1. Call to Order: Call to order by President Mike Friday at 12:55 pm.
2. Member Attendance and Guest Introduction: Number present: 24 members in total, 24 in-person and 0 via Zoom this month. No guests were in attendance.
3. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Catherine Chance reported a total of $39,893.87 in the OOS account at the end of March 2025.
4. Approval of Minutes: Approval of March 2025 minutes deferred.
5. Committee Chair Reports:
- Membership – no report
- Programming – John Spencer, Chair: No programming events were reported.
- Show & Sale – Jana Butcher, Bridget Andoe and Marinel Kelley, co-Chairs: Jana Butcher indicated planning for the May 2025 OOS show is going well, with four orchid vendors and one none plant vendor having committed to the show. Jana will send email to all OOS members with the volunteer position(s) and times each member has signed up to work. There are still a few volunteer slots open on both Saturday and Sunday. Marinel Kelley, overseeing hospitality, requested members signup to bring food items for the event volunteers, judges and vendors. Thank you to everyone for volunteering! FYI – if entering an orchid in the show please have it to the show before 5:00pm, Friday May 2.
- Investment – Jana Butcher, Chair: Jana Butcher stated the Investment Committee will meet in June 2025.
- Conservation– Mike Friday, Chair: Mike Friday continued his report on the Sporanthes growing in and around his area. In February the shoots began to break above ground and this month the orchids are in bloom.
- Website – Doug Needham, Chair: No committee report.
6. Affiliate Reports:
- Great Plains Judging Center – Catherine Chance and Jana Butcher: Jana Butcher stated eight plants were judged this month though no orchids received awards.
- AOS Representative – Gerry Holland: Bill Parker filling in for Gerry Holland, shared the current issue of the AOS journal with members.
- SWROGA – Jana Butcher, Bill Parker and Catherine Chance: Jana Butcher gave the SWROGA spring show dates as May 10th – 11th in conjunction with the Galveston Bay Orchid Society. All are invited to take a look a the new SWROGA website for the calendar of events and more.
- Orchid Digest Representative – Bill Parker: Mike Friday announced this issue of Orchid Digest magazine features the Orchid Digest award presented to Doug Needham during the February 2025 monthy OOS business meeting. This issue also contains advertising to the World Orchid Conference 2026 in Dresden, Germany.
- Oklahoma City Council of Garden Clubs – Jana Butcher: The Garden Festival in the Park on will be held on May 17th at Will Rogers Gardens. This is a good chance to volunteer if you are interested. Jana let everyone know of the April Council meeting set for Friday, April 11 where the speaker will discussing water conservation measures in the garden.
7. Old Business:
- Barbara handed out the floral pattern shirts to those who purchased them. A 2nd shirt order may be possible, please visit with Barbara if you would like to participate in another order.
8. New Business:
- Mike Friday reported the passing of long-time OOS member, Irene Park this April. A sympathy card will be sent to the family from the OOS members after signatures are collected during this month’s meeting. A motion was made by Jana Butcher and seconded by Bridget Andoe to donate $100.00 to the American Orchid Society in memory of Irene Park. The motion was unanimously approved.
9. Adjourn Business Meeting at 1:38 pm.
10. Program/Presentation – John Spencer introduced this month’s speaker, Jana Butcher, who instructed all on how to prepare your orchid and orchid tag for judging during the OOS May Annual Show and Sale with her wonderful
11. Show and Tell Table – Members brought many beautiful orchids to today’s meeting. Thank you to those who showed their plants and described their culture.
11. Auction and Raffle – Catherine Chance led the raffle of plants donated by OOS members. Thank you to everyone who brought a plant for the raffle!
11. Meeting Adjourned – Meeting adjourned by Mike Friday at 2:50 pm.