Member Volunteer Page
2025 Asheville Orchid Festival
Volunteer List
Message from the Show Chair, Graham Ramsey: If you would like to contribute your time and/or food during the festival, please send me an email so I can put you on the list. If you have questions. let me know. g_ram@yahoo.com
Display construction Wednesday March 26th 10:00 - 3:00 Graham Ramsey/Leslie Keller Committee Chair
Wednesday is the day we construct the WNCOS exhibit. Also we set up the Arboretum for the vendor booth and all other display areas.
Plant registration Thursday March 27th 9:00am – 1:00pm Bill Loose Chair Marion Allen Co- Chair
Thursday morning is a very important day. Registration requires receiving all the members blooming orchids and prepping them for display. Once a plant has been processed, it will go to the Display Installation team.
Display Installation Thursday March 27th 11:00am -5:00pm Leslie Keller Committee Chair
Once the orchids are registered, they go to the installation team. Here, the plants are prepared and groomed for the grand WNCOS exhibit. This includes making sure the ID labels are in place, the pot coverings are installed, the plant gets a general inspection assuring is ready for viewing. And finally assisting Leslie and her team place the orchids into the display.
Vendor support Thursday March 27th 10:00am – 3:00pm and Sunday March 30th 5:00pm Gary Green Chair
Vendor Support requires abled bodies to be on hand Thursday to assist vendors and sister societies with transporting their plants and materials from the parking circle into the Arboretum building. On Sunday at 5:00pm, they will need help getting everything back to the parking circle when the show is over.
Ribbon judging/clerking Friday March 28th 8:30am-12:00pm
This is not a volunteer spot but a privilege for any members that want to experience the judging process. You will get the opportunity to join a judging team and assist as they preform the ribbon judging. This is a very educational opportunity for all who partake.
Ticket Sales and Admission Friday 4pm - 7:30pm Saturday/Sunday 9am-4pm Axel Graumann Committee Chair
We need a lot of help here. During the festival weekend, there will be over 3000 visitors that have to first, cycle through the ticket sales desk. It’s not a difficult job, unless Axel doesn’t have any help. Other duties are to provide information about the show and to promote the WNCOS. This is our golden opportunity to recruit new WNCOS members.
The hours we need your help are Friday 4:00 to 7:00, Saturday/Sunday 9:00am to 4:00pm. Let me know what hours you might want to contribute your time. Whether just a couple or hours or half/full day, your help will be a great contribution to the success of our festival
Sunday Take-out Sunday March 30th 5:00pm
Time to clean up after the party. Help is needed to dismantle the display and clean up and take out whatever needs cleaned up and taken out.
Hospitality Committee: JoAnne Danielson 828-388-3848, Nancy Graham 828-406-0637, and Paul Johnson 828-691-1232
WE need to feed the masses. Volunteers, vendors and sister society members will all be hungry…all weekend. Please consider contributing any food stuff you can. If you have any questions, call the names above. Email me with your donations
Wednesday, March 26 – installation day – lunch / snacks for Volunteers:
Thursday, March 27 – Put In Day – BREAKFAST for Vendors/Volunteers:
Assistance with Breakfast - setting up the break room table and putting out breakfast items. Keeping tabs on the coffee maker, coolers etc.
Thursday, March 27 – put in day – Vendor/Volunteer LUNCH:
Assistance with Lunch (CATERED) - setting out sandwiches, chips, etc. Keeping tabs on the coffee maker
Thursday, March 27 – put in day – General help through the day:
Keeping tabs on the coffee maker, neatening up, refilling “stuff” like drinks in cooler, help bringing in Hospitality supplies, etc.
Friday/Sat/Sun March 28, 29, and 30. Breakfast
Bringing your favorite breakfast dish. Help setting up breakfast items/coffee, etc. Please include the day(s) you may be able to help with this early-hour need –Especially Friday – Judging day.
Friday, MARCH 28 – Judges’ Lunch
Help setting up and cleaning up for the Judges lunch. This lunch is Catered and the caterers will be delivering the lunch to the Arboretum. But we need to meet the caterer, arrange the room, put on table cloths bring up drinks etc. I will probably need help from 11:00 until 1:00 or whenever clean-up is finished.
Thursday/Friday/Sat/Sun
General help checking, putting more drinks in the cooler, and neatening up the hospitality area. Please include what day(s) and the span of time you may be available to do this.
Sunday March 30 - We will need to pack up the hospitality area during the day .
If you are bringing in wonderful home made (or stare bought) food at any time, please let me know when and for how many people.
JoAnne Danielson 828-388-3848