1. Call to order by President Doug Needham at 1:00 pm
  2. Introduction of guests and new members since last meeting. Number present: 23 members, including three online via Zoom, and guest Caseyna Jones. Roy Hammond joined today as a returning “new” member. Welcome new members and guests!
  3. Grower Tips: Vice President John Spencer addressed “Pot Choices” as a topic for the members to discuss with questions and answers as to why and when to choose a specific type of pot. Nice ‘quick tips’ and information from members.
  4. Approval of meeting minutes for February 20, 2022: Marinel Kelley motioned for approval of the minutes, John Spencer seconded; unanimous approval was given.
  5. Treasurer’s report: Doug thanked members for having approved OOS’s license of MoneyMinder Pro in January, and thanked Carol for her tremendous work in solidifying the Society’s financial records. Treasurer Carol Ash presented an updated Treasurer’s Report from the MoneyMinder Pro system for the period January 1–February 28, 2022, with total monies reported as $24,867.45. Visuals were presented of the finances. Motion for approval by Bridget Andoe and second by Marinel Kelley. Unanimous approval of report.
  6. Old business: None
  7. New business:
    a. IRS 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Tax-Exempt Status. Doug presented an overview of what the officers had learned in their meeting with Frank Merrick, President, Foundation Management, on 3/4/2022 for consideration of the Society’s application for 501(c)(3) status. Doug noted that AOS, SWROGA, and many AOS Affiliate Societies are 501(c)(3) and that he found in the Society’s archive that OOS Trustees had been working on the application in 2006. The Society qualifies for use of IRS form 1023-EZ, which has a one-time application fee of $275; no recurring fees. Once the Society is granted 501(c)(3) status, it will need only submit form 990-N (e-postcard) annually to the IRS.
    MOTION: Bill Parker motioned approval for the Society to apply for 501(c)(3) status, and Jana Butcher seconded; motion was unanimously approved.

    b. Amendment to Constitution & Bylaws. Doug noted that the officers had done significant studying of IRS guidelines and amended the Society’s Constitution & Bylaws accordingly prior to their meeting with Frank Merrick. They reviewed the amended Constitution & Bylaws with Frank, and he concurred with all edits. The amended Constitution & Bylaws was emailed to members on March 9, 2022, for members’ perusal prior to today’s meeting. Doug reviewed the six main areas of change:
    1. Incorporation Statement — Per IRS 501(c)(3) guidelines, OOS must be a not-for-profit corporation, which the Society has been since 2008. This merely adds that fact to the Constitution.
    2. Mission Statement — Per IRS 501(c)(3) guidelines, OOS must qualify under one of the specified purposes of a non-profit, of which “education” is the one OOS most closely aligns. To clarify OOS’s purpose, a mission statement was added. It is verbatim what was written by Lionel Turner and the other OOS Trustees on OOS’s Certificate of Incorporation in 2008. Adding a mission statement to OOS’s Constitution clearly articulates our purpose of education.
    3. Membership & Annualized Dues — The amendment adds a statement to articulate that membership is open to all persons, and updates the dues section to reflect January’s discussion and approval for annualizing membership.
    4. Dissolution-Section — This paragraph was previously under Section 10 – Dues. Per IRS guidelines, it is moved to its own section, and includes required language specified by the IRS in preparation for OOS’s becoming a 501(c)(3). 5. Standing committees — The Publicity Committee is deleted, and an Investment Committee, which will provide counsel on investments, including but not limited to the potential donation from Red River Orchid Society, is added.
    6. Amendments Article — Frank Merrick strongly encouraged the officers to change the three-fourths supermajority to a two-thirds supermajority to avoid minority rule in the future.
    Additional minor edits were also made and discussed, including a mechanism for electing trustees, changing all instances of “Show” to “Show and Sale,” including meeting notices via the website, changing “Program Committee” to “Programming Committee,” updating hospitality to include snacks, updating treasurer responsibilities, and making minor changes to the order of business.
    MOTION: Bill Parker motioned to approve all amendments and edits as discussed, and Brian Truong seconded; motion was approved unanimously.
  8. Reports:
    a. Great Plains Judging Center – Carolyn McCabe, Lowell McCabe, or Howard Brown: Lowell reported that seventeen plants were presented for judging, and 11 were awarded. Two plants from OOS members Doug Needham and Jana Butcher were given AM awards.
    b. AOS Representative – Carolyn McCabe: Carolyn emailed members, encouraging them to join AOS. Doug read the slate of AOS officers and trustees to be elected at April’s AOS Members Meeting, and asked for agreement that he submit a proxy vote, approving the slate on behalf of OOS. Members agreed. Bill Parker showed the March 2022 issue of Orchids magazine, noting the article on Fred Clarke’s mini-Catts and the Questions and Answers section.
    c. SWROGA – Mike Friday or Bill Parker: no report.
    d. Orchid Digest Representative – Bill Parker: no report.
    e. OKC Council of Garden Clubs – Carolyn McCabe: no meeting in February due to snow. The 32nd Annual Festival in the Park is May 21st 9 am to 3:30 pm, and everyone was encouraged to attend.
  9. Committee Chair Reports:
    a. Membership – Carol Ash: Carol announced that one of our long-time members, Lynda Cunningham, died on March 14. Carolyn McCabe read Lynda’s obituary and was remembered. A sympathy card was passed by Carol for members to sign. Carol announced that two new members had joined since our last meeting — Brittany Koon and Roy Hammond. Carol reported that the Society has 32 active individual memberships, 10 active family/household memberships (20 persons), and 2 active honorary lifetime memberships for a total of 54 active members. Eleven memberships (not included) expired on December 31, 2021, with grace period ending March 31, 2022. Expired memberships will be deactivated on April 1, 2022.
    b. Programming – John Spencer: John reported that OOS is in contact with the Smithsonian for a future program for OOS.
    c. Show & Sale – Jana Butcher, Bridget Andoe, and Marinel Kelley: Kansas Orchid Society SWROGA show is April 29–May 1. Jana needs plant names for OOS’s exhibit to be emailed to her on or before 4/25/22, and the plants delivered to her by 4/28/22. Plants have to be pre-registered for this show. She also passed a list of volunteering areas that still need help for OOS’s Spring Show & Sale in May. The Kiwi bark is in process for delivery to Oklahoma. Marinel presented a recommendation for purchase of ribbons from Midwest Trophy.
    MOTION: John Spencer motioned that the Society purchase enough ribbons for the next three shows (2022–2024) to get quantity pricing of approximately $600, and Bridget Andoe and Lowell McCabe simultaneously seconded; motion was unanimously approved.
    d. Conservation – Mike Friday: no report.
    e. Website – Doug Needham: Doug noted that the next OOS meeting is April 24, 2022, one week later than usual to avoid Easter, and he called attention to the many orchid events coming up in April–May. See the website’s Calendar of Upcoming Meetings & Events for details.
  10. Other reports:
    a. Scholarship Discovery Committee – John Spencer, Mike Friday, Jana Butcher, and Bill Parker: endowment funds vs scholarship was discussed. Jana’s motion from February’s business meeting was kept tabled, awaiting a proposal from the Committee for investment of the funds from Red River Orchid Society.
  11. Adjourn Business Meeting: Business meeting was paused at 1:50 pm and resumed at 3:00 pm, following the Program. Meeting adjourned at 3:10 pm
  12. Refreshment Break
  13. Program /Presentation – Vice President John Spencer introduced Russ Vernon from New Vision Orchids. Russ presented “Hybridizing at New Vision Orchids: Odontoglossum and Other Genera.” He discussed hybridizing, processing, and the decisions to consider when cross breeding. Very informative. He has orchids for sale to OOS members, and Doug will email the list of plants to OOS members for purchase. Members wishing to order plants, need to do so by April 1st and send Russ a check. All orchids will be shipped to Doug, and he will bring them to the OOS meeting on April 24.
  14. 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.
  15. Auction and Raffle – Keith Warren conducted the raffle of plants brought by OOS members, and Carolyn McCabe auctioned two large Vanda plants donated by Bill Parker. Thank you to all who donated plants and contributed to today’s auction and raffle.
  16. Adjourn – Doug Needham adjourned meeting at 3:45 pm.