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As I mentioned in my last message, the next few months
will be a busy time for the society and its members who participate in the various
shows. We will have our usual display at the Greater Lansing Society's show on February
27 - March 1, a big, ambitious display in the Ann Arbor Flower & Garden Show
from March 25 through April 1, with construction starting nearly a week before, the
Michigan Orchid Society Palm Sunday show in early April, and finally our own Ann
Arbor Orchid Festival. We hope that everyone who has some plants in bloom will contribute
plants for the displays, especially for the judged shows (our display at the AAF&G
show is not in competition, but you can enter plants individually in the horticultural
class).
To that end, now is time to begin preparing your promising plants (e.g. now
in spike) for display, training and staking the spikes, and most importantly, carefully
inspecting the plants and removing any pests. especially the troublesome scale insects.
I've heard rumors that some people won't contribute plants for displays because they
are afraid they will pick up such pests. If we're all careful to free our plants
of these transferable pests, then nobody will have to worry. Dottie and I spent several
hours each of the last several weekends going over our modest collection leaf by
leaf, cleaning and treating with Sun Spray whenever signs of the little buggers were
evident. If you need any advice, don't be afraid to ask at a meeting, check our library
(we have several "how to" books that discuss both controlling pests, and
preparing plans for display), or call or e-mail one of our officers or experts whose
phone number and e-mail address are given in this newsletter. Let's see some great
participation in our displays this Spring!
I hope none of you decided the attend the Board meeting that was announced at
the last meeting. Because of several members being away (thus threatening our quorum),
and a lack of any pressing items of business for the board, I decided to postpone
it until February (the date will be announced at the Feb. 8th meeting). If anyone
has any item of business for the Board to consider, please write it down and give
it me (or another board member) at the next meeting, or send it to the Society's
P.O. Box.
Finally, the nominating committee for our elections in May is in place. Members
are Bill Neuroth, Wendy Frisch, and Laura Duman. Though Bill is a current officer,
he is on the committee because he will be unavailable to continue as treasurer next
year, and is best able to recruit a prospective new treasurer, and assure him or
her how easy the job will be, since he (Bill) revamped the record keeping system.
If you're interested in that job or any other (including President!), please see
a member of the committee within the next two meetings.
We hope to see you all at our exciting February meeting.
~ HARRY WINTER
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