April 18, 2021 MEETING MINUTE NOTES OKLAHOMA ORCHID SOCIETY

The presentation was “Fertilizer and Plant Nutrition — How and When to Fertilize Orchids” by Douglas Needham, PhD. Doug gave an excellent presentation on how to utilize fertilizers and their macro and micronutrients. It was attended by 40 people. Thank you, Doug; it was great as usual.

Break

Meeting at 2pm

I Call to Order by Jana Butcher, President

II Introduction of Guests and New Members:  There were many guests today from Florida, Louisiana and Jamaica. We are so pleased to have guests attend our meetings and hope to have them attend hybrid meetings in the future.

III Approval of Minutes from the March 21st meeting were approved today.

IV Treasurers Report : Alan Koch gave a brief treasurers report. We have $20,911.76 dollars in our account. Monies have been moved from the money market to the checking to cover costs of the May 1st show and sale.

V Old Business: Doug Needham gave a three-month update on our website. In just three months’ time, we have had 2,720 total impressions with 189 total click throughs. Of those click throughs, the majority have been from mobile devices. On the Join OOS form, we have had three individual and one couple indicate their interest in joining the Society. The OOS Officers met with the Website Steering Committee on April 6, 2021, and approved implementation and two-year trial of the website’s phase 2 enhancements. In 2021, improvements in membership and a PayPal payment gateway will be implemented, and in 2022, show forms will be implemented.

VI New Business:

A.Jana emailed all OOS members showing the recommended Constitution and Bylaws changes and amendments for their review. Voting on these amendments will be May 16th at our next meeting. Email any further recommendations to Jana, who will send a compilation of those received to the members prior to the May meeting.

B. Discussion of proposed membership dues going up to $25 for individual membership and $40 for couples. This will be voted upon at the May 18th meeting. This proposal will be emailed to OOS members for their consideration. Comments should be sent to Jana Butcher.

VII Announcements:

A. The next Oklahoma Orchid Society meeting will be in-person, May 16th at 1:00pm and unless everyone present has been COVID-19 vaccinated, masks will be required during the meeting. It is hoped that we can add Zoom to our meeting to allow those that are out of state or cannot attend a way to see the meeting and presentations.

B. Festival in the Park will be May 15th, 2021 at Will Rogers Gardens Center from 9:00am until 3:00pm. There will be twenty-two vendors present.

Auction (If Having One )NA

VIII Reports 

  A. Green Growers Recap  None

  B. Great Plains Judging Center: The judging center met on April 17th and six awards were given. Carolyn McCabe gave the report.

  C. AOS Representative: No report

  D. SWROGA: The board of directors and officers meeting will be May 7th at 7 PM via Zoom.

  E. Orchid Digest Representative: No report

  F. OK Garden Council (Meets Sept-May): Garden Council did not meet this month. They will meet next month and it will be the second Friday of the month.

  G. Conservation : No report

  H. Upcoming Show / Sale: May 1st at Will Rogers Gardens Exhibition Center will be the orchid sale. Friday April 30th OOS members can go into the building for setting up the show at 3:00 pm. Orchids will be at Jay Simons home and drivers are needed to transport the plants & other items to the Center. Saturday the center opens to the public at 9:00am and closes at 5:00pm. OOS members come in at 8:00am and stay until 6:00pm for clean up after the public leaves. Keith Warren has a class at 1:00pm. Members need to bring their lunch or go out for lunch on the day of the sale. Snacks and drinks will be available for volunteers. Pots, media and/or plants for donation or sale are welcome. Additional help is needed for sales.

   I. Other reports:

A. Doug Needham discussed and showed on our website the October 2nd and 3rd Orchid Show & Sale. Information and forms have been posted to SWROGA’s website, too. He showed the itinerary, and noted that David Sorokowsky of Paph Paradise will be giving two lectures on Paphs. Vendors have been contacted, and we have only two vendor places not reserved yet. There will be a reception on Saturday evening at 7 PM at the Will Rogers Gardens Exhibition Center for $15.00 each attendee, and the reservation form is posted on our website. Ticket sales will start at the May meeting. Flower show space will be available at the October Show & Sale, as it was in 2019. Doug noted that all potential advertisers, including radio, TV, newspaper, newsmagazines, etc. have been contacted and requested to post the Show & Sale on their calendars of events and/or to announce the Show & Sale beginning September 1. See the Society’s “Shows & Sales” webpage for various forms, including exhibitor invitation and reservation form, and additional information about the October Show & Sale.

Business meeting closed at 4:00pm

X Show and Tell: Claire Garrett, Doug Needham, Keith Warren, Gabriel Guerrero, and Carolyn and Lowell McCabe had lovely plants to show today.

XI Refreshments and Sell Raffle TicketsNA

XII Plant Sale/Silent Auction (If Having)NA

XIII Raffle PlantsNA

XIV Adjournment Time: 4:22 pm meeting adjourned.