The auction is not part of a show, it's just a few hours on a Sunday
afternoon in late spring or early summer. We only have one show per year in
November, and there aren't any other orchid-specific shows close by in
Georgia (the Southeastern Flower Show in February has a few orchid vendors
and an orchid display). Some of the Alabama and Tennessee orchid shows
aren't very far away (a couple hours).
-danny

"Susan Erickson" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 15 Aug 2005 22:11:07 -0400, "danny"
wrote:

In the Atlanta OS the fall show isn't really intended to be a big money
maker, sometimes it doesn't make anything. Last year we actually had a
profit because society members cooked the food for the judges' luncheon
instead of having it catered. The main fundraising (aside from dues) is
an
auction in the spring, a raffle table at the meetings (plants donated by
members and sometimes the speaker), and sometimes a couple silent auction
plants. When our society does something like your President's contest it
really isn't set up to make much money. When members sell plants they
have
to give 10% of sales to the society, but that usually doesn't add up to
much. We also discourage members from selling when a vendor brings
plants.
-danny

When we were in Chicago - the society ran the plant sales for
members for a cut of all the plants sold. This was a regular
source of funds. The society also auctioned big blooming plants
at the start of the meeting. The owner put a reserve on the
plant. It could not sell below. A portion of the actual price
went to the society and it got members to the meeting room on
time and listening. (this can sometimes be a problem).

You say the Auction in the spring is the fund raiser. Is there a
show or exhibit at the same time? Or is the fall show the only
show for the society? Is there another society show close? Our
closest show is a 7-8 hour drive away.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php