1. Call to order by President Doug Needham at 1:00 pm
  2. Introduction of guests and new members since last meeting. Number present: 28 current members, including seven online, and one guest, Alex Ryzhkov, who joined following the meeting. Welcome new members and guests!
  3. Grower Tips: Vice President John Spencer introduced the topic of what source of water members use and the discussion revolved around city water, rainwater collection, well water, and reverse osmosis.
  4. Approval of meeting minutes for July 17, 2022 was motioned by John Spencer and seconded by Janice Wiechman; unanimous approval.
  5. Old business:
    a. Quantum (PAR) Light Meter: Jana Butcher provided a brief overview of Apogee Instruments MQ-500 quantum (PAR) light meter, showing her own meter for the group to view. The meter costs about $525. Following discussion, a motion was made for purchase of the meter. Motion was approved unanimously. The meter will be available for check-out by OOS members from the OOS Librarian. It is intended to be checked out at one month’s meeting and returned at the subsequent month’s meeting.

    b. WRGC Volunteer Opportunities: As part of OOS’s Agreement with the OKC Parks Department, OOS is required to offer two public classes per year. OOS’s next public class is scheduled for October 2, 2022, at WRGC. Mike Friday volunteered to teach the class. Suggestions for topics included teaching repotting, how to water, why plants that have flowered should not be discarded, etc. Mike will plan to cover basic orchid care for the beginning grower.

    c. WRGC is having “Halloween on the Green” on October 29th, 8am-Noon. Jana Butcher, Kim Kyker, and Barb Millwee volunteered to help. (Subsequent to the meeting, Jana realized she will not be available to help.) Other members wanting to help and gain volunteer-hours for our society may also attend. Please, let Doug know of your interest to volunteer.
  6. New business:
    a. Nominating Committee: Vacant positions for 2023 include Secretary, Elected Trustee for one-year term (2023), and Elected Trustee for two-year term (2023 and 2024). Current President Doug Needham, Vice Present John Spencer, and Treasurer Carol Ash offered to continue serving in their leadership roles for 2023. Jana Butcher as Immediate Past President will remain a Trustee. The nominating committee is Keith Warren, John Spencer, and Thomas Takyi-Micah. The slate of nominations will be presented at the October meeting, and voting will be at the November meeting.
  7. Treasurer’s Report: Carol Ash gave end-of-month 7/31/2022 Treasurer’s Report with total monies reported as $26,859.57. Visuals were presented of the finances. Motion for approval by Jana Butcher and second by John Spencer. Unanimous approval of report. A discussion was held about investing a portion of the checking account monies into the Society’s Money Market account or another investment account. The ad hoc Scholarship Discovery Committee will review and present a report at a later meeting.
  8. Committee Reports:
    a. Membership – Carol Ash: Total active members to date are 73, consisting of 40 active Individual Memberships, 14 active Family/Household Memberships (30 persons), 3 active Honorary Lifetime Memberships, and 3 Honorary Annual Memberships (non-voting).

    b. Programming – John Spencer: September will feature “Orchid Record Keeping” and “Virtual Tour of the Smithsonian’s Blooming Orchids.” October will feature “Winterizing Your Orchid Collection.” November is a tour of the Crystal Bridge (OOS members-only), and December is the Society’s “Christmas Party” (OOS members-only).

    c. Show & Sale – Jana Butcher, Bridget Andoe, and Marinel Kelley: May 6 & 7th 2023 Show and Sale discussed by Jana Butcher. The Show will be a hybrid “bench” and “exhibit” show with no “Orchids in Use” floral design component. Theme suggestions for the show are due September 9th by 7:00pm via email to OOS_ShowChair@okOrchidSociety.org. Voting on the theme will be done by September 16th at 7:00pm via email or phone call to Jana. Head clerk and clerks are needed. The following have volunteered to help: auction table Robert Hoover; signage Keith and Howard; hospitality Marinel; OOS information and sales table Bridget. Silent auction table Chair to be determined. Anyone needing Kiwi bark is to call Jack Heflin in Tulsa by Tuesday, August 23, 2022. Jana can provide his number.

    d. Conservation – Mike Friday: Mike kindly provided each OOS member a Chinese Crown Orchid to try to grow, and he discussed a population of small-whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) that was recently confirmed in the Winooski Valley Park District conservation land in Chittenden County, VT, by botanists with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

    e. Website – Doug Needham: Doug announced that the Society’s “Donate to OOS” webpage is live on the OOS website.
  9. Affiliate Reports:
    a. Great Plains Judging Center – Carolyn McCabe: Judging this month was via Zoom and successful. Twelve orchids were judged and 6 awards given. OOS members can see the judging online if a Zoom meeting is being done for judging. Hopefully, Zoom meeting will continue to facilitate judging.

    b. AOS Representative – Carolyn McCabe: AOS Fall Members Meeting is in Sacramento, CA, October 26-30th.

    c. SWROGA – Bill Parker: OOS is putting in an exhibit at Ft. Worth Orchid Society show. Members in OKC with orchids to exhibit can contact Catherine Chance to pick up their orchids for exhibit (not too big). The show is November 11 and 12, 2022.

    d. Orchid Digest Representative – Bill Parker: No report.

    e. OKC Council of Garden Clubs – Carolyn McCabe: September 9th is first meeting and September 29th is the Wildflower Workshop. She also gave a brief history of the Garden Council.
  10. Other reports:
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BILL PARKER!
  11. Refreshment Break – Thanks to Hospitality Hosts Thomas Takyi-Micah, Mike Friday, and Catherine Chance.
  12. Program /Presentation – Vice President John Spencer introduced Dr. Peter Zale from Longwood Gardens. Dr. Zale presented “Invasive Orchids: the Dark Side of Orchids”. He gave an overview of Longwood Gardens’ history and noted that they are historically rooted in conservation and they are currently increasing their native orchid collection. The 1100-acre public garden has immaculate and elaborate displays of plants, gardens, and conservatories. They have about 6,000 orchids in their collection, with 200-300 blooming plants on display in the Longwood Reimagined Orchid House daily. He gave a most interesting presentation on the relationship of fungi and orchids, especially those that are considered invasive or locally adventive waifs.
  13. Show and Tell Table – Many beautiful blooming orchids were brought to today’s meeting. Thank you to those who showed their plants and described their plants’ culture.
  14. Auction and Raffle – Doug auctioned one of his lovely plants, and Keith followed with the raffle of additional plants brought by OOS members. Thank you to all who donated plants for today’s auction and raffle.
  15. Adjourn – Doug Needham adjourned meeting at 3:50pm.