1. Call to Order: Call to order by President Mike Friday at 1:00 pm.

2.  Member Attendance and Guest Introduction: Number present: 27 members in attendance with several new members welcomed this month. 10 guests were in attendance, including the 5 Scouts from Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma.

3. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Catherine Chance reported a total of $40,598.32 total monies in all accounts for the end-of-month June, 2025. A motion to approve the Treasurer’s report was made by John Spencer and seconded by Doug Needham. The report was unanimously approved by members.

4. Approval of Minutes: A motion to accept the June 2025 meeting minutes was made by John Spencer and seconded by Doug Needham. The June 2025 minutes were unanimously approved by members.

5. Committee Chair Reports:

  • Membership – Kaden Milbern, Chair: Interim Chair, Doug Needham stated the OOS currently has 27 individual memberships, 20 family household and 6 honorary lifetime members for a total of 76 Society members. During the June meeting Doug Needham asked members to consider chairing this committee. Kaden Milbern has graciously volunteered to take over as Membership Chair. Thank you and welcome, new Chair Kaden Milbern!
  • Programming – John Spencer, Chair: No information this month.
  • Show & Sale – Jana Butcher, Bridget Andoe and Marinel Kelley, co-Chairs: Jana Butcher shared that the next OOS Show and Sale will be May 2nd – 3rd, 2026. Poster and show title competition for the 2026 show will begin soon.
  • Investment – Jana Butcher, Chair: No report this month.
  • Conservation– Mike Friday, Chair: Mike Friday reported on the expected August blooming of the native Spiranthes The plants are growing well in his area and expected to bloom soon. Mike Friday also informed members of a YouTube video titled, “Searching for Orchids in the Western Everglades|Swamp Walk + Kayaking Through the Fakahatchee Strand” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFSRy0gZMMo
  • Website – Doug Needham, Chair: No report this month.

6. Affiliate Reports:

  • Great Plains Judging Center – Catherine Chance and Jana Butcher: No report this month.
  • AOS Representative – Gerry Holland:  Gerry Holland reminded members of the great articles in the AOS journal for members. One in the last issue by Sue Bottoms, highlighted various orchid diseases and how to treat them if your plant is under attack.
  • SWROGA – Jana Butcher, Bill Parker and Catherine Chance: Jana Butcher let all members know the 2025 Greater North Texas Orchid Fall SWROGA Show and Sale will be held October 10 – 12, 2025 in Dallas at the Texas A&M AgriLife – Water and Resources Building located at 17360 Coit Rd., Dallas, TX, 75252. Jana also shared that the SWROGA website has a calendar of events listing regional orchid shows at https://swroga.org/events. Other upcoming Fall shows on the calendar are the Alamo Orchid Society of San Antonio Show and Sale, Sept. 26 – 28 and the Kansas Orchid Society Show and Sale, Oct. 4.
  • Orchid Digest Representative – Bill Parker: Bill Parker brought the current issue of Orchid Digest containing phenomenal Paphiopedilum pictures and passed out a handout with information on how to join the Digest.
  • Oklahoma City Council of Garden Clubs – Jana Butcher: No Garden Council report this month. The Council is on Summer hiatus.

7. Old Business:

  • No old business

8. New Business:

  • At the ending of the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma presentation Doug Needham made a motion that the Society (OOS) provide an Honorary Annual Membership to each Girl Scout who participated in the orchid project. Sandy Moore-Furneaux seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved. Jana Butcher volunteered to provide our Website Administrator, Doug Needham with the Scouts’ contact information so each may be added to the system.

9. Adjourn Business Meeting at 2:05pm.

10. Program/Presentation – This July, members had the opportunity to hear two presentations. The first presentation was by the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma along with mentor’s Jana Butcher, Bridget Andoe and Marinel Kelly. Each scout earned a horticultural badge after meeting a set of objectives designed to promote the culture of orchids. Under the guidance of mentors, students were given a Phalaenopsis sp, plant to grow over twelve months, culminating with a group exhibit at the OOS 2025 Show and Sale and the oral presentation to the OOS membership. Thank you mentors for your hard work and dedication over the year to making the Inaugural Girl Scout Orchid Project a success!

The second presentation was given by members Jana Butcher and Catherine Chance, both AOS (American Orchid Society) Judges. The two gave a great talk elaborating the rigorous process used by the judging team at AOS Great Plains Judging Center to determine if an orchid warrants reception of an AOS award. AOS judging sessions are held the third Saturday of each month at Southwestern College — Beech Science Center, 100 N College St., Winfield, KS. Members interested in seeing a judging session are always welcome. Let either one of our speakers know you are interested. Thank you both so much for the wonderful presentation!

11. Show and Tell Table – The most beautiful orchids were brought in by members to share during today’s meeting. Thank you to those who showed their plants and described their culture.

12. Auction and Raffle – Catherine Chance led an amazing raffle of plants, books and mounts donated by OOS members. Thank you to everyone who brought a plant or other items for the raffle!

13. Meeting Adjourned – Mike Friday adjourned the July monthly meeting at 3:25 pm.