March Newsletter
Greetings WNCOS Members and Fellow Orchid Lovers,
Countdown for the Asheville Orchid Festival has begun! I don’t know about you, but with less than 30 days to go, I’m excited! Preparations are full steam ahead for the staging of this year’s theme Orchid Express (think Orient Express!). The Display Committee is working hard on an amazing, life-size cut-away train car. Yes, a 24-foot train car!!! And WE NEED YOUR BEAUTIFUL BLOOMING ORCHIDS to spill from the train onto the platform. After three years of postponements, we want this show to be bigger and better than ever.
Please plan to attend the March 12th Meeting. We will be covering all aspects of Show Prep. This meeting will be our last chance to gather as a group and coordinate our efforts. Plus, there will be a free grand raffle give away.
Every year, there is the Arboretum Members Only Preview Party the Friday evening prior to the show’s opening on Saturday. Note: This year’s show dates are April 1-2. In the past, we have encouraged WNCOS members to participate in the Friday Preview Party as ambassadors of the WNCOS. This year, however, due to the greatly increased membership numbers of the Arboretum itself, we have been asked to limit WNCOS attendance for the Friday, March 31st, Preview Party to 25. If you are signed up for volunteer duty during the show, you will be first in line for Preview Party tickets. After that, it will be first come, first serve for paid WNCOS members. Please email Mike Mims, Festival Chair, at michaelmims@gmail.com with your request.
On March 9th, WNCOS will be installing an exhibit in the Triad Orchid Society’s annual orchid show. If anyone has a special blooming orchid that you would like to contribute to this install, please contact me at G_Ram@yahoo.com. We like to support our sister societies as they do for us.
Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to support the Asheville Orchid Festival. We still need more support with the Ticket Sales and Admission, Registration and Display Installation. Also, review the Hospitality sheets and consider how you may contribute there.
Finally, take inventory of your orchids that will be in bloom for the Asheville Orchid Festival, 30 days from now, and start grooming them for the big event. See you on March 12th, and please bring Show-And-Tell plants.