Ya know, I almost wrote to Fighetti. I probably should have. My points
were that I interpret the data differently.
1) Membership in 2007 and 2008 is just about the same. So to me that says
we've finally gotten down to the hard core orchid addicts. In my email
(that I deleted) I said heck, if the magazine was called 'Opium' instead of
'Orchids' and you mailed it out to a bunch of hard core addicts what would
you put in the magazine? Articles about the tasty stuff coming in from
Panama, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Why treat us orchid
addicts any different from street addicts? Just tell us what's hot and
where to get it. Articles and Ads.
2) Donations in the last 2 years were better than donations immediatly post
9/11 and the markets sucked then too. So people are still giving. Granted
interest rates are horrid, but they are horrid for everyone.
3) Just as Bill Clinton told Barak Obama to stop talking so negatively so
should Fighetti. Sure times are tough but look at what you get for
membership in the AOS, and talk about that. If they can't come up with
something better to talk about they'd better think of something quick. Just
look at the subject line on this thread. 'AOS Gloom' Really, is there so
much to be gloomy about? Dump the endeavors that aren't paying for
themselves, the gift shop, the gardens, and whatever else isn't speifically
about orchids. I mean, really, would a street junkie care to have a gold
plated needle? No, he just wants more stuff. We aren't any different.
4) I think the web site has improved, I think the magazine has improved. I
think they should reprint articles from other orchid publications. They
used to reprint from things like the WOC, why not now? I think they should
put the index to the Bulletin in the members only section of the web page.
If what the AOS has more than any other publication out there is depth of
knowledge then give us the index to that knowledge.
Anyway, that's what I deleted to Fighetti.
K Barrett
wrote in message
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--j_a