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Neal Foster
Initially, the AAOS board decided just to have a ribbon show, without AOS judging, but an urgent email message to President Connie from AOS judge Don Garling (who is also an AAOS member) prompted us to reexamine that decision. As a result, the Board has now discussed the short term and long term implications of various questions and issues quite thoroughly. In November, a meeting was held at Alex Challis's house with Connie, Alex, and me that Don drove all the way from Okemos to attend. The following text is based on Don's email message, a memo from Vice-president Harry Winter, and notes from that meeting at Alex's. Incidentally, Don Garling, Randy Robinson, and other show veterans from GLOS have been most generous in providing background information, financial data from their orchid shows, as well as encouraging comments to help the AAOS Board in its deliberations and we are very grateful for their help.
WHAT IS THE DIRECT BENEFIT TO THE AAOS ORCHID SHOW OF HAVING AOS JUDGING AT THE SHOW?
(1) When orchid growers in the region know that the show will be AOS-judged, they will not only be more likely to attend the show, they will also be more likely to participate and to exhibit their very best plants because of the possibility of getting AOS awards in addition to ribbons and trophies.
(2) The judging process itself will be more objective and impartial than if only relatively inexperienced, non-AOS judges did all the judging, and plants will be examined by judging teams led by well trained, experienced, and knowledgeable orchid experts.
(3) The judging will be efficient, thorough, and take far less time than if only relatively inexperienced, non-AOS judges were used. I have clerked for, and more recently have been privileged to be a lay judge on ribbon-judging teams led by AOS judges at GLOS orchid shows, and the judging process runs like the proverbial "well oiled machine." Some of our members could likewise clerk or serve as lay judges for a judging team, thus gain valuable firsthand experience about the judging process.
(4) The overall quality of the "AAOS Orchid Show experience," especially for those of our members who participate, will be substantially enhanced and also consistent with the high standard of technical and aesthetic excellence which AAOS members seem to expect and appreciate. Nonorchidist members of the public who attend probably will enjoy the show more, also.
(5) Vendors are probably more likely to participate in an AOS-judged show than in one which was not.
(6) A less tangible, indirect benefit is that the reputation of AAOS will be enhanced by having an AOS- judged show, and that may help us recruit new members.
WHAT IS THE COST AND COMMITMENT TO THE AAOS OF HAVING AN AOS-JUDGED SHOW?
Based on figures on estimated AAOS show expenses that Alex put together, an AOS-judged show would cost only about 18% more than a non-AOS-judged show, assuming the same number of people attend either type of show. In fact, it's likely that a substantially greater number of people would attend our show if it were AOS-judged than if it were not. The bottom line to all of the above is that is misleading to regard AOS judging as an unnecessary financial burden or encumbrance with regard to our first show. It is more appropriate to see it as an asset, an added bonus that will actually enhance overall attendance, vendor and exhibitor participation, and the quality of the show itself.
ARE THE BENEFITS WORTH THAT COST AND COMMITMENT?
Based on the comments made above, I think that the answer is a resounding "Yes!" Indeed, my own experience, gained through attending or participating in local orchid shows for more than a decade, suggests that an AOS-judged AAOS Orchid Show will be quite successful, and there are many other attractions in the Ann Arbor area that will further enhance our attendance, participation, and revenue.