"tenman" wrote in message
...
Pat Brennan wrote:
I like the divorce analogy. It has been both sad and funny watching the
judges trying to recruit (bring back into the fold) commercial growers.
Carlos is as good a person as you will find anywhere and the AOS has been
lucky to have him, but it has not been change, just more of the same.
Over
the last year or so the 'NO AOS Judging' signs have started appearing on
the
east coast

I posed a question last year that I received scant answer to, and perhaps
now is a good time to revisit it. While I am personally 'divorced' from
the AOS, as president of my local AOS-affiliated society I try to focus on
what's best for the society and not let my own personal feelings influence
society policy. So I'm looking for empirical information about the issue.

Are local orchid societies able to have shows as successful (as many
vendors, as much attendance and the same bottom line financially without
AOS involvement? I have considered the options for my own local society. I
know the majority of our members are newer growers and not only don't
belong to or owe any loyalty to the AOS, they are only dimly aware of what
it is and would feel no loss at all if we were to drop AOS involvement. In
hard times, when AOS membership, judges' luncheons and gift coupons,
donations to judging centers, Orchids, AQ, etc, add a substantial figure
to the society's limited budget, it is fair game to wonder if it's all
necessary or beneficial. I just wonder if one can get as many vendors and
as many other society exhibits as currently with the AOS-judged show.

Anybody know?

Let me take a stab at answering your queestion, Tennis.

Our local Society is, and has been for quite some time, AOS affiliated. Let
me state right up front that there has been *zero* talk of changing that
status. I doubt that anyone has seriously considered it. So my reply is
based on my own observations over the past several years.

Some background first. Our membership (about 150 now) is very diverse. We
have experts, newbies and everything in between. On the Treasure Coast, ours
is the only show at which the other societies are invited to install 100 sf
floor displays. Everyone else asks for table displays of one size or
another. In 2009 our vendor list will be around 20 strong. Not absolutely
certain of the number yet; I am not in charge of that.

Let's talk about participation first. Some of our seasoned growers very much
value AOS recognition. They would not be as inclined to schlep specimen
plants for ribbon judging done by society members. Since theirs are
generally the finest plants, that would likely leave a hole.

The other societies would be less likely to go through the routine of
assembling those big floor displays if they (and the plants) were not AOS
judged. Personally, neither would I.

A few years ago, one of the area societies, out of necessity, put on a show
that was not AOS judged. They had members *judge* the displays and plants.
There was an awful lot of bellyaching, though it didn't come from our
people. Having the AOS stamp on things generally eliminates the muttering.

For the newbies, having a plant chosen by the AOS judges to receive a ribbon
(and they never expect it) is often the stimulus they need to become more
active. It's a validation of sorts.

So, how does all that apply to your questions? Pretty simple. One of the big
draws for us is those floor displays. They are the first thing people see
when they walk in the door. Customers linger at them, often before even
hitting the vendor booths.

So, if we eliminate the impetus for participants to bring in their special
plants and put up those big displays, we disappoint a lot of our attendees.
We also take away the impetus for newbies to bring in their stuff. So, you
have less plants over all. And this is not to mention the education members
get by clerking for the judges. I've seen people go from "I don't know
enough" to "I'm learning a lot!" in the blink of an eye.

Bottom line is, I don't think our show would be as vibrant or well attended
if it were not AOS judged. As far as the vendors are concerned, what they
care about is attendance. Few of them care so much for awards at this point.
Less attendance, less sales, fewer vendors in the future, and it becomes a
circular firing squad.

Perhaps this is unique to my area, but that is our experience.

Diana