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

2.  Member Attendance and Guest Introduction: Number present: 27 members in attendance, 25 in-person and 2 online. Welcome to our new members and guests!

3. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Catherine Chance reported a total of $43,171.28 total monies in all accounts for the end-of-month August 2025. A motion to approve the Treasurer’s report was made by Doug Needham and seconded by Bridget Andoe. The report was unanimously approved by members.

4. Approval of Minutes: A motion to accept the July2025 meeting minutes was made by Doug Needham and seconded by Marinel Kelley. The July 2025 minutes were unanimously approved by members.

5. Committee Chair Reports:

  • Membership – Kaden Milbern, Chair: No report for August meeting
  • Programming – John Spencer, Chair: John Spencer reported the November greenhouse tour will be phased out due to holiday demands upon members and continued scheduling problems. A pro forma meeting will be held at Will Rogers Gardens in November to elect officers for upcoming year.
  • Investment – Jana Butcher, Chair: No report this month.
  • Conservation– Mike Friday, Chair: Dr. Mike Friday will be reporting on native orchid species and what conservation efforts may be underway when delivering this month’s presentation on the native orchids found in Oklahoma.
  • Website – Doug Needham, Chair: Doug Needham brought to members attention the Redlands International Orchid Festival and the “ORCHIDEES” performance. Information for both can be found on the OOS Calendar of Meethings and Events.

6. Affiliate Reports:

  • Great Plains Judging Center – Catherine Chance and Jana Butcher: Catherine Chance informed members that twenty-six plants were judged and ten awards handed out this month.
  • AOS Representative – Gerry Holland:  Gerry Holland showed the current issue of the AOS journal to members and stated there are several articles worth your attention.
  • SWROGA – Jana Butcher, Bill Parker and Catherine Chance: Jana Butcher gave updates on the upcoming SWROGA meetings. The 2025 Greater North Texas Orchid Society Fall SWROGA Show and Sale will be held October 11th – 12th and the Spring SWROGA meeting will be held during the Houston Orchid Society Show and Sale held May 9th – May 10th.
  • Orchid Digest Representative – Bill Parker: Bill Parker brought the latest Orchid Digest issue for members to peruse. Bill also shared that the Orchid Digest is sponsoring the 2025 Cattleya Orchid Symposium held on Saturday, November 8, 2025 from 10:30 AM – 7:00 PM, both in-person and virtual viewing. Registration website is https://www.orchiddigest.org/2025-Cattleya-Symposium
  • Oklahoma City Council of Garden Clubs – Jana Butcher: John Spencer let all know that Halloween on the Green is coming up, October 25th from 9:00am – 5:00pm, and volunteers are needed. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please let Mike Friday or John Spencer know. November 20th is the date scheduled to decorate the Will Rogers Gardens Christmas tree in the building atrium. Volunteer hours for decorating the tree also count toward OOS total hours. Mike Friday reminded members to sign the volunteer sign-in sheet, listing OOS as club affiliate each time we volunteer so hours are credited to the Society. As time nears, Mike Friday will send emails out reminding everyone of the upcoming events and chances to earn volunteer hours.

7. Old Business:

  • No old business

8. New Business:

  • The recipient of the Oklahoma Orchid Society student scholarship, Blake Tittsworth, was introduced to the members. Blake gave a few words of thanks and shared what he is planning to do in the immediate future scholastically as well as long term goals of employment. Thank you to the Scholarship Committee members for your work in selecting Blake, an undergraduate at OSU, as the 2025 scholarship awardee.

9. Adjourn Business Meeting at 1:40 pm.

10. Program/Presentation – John Spencer introduced this month’s speaker, our own Dr. Mike Friday who gave a splendid presentation on “Oklahoma Native Orchids”. Thank you so much, Dr. Friday for the informative discussion!

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 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 3:08 pm.