1. Call to order by President Doug Needham at 1:00 pm. Doug thanked Brian Truong for last month’s engaging presentation on repotting orchids.
  2. Introduction of guests and new members since last meeting. Number present: 22 current members, including two online, and two guests. Welcome new members and guests!
  3. Grower Tips: Vice President John Spencer asked members how the hot weather impacts their orchid care. Members discussed more frequent watering, humidification, and increased demand for cooling.
  4. Approval of meeting minutes: Marinel motioned and Jana seconded, to approve June’s minutes; unanimous approval.
  5. Old business:
    a. Doug announced that PayPal had approved OOS’s status as a registered charity and, thus, reduced its fee for online payments to 1.99% + $0.49 per transaction.
  6. New business:
    a. Doug announced that he had received a request from Fort Worth Orchid Society for exhibitors for its November 11–12, 2022 Show at The Fort Worth Botanic Garden. The Show includes the SWROGA Fall Meeting. Members discussed logistics of getting plants to the Show. Jana Butcher will be attending, but she is entering an exhibit. Bill Parker said he would like to enter an OOS exhibit, if members would bring plants to him in Iowa Park, TX. Additionally, he offered lodging at his home to any member who would like to help with the set up and take down of the OOS exhibit. Members are asked to let Bill know if they would like to help. Thanks, Bill!

    b. Doug showed the current issues of Orchids — The Bulletin of the AOS, which is published monthly, and Orchid Digest, which is published quarterly. OOS receives both publications as part of its affiliate memberships in the organizations. He asked if a member would like to serve as OOS’s Librarian, curating OOS’s collection, managing borrowing from the collection, and dispensing the collection at OOS Shows & Sales. Marinel Kelley volunteered to serve as OOS’s Librarian. Thanks, Marinel! Members may check-out any of these publications and return them at the following meeting.
  7. Treasurer’s Report: Carol Ash gave end-of-month June 1–30, 2022 Treasurer’s Report with total monies reported as $26,469.50. Visuals were presented of the finances. Motion for approval by John Spencer and second by Bridget Andoe. Unanimous approval of report.
  8. Committee Reports:
    a. Membership – Carol Ash: Carol reported that OOS now has 40 active Individual Memberships, 18 active Family/Household Membership (28 persons), 3 active Honorary Lifetime Memberships, 3 Honorary Annual Memberships (non-voting), totaling 71 active members.

    b. Programming – John Spencer: John reported that August’s presentation is on “Invasive Species: The Dark Side of Orchids,” September’s presentation is on “Orchid Record Keeping” and “Virtual Tour of the Smithsonian’s Blooming Orchids,” and October’s presentation is on “Winterizing Your Orchid Collection.” November’s meeting is the Society’s annual greenhouse tour, which this year will be a tour of the newly renovated Myriad Gardens Crystal Bridge, and December’s meeting is the Society’s annual Christmas party. November’s and December’s meetings are members-only.

    c. Conservation – Mike Friday: Mike reported on the Texas Hexalectris Survey. Drought has taken a major toll on Hexalectris this year. Sixteen H. spicata were found in May and early June, which is fairly good for this species; 138 H. warnockii were found, which is way down from usual; only 5 H. nitida were found; and only 3 H. arizonica were found.

    d. Website – Doug Needham: Doug reported on OOS’s Google search performance for June. The Society’s website had nearly 6,000 impressions with 113 clicks. Top growing pages included the “Orchid Growers and Suppliers” resource page, likely thanks to Brian’s repotting session, “Glasshouse Orchid Tour with Linda Vater,” and “OOS Exhibit Wins Awards at TOS Show.” Top performing pages included the Society’s homepage, Mike Friday’s “Native Orchids of Oklahoma” presentation, and “Orchid Growers and Suppliers.”
  9. Affiliate Reports:
    a. Great Plains Judging Center – Carolyn or Lowell McCabe: Carolyn reported that GPJC judged fifteen plants and seven received AOS Awards. See OOS’s blog “GPJC Recent AOS Awards” by Lowell McCabe for further details. Carolyn emphasized that GPJC needs more judges and that it is a great way to see a diversity of orchids from many different genera.

    b. AOS Representative – Carolyn McCabe: Carolyn asked how many members in attendance were not AOS members, and she encouraged them to join.

    c. SWROGA – Mike Friday or Bill Parker: Bill reported that SWROGA’s Fall Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Fort Worth Orchid Society’s “The Shocking Beauty of the Orchid World” Show.

    d. Orchid Digest Representative – Bill Parker: Bill showed the current issue of Orchid Digest and encouraged members to subscribe, emphasizing the spectacular photography and well-written articles — all by volunteers.

    e. OKC Council of Garden Clubs – Carolyn McCabe: No report as the Club is on summer hiatus.

    f. Friends of Will Rogers Gardens Foundation – Carolyn McCabe and Johnita Turner: Carolyn reported that FWRGF is hosting a Garden Party & Membership Drive, September 9, 5–8pm at Will Rogers Gardens. All are encouraged to attend.
  10. Adjourn Business Meeting at 1:43pm
  11. Refreshment Break – Thanks to Hospitality Hosts Carol and Terry Ash!
  12. Program /Presentation – Vice President John Spencer introduced Dr. Erik Runkle, Professor and Floriculture Extension Specialist, Michigan State University, who presented “Orchid Culture by Windowsill and Lights: Gardening Indoors.” Dr. Runkle covered how to measure light energy that impacts plants, rather than measuring light energy as our human eyes observe it; he dispelled many of the myths about light and its effects on plant growth and morphology; he showed research data about how using translucent pots for Phalaenopsis orchids reduces the number of aerial roots extending out of the potting medium; he presented research data showing the importance of blue and green light in addition to red light, and much more. Dr. Runkle presented excellent information to help us better understand light and its impact on plant growth and morphology. Members can review his presentation at “OOS Meeting Presentation Videos” on the Society’s website.

    Great discussion among members followed the presentation, and it was recommended that the Society consider purchasing a quantum light meter for members to check-out from the OOS Librarian. Jana Butcher will bring a proposal to the August meeting.
  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 the plants’ culture.
  14. Auction and Raffle – Carolyn McCabe auctioned one 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.
  15. Adjourn – Doug Needham adjourned meeting at 3:50pm.