1. Call to order by President Doug Needham at 1:00 pm

2. Introduction of guests and new members since last meeting. Number present: 20 in-person and 1 online current members and 2 guests. Welcome new members and guests!

3. Grower Tips: Vice President John Spencer introduced a wonderful question that created a flurry of tips.  The question for this month: What signs do you look for in an orchid that would signal it is time to repot? Answers received:

  • When roots begin to grow out of the pot.
  • When the new growth of the orchid is outside of the pot.
  • If using clear pots, look at the roots to see what state they are in.  Nice healthy white and green roots, no need to repot. But if the roots are brown, it may indicate a repotting is needed.
  • Another great tip was to notice the size of the new growth. If it is smaller than the older growths, it may be time to repot.
  • Also, take a look at the middle of the plant. If it is beginning to die back, it may be an indication that media is breaking down and repotting is necessary.
  • The media quality is an indicator for when repotting is necessary. Once the media begins to break down and becomes mushy, it is time for fresh.
  • Some orchids dictate their repotting schedule.  Paphs, for example, enjoy a repot every 12–18 months to stay happy and thriving.

4. Approval of meeting minutes: John Spencer motioned, Jana Butcher seconded, to approve January’s minutes; unanimous approval.

5. Old Business:

a. Doug Needham reminded OOS members of the two orchid shows coming  up soon.   The March GNTOS-SWROGA show will be 3/11-3/12/2023 at Texas A&M AgriLife – Water and Land Resources Building, with set up and judging on 3/10.  Jana Butcher is the contact if you would like your plant to go to the show.  The second show is the Tulsa Orchid Show, April 16-17, with setup on April 14th.  Bill Parker will take your orchid to the show if you would like to exhibit. 

6. New Business:

a. One of our 2023 goals is to explore travel opportunities and create plans to visit orchid locales both national and international. Doug Needham made the members aware of several trips planned by Orchid Conservation Alliance and Orchid Digest for 2023 to give all an idea of what trips are available.  One of our members, Claire Garrett, will be going to Brazil in May on one of the Orchid Conservation Alliance tours.  Pictures were requested upon her return.

OOS member Thomas Takyi-Micah presented an overview of his home country, Ghana, and its flora as a potential travel opportunity.  He addressed a few of the locations in Ghana that would be ideal areas to visit on a trip.

7. Treasurer’s report: Carol Ash gave end-of-month January, 2023 Treasurer’s Report with total monies reported as $31,390.40. Visuals were presented of the finances. Motion for approval by John Spencer and second by Marinel Kelley. Unanimous approval of report.

8. Committee Chair Reports:

a. Membership – Jessica Nelson:  The new chair, Jessica, reported 33 active individual memberships, 9 active family/household memberships (20 persons), 5 active honorary lifetime memberships, and 3 honorary annual memberships (non-voting), totaling 58 active members. 

b. Programming – John Spencer:  John laid out the programming for March through June meetings and mentioned the April meeting is scheduled at the same time as the Tulsa show.  With many members indicating they are going to the Tulsa show, or would like to go if we do not meet, it was decided to move April’s meeting presentation to March and cancel the scheduled monthly April meeting.  All members are encouraged to attend the Tulsa meeting if you can.  Doug Needham pointed out that we typically cancel the May meeting; however, this would result in OOS not meeting two months in row. Thus, it was agreed to retain a monthly meeting on May 21st, after the OOS show (May 5-6).  Mark your calendars.

Doug Needham brought to our attention, too, that Jana Butcher will be presenting “Promoting Orchid Health” as a Will Rogers Gardens public class on Saturday, June 3, 2023. See OOS’s calendar of meetings and events for details and registration information.

c. Show & Sale – Jana Butcher, Bridget Andoe, and Marinel Kelley: Committee co-chairs indicated all is going well with organizing the OOS show.  Jana asked that all plants for the OOS exhibit be submitted by Noon on Friday, May 4th.  Other plants for ribbon and AOS judging must be entered by Friday, 5pm. The help sign-up sheet was passed around for show volunteers, and Jana encouraged all to consider signing up for much needed volunteer slots.   Marinel has organized sandwiches (Friday), brisket (Saturday), and Pizza (Sunday) to feed volunteers and will be asking for additional items to complement meals soon.

9. Paused Business Meeting at 1:58 pm.

10. Refreshment Break — Thank you, Hospitality Host Mark Priest!

11. Program /Presentation – Vice President John Spencer introduced our speaker for this month, Deb Bodei, AOS Associate Judge, NE Judging Center, and Chair, JC IT Task Force.  Deb was joined by Laura Newton, AOS Director of Awards and Special Projects. Deb gave an informative presentation of AOS’s OrchidPro database, spending time to point out key features and showing how to navigate various searches. OrchidPro is available to all AOS members.

12. Resumed Business Meeting at 3:10 pm and continued Committee reports

d. Investment – Jana Butcher:  Jana said the Arvest Bank representative sent options and recommendations to the investment committee for OOS investment funds and how best to address the RROS/OOS scholarship fund money.  The Committee will bring recommendations to OOS Trustees and, then, to members for discussion and approval. Mike reported that SWROGA is interested in investing with Arvest, too.

e. Conservation – Mike Friday: No report this month.

f. Website – Doug Needham: Doug informed all members that an Excel and a Numbers spreadsheet for plant record keeping had been placed on the OOS website under Resources. As the meeting was running long, Doug said he would provide an overview of the plant records spreadsheet at another meeting.

13. Affiliate Reports:

a. Great Plains Judging Center – Catherine Chance, Jana Butcher, or John Spencer:  Catherine reported that 24 plants were judged and 10 received awards. Two of our members, Doug Needham and Jana Butcher, were recipients of awards.

b. AOS Representative – Carolyn McCabe: Doug reported that the AOS Spring Members Meeting is April 19–22 in San Diego, California and that he will be attending.

c. SWROGA – Mike Friday or Bill Parker:  Mike reported that the SWROGA show is scheduled for March, and Bill reminded everyone that Jana will take orchids for the OOS exhibit at the GNTOS-SWROGA Show.

d. Orchid Digest Representative – Bill Parker:  Bill reminded everyone about the May 18–28 trip to Provence and Rhône-Alpes, France, organized by Orchid Digest.

e. OKC Council of Garden Clubs – Carolyn McCabe or Johnita Turner: Johnita reported that the Council is busy preparing for the big spring Garden Festival in the Park.  More information on the festival will be brought to OOS members soon.

14. Adjourned Business Meeting at 3:20 pm.

15. Show and Tell Table – Many beautiful blooming orchids were brought to today’s meeting by members, as well as shown online by Claire. Thank you to those who showed their plants and described the plants’ culture.

16. Auction and Raffle – Doug Needham auctioned 1 plant donated by a member, and Keith Warren followed with the raffle of additional plants brought by OOS members. Thank you to all who donated plants for today’s auction and raffle.

17. Adjourn – Doug Needham adjourned meeting at 3:45 pm.