Benefits for Affiliated Societies

Toward the top of any list of benefits that the American Orchid Society offers its members is interaction with and support of our valued affiliated societies around the globe. It’s at the local society level that the true grassroots education about the hobby occurs, not to mention the outstanding camaraderie that often exists among people who share a common passion.

With the importance of our affiliates in mind, below you will find the listing of benefits that are in place with the AOS’s affiliated societies program. AOS Reps around the world have received this information in various forms over the years, but we’re disseminating it in this Web-friendly manner in an effort to encourage you to get involved with a local orchid society … or to form a new one. If, indeed, you are already a part of an active local affiliate, that’s terrific! We hope, then, that this listing simply will serve to further familiarize you with the benefits of your group’s affiliation with the AOS.

Should you have any questions with regard to any of these benefits or you would like information about starting a new orchid society and then becoming affiliated with the AOS, or if you have any queries whatsoever regarding the interaction between your society and the AOS, do not hesitate to contact the Chair of the Affiliated Societies Committee at affiliates@aos.org.

We encourage you to take advantage of the multitude of fine educational resources that are at your fingertips. In most cases, a simple telephone call, short letter or e-mail is all that is required to order items from the AOS. Take a look for yourself. These items are free of charge unless otherwise indicated.

Orchid Show in a Box
Available to all affiliated societies, this terrific CD contains many files useful for producing your orchid show. There is an excellent plant-entry program for ribbon judging, as well as a show schedule, a time-line, and many sample letters. All of these files can be modified to match up with your group’s own goals and your particular show. Here’s what you need to help make your show a success.

Speakers List
Available to each affiliate’s program coordinator, the Speakers List will assist you in obtaining speakers who are available to present talks on quite a large range of topics. To obtain a copy of this publication write to the American Orchid Society, Speakers List, 16700 AOS Lane, Delray Beach, FL  33446 or email Pam Giust with the subject line Speakers List.

AOS Judging at Your Orchid Show
One of the prime benefits of being an affiliate is having AOS judging at your orchid show. Details for staging a show are in the 11th edition of the AOS Handbook on Judging and Exhibition, including directions for your photographer. By contacting the Awards Registrar at AOS headquarters six months prior to your event, you can request the necessary documents and also order the prestigious AOS Show Trophy. The plants in your show will be eligible for AOS awards, which are recorded in the AOS awards program, AQ Plus. Click here for application forms.

Listing of Your Society’s Shows in Orchids and on the AOS Web Site
The show dates for your Society’s orchid show will be printed in the Calendar of Events section of the Orchids magazine, as well as here on the Society’s Web site.

Culture Sheets
The AOS’s popular orchid culture sheets are available in pdf format here on the AOS’s Web site, by request in writing or by telephone. Currently, culture sheets are available on the following genera: Catasetum and Relatives, Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Lycaste, Masdevallia and Dracula, Odontoglossum Alliance, Oncidium Alliance, Paphiopedilum, Phalaenopsis, Stanhopea and Relatives and Vanda Alliance. You can request an entire set or a selection of the above. AOS culture sheets may be reproduced in your society newsletter provided that the following statement accompanies the text: “Prepared by: American Orchid Society, 16700 AOS Lane, Delray Beach, FL  33446 (Web site  www.aos.org).” 

Brochures
AOS Membership Brochure. Available in any quantity desired, this colorful AOS brochure is a superb piece of educational literature and a popular marketing tool for local societies. In addition to helping dispel the myth that orchids are more difficult to grow than other plants, this publication contains easy-to-read cultural information on four major genera — Cattleya, Dendrobium, Paphiopedilum and Phalaenopsis. An exceptional giveaway for guests and new members of your society, as well as at local orchid shows, the attractive brochure also provides information about how one can join the largest special-interest horticultural organization in the world — the American Orchid Society.

The brochuresOrchid Conservation and Research are available in small quantities. Societies are encouraged to reproduce the contents of these brochures for distribution at their orchid shows and in their newsletters. To obtain these brochures, contact the Society’s Membership Services Department by telephone or in writing. Let us know how many you would like, the name and address for mailing, and the date by which you need to have them on hand. Please allow two to four weeks for delivery.

Organizational Aids
Several documents developed to assist your affiliated society or organization are available from AOS headquarters. These publications include a Job Description Manual, Uniform Show Schedule (prepared by the Mid-America Orchid Congress), and an informational packet on how to obtain tax-exempt status for your local group. If your affiliate is interested in sponsoring an AOS Members Meeting (a privilege reserved solely for affiliates), there also is an essential publication available titled Company’s Coming, which reviews what it takes to host one of the AOS’s semiannual meetings.

Certificates of Appreciation
Each affiliate is eligible to receive annually two free Certificates of Appreciation for presentation to valued members of your own group. The beautiful certificates may be requested at any time from AOS headquarters.

Orchid Emporium Gift and Book Catalog and Quantity Discounts
The AOS Orchid Emporium Gift and Book Catalog and quantity discount information can be obtained by visiting the AOS’s Web site (www.aos.org) or by calling or writing to the Orchid Emporium at AOS headquarters. The catalog offers more than 250 titles of the finest in orchid literature, videos, gifts and other orchid-related merchandise. Discounted and wholesale purchases have proven in the past to be a sure-fire enhancement of your own affiliate’s member benefits and fund-raising efforts.

Free Listings of Your Society
One of the premier benefits of being affiliated with the AOS is that meeting and contact information for each affiliate is listed in the popular AOS Orchid Source Directory (which is disseminated every other year, free, to all AOS members) and on the Society’s Web site (www.aos.org). The importance and responsibility of each society to maintain current and correct information cannot be over-emphasized, but, considering the fact that the AOS is the primary place in the world that folks turn to for matters pertaining to orchids, this kept-current contact list is a treasured benefit of being an affiliate. Links to your group’s own organization are also provided here on the AOS’s Web site, driving even more traffic and interest to you.

Slide Program and Video Listing
Also available to each affiliate, this popular listing is broken down by major subject, followed by a listing of AOS slide programs and videotapes. This listing is available here on the AOS’s Web site or by calling the AOS at 561-404-2050, Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm (EST). If you already have this listing and are interested in obtaining one of the programs, requests must be made at least eight weeks in advance and can be made here on our Web site or in writing by forwarding the important following information:

• Name of your society or organization.
• Date of meeting at which the slide program will be presented.
• Number and title of the program desired (plus your second and third choices).
• Name and address for the forwarding of the program.

Direct-mail Marketing Assistance
Access to AOS members’ names and addresses for the purpose of promoting your shows, seminars and special events via direct mail can be obtained from the AOS’s Membership Services Department. Please contact us well in advance of your anticipated mailing and let us know what states, countries or zip or postal code ranges you are interested in obtaining. While this service is free of charge, we do appreciate a donation to help defray costs associated with producing and mailing these lists.  Contact the Society’s Membership Services Department at 561-404-2060.

Insurance for AOS-Judged Shows
Insurance for American Orchid Society-sanctioned shows is available to each affiliated society for a reasonable fee. The endorsement provides liability coverage for affiliated societies’ members, including non-AOS members, while attending AOS-sponsored functions (such as AOS judging events). The fee for this certificate plus administrative charges is $500 per show during the policy year. The Affiliated Societies Insurance application form can be obtained by contacting the affiliated society program coordinator at AOS headquarters (pgiust@aos.org ). Payment and complete information must be submitted to the AOS 30 days prior to your event.

Exhibits
The AOS membership booth, a popular visual draw at local shows, may be reserved by your affiliate. Written requests must be sent to the affiliated societies program coordinator at AOS headquarters (pgiust@aos.org). It is recommended that, if you wish to acquire the booth for a show, you place your reservation at least three months in advance. The AOS conservation display offered to affiliates tells about the importance of conservation, with an emphasis on saving orchids in the United States. Forwarding of these exhibit booths back to AOS headquarters, or to another society when requested, is the responsibility and expense of your local group.

The Distinguished Affiliated Societies Service Award (DASSA)
This prestigious award is given to an affiliate in recognition of sustained, outstanding contributions in areas of service and support in the field of orchidology. Criteria for consideration of any affiliate include long-term sponsorship of shows, public education projects, conservation efforts, orchid workshops and hosting of local, regional and national orchid events. Further consideration is given to an affiliate’s development and distribution of an outstanding newsletter, significant support of an AOS judging center and the overall promotion and support of the AOS. Nominations for the DASSA may be made by any member of an AOS affiliate and should be forwarded to the Affiliated Societies Committee. If granted, the award is presented by the AOS President (or his or her designee) at the breakfast meeting in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the AOS. Further praise is accorded a DASSA winner in the pages of the AOS’s monthly membership magazine, Orchids, and here on the Society’s Web site. Find DASSA nomination form below.

Related Files
Printable Membership Form (PDF)
Speakers List (Excel File)
DASSA Nomination Form (PDF)