more AOS gloom
Pat Brennan wrote:
Maybe events like Homestead is the way to go, rather than a show per se.
K Barrett
I am not sure if this comment was meant for me or the AOS. If you were
talking AOS I think you are on to something. The annual combined gates of
the shows I do is between 1 and 1.5 million people. At most of the shows
the local society will have a booth introducing themselves and the AOS. Up
until a few years ago I used the AOS leaflet that included care instructions
and an AOS application as care sheets. I handed out an AOS application with
every plant sold and to every by passer with general orchid questions. I
have handed out boxes and boxes of AOS applications. I have no idea how
many new members I have sent to the AOS. With the flower shows gone so went
this easy access to the flower loving general public. But after reading the
letter that started this thread it seems to me that if you can only hold new
members for two years this might not be to people the AOS currently needs.
What the AOS currently needs is to get back the true orchid junkie, you know
the ones that will drive hours and then pay for the right to buy plants, you
know the type, the ones that go to Redlands. I do not know the Redland gate
but I would bet the number is at least 8 thousand (compared to an AOS
membership of 16 thousand). Maybe the AOS needs to hold a Redlands type
event on it grounds. Vendors are required to be AOS members. How can you
bitch about a $60 membership if you make that money at an AOS hosted event.
Makes the first day of sales an AOS day open only to AOS members. During
the AOS day have a short AOS townhall meeting. I expect the input from the
town meeting to be very different then that from a trustee meeting. It
would be nice to have speakers during the event. Well the experts are there
as vendors, give vendors who give talks a discount on their sales area. One
rule while the event is getting off the ground, no AOS judging. No
displays, no blue ribbons, no awards; just lots of great plants for sale.
This is an AOS event that has nothing to do with the AOS judging program.
If the event is a success, the AOS can consider hosting these events in
other parts of the country. Money maker, outreach, and vendor arm twisting,
sounds good to me.
Pat
Great thoughts,Pat!
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