sounds like you need a good Google bombing! You'd need a bunch of people. I'll bet this group would help.
I hear this so often. I really feel good about our society, though when I first joined it was the pits. I won't bore you with that story again. Suffice to say it's great now. Newbies feel free to volunteer and learn. Some of the surrounding societies have some great people, but the organizations are weak. One nearby society does nothing but fight - real knock down drag outs. Their prexy walked out and quit in the middle of a recent meeting. Can't say I blame her, given what I know about them.
Yes, many other interests. Reading is a passion, and so is writing. Reading I always have time for, but writing has gone by the board. After this session, I won't be VP anymore (man, it's been a long time!) and that will take some pressure off me.
Well, no. And why should you? That is the job of AOS and the people who run it and decide to volunteer for it. It's time for them to look past the old times and get with the program. It appears that they want to do that. I'm rooting for them. I think a lot depends on how much resistance they get from the old guard. The big money contributors love to see their pics in print, I'm sure. I'm not trying to be snarky. But hey, face what *is*.
Diana
Another PS: The magazine came this afternoon.
Diana
Anyone can fill out the online survey. The first question asks whether you're currently an AOS member.
-danny
yeah, i skimmed the letter and it seemed a bit placatory if nothing else. i filled out the survey and told them i was a recidivist--quit when the dues went up to 60, and am only a member again because someone else (three someone else's, actually) is paying for my membership.
oh, my issue of the mag hit MD 6b a few days ago.
--j_a
Maryland Zone 6B ?
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