After 40 years - rethinking my place in the world of orchids

[Tom Reddick]

When I started growing orchids at 9 years of age, it did not take long for me to realize I had stumbled upon what would be the one great passion that would be with me for the rest of my life in some form. I turn 50 this summer, and, looking back on my life since that day my father took me to the home of one of his colleages to be given a box of orchids, some books and reams of good advice, I cannot recall a significant stretch of time aside from my 2 years living in the fraternity house when there were not orchids growing somewhere in my living space.

At that young age it also did not take me long to decide that someday I was going to be an AOS Judge, sell orchids at shows as a side living and eventually retire with orchids as a modest retirement income but a major personal activity to keep me busy and happy. And my how the world has changed.

I resigned my position as a student in the AOS Judging Program a few weeks ago. I am surprised looking back at what an easy decision that was. I am not going to tell any tales out of respect for the program and its many hardworking volunteers, but I really hope at some point very soon that whole program is given a very thorough reconsideration. When I was much younger, people quitting the program was far rarer than today, and the number of extremely experienced growers and hybridizers who have walked away after a short time in training in recent years- not just me- is particularly troubling.

I also decided that the Fort Worth Show this past November was going to be my last unless a special opportunity arises where it makes sense to team up with someone. No real complaints here- just an observation that after over 10 years away, my brief return to the show circuit starting last spring was quite startling. As always, blooming plants sell the best. And when you consider the excellent health and general condition of the plants being imported for short term resale plus the generally solid attitude of those who are selling them as well as the strong diversification in recent years of genera being propogated en masse- newcomers today have an enviable selection of quality plants that they can grow, and at better prices than ever (leaving aside recent price bumps due to pandemic demand and supply shortages.)

But what has disappeared from shows are the serious collectors. Sure, they still come, but in far fewer numbers. And they don't spend like they used to. Back in the 90s when I was selling for Carmela, it was routine for me to selling $500+ in compots and seedlings to serious growers. Now, selling grown out crosses and species from leading hybridizers like SVO and Orchid Inn- I do far better word of mouth or occasionally posting online than I do with such plants at shows.

And I won't even get started on the state of many local orchid societies- but my days as the local ATM machine also came to an end a few weeks ago.

In the midst of all this angst and turmoil, I was even starting to forget some things to be very proud of - for starters getting my first AOS Award, winning more ribbons in the past year that in the past 20, and getting that Pamela Hetherington to bloom under LIGHTS! After years of mastering the art of growing plants from flask, I was finally extending that to growing excellent flowering plants- and with all the drama and BS I was not even celebrating. No more of that!

In the grand scheme of things, I am finally starting to fully appreciate that the internet is now the real center of the orchid universe. Forums like this are replacing societies, as are specialty groups like the IPA and Paphiopedilum Guild that get geeky like the AOS Bulletin used to and focus on having infrequent annual events but increasingly a strong online presence. And why wait until your local orchid show to get that rare/special plant you want when most major breeders are either running sophisticated websites or selling their plants to resellers who are selling online.

Some things are lost in the process of moving away from in-person events, but so much more has been gained. And an environment where one can freely write or read as they wish takes so much of the petty politics out of the whole system. There are some downsides to "all are equal online" but for those who have some basic knowledge and common sense- it does not take long to figure out whose advice is best heeded, or not.

Anyhow- I am done moping around. In the next few weeks I am liquidating what little show stock I had left- and next week a new batch of flasks arrives. I am going to take a cue from the lessons of venturing into the past this past year and go back to sharing in the online community and always, always, always growing what I want first and foremost.

The above is not intended to be spiteful or unkind. I just somehow felt I needed to say it as I try to look forward and celebrate all that is good in my growing area, on this forum and in so many other places- and even remember the great good that still exists in the places I am leaving behind.

Best and thanks for listening, Tom.

 

[big923cattleya]

Not every person who grows orchids is cut out to be a judge.
The bottom line is to always do what means the most to you! Things that cause you great joy.

I, like you, always wanted to be a judge from the moment I learned of the program. But, like I said, it is not for every one. One big difference is for me, I started orchid growing at 29, decided to be a judge at 46. For me I had achieved everything else that I wanted, house, children, etc. The wife I could have done without as it turns out but having kids without one would have been tricky. To each his own. I am 74 now and do not regret joining the program for a single moment! The people I have met along the way, the friendships I have now, I would not trade for the World!!! But it is not for every one.

 

[Tony]

When I started growing orchids at 9 years of age, it did not take long for me to realize I had stumbled upon what would be the one great passion that would be with me for the rest of my life in some form. I turn 50 this summer, and, looking back on my life since that day my father took me to the home of one of his colleages to be given a box of orchids, some books and reams of good advice, I cannot recall a significant stretch of time aside from my 2 years living in the fraternity house when there were not orchids growing somewhere in my living space.

At that young age it also did not take me long to decide that someday I was going to be an AOS Judge, sell orchids at shows as a side living and eventually retire with orchids as a modest retirement income but a major personal activity to keep me busy and happy. And my how the world has changed.

I resigned my position as a student in the AOS Judging Program a few weeks ago. I am surprised looking back at what an easy decision that was. I am not going to tell any tales out of respect for the program and its many hardworking volunteers, but I really hope at some point very soon that whole program is given a very thorough reconsideration. When I was much younger, people quitting the program was far rarer than today, and the number of extremely experienced growers and hybridizers who have walked away after a short time in training in recent years- not just me- is particularly troubling.

I also decided that the Fort Worth Show this past November was going to be my last unless a special opportunity arises where it makes sense to team up with someone. No real complaints here- just an observation that after over 10 years away, my brief return to the show circuit starting last spring was quite startling. As always, blooming plants sell the best. And when you consider the excellent health and general condition of the plants being imported for short term resale plus the generally solid attitude of those who are selling them as well as the strong diversification in recent years of genera being propogated en masse- newcomers today have an enviable selection of quality plants that they can grow, and at better prices than ever (leaving aside recent price bumps due to pandemic demand and supply shortages.)

But what has disappeared from shows are the serious collectors. Sure, they still come, but in far fewer numbers. And they don't spend like they used to. Back in the 90s when I was selling for Carmela, it was routine for me to selling $500+ in compots and seedlings to serious growers. Now, selling grown out crosses and species from leading hybridizers like SVO and Orchid Inn- I do far better word of mouth or occasionally posting online than I do with such plants at shows.

And I won't even get started on the state of many local orchid societies- but my days as the local ATM machine also came to an end a few weeks ago.

In the midst of all this angst and turmoil, I was even starting to forget some things to be very proud of - for starters getting my first AOS Award, winning more ribbons in the past year that in the past 20, and getting that Pamela Hetherington to bloom under LIGHTS! After years of mastering the art of growing plants from flask, I was finally extending that to growing excellent flowering plants- and with all the drama and BS I was not even celebrating. No more of that!

In the grand scheme of things, I am finally starting to fully appreciate that the internet is now the real center of the orchid universe. Forums like this are replacing societies, as are specialty groups like the IPA and Paphiopedilum Guild that get geeky like the AOS Bulletin used to and focus on having infrequent annual events but increasingly a strong online presence. And why wait until your local orchid show to get that rare/special plant you want when most major breeders are either running sophisticated websites or selling their plants to resellers who are selling online.

Some things are lost in the process of moving away from in-person events, but so much more has been gained. And an environment where one can freely write or read as they wish takes so much of the petty politics out of the whole system. There are some downsides to "all are equal online" but for those who have some basic knowledge and common sense- it does not take long to figure out whose advice is best heeded, or not.

Anyhow- I am done moping around. In the next few weeks I am liquidating what little show stock I had left- and next week a new batch of flasks arrives. I am going to take a cue from the lessons of venturing into the past this past year and go back to sharing in the online community and always, always, always growing what I want first and foremost.

The above is not intended to be spiteful or unkind. I just somehow felt I needed to say it as I try to look forward and celebrate all that is good in my growing area, on this forum and in so many other places- and even remember the great good that still exists in the places I am leaving behind.

Best and thanks for listening, Tom.

I love to attend shows but rarely buy much, I specialize heavily in multifloral Paphs and they are few and far between on our show circuit. I joined the planning committee for our society's show this year and the older members insisted on strictly limiting the number of vendors so that the ones who come have a better chance of making money. I understand their reasoning, but their vendor selection is almost a guarantee that I won't find anywhere to spend money and I feel like it may be limiting our growth potential by having just one local grower that anyone can visit year round and one who mostly flips Taiwanese NOID Phals that are in every grocery and big box store.

If you're willing to share privately I'd love to hear your thoughts/experiences from student judging, I'm interested in getting involved myself but still a few years off from being able to make the commitment due to my work schedule.

 

[big923cattleya]

If I were you, I would check the AOS website in regards to rejoining the AOS judging program. Read the Handbook on judging. Rules and Requirements have been easing lately.
Each Judging Center has its own way of accomplishing Judges Training. Some Centers Judge orchids by teams, other centers Judge ‘as a whole’. I preferred the later.
In all my years, I have been associated with the White Plains Center for 13 years, Florida North Central for 9 and the Great Lakes Center since May of 2018. The methods of training are supposed to be uniform but each center has its minor differences on just how to accomplish that goal.
As far as a local show goes, I really can’t help you there. So many societies that put on a show follow standard practices or procedures for inviting vendors that they have been using for years!!!
Up here we just lost a great slipper vendor a year ago. The Orchid Inn closed. Sam Tsui was forced to retire. The vendors that you want to get in touch with are Krull/Smith in Apopka Florida or Paph Paradise.

But you are absolutely correct in not joining the program until you have the time. It is a six to ten year commitment in training details. But honestly, I only know of a few people who washed out. It was a failure of time to devote to the program that made them leave.

 

[Tony]

If I were you, I would check the AOS website in regards to rejoining the AOS judging program. Read the Handbook on judging. Rules and Requirements have been easing lately.
Each Judging Center has its own way of accomplishing Judges Training. Some Centers Judge orchids by teams, other centers Judge ‘as a whole’. I preferred the later.
In all my years, I have been associated with the White Plains Center for 13 years, Florida North Central for 9 and the Great Lakes Center since May of 2018. The methods of training are supposed to be uniform but each center has its minor differences on just how to accomplish that goal.
As far as a local show goes, I really can’t help you there. So many societies that put on a show follow standard practices or procedures for inviting vendors that they have been using for years!!!
Up here we just lost a great slipper vendor a year ago. The Orchid Inn closed. Sam Tsui was forced to retire. The vendors that you want to get in touch with are Krull/Smith in Apopka Florida or Paph Paradise.

But you are absolutely correct in not joining the program until you have the time. It is a six to ten year commitment in training details. But honestly, I only know of a few people who washed out. It was a failure of time to devote to the program that made them leave.

I'm familiar with the program and our judges, I just need a couple of guys at work to retire so that I become senior and get weekends off.

Krull Smith exhibits plants regularly at some of the shows in the Carolinas, I got to see one of their FCC roths being awarded a few years ago in NC, but they never have a vending table. I doubt it would be financially viable for Dave to come out here either, the majority of our society is older casual growers that only care about Cattleya. Like Tom said, the internet is the real hub of the hobby now and that is especially true for specialist growers.

 

[big923cattleya]

It is an aging problem too. The AOS system is begging for judges to join. So many of the judges and orchid people who were my mentors are long since buried or retired. In NYC back in the mid 90’s, we had 51 judges in the center alone. Like I said, most are gone now. But I’ll bet the center barely has 20 judges now, if that.
We have had 3 judges go “Senior” here in Ann Arbor recently and we are down to 11 active I think with 2 Associate and 2 students on the way.
And then look at all of the big orchid vendors who have gone out of business in the 48 years that I have been growing! It is scary!!
But to be honest with you all, when it comes to orchids and judging, I would not have changed a single thing!! I have my first show of the year in Grand Rapids on Saturday, then it is Cleveland, Lansing, Akron, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Strongsville Ohio to finish up late April, 2023! I look forward to seeing so many friends I have made at these various societies on the show circuit. Wonderful, wonderful people. People genuinely happy to see me!!! Thats happiness keeps me going a whole darn year until next show season. That feeling you just can’t put a price on!

 

[Tom Reddick]

If you're willing to share privately I'd love to hear your thoughts/experiences from student judging, I'm interested in getting involved myself but still a few years off from being able to make the commitment due to my work schedule.

I am happy to do that- please reach out in messenger.

One caveat though- 41 years of growing, exhibiting, selling commercially, breeding and clerking at shows and AOS judgings counts for a lot, but I am not a judge. So I will focus on exploring the right questions to ask as you consider entering the program since the actual requirements are very different from center to center. I won't play the role of the paralegal telling you how to be a lawyer, but I am happy to arm you with the questions and advance research to make a good decision about if and when- and hopefully when.

 

[Tom Reddick]

Not every person who grows orchids is cut out to be a judge.

Good evening and thank you for your considered replies to this thread. It is good to see the enthusiasm- it reminds me of the many things I did like about the program.

I have quoted one brief sentence above that I think is quite critical to not only my situation but the program as a whole. And to be clear, I am not meaning to cast aspersions on you for the comment. We have not met, I have specifically declined to post my reasons for leaving publicly and your comment is also quite true in a lot of cases.

What troubles me greatly is that when I withdrew- after 2 years of being actively noodged to finally join- variations on what you said are all that I heard from many others. And it is what many colleagues of mine of similarly signficant orchid experience to mine heard too when they quit recently. The complete silence of the AOS itself on the matter made it clear they felt the same way.

This is the big mistake. For the last 40 years things have been eroding- and now the ship is sinking with some of the once largest and most prolific judging centers now just 1-2 judges away from not being able to function with proper teams (and 2 I know of who are relying on judges coming in from out of town each month just to make minimums). And still, the idea that there needs to be fundamental change never seems to occur to anyone from within. The automatic assumption is that the candidate was completely at fault.

I did not leave because of demands on my time, and neither did the few other recent dropouts I spoke to after I left. And it is a very big problem that the AOS and the program itself are not asking themsleves and ex-candidates in a very sincere and open-minded manner what is going on.

To make matters worse, while refusing to actively address why so many eminently qualified candidates are avoiding the program, there is an active recruitment effort to get new judges at any experience level. I sat with a student last year who had been growing orchids for 2 years and was still sorting out which genus is which. I wish that candidate well and hope good things come- but the very real fact is someone that new is nowhere near ready to enter the program.

In my career on Wall Street and in working with startups, one thing I have gotten very good at is looking at a company in trouble and predicting when they are going to go out of business if things continue on that company's current path. You have to figure that out before you decide how to approach the rehabilitation process, or when to abandon ship when advice is not heeded.

On its current trajectory, assuming no fundamental operational changes, I believe the AOS Judging program is going to completely collapse in 15-20 years. I once cared a great deal about that and working to fix it. My first goal as a student was to visit and participate in judging at every center in the United States at least once during my student years. (Anyone still care to assume I do not have the time or financial means to be a judge?)

But I find it hard to care now that I see the people who should care most cannot seem to even imagine that maybe, just maybe, the trajectory of the last 4 decades might be the result of fundamental issues that need addressing within the program itself. For my part, I think the solutions are fairly simple because the program's design and basic requirements are quite sound and reasonable- and also because the program is vitally important to the entire industry and hobby as a whole. I don't think it would take much to get things moving in a better direction again.

A final thought to give some insight into my departure- just one incident of many that happened when I became a student and suddenly became an idiot who was not listened to and regarded as I would be in any other orchid-centric discussion where I had some knowledge to share,

If you are a judge with 10 years of growing experience, no breeding experience and was recently elevated to accredited status, and if you are having a conversation with a student who has 40 years of growing, breeding and commercial experience; and if you are talking about the motivations of a famous hybridizer, who died before you started growing orchids, in one of their best known breeding lines, and if you are spouting off things you heard or read somewhere; and if that student in turn KNEW that hybridizer and was around when those crosses were being made; and if that student offers some additional insight- attempting to do so in a respectful manner to address your assertions that are completely wrong; this is a really good time for said judge to just listen for once and learn from someone who can, and is willing, to enhance said judge's knowledge- instead of just huffily saying "You're wrong" and storming off like a petulant child.

The kind of people you want and need in the judging program today aren't going to put up with that BS for very long.

 

[Tom Reddick]

Well, I got a bit testy in the end with that post, but I will let it stand because it needed to be said.

It should also be said most judges are not like that, and that even many long-time judges have adapted well into an environment where students are coming in with a much wider array of experience and are receptive to knowledge shared with a genuine intent to educate and learn from each other. But it only takes a few to make things very unpleasant, and at the end of the day- all judges close ranks in these situations I have found.

And to reiterate again- I am not piling on you big923 or implying you are like that. The tone of your posts suggests quite the opposite, so please know I am not making any negative assumptions about you.

 

[tnyr5]

Your Wall St career will make you appreciate my take on why I left the judging program: If I'm doing something for free, my tolerance for hazing, ego politics, manipulation, and internecine squabbles is ZERO.
That said, the center in question has gotten much better since then.

 

[big923cattleya]

But I think that you went in trying to "fix the judging system", That might have been the issue right from the beginning.

A couple of points that you mentioned. Some one trying to enter the judging program after growing orchids for only two years is not enough experience really. It has been my feeling that in order to join, 5 years experience would be much better. But honestly, not many students wash out of the program. Back in '95 when I started, I had 21 years of growing experience, grew about 300 orchids at the time and I was a member of 5 or 6 clubs in the new York Metro area. For all my knowledge, I thought that I did not know enough about orchids. In those pre computer and pre internet years, knowledge took more time to search for and develop. Research on an orchid award candidate took a lot of manual research, look here, look there, compare slides, descriptions and such. Now that is all on orchid judging and award software.
I have never encountered judges "closing ranks about anything or anyone"! This is after all a volunteer position, no money involved, no form of payment of any kind. The Judging system is about is about improving certain characteristics about orchid flowers by recognizing superior qualities and awarding them.. Whether we are talking about Cattleyas, Miltonias, Paphiopedilums, etc. it is about constantly improving the standards by which they are judged.
There are of course bad apples that you encounter along the way. That happens everywhere in life. But in all my years, I have only encountered one judge who did not follow guidelines and treat his peers with respect. He was eventually removed after being Accredited for quite a few years.
There is no real qualification that an orchid judge, or candidate, needs breeding experience. That has no bearing on a judge making if through the program. All that is really needed is a good grasp on orchids, all kinds of orchids. Then what makes for a good flower, it is form and shape, proportion, flatness, flower size matters a little bit but you always are trying to move those standards moving forward. And we as judges have to be mindful and aware of new lines of breeding. Very, very soon, a major change is coming to the AOS scoresheet! It will look drastically different. You will not recognize it!!! So the AOS is evolving.

And I really have no idea of what the fundamental changes might be that you seem to feel that are needed to see the judging system survive. The system has worked just fine for about 93 years. Has it changed, of course. Will it continue to change, to evolve, of course it will. But it won't happen overnight.

The Judging system is failing, do to too few people joining the program. That is reason one. With all the activities available in this Techno World, so many people might not have the time to get involved with something like judging flowers. When I joined that was different. Some very good orchid growers found out that there were better hobbies then orchids. We lost one good candidate because he discovered deep sea fishing. Not everyone is the same.

But you are right, I am a judge who cares deeply about the lay people on my team. I get them at ease with my humor, my jolly warmth ( I can't believe I said that ) ha ha. But I honestly try to make everyone feel like part of my team form a ribbon clerk up to a head clerk. This should be FUN for all those involved. I strive hard to make that casual team member go home and think to him or herself, "Boy, that was really fun!! I had such a great time!" Am I rare in that regard? Maybe. But that is just the way I roll.

 

[Ray]

But I think that you went in trying to "fix the judging system", That might have been the issue right from the beginning.

I don’t think that’s an accurate assessment. Have you considered that the attitude might be one of “help support and maintain the standards”?

Every such activity has “rules” that must be followed, and anyone participating must intend to hold fast to them, including understanding and applying the rules, and just personal demeanor.

In over 50 years of growing, I have never taken a plant for judging, but have attended judging sessions over the years, starting in Atlanta in the early 70’s at the Fernbank Science Center, up through various shows and events I have attended or vended. The rules are not applied uniformly and ego plays entirely too big of a role.

Let me offer a personal analogy: I started playing soccer (football) as a child in England and my Junior High in NJ when we returned, was just introducing it. Played there and in HS in DC. Still one of my favorite sports. Fast forward several years and my son wanted to learn to play, so we joined a league. A few years later my daughter did the same. I did the assistant coaching, then coaching thing for a while, until business travel interfered with weekday practices, but I was still able to referee on weekends, so I studied up on the current rules and took the job seriously.

When they graduated to travel teams, I was able to observe the officiating at those games and was appalled at some. So, being the “if you don’t vote, you can’t gripe” kind of guy, I took the necessary training and became a USSF Referee.

Over the years before my knees argued too much, I officiated about 400 games, ranging from 10-year olds up through college (I wasn’t accredited to do that, but it was an odd circumstance, for that’s a story for another time.). In that time I have been praised, cursed, thanked and threatened. I have joked with the teams and tossed an entire collection of teams” parent out of the venue.

One day, I was in my dermatologist’s waiting room when a dad and daughter came in and sat down. She kept staring at me and she finally broke down and asked if she knew me from somewhere. After a while we got to soccer, and I mentioned I was a referee. Her eyes got wide and she said “Yeah. You’re the FAIR one.”

Now that I’m retired and the AOS has been pushing for judges, I though I might apply, but as the nearest judging center is at least a 4 hour drive, that just isn’t feasible.

 

[big923cattleya]

Travel, yes that makes things much harder. There are centers out in the middle of the country that travel great distances to attend judging. And that is unfortunate. Especially when one must invest their own money to attend.
I have been fortunate that where I started out in NY, we saw shows from southern New Jersey along the I-95 corridor up to Boston and New Hampshire. We also had shows in the Finger Lakes Region and Rochester NY. But as I mentioned, with 51 judges, that was doable.
Now all of my shows that I would consider attending would be from Chicago to Cinncinnati and Dayton over to Toronto and Buffalo. I try to limit myself to three hours drive or 200 miles. Three hours and I’ll get an overnight reservation.
Tomorrow morning, it is Grand Rapids, a 2 hour drive. I have to leave tomorrow at 5am. I have to be on site at 7:30 Saturday morning. All judging should be completed by 3pm. Then it is a 2 hour ride home.
Next weekend is Cleveland, a 3 1/4 hour drive. I have a reservation in a Comfort Inn. I’ll leave here Friday a 1 pm, motel, dinner with other judges, judge at 8am, heading home by 3 pm or so.
If I did not love it, and enjoy it, I would not do it.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

I've been in the background reading posts in Slippertalk for several years now. I started growing orchids when I was fourteen, nearly 50 years ago. I live in the Pacific Northwest about 30 miles south of Seattle. All those years ago we had several well established orchid growers in the area. Beall's Orchids on Vashon Island was famous for it's paphs, miltonias (miltoniopsis now), cymbidiums and other genera. Tacoma, my home town about 10 miles away from where I live now served as the PNW Regional Judging Center. Well known judges Gary Baker and Wil Chantry (owners of Baker and Chantry Orchids in Woodinville), Maurice Powers, Jim and Ken Woolery, Carl Montgomery amongst a host of others were active participants in the Tacoma Orchid Society (and the associated "Species Club" and "The Seedlings" (a club for the younger growers which I became the first "president") Maurice Powers was our mentor. Orchids seemed so much more exotic way back then, growers had passion, wanted to share their knowledge and trade plants, the orchid shows a huge production. Gone now is that passion, those judges and the knowledge of those days seems to have faded. Shows are no longer the huge production that they used to be. Now they're small displays the sellers put up, most of the space left for plants looking to be sold.

I miss all that. I especially miss all of those great people!

 

[Justin]

There are a lot of macro-level forces that are leading to the slow decay of the legacy ecosystem of the orchid trade & hobby in the United States (I'm talking about the interconnected ecosystem of AOS/regional societies/local orchid societies/show circuit/independent orchid vendors/judging system).

Demographic shifts, the rise of internet/social media, and economic forces (including mass production of orchids by big growers at massive scale) pushing out small businesses all play a role.

Sure it looks a little better in coastal or southern cities where there is better weather and large numbers of retirees or snowbirds, or in larger cities with exceptionally well-run local societies, but the overall picture for the way things were is grim.

Our own society made a lot of positive changes during the pandemic, such as really focusing on improving our digital presence, and going to Zoom meetings which allowed for more international speakers. We also have partially separated from the local plant conservatory (which was also heavily impacted by the pandemic), starting a partnership with one of the successful malls in the area for our annual show. Now that the pandemic is receding, we still do hybrid in-person/Zoom meetings.

These changes have attracted new membership, but we will see what is sustainable and how it all goes in the long term. Still, the old model in my view is dying a slow death.

 

[big923cattleya]

I don’t really agree.
I find that there are still passionate people around in orchids but time marches on. Waldor Orchids has been going on for decades and decades. Why? Primarily a family run business.
Back in the 70’s and early 80’s, two large orchid businesses back then went out of business because of real estate taxes, insurance premiums, family members who did not share the passion of their parents to keep the business going.
Business owners retire, pass on, etc.
here is just a small sample of taxes and their impact. I bought a 1300 square foot colonial in 1974 with a tax bill of $1,050. 50 x 150 piece of property in western Long Island. Today, 49 years later, that tax bill is now over $14,000!!
Now blow that up to a small orchid business on an acre and a half and can anyone afford that bill?
California has taxes much worse then that! I can’t imagine how many orchids one would have to sell to cover a $20,000, $50,000 or $100,000 tax bill!
But back in the 70’s, before the internet, you had to seek out clubs, shows, books etc. to get information. Now it’s on line!
The problem is that so much that’s posted is not accurate!!! But every one is entitled to post videos, have an opinion, etc.
I just saw posted information that within the same post, some one claimed that a particular species needed full sun to grow well. Then three sentences later claimed just a little sunlight was needed. What is a person new to orchids to think?
Don’t get me started on Ice Cubes!!!

 

[BrucherT]

This thread begs for some serious Michael-Jackson-Angela-Landsbury-Stephen-Colbert-level popcorn!

Seriously sad though. I don’t have personal experience because I’ve avoided AOS due to rife tales of asinine corruption and racism as well as what seems to me the relentless “progress” toward a universal, obnoxiously ugly, unnatural moon-round flower aesthetic. It’s gross to me the same way English bulldogs who cannot be born without Caesarean birth are gross, or chicken breeds that cannot walk without their heavy breasts toppling them over, or bulls that cannot breed naturally. Ick. Shame. Wrong.

The sadness in the post and comments is moving, for sure. I’m sorry for it. I hope a solution is found. There must be a way to revamp and reinvigorate.

 

[Paph Paradise]

I have been in the judging program for almost 20 years. The only reason I do it is that our group (California Sierra Nevada Judging Center) gets along very well and we have fun. If it wasn't fun I wouldn't do this. I have judged all over the country and there are other groups that are great to be around, and some that are less enjoyable. Politics, personality conflicts...these things are unavoidable when you get groups of people together. If you are lucky enough to get with a group that has very few personality conflicts you are lucky.

The one issue I see is training. There are a minimum number of hours of training required, but the training you receive at each center is different. The AOS has an opportunity for improvement here. There should be some uniform training programs. I am way too busy to offer any help to the AOS, and from what I have seen at the judges forum at AOS Members Meetings a few people dominate the conversation so I'm not sure everyone gets heard. Once you get to the national level there are a small number of people who do most of the heavy lifting.

Becoming accredited is a long process and requires a serious time commitment. I was the youngest judge at our center from its inception until last year! Most people with kids simply can't devote the time, so we end up with students in their 50's and 60's. The biggest problem I see nationally is the slow demise of the local orchid society. Covid really did some damage here. Local societies are where people get their start and get exposed to AOS judging at shows. I am VP of the Sacramento Orchid Society and I have challenged our new board with the goal of seeing a steady increase in attendance to our monthly meetings. Pre-covid we had 60-80 attendees every month. Now we have about 30-35. If the local societies die off, so will the AOS judging program. Local societies need to re-engage old members, and recruit new and younger members.

Dave

 

[Tony]

My local society has definitely been in decline, I've lived here 11 years and didn't actually join and get involved until last year when meetings resumed post-COVID. I went to their orchid show every year but the people manning the recruiting booth were so unfriendly and dismissive that I didn't bother trying to join until one of our judges talked me into giving it a chance. A few other younger (30s-40s) people joined at the same time and we've all banded together to get involved in show planning and modernization (web presence, social media, electronic payments, etc.) but there is resistance and resentment from some of the older members of the board who want to keep doing things the way they've always been done. Luckily the president and several other board members have been supportive and we are making at least some headway into joining the 21st century but I do wonder if it will be possible to sustain the local society model as us Gen X/elder Millenial types become the old folks.

 

[big923cattleya]

Well, it would be nice if every body was friendly from a society but we always find some cranky and unfriendly people in any group situation.
It seems like it is the same percentages though. In a group is twenty, two might be cranky or disagreeable. In a group of 100, it could be 10 cranky people. With both examples, we need to surround ourselves with the 90% who are nice. Easier said then done! That’s for sure!