1. Call to order by President Doug Needham at 1:00 pm
  2. Introduction of guests and new members since last meeting. Number present: 24 current members, including 2 online, and 1 guest. Welcome Alex Ryzhkov, guest of Mike Friday, and welcome Jessica Nelson as a new member!
  3. Grower Tips: Vice President John Spencer introduced Bill Parker, who discussed and showed orchid Boisduval scale. Enstar AQ insect growth regulator was discussed for use on scale by Doug Needham. Thank you, Bill, for sharing how to avoid, identify, and control this pest.
  4. Approval of January’s meeting minutes: motion by John Spencer, seconded by Bridget Andoe, to approve the January 16, 2022 minutes; unanimous approval given.
  5. Treasurer’s report: Carol Ash gave end-of-month January 1–31, 2022 Treasurer’s Report with total monies reported as $24,689.76. Visuals were presented of the finances. Motion for approval by John Spencer and second by Marinel Kelley. Unanimous approval of report.
  6. Old business:
    a. Doug read the thank you note from Max Thompson of GPJC for money donated by OOS.
    b. Doug announced that KOS declined our offer of a picnic and tour of his glasshouse in August, as they are concerned about gathering with other groups during the pandemic.
    c. OOS tabletop exhibit registration for KOS and TOS Shows will be done by Jana Butcher, and she reported that emails had been sent, notifying each society of OOS’s plans for exhibits in both shows. The OOS Exhibit Committee will be meeting after today’s OOS meeting.
    d. John Spencer, Chair of the ad hoc Scholarship Discovery Committee, presented an overview of the Committee’s findings with respect to Red River Orchid Society’s interest in transferring its $5000 scholarship fund to OOS. These funds were donated in memory of Jackie Parker, Andy Harding, and Catherine Porter. Many organizations, with which the Committee visited, questioned why OOS is not a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. OOS Officers are meeting with a specialist on 501 tax-exempt status for organizations this Friday, February 25, to discuss the possibility of OOS’s pursuing 501(c)(3) status. Of note, OOS’s parent organization, the American Orchid Society, as well as many AOS Affiliate Societies are tax-exempt not-for-profit organizations under the federal tax code section 501(c)(3). Jana said that she believes SWROGA, also, is a 501(c)(3). Jana Butcher motioned for approval of the transfer of Red River Orchid Society’s $5000 scholarship fund to OOS; however, Doug asked that the motion be tabled until further OOS financial and taxation status decisions are made.
  7. New business:
    a. Doug reviewed the three Shows & Sales occurring in May — KOS Show & Sale April 30–May 1, OOS one-day Bench Show & Sale May 7, and TOS Show & Sale May 21–22 — all of which OOS is involved, and he noted that OOS’s Constitution & Bylaws give us the option of canceling the Society’s monthly meeting during the month of its annual Show & Sale. Bill Parker motioned to cancel OOS’s May 15, 2022 meeting, and John Spencer seconded. Motion was approved unanimously.
  8. Reports:
    a. Great Plains Judging Center – Carolyn McCabe, Lowell McCabe, or Howard Brown: Lowell stated the the GPJC had 31 plants presented for judging on Saturday, and 11 were awarded. Jana Butcher was awarded a Certificate of Cultural Merit at 82 points for her Paphiopedilum Phyllis Prestia ‘William Butcher’ CCM/AOS. Doug thanked Lowell for maintaining the Society’s GPJC Recent AOS Award webpages.
    b. AOS Representative – Carolyn McCabe: Carolyn encouraged all to become members of the American Orchid Society.
    c. SWROGA – Mike Friday or Bill Parker: No report. Doug explained that SWROGA is the acronym for Southwest Regional Orchid Growers Association, of which all OOS members are automatically a member. It is an association of AOS Affiliate Societies in the southwest region of the United States. Jana Butcher encouraged OOS members to attend SWROGA shows, as they have unusual and interesting orchid plants that are not often seen. She announced that the SWROGA Directors Meeting will be April 29th in Kansas.
    d. Orchid Digest Representative – Bill Parker: no report. Jana Butcher announced that The Diamond Award given to Carol and Terry Ash last year will appear in the April Orchid Digest.
    e. OKC Council of Garden Clubs – Carolyn McCabe: Carolyn reported that the club meets monthly September through May, where they discuss flowers, gardening, etc. There is a show April 2nd, 12pm to 3pm, and it is free to the public. The Council provides scholarships, also.
  9. Committee Chair Reports:
    a. Membership – Carol Ash: Carol reported that 6 new members joined last year, following the Society’s October Show & Sale, and 8 additional members have joined to-date this year. Doug reported that some members are within the final month of their 3-month grace period and will need to pay their 2022 dues by March 31.
    b. Programming – John Spencer: John reported that he has scheduled several programs with excellent speakers via Zoom for OOS’s monthly meetings. See OOS’s Calendar of Meetings & Events for details.
    c. Show & Sale – Jana Butcher, Bridget Andoe, and Marinel Kelley: Jana reported that May 6th, starting at 5:00pm, is set-up for the one-day bench show. Ribbon judging is the 7th, beginning at 8:00am, followed immediately by AOS judging. We have three vendors: Brian Truong, Sarah Pratt of Timbucktoo Orchids, and Danny Lyon of Sandstone Orchids. OOS will have a table with orchids from Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids and supplies for sale. There will be a raffle table, which Robert Hoover will chair. Johnita Turner is the Show’s Hospitality Chair. Clerks are needed for judging, and a head clerk is needed.
    d. Conservation – Mike Friday: Mike said he recently posted about native orchids on Facebook. Doug thanked Zach DuFran, who also serves on OOS’s Conservation Committee, for his recent post about Oklahoma Native Orchid — Wister’s Coralroot.
    e. Website – Doug Needham: Doug mentioned that Zach’s excellent article is posted on OOS’s Orchid Conservation Blog, and encouraged everyone to read it.
  10. Other reports: none
  11. Adjourn Business Meeting at 3 pm
  12. Refreshment Break
  13. Program /Presentation – Vice President John Spencer introduced our virtual guest speaker, Rich Ackerman of Fort Lauderdale, FL, presenting “What’s in a Name?”. He gave an excellent, interactive presentation on orchid nomenclature and how to read labels. He covered species, primary and complex hybrids, cultivars, grex, nothogenus, trade names, tetraploids, unnamed hybrids, and awards.
  14. Show and Tell Table – Members brought and showcased many beautiful blooming orchids to today’s meeting. Thank you to those who showed their plants and described the plants’ culture.
  15. Auction and Raffle – Carolyn McCabe auctioned 2 lovely plants donated by members, 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.
  16. Adjourn – Doug Needham adjourned meeting at 3:50 pm.