December I 2017

We are very excited to end the year on a strong note. 2017 has been a very good one for the WNCOS, but we are a bit tired and ready to move forward in to 2018! Much we can reflect on this year, but we’ll save the reflecting and celebrating for the warm hospitality that Kathryn Long and Axel Graumann will show us this upcoming Sunday at our year ending Pot-Luck style holiday social. The past few years have been particularly sweet for the society, and we have celebrated appropriately. This year will be no different, so be sure to attend the 2017 WNCOS Holiday Social this Sunday, 12/10/17 at the lovely home and Kathryn and Axel. We will be celebrating from 1-3PM, and at some point we’ll put down the food and discuss a bit about our year while raffling off some really nice orchids. Members in good standing must be in attendance to win, and will be provided with a raffle ticket upon arrival. It is our hope that everyone will be able to join us. Address and directions will be shared below.

To kick off a sure to be incredible 2018, the WNCOS is proud to announce a first time visit from John Stubbings of Clown Alley Orchids in Pasadena, Texas. John will be here on Sunday, January 14th, 2018 to give us a program on Oncidiums. John is another orchid expert and brings much value to our society, so you’ll want to be sure to be in attendance then. We’ll have more info coming in your next newsletter, but want wanted to give you a glimpse in to 2018 here in Asheville. Be sure to go ahead and check out his offerings on his website, https://www.clownalleyorchids.com/.

John will offer WNCOS members a 10% discount on pre-orders, and will be bringing plants for sale. He will also bring us plants for our raffle table. It’s up to you to capitalize on these opportunities that we work so hard on.

I feel it is important to know that there’s not many folks in the industry traveling on the speaking circuit, as it is certainly challenging. Two ways you can really be supportive is by attending our programs by visiting guests, and by giving them your business when they’re here. It is imperative that every orchid grower try and support their local growers and nurseries as the industry continues to be saturated by the big box stores who are mainly offering Phalaenopsis and gimmicky culture tips. I offer you all this information to consider, not to be pushy and induce sales, but to be better informed. We have a strong desire to continue to offer an array of speakers, but it is not easy to accomplish. It is incredibly helpful to the WNCOS, to the guest speaker and everyone in attendance at our monthly meetings when you all make the effort to show up. I just cannot stress this enough and wanted to take a minute to share some things with you.

Thank you,

Mike Mims, WNCOS President

 

WNCOS 2017 Holiday Social – Pot-Luck Style, bring a covered dish or dessert.
Sunday, December 10th, 2017 1-3pm
Kathryn Long and Axel Graumann
817 Quill Gordon Ct.
Biltmore Lake, NC 28715
If you’re using a GPS, you should have no trouble. If coming from the north, west or south, these directions should suit you well if you are not using a GPS device.
-Follow I-240W and I-40W to US-19S/US-23 S/US-74 ALT.W., take Exit 44 from I-40W. Turn right on US-19S/US-23S. Take a left onto Sand Hill Rd. (Note the Ingles store on right).
-Take the 3rd light to turn right onto Lake Drive. (2nd light is Enka Lake Rd.)
-Go through a traffic circle by the lake and then take the next left onto Wickham’s Fancy Dr.
-Then take the 2nd left to Quill Gordon Ct. Come to end of Cul-De-Sac, green home with beige trim and dark shutters at very end of Cul-De-Sac. Park on the street please. Any trouble, you may try calling Axel’s cell phone at (828)337-0035.

 

 

2018 Asheville Orchid Festival Update
2018 Asheville Orchid Festival Volunteers
HEADS UP….Less than 4 months before the 2018 Asheville Orchid Festival! Our 20th Festival!!!

We know, we know – it seems like such a long way off, however, the time will go by quickly!  Good progress has been made on the underpinnings of the 2018 Asheville Orchid Festival and we wanted to update the membership on these efforts and provide an outline of volunteer opportunities. We need our volunteers, so please step up and ask questions. We will get you involved in one way or another.

We cannot stress to you all the importance of our 20th Asheville Orchid Festival Committee, and all that we are up to. We need support in many different ways. One BIG example of something still looming for us is our need to secure a “work space” for construction of our display. Have a garage, know of a useful space, know someone who’d donate or rent us out a workshop or garage for a couple of months?

Pre-Festival Activities Underway:

  • Festival Dates – March 21-22 put in/installation. March 23 Ribbon and AOS Judging, NC Arboretum/WNCOS Private Member Preview Party. March 24-25 Festival open to the public.
  • Venue – The NC Arboretum has been secured as the venue for the 2018 Festival, and Mike has got us under contract!
  • Catering – Work is underway to determine the caterer for the Judges luncheon and for put-in day lunch.
  • Vendors –  Vendors have been invited to participate in the 2018 Festival. Several have verbally confirmed, contracts to go out soon. Stay tuned folks!
  • Display – Clarke will be the display chair for the 2018 Festival. Thank you Clarke!!! If you have an interest in being on the Display Committee, please contact Clarke – she will need an army of folks with a variety of skills.  She will be arranging a kick-off meeting soon to decide on a theme to present to the Board and to discuss the overall process that will be used to design construct and install the display.

*Advertising and Promotion – Graham Ramsey along with Bill Fore will again be heading up our advertising and promotions. If you have ideas or want to volunteer to help with this effort, speak with Graham or Bill.

We have a need for a space large enough to construct the display during February and March. Please let us know if you have, or know of, a space we can rent for this purpose.

Clarke’s Contact information is as follows:
email: cmerrill@ads-architects.com
Ofc:  828-252-0355
Cell: 828-290-9983

Festival Volunteer Opportunities:
Every year, you all step up and make the Asheville Orchid Festival the premier orchid festival in the southeast. We have one of the finest events in the country now, so come and be a part of something special!
We wanted to provide an outline of some of the different areas that will need volunteers so that you could start thinking of where you would like to be involved for the 2018 Festival.  You may have an area where you especially enjoy volunteering, but you may want to add a new volunteer activity. Remember that it takes all of us to pull this caliber of orchid festival off. This is our 20th annual festival, and we intend to make it our best ever!

Volunteer Areas:
Wed, March 21 – WNCOS display construction at the Arboretum
Thurs, March 22 – Put-In Day

  • Vendor Support – assist vendors with orchid transport
  • Orchid Registration – assist us register all plant entries
  • Orchid Prep – cover orchid pots, stage orchids by color
  • Arrange orchids, foliage plants and moss in the display

Hospitality – during the entirety of the festival

  • Judges lunch
  • Breakroom monitoring
  • Contribute food

Friday – Judging day

  • Clerking and support for AOS judging
  • Arboretum preview party! DO NOT MISS!

Sat/Sunday – General festival support

  • Taking entry fees
  • Check hand stamps for festival entry
  • Monitor displays and answer questions as necessary
  • Vendor support – assist vendors during display removal
  • Dismantling the WNCOS display and disposition of the props
  • Re-tagging and return of BB Barns foliage plants
WNCOS